Regioselectivity in intermolecular Pauson-Khand reactions of dissymmetric fluorinated alkynes

Stoichiometric and catalytic intermolecular Pauson-Khand reactions (PKRs) of dissymmetric fluorinated alkynes were performed, affording regioselectively α-fluorinated cyclopentenones. Ethyl 4,4,4-trifluorobutynoate was an excellent substrate; its reaction with norbornadiene gave the corresponding PKR adduct in good yield and complete regioselectivity. Conjugate addition of nitroalkanes or cyanide to this adduct is stereospecific and entails concomitant loss of a trifluoromethyl group. This reaction can be exploited to prepare cyclopentenones featuring quaternary centers.     

New regio and stereoselective intermolecular Pauson-Khand reactions of allenamides

Intermolecular Pauson-Khand reactions are still quite limited in scope and yields. There are also few reports using allenes as the olefinic part in this version. We report herein new regio and stereoselective reactions of allenamides with several alkynes. These reactions give functionalized cyclopentenones bearing an exocyclic enamide, which can be useful synthetic intermediates.     

The intermolecular Pauson-Khand reaction

Five membered carbocycles are important building blocks for many biologically active molecules. Moreover, substituted cyclopentenones (e.g. cyclopentenone prostaglandins) exhibit characteristic biological activity. The efficiency and atom economy of the Pauson-Khand reaction render this process potentially one of the most attractive methods for the synthesis of such compounds. Although it was discovered in its intermolecular form, the scope of the intermolecular Pauson-Khand reaction has always been limited by the poor reactivity and selectivity of the alkene component. The past decade, especially the last three years, has seen concerted efforts to broaden the scope of this reaction. In this overview, we provide a comprehensive and critical coverage of the intermolecular Pauson-Khand reaction based on the reactivity characteristics of different classes of alkenes and a rationalization of successes and misfortunes in this area.     

Asymmetric intermolecular Pauson-Khand reactions of unstrained olefins: the (o-dimethylamino)phenylsulfinyl group as an efficient chiral auxiliary

The first asymmetric version of intermolecular Pauson-Khand reactions of unstrained alkenes is described. Generally simple acyclic alkenes exhibit low reactivity and regioselectivity in intermolecular Pauson-Khand reactions; however, o-(dimethylamino)phenyl vinyl sulfoxide reacts under very mild conditions with a wide variety of terminal alkynes in a completely regioselective and highly stereoselective manner. The utility of the resulting 5-sulfinyl-2-cyclopentenones in asymmetric synthesis is illustrated by a very short enantioselective synthesis of the antibiotic (-)-pentenomycin I.     

PuPHOS: a synthetically useful chiral bidentate ligand for the intermolecular Pauson-Khand reaction

Here we describe the synthesis and use of the Pulegone-derived bidentate P,S ligands PuPHOS and CyPuPHOS in the intermolecular Pauson-Khand reaction. Ligand exchange reaction of hexacarbonyldicobalt-alkyne complexes with PuPHOS provides a diasteromeric mixture of complexes (up to 4.5:1) from which the major isomers can be conveniently separated by simple crystallization. An isomerization-crystallization sequence of the original mixture results in a dynamic resolution that allows the preparation of the pure major Co(2)(mu-TMSC(2)H)(CO)(4)-PuPHOS (15a) in a multigram scale. Pauson-Khand reaction of 15a with norbornadiene provided, for the first time, the corresponding enone 18 with up to 93% yield and 97% ee. The use of (+)-18 as a surrogate of chiral cyclopentadienone is also demonstrated. Copper-catalyzed Michael addition of a Grignard reagent followed by removal of the TMS group with TBAF were the most reliable methods to transform (+)-18 into valuable starting materials 20a-e for the enantioselective synthesis of cyclopentenoid systems.     

Asymmetric Pauson-Khand reactions using camphor-derived chelating thiols as chiral controllers

A convenient procedure for the preparation of enantiopure 10-(R-thio)-2-exo-bornanethiols from (1S)-camphor-10-thiol has been developed. The ethynyl derivatives of these thiols gave excellent diastereoselectivities (up to 98:2) in Pauson-Khand reactions with norbornene and norbornadiene through the intermediacy of a chelated dicobalt pentacarbonyl complex. Thermal reaction conditions starting from the preformed chelated complex gave better results than N-oxide-promoted runs with in situ generation of the chelated intermediate. The corresponding adducts have been elaborated through a protocol consisting of conjugate addition, samarium iodide-promoted cleavage of the chiral auxiliary, and retro-Diels-Alder reaction to afford 4-substituted 2-cyclopentenones in high enantiomeric purity.     

