Photoinduced Oxygen Transfer Using Nitroarenes for the Anaerobic Cleavage of Alkenes.

Herein we report the anaerobic cleavage of alkenes into carbonyl compounds using nitroarenes as oxygen transfer reagents under visible light. This approach serves as a safe and practical alternative to mainstream oxidative cleavage protocols, such as ozonolysis and the Lemieux-Johnson reaction. A wide range of alkenes possessing oxidatively sensitive functionalities underwent anaerobic cleavage to generate carbonyl derivatives with high efficiency and regioselectivity. Mechanistic studies support that the transformation occurs via direct photoexcitation of the nitroarene followed by a nonstereospecific radical cycloaddition event with alkenes. This leads to 1,3,2- and 1,4,2-dioxazolidine intermediates that fragment to give the carbonyl products. A combination of radical clock experiments and in situ photoNMR spectroscopy revealed the identities of the key radical species and the putative aryl dioxazolidine intermediates, respectively.

Gold-Catalyzed Dearomative Spirocyclization of N-Aryl Alkynamides for the Synthesis of Spirolactams.

A catalytic redox-neutral method for the synthesis of spirolactams proceeding through the dearomative spirocyclization of N-aryl alkynamides is reported. In contrast to stoichiometric activating agents employed for related transformations, we show that the use of 5 mol % of Au(PPh3)Cl and AgOTf in dichloroethane at 50-80 °C leads to selective spirocyclization, furnishing the products in yields of 35-87%. The substrate scope of the reaction is good, with both electron-donating and electron-withdrawing groups being tolerated around the arene ring, as well as substitution at the amide nitrogen. The identity of the para-alkoxy group on the arene ring is key to achieving selectivity for spirocyclization over alternative mechanistic pathways. While the presence of a para-methoxy group leads to trace amounts of the desired spirolactams, the para-tert-butoxy or para-hydroxy substrate analogues furnish the spirolactams in good yield with high selectivity.

Gold-Catalyzed Hydroarylation of N-Aryl Alkynamides for the Synthesis of 2-Quinolinones.

A mild method for the synthesis of 2-quinolinones via hydroarylation of N-aryl alkynamides is reported. While traditional methods have relied on the use of strong Brønsted or Lewis acids, this report describes the development of mild reaction conditions that yield 2-quinolinones in good to excellent yield using a commercially available gold catalyst. Substrates bearing a variety of functional groups are presented, with N-substitution proving to be key to the reactivity of several substrates.