Regio- and Stereoselective Fe(III)- and Pd(0)-Mediated Ring Openings of 3-Aza-2-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-ene Systems

Ruthenium-catalyzed ring-opening reaction of a 3-aza-2-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-ene with amines — an unexpected mode of ring-opening

The ruthenium-catalyzed ring-opening reaction of a 3-aza-2-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-ene with amines was investigated. In the presence of an amine and a ruthenium catalyst, the N–O bond is cleaved, forming a ring-opened allylic alcohol product. Through a possible ruthenium-catalyzed redox isomerization, the allylic alcohol is transformed into a saturated carbonyl product. This unexpected mode of ruthenium-catalyzed ring-opening reaction of a 3-aza-2-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-ene leads to the formation of a cyclopentanone derivative in moderate yields.

Generation and Trapping of Nitrosocarbonyl Intermediates

The nitrosocarbonyls (R-CONO) are highly reactive species and remarkable intermediates toward different synthetic targets. This review will cover a research area whose impact in current organic synthesis is constantly increasing in the chemical community. This review represents the first and comprehensive picture on the generation and trapping of nitrosocarbonyls and is solidly built on more than 380 papers. Six different classes of key starting materials such as hydroxamic acids, N-hydroxy carbamates, N-hydroxyureas, nitrile oxides, and 1,2,4-oxadiazole-4-oxides were highlighted. The content of the review surveys all the methods to generate the nitrosocarbonyls through different approaches (oxidative, thermal, photochemical, catalytic, aerobic, and the less common ones) in the light of efficiency, yields, and mildness. The most successful trapping agents employed to catch these fleeting intermediates are reviewed, exploiting their superior dienophilic, enophilic, and electrophilic power. The work is completed by paragraphs dedicated to the detection of the intermediates, theoretical studies, and insights about the challenges and future directions for the field.

Isoxazolidine: A Privileged Scaffold for Organic and Medicinal Chemistry

The isoxazolidine ring represents one of the privileged structures in medicinal chemistry, and there have been an increasing number of studies on isoxazolidine and isoxazolidine-containing compounds. Optimization of the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition (1,3-DC), original methods including electrophilic or palladium-mediated cyclization of unsaturated hydroxylamine, has been developed to obtain isoxazolidines. Novel reactions involving the isoxazolidine ring have been highlighted to accomplish total synthesis or to obtain bioactive compounds, one of the most significant examples being probably the thermic ring contraction applied to the total synthesis of (±)-Gelsemoxonine. The unique isoxazolidine scaffold also exhibits an impressive potential as a mimic of nucleosides, carbohydrates, PNA, amino acids, and steroid analogs. This review aims to be a comprehensive and general summary of the different isoxazolidine syntheses, their use as starting building blocks for the preparation of natural compounds, and their main biological activities.

Development of domino processes by using 7-silylcycloheptatrienes and its analogues

7-Silyl- and 7-silylmethylcycloheptatrienes were shown to react with acylnitroso reagents at room temperature, through their norcaradiene forms, to generate the corresponding cycloadducts 5 a-b and 6 a-b as single diastereomers. The course of the reaction was dramatically modified by changing the reaction conditions. Using a polar medium, functionalized cyclohexa-1,3-dienes 7 a-b and bicyclic compounds 13 a-b were instead generated, incorporating one or two amino groups. Similar behavior was observed by using other dienophiles, including triazolinedione, but also activated aldehydes and ketones. A tentative mechanism has been proposed to rationalize the formation of both classes of products that relies on a domino process involving four consecutive elementary steps, in this order: 1) electrocyclic process, 2) hetero-Diels-Alder reaction, 3) cyclopropane ring opening, and 4) hetero-Diels-Alder reaction. Trapping of the cationic intermediate and isolation of the primary cycloadduct provide support for this hypothesis. An enantioselective version of the cascade using cycloheptatriene 4 b and aldehydes and ketones, under copper(II) catalysis was also carried out, leading to cyclohexa-1,3-dienes 21, 28, and 30 with enantioselectivities up to 93 % ee. Finally, elaboration of the intermediates above has been carried out, opening a straightforward access to sugar mimics 42-43 and complex polycyclic systems 36 and 39.