Regiochemistry in cobalt-mediated intermolecular Pauson-Khand reactions of unsymmetrical internal heteroaromatic alkynes with norbornene

The intermolecular Pauson-Khand (PK) reactions of sterically comparable (2-phenylethynyl)heteroaromatic compounds with norbornene, mediated by Co(2)(CO)(8) to give cyclopentenone products, were examined in this study. A synthetic protocol utilizing focused-microwave dielectric heating proved indispensable in the efficient synthesis of the PK cyclopentenone products. "π-Deficient" heteroaromatic substrates, e.g., 2-pyrones, and some "π-excessive" heteroaromatics such as 2- and 3-thiophene and 2-furan favor the β-position in the newly formed cyclopentenone ring. Other π-excessive heteroaromatics such as 2-pyrrole or 2-indole favor the α-position. A π-excessive 3-indole derivative gave a nearly equal mixture of regioisomers. The position of the nitrogen in pyridyl-containing alkyne substrates also affects the regiochemical outcome of the PK reaction. A 2-pyridyl alkyne, possessing a proximal nitrogen, influences the regioselectivity relative to a 4-pyridyl variant quite dramatically, favoring the β-position in the newly formed cyclopentenone ring. A 2-pyrimidylalkyne exhibits similar behavior to the 2-pyridylalkyne. Compounds that do not participate in PK reactions with norbornene include (2-phenylethynyl)imidazoles and the related benzimidazoles, which promote rapid decomposition of the in situ generated (μ(2)-alkyne)Co(2)(CO)(6) complexes. This stands in contrast with other nitrogen-containing heteroaromatics, e.g., pyrrole-, indole-, and pyrimidine-derived compounds, which effectively undergo PK reactions. Overall, the type of heteroaromatic group dramatically influences PK regioselectivity, which can in part be explained by rationalization of the current reaction mechanism, but not fully.     

Tetramethylnorbornadiene, a versatile alkene for cyclopentenone synthesis through intermolecular Pauson-Khand reactions

1,2,3,4-Tetramethyl-bicyclo[2.2.1]hepta-2,5-diene (TMNBD, for tetramethylnorbornadiene) has been prepared and used successfully as an acetylene equivalent in the synthesis of substituted cyclopentenones. TMNBD is easily accessible on a multigram scale and displays excellent reactivity toward the intermolecular Pauson-Khand reaction. Conjugate additions on the resulting tricyclic compounds proceed with exquisite diastereoselectivity. The retro-Diels-Alder reaction of these TMNBD derivatives occurs under much smoother conditions than those required for its norbornadiene homologues.     

Development of intermolecular additive free Pauson-Khand reactions for estrone E-ring extension using microwaves

Intermolecular additive free microwave (MW) promoted and cobalt octacarbonyl mediated Pauson-Khand reaction (PKR) performance was improved for estrone ring extension. The reaction development with norbornene and cyclopentene produced cyclopentenones in yields of comparable levels with those previously obtained with the aid of chemical additives as promoters. The PKRs with norbornene demonstrated that a low cobalt complex concentration increases yields, especially for the aliphatic alkynes. Furthermore, a boost for the MW PKR could be obtained by a gradual cobalt complex addition. These expedients combined with the use of an excess of free and cobalt complexed alkyne led to successful estrone ring system extension with various alkynes.     

Diastereoselective Diels-Alder reactions of a novel cyclopropenyl-containing chiral auxiliary

A novel cyclopropenyl-containing 1,3-spiroaminoalcohol auxiliary has been used in a variety of asymmetric Diels-Alder reactions providing endo adducts with diastereomeric ratios ranging from 2:1 up to >99:1. In addition, unexpected regiochemistry was observed for a Diels-Alder reaction between cyclopropenyl dienophile and 4-vinyl-1,2-dihydronapthalene.     

Diastereoselective magnesium halide-catalyzed anti-aldol reactions of chiral N-acyloxazolidinones.

A chiral auxilliary-based direct aldol reaction is reported. The reactions are catalytic in magnesium salts and are facilitated by silylation with chlorotrimethylsilane. The adducts isolated are in high diastereoselectivity (up to 32:1 dr) and favor the anti-aldol diastereomer B. Reactions are operationally simple and can be run under ambient atmosphere without rigorous exclusion of water. Many of the adducts are highly crystalline and a single diastereomer can be isolated without chromatography.     

