α- and α'-Lithiation-Electrophile Trapping of N-Thiopivaloyl and N-tert-Butoxythiocarbonyl α-Substituted Azetidines: Rationalization of the Regiodivergence Using NMR and Computation

Dynamic Phenomena and Complexation Effects in the α-Lithiation and Asymmetric Functionalization of Azetidines

In this work it is demonstrated that enantiomerically enriched N-alkyl 2-oxazolinylazetidines undergo exclusive α-lithiation, and that the resulting lithiated intermediate is chemically stable but configurationally labile under the given experimental conditions that afford enantioenriched N-alkyl-2,2-disubstituted azetidines. Although this study reveals the configurational instability of the diastereomeric lithiated azetidines, it points out an interesting stereoconvergence of such lithiated intermediates towards the thermodynamically stable species, making the overall process highly stereoselective (er > 95:5, dr > 85:15) after trapping with electrophiles. This peculiar behavior has been rationalized by considering the dynamics at the azetidine nitrogen atom, the inversion at the C-Li center supported by in situ FT-IR experiments, and DFT calculations that suggested the presence of η3-coordinated species for diastereomeric lithiated azetidines. The described situation contrasted with the demonstrated stability of the smaller lithiated aziridine analogue. The capability of oxazolinylazetidines to undergo different reaction patterns with organolithium bases supports the model termed “dynamic control of reactivity” of relevance in organolithium chemistry. It has been demonstrated that only 2,2-substituted oxazolinylazetidines with suitable stereochemical requirements could undergo C=N addition of organolithiums in non-coordinating solvents, leading to useful precursors of chiral (er > 95:5) ketoazetidines.

Electrophile dependent mechanisms in the asymmetric trapping of α-lithio-N-(tert-butoxythiocarbonyl)azetidine

Sn-Li exchange and 'poor man's Hoffmann tests' establish asymmetric trapping of α-lithio-N-(tert-butoxythiocarbonyl) (Botc) azetidine to be controlled by dynamic thermodynamic resolution or dynamic kinetic resolution, depending on the electrophile. Unusually, different configurational stability is seen for the anion generated by lithiation compared to transmetallation. Configurational stability of α-lithio-N-Boc azetidine indicates instability with the N-Botc system is due to the C[double bond, length as m-dash]S group.

Synthesis and Homologation of an Azetidin-2-yl Boronic Ester with α-Lithioalkyl Triisopropylbenzoates

An α-boryl azetidine, obtained by α-lithiation-borylation of N-Botc azetidine, undergoes reaction with α-triisopropylbenzoyloxy organolithiums to give homologated boronic esters that can be further oxidized, homologated, arylated, and deprotected to give a range of α-substituted azetidines. Scalemic α-boryl azetidine-α-triisopropylbenzoyloxy organolithium pairings show stereospecific reagent control, providing access to either diastereomeric series of homologated boronic esters with very high er's.

Hydrogen-Bond-Dependent Conformational Switching: A Computational Challenge from Experimental Thermochemistry

We have compiled an experimental data set (SWITCH10) of equilibrium constants for a series of hydrogen-bond-dependent conformational switches. These organic molecules possess common functionalities and are representative in terms of size and composition of systems routinely studied computationally. They exist as two well-defined conformations which serve as a useful tool to benchmark computational estimates of experimental Gibbs energy differences. We examine the performance of HF theory and a variety of density functionals (B3LYP, B3LYP-D3, CAM-B3LYP, ωB97X-D, M06-2X) against these experimental benchmarks. Surprisingly, despite a strong similarity between the two switch conformations, the average errors (0.4-1.7 kcal·mol^-1) obtained across the data set for all methods are larger than obtained with HF calculations. B3LYP was found to outperform implicitly and explicitly dispersion-corrected functionals, with an average error smaller by 1 kcal·mol^-1. Unsystematic errors in the optimized structures were found to contribute to the relatively poor performance obtained, while quasi-rigid rotor harmonic oscillator thermal contributions are important in improving the accuracy of computed Gibbs energy differences. These results emphasize the challenge of quantitative accuracy in computing solution-phase thermochemistry for flexible systems and caution against the often used (but unstated) assumption of favorable error cancellation in comparing conformers or stereoisomers.

Recent advances in the chemistry of metallated azetidines

The almost unexplored four-membered azetidines represent a particularly interesting class of molecules, among the family of saturated nitrogen heterocycles. This review reports recent developments in direct metal-based functionalization of the azetidine ring, focusing on the regio- and stereoselectivity of these reactions.

Asymmetric Synthesis of 2-Substituted Azetidin-3-ones via Metalated SAMP/RAMP Hydrazones

2-Substituted azetidin-3-ones can be prepared in good yields and enantioselectivities (up to 85% ee) by a one-pot procedure involving the metalation of the SAMP/RAMP hydrazones of N-Boc-azetidin-3-one, reaction with a wide range of electrophiles, including alkyl, allyl, and benzyl halides and carbonyl compounds, followed by hydrolysis using oxalic acid.

Exploiting structural and conformational effects for a site-selective lithiation of azetidines

Interest in molecular structures bearing four-membered heterocycles (FMHs) is growing due to the possibility to explore new regions of the chemical space and get new lead molecules. Our interest in the development of divergent synthesis of functionalized FMHs, prompted us to disclose factors affecting the reactivity of nitrogen-bearing FMHs towards metalating agents. Our investigations demonstrated that structural factors and conformational preferences need to be considered in planning a site-selective functionalization of azetidines. It will be showed how such factors could have pivotal importance in the reactivity of FMHs.

QM/MM study on the enantioselectivity of spiroacetalization catalysed by an imidodiphosphoric acid catalyst: how confinement works

An explanation of why confined imidodiphosphoric acid catalyst succeeds where other chiral phosphoric acid catalysts fail.