Low-temperature iron-catalyzed depolymerization of polyethers

Iron will: The iron-catalyzed depolymerization of a range of polyethers is studied. The products of the depolymerization reactions are chloroesters, which can be used as starting materials for new polymers. In the presence of simple iron salts extraordinary catalyst activities and selectivities are feasible at low temperature.

Ruthenium-catalyzed [2+2] cycloaddition reactions of a 2-oxa-3-azabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-ene with unsymmetrical alkynes

Ruthenium-catalyzed [2+2] cycloaddition reactions of a 2-oxa-3-azabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-ene with unsymmetrical alkynes were investigated. Yields of up to 90% were obtained though regioselectivity was modest. Select cycloadducts could be separated and used to access a highly functionalized [3.2.0] bicyclic structure through reductive cleavage of the N–O bond. These ring-opened products displayed a chemical exchange phenomenon in 1D carbon NMR and required characterization by 2D NMR techniques.

The nitrosocarbonyl hetero-Diels-Alder reaction as a useful tool for organic syntheses

Organic transformations that result in the formation of multiple covalent bonds within the same reaction are some of the most powerful tools in synthetic organic chemistry. Nitrosocarbonyl hetero-Diels-Alder (HDA) reactions allow for the simultaneous stereospecific introduction of carbon-nitrogen and carbon-oxygen bonds in one synthetic step, and provide direct access to 3,6-dihydro-1,2-oxazines. This Review describes the development of the nitrosocarbonyl HDA reaction and the utility of the resulting oxazine ring in the synthesis of a variety of important, biologically active molecules.

Cyclopropanation of nitroso Diels-Alder cycloadducts and application to the synthesis of a 2',3'-methano carbocyclic nucleoside

Treatment of nitroso Diels-Alder cycloadducts 1 with diazomethane in the presence of palladium acetate gives synthetically useful exo-6-oxa-7-azatricyclo[3.2.1.02,4]octane derivatives 7 in good to excellent yield. Using this methodology, a conformationally restricted 2',3'-methano carbocyclic nucleoside was efficiently synthesized from nitroso cycloadduct 1a in 7 steps.

Regio- and stereochemically controlled formation of hydroxamic acids from indium triflate-mediated nucleophilic ring-opening reactions with acylnitroso-Diels-Alder adducts

Treatment of acylnitroso-Diels-Alder [2.2.1] bicyclic adducts 2a-b with indium triflate in an alcohol solvent induces ring opening reactions to afford monocyclic anti-1,2-, anti-1,4- and syn-1,4-hydroxamic acids with good to excellent regio- and stereoselectivity (up to 7:86:7). Treatment of [2.2.2] bicyclic nitroso adducts 2c-d under similar reaction conditions generates only anti-1,2- and anti-1,4-hydroxamic acids with anti-1,4-product predominant (up to 17:83).

Palladium-catalyzed decarboxylative rearrangements of allyl 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl malonates: direct access to homoallylic esters

Homoallylic esters are obtained in a single transformation from allyl 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl malonates by using a Pd(0) catalyst. Facile decarboxylation of allyl 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl malonates is attributed to a decrease in pK(a) compared to allyl methyl malonates. Subsequent reduction of the homoallylic 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl ester provides a (hydroxyethyl)cyclopentenyl derivative that represents a key intermediate in the synthesis of carbocyclic nucleosides. A select allyl 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl malonate undergoes a decarboxylative Claisen rearrangement to provide a regioisomeric homoallylic ester.

Regio- and stereoselective indium triflate-mediated nucleophilic ring-opening reactions of 3-aza-2-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-ene and -[2.2.2]oct-5-ene systems

Indium triflate-mediated nucleophilic ring-opening reactions of 3-aza-2-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-ene and -[2.2.2]oct-5-ene systems with alcohols and water were investigated. Reactions of [2.2.1] bicyclic systems gave anti-1,2-, anti-1,4- and syn-1,4-ring-opened products with moderate to excellent regio- and stereoselectivity. When [2.2.2] bicyclic systems were subjected to similar reaction conditions, only anti-1,2 and anti-1,4-ring-opened products were obtained.