Diastereoselective sulfa-Michael reactions controlled by a biomass-derived chiral auxiliary

A family of chiral auxiliaries derived from the lignocellulosic biomass pyrolysis product levoglucosenone (LGO) has been screened in the sulfa-Michael reaction. When promoted by inorganic bases with potassium counterions, the auxiliary with geminal benzyl substituents showed diastereoselectivity up to 90:10 for a broad range of α,β-unsaturated esters.     

Diastereoselective alkylation reactions employing a camphor-based chiral oxazinone auxiliary

An almost complete π-face selectivity is obtained in asymmetric alkylation reactions of lithium enolates derived from imide 2 which contains a camphor-based chiral oxazinone auxiliary.     

γ-手性顺式的共轭烯醛与有机锂化合物的立体选择性反应

本文研究了在手性的顺式-γ-氨基-α,β-不饱和醛(7)与有机锂化合物的亲核加成反应中的1,4-不对称诱导效应.结果表明: 7与α-烷氧基乙烯醇锂类化合物的反应导致了优良的非对映立体选择性(d.e. : 60～90%), 而与烷基锂试剂的反应也给出了高度的立体选择性(d.e.: 74～86%). 这说明在这些反应中 , 存在着一种1,4-不对称诱导反应 .     

A computational study on the role of chiral N-oxides in enantioselective Pauson-Khand reactions

Density functional calculations were carried out to ascertain the origin of enantioselectivity in the brucine N‐oxide (BNO)‐assisted enantioselective Pauson–Khand reaction (PKR) of norbornene with 2‐methyl‐3‐butyn‐2‐ol. The computed ee value in acetone is 68 % (R), which compares well to the previously reported experimental value of 58 % (R). In DME the computed ee value of 76 % (R) is in excellent agreement with the experimentally determined value of 78 % (R). The mechanism of enantioselectivity consists of several steps. First, the dicobalt complex is activated by BNO with chirality transfer from enantiopure BNO to the dicobalt complex. Second, competition occurs between a racemization process and complexation with the olefin reagent, which leads to the products. The lower ee value in acetone is due to the lower energy barrier of the racemization process. Calculations show that replacement of BNO by a hypothetical more enantioselective chiral N‐oxide will hardly increase the ee value beyond 90 %.     

Diastereoselective intermolecular cobalt-catalyzed reductive aldol reactions of alpha,beta-unsaturated amides with ketones

Under cobalt catalysis, diethylzinc mediates the conjugate reduction of alpha,beta-unsaturated amides to produce ethylzinc enolates that react with ketones in situ to produce tertiary alcohol-containing aldol products with up to >19:1 diastereoselectivity.     

Diastereoselective intermolecular radical addition to nitrones

The intermolecular radical addition to chiral nitrones 2, 4, 5, and 16 was studied. The isopropyl radical addition to Oppolzer's camphorsultam derivative 2 of glyoxylic nitrone proceeded with excellent diastereoselectivity to give the desired isopropylated product 3a accompanied by the diisopropylated product 3b. A high degree of stereocontrol in the reaction of cyclic nitrone 4 was achieved. The ethyl radical addition to nitrone 4 with triethylborane afforded the desired ethylated product 9a accompanied by the diethylated product 10a and the ethylated nitrone 11a. To evaluate the utility of cyclic nitrone 4, several alkyl radicals were employed in the addition reaction, which afforded the alkylated products 9b-d with excellent diastereoselectivities. In the presence of Mg(ClO(4))(2), the ethyl radical addition to BIGN 16 afforded selectively syn isomers. In contrast, the alkyl radical addition to 16 took place even in the absence of Lewis acid to give anti isomers.     

N-Heterocyclic carbene (NHC)-catalyzed intermolecular hydroacylation of cyclopropenes

We report the first intermolecular NHC-catalyzed hydroacylation of electron-neutral olefins. Treatment of aromatic aldehydes with cyclopropenes under mild conditions affords valuable acylcyclopropanes in moderate to high yields with an excellent level of diastereocontrol. Preliminary mechanistic studies suggest that product formation occurs via a concerted syn hydroacylation pathway.     

Diastereoselective intermolecular ene reactions: synthesis of 4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-1H-benzo[d]imidazoles

The Diels-Alder cycloadducts of 4-vinylimidazoles and N-phenylmaleimide are shown to undergo facile intermolecular ene reactions. Overall the reaction of three simple molecules (a diene, a dienophile and an enophile) in a two-step process gives 4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-1H-benzo[d]imidazoles with high yields, high atom economy and diastereocontrol of up to 5 new stereocentres.