Stereoselectivity in the intramolecular Pauson-Khand reaction: Towards a simple predictive model

Free-Radical-5-exo-Trig Cyclization of Chiral 3-Silylhepta-1,6-dienes: Concise Approach to the A−B−C Ring Core of Hexacyclinic Acid

[Chemical reaction: See text] Free-radical-mediated 5-exo-trig cyclization of hepta-1,6-dienes 6a-c incorporating an allylsilane moiety was shown to provide at low temperature exclusively the trans-cis cyclopentanes 7a-c in good yield. In contrast, the same reaction with the alkyl analogue 9a led to the formation of all four possible stereoisomers. Interestingly, extension of this sequence of radical processes to alkoxy analogues 12-14 provided the complementary cis-cis stereoisomers with modest to excellent stereoselectivity. It is noteworthy that under such conditions allylsilanes were found to be much more reactive than their alkyl and alkoxy analogues. Beckwith-Houk-type models were proposed that rationalize the stereochemical course of these 5-exo-trig cyclizations. Finally, an illustration of the value of this methodology was proposed with the synthesis of the A-B-C tricyclic unit of polyketide hexacyclinic acid 3a.

Remarkable Effect of a Silicon Group on the Stereoselectivity of Radical 5-exo-Trig Cyclizations

[reaction: see text] Sulfonyl radical mediated 5-exo-trig cyclization of chiral 3-silylhepta-1,6-dienes has been shown to provide cyclopentanes having up to four stereogenic centers with an unexpectedly high level of stereocontrol.

Endo-selective intramolecular Pauson-Khand reactions of gamma-oxygenated-alpha,beta-unsaturated phenylsulfones

A wide variety of 1,6-enynes and 1,7-enynes incorporating gamma-oxygenated-alpha,beta-unsaturated phenylsulfone moieties have readily been prepared by piperidine-promoted condensation of the corresponding alkynyl aldehyde with phenylsulfonyl-(p-tolylsulfinyl)methane and further protection of the hydroxyl group. Despite the enduring claim concerning the unsuitability of electronically deficient olefins in Pauson-Khand reactions, we report that these 1-sulfonylated enynes are excellent substrates in intramolecular Pauson-Khand reactions under both thermal and amine N-oxide-promoted conditions. Moreover, in contrast with the usual exo-selective Pauson-Khand cyclization of allylic substituted enynes, the reactions of these 1-sulfonylated-3-oxygenated enynes occur with a moderate or high endo selectivity. The evaluation of the chemical and stereochemical scope of the process in comparison with the Pauson-Khand cyclization of non-sulfonylated enynes, its application to the stereoselective preparation of optically pure C6-substituted bicyclo[3.3.0]oct-1-en-3-ones, and the interpretation of the stereochemical outcome are also discussed.