Nazarov Cyclization and Tandem [4 + 2]-Cycloaddition Reactions of Donor–Acceptor Cyclopropanes

Electrocyclization of Arylvinyl Oxetane/1,3-Diol to Substituted Indenyl Acetaldehyde via Indene-Ethanol, Oxepine, and a 1,6-Hydride Shift

We intended to realize aryl vinyl oxetane as a 4π-electrocyclization precursor to access indene ethanol. Interestingly, we found that the readily accessible aryl vinyl 1,3-diol, an intermediate en route to the synthesis of oxetane, is an equally potential precursor for the anticipated cyclization. Moreover, aryl vinyl 1,3-diol/oxetane and indene ethanol readily reacted with the subsequently added (het)aromatic aldehydes, providing various indene oxepines/acetaldehydes. Additionally, indenyl aldehyde served as a synthetic handle for FGI, further expanding this protocol's scope.

Dual Proton/Silver-Catalyzed Serial (5 + 2)-Cycloaddition and Nazarov Cyclization of (E)-2-Arylidene-3-hydroxyindanones with Conjugated Eneynes: Synthesis of Indanone-Fused Benzo[cd]azulenes

A one-pot step-economic tandem process involving (5 + 2)-cycloaddition and Nazarov cyclization reactions has been reported for the facile synthesis of indanone-fused benzo[cd]azulenes from (E)-2-arylidene-3-hydroxyindanones and conjugated eneynes. This highly regio- and stereoselective bisannulation reaction is enabled by dual silver and Brønsted acid catalysis and opens up a new avenue for the construction of important bicyclo[5.3.0]decane skeletons.

Recent advances in ring-opening of donor acceptor cyclopropanes using C-nucleophiles

Ring-opening transformations of donor-acceptor cyclopropanes (DAC) with carbon-centered nucleophiles is a simple, straight-forward approach to 1,3-bifunctional compounds that has witnessed remarkable progress over the past several years. To date, different reactivity patterns of DACs have been successfully exploited in racemic/stereoselective syntheses of various acyclic compounds or carbocycles with an impressive structural diversity. The thriving strategies have been successfully utilized in multistep synthesis of complex target molecules. Herein, the recent advances (2015-present) in the ring-opening of DAC involving electron rich arenes and indoles, active methylene compounds, various dipolarophiles, organoborates/boronates, vinyl ethers etc. following Friedel-Crafts alkylation, annulation/formal cycloaddition reaction, organocatalytic reaction, Nazarov cyclisation etc. are presented.

The synthesis of indeno[de]isochromene derivatives from arylvinyl epoxides and carbonyl compounds via tandem Nazarov and oxa-Pictet–Spengler cyclizations

The conversion of aryl vinyl epoxides and carbonyl compounds in the presence of a catalytic amount of BF3·OEt2 to indeno[de]isochromenes via tandem Nazarov and oxa-Pictet–Spengler cyclizations is described.

cis-Selective, Enantiospecific Addition of Donor-Acceptor Cyclopropanes to Activated Alkenes: An Iodination/Michael-Cyclization Cascade

We present a versatile method for the enantiospecific, cis-diastereoselective intermolecular and intramolecular cycloaddition of donor-acceptor cyclopropanes to electron-poor alkenes with cyclic acceptor groups to afford highly substituted spirocyclopentanes in good to excellent yields. The reaction can be applied to biologically interesting scaffolds, including barbiturates and isoxazolones. Mechanistic investigations were undertaken to explain the unusual diastereoselectivity and enantiospecificity; these suggest an iodination/Michael-cyclization cascade.

Total Synthesis of Nominal ent-Chlorabietol B

The nominal enantiomer of chlorabietol B was regio- and stereoselectively synthesized from (-)-abietic acid in 13 steps. Key features of the synthesis involved an oxidative [3+2] cycloaddition to install the dihydrobenzofuran moiety and an Aldol reaction, followed by elimination and reduction steps to introduce the long chain with three cis double bonds. However, obvious differences in the NMR spectra of the synthetic and natural samples suggested that the proposed structure of chlorabietol B should be revised carefully.

Lewis Acid-Mediated Cyclization of Allenyl Aryl Ketones

The cyclization of a series of nonheterocyclic allenyl aryl ketones was examined using boron trifluoride etherate and indium triflate to mediate the reaction. Yields with BF₃ were low in most instances due mainly to competitive destruction of the substrates. With In(OTf)₃, there was less decomposition, and the yields of the cyclized product were much higher, but only for substrates with electron-donating substituents. Cyclization did not occur without those substituents. A computational study using the ωB97X-D/6-311+G(2d,p)//ωB97X-D/6-31+G(d,p) method confirmed better stability of the σ-complexed substrate by indium(III) and that meta-substituents on the phenyl ring of the substrate significantly influenced the activation barrier of the cyclization, whereas the effect of para-substituents was almost negligible. The computational results supported the idea that the cyclization is a 4π-electrocyclization and not a 5-endo-dig ring closure as had been proposed in the literature.

Direct synthesis of highly functionalized furans from donor-acceptor cyclopropanes via DBU-mediated ring expansion reactions

A DBU-mediated, unprecedented formal ring expansion reaction of 2-acyl-3-arylcyclopropane-1,1-dicarbonitriles for the synthesis of multisubstituted furan derivatives is reported. This transformation represents the regioselective ring-opening reaction of cyclopropane-1,1-dicarbonitriles and annulation using an intramolecular addition cascade reaction protocol for the synthesis of fully substituted furans includes use of readily available starting materials, mild reaction conditions, and it is transition-metal catalyst free, has good functional tolerance, and broad substrate scope.

Lewis Acid Triggered Vinylcyclopropane-Cyclopentene Rearrangement

We report a mild Lewis acid induced isomerization of donor-acceptor cyclopropanes, containing an alkenyl moiety and diverse electron-withdrawing group(s) at the adjacent positions, into substituted cyclopentenes. We have found that 1,1,2-trisubstituted cyclopent-3-enes were exclusively obtained in yield of 51-99% when cyclopropanes with a 2-substituted alkenyl group as a donor underwent isomerization. For cyclopropanes bearing a trisubstituted alkenyl group either the corresponding cyclopent-3-enes or isomeric cyclopent-2-enes having two acceptor groups at the C(1) atom were formed, with the reaction selectivity being determined by the applied Lewis acid. We have shown that the reactivity of the donor-acceptor cyclopropane increases with the increase of the electron-donating character of (hetero)aromatic group attached to the alkenyl moiety. The synthetic utility of the developed methodology was also demonstrated through the synthesis of polysubstituted cyclopentane and piperidine derivatives.