Rhodium-catalyzed ring-opening reactions of a 3-aza-2-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-ene with arylboronic acids

Rhodium-catalyzed ring-opening reactions of a 3-aza-2-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-ene with arylboronic acids were investigated. The use of [RhCl(COD)](2), (+/-)-BINAP, and NaHCO(3) in MeOH at 60 degrees C was found to be the optimized conditions for the ring-opening reactions to give the 1,2-ring-opened products. Various arylboronic acids were examined, and low to moderate yields were obtained and stereoselectivities (trans/cis) from 50:50 to 100:0 were observed.

Synthesis and anticancer activity of new hydroxamic acid containing 1,4-benzodiazepines

By employing an intramolecular Pd(0)-mediated ring opening of an acylnitroso-derived cycloadduct, new hydroxamic acid containing benzodiazepines have been synthesized and have demonstrated biological activity in MCF-7 and PC-3 tumor cell lines. Subsequent N-O bond reduction of the hydroxamate has provided access to amide analogues for SAR studies. During the course of our syntheses, an intermediate oxazoline N-oxide was isolated and gave insight into the mechanism of the key Pd(0)-mediated reaction.

Pd(0)/InI-mediated allylic additions to 4-acetoxy-2-azetidinone: new route to highly functionalized carbocyclic scaffolds

Acylnitroso-derived hetero-Diels-Alder cycloadducts are susceptible to C-O bond cleavage with Pd(0) and InI to form allylic indium(III) species. The in situ prepared allylindium compounds readily react at room temperature with Eschenmoser's salt. Allylation of 4-acetoxy-2-azetidinone provides derivatized cyclopentenes in high regio- and diastereoselectivity.

Titanocene(III) chloride-mediated reductions of oxazines, hydroxamic acids, and N-hydroxy carbamates

Titanocene(III) chloride (Cp(2)TiCl), generated in situ, reduces N-O bonds of various substrates in good to excellent yields (72-95%). Reactions may be performed with stoichiometric Cp(2)TiCl or with catalytic Cp(2)TiCl.

Brønsted acid-mediated opening of nitroso cycloadducts under anhydrous conditions

An unusual bicyclic hydroxamate resulted from C-O bond cleavage of acylnitroso hetero-Diels-Alder cycloadducts when treated with catalytic Brønsted acids under anhydrous conditions. Similarly, the formation of a nitrone was observed using one equivalent of triflic acid.

Concise syntheses of enantiomerically pure protected 4-hydroxypyroglutamic acid and 4-hydroxyproline from a nitroso-cyclopentadiene cycloadduct

O-TBS-protected methyl trans-4-hydroxypyroglutamate and methyl trans-4-hydroxyproline ester were synthesized from nitroso-cyclopentadiene Diels-Alder cycloadducts. Enzymatic resolution of the key intermediate, 4-amino-cyclopent-2-enol, provides access to both L- and D- amino acids.

Solid-supported nitroso hetero-Diels-Alder reactions. 3. Acid-mediated transformation of cycloadducts by scission of the oxazine C-O bonds

Polymer-supported dihydro[1,2]oxazine derivatives were prepared by acyl- and arylnitroso hetero-Diels-Alder reactions and exposed to strong (trifluoroacetic) acid during cleavage from resin-bound linkers. Cycloadducts prepared from cyclic dienes containing electron-donating substituents at the C6 oxazine carbon promoted formation of carbocations by cleavage of the C-O bond. The carbocations were quenched by nucleophilic reagents including triethylsilane, water, and alcohols and provided access to novel derivatives of N-alkyl hydroxamates. Products were submitted to biological assays, and the results are reported.

Generation of acylnitroso dienophiles: a study of metal catalysis

Four novel metal/amine catalysts efficiently converted Boc-NHOH to its acylnitroso species at 5 mol % catalyst loading. These reactions allowed the preparation of polyfunctional hetero Diels-Alder adducts in high yield and from truly commercially available materials.

Stereoselective Ring Opening of meso Bicyclic Hydrazines: A Straightforward Approach to Hydrazino Cyclopentenic Cores

The diastereoselective synthesis of hydrazinocyclopentenes 6 or 7 can be achieved in a straightforward manner from Diels-Alder adduct 4 using an acid-catalyzed rearrangement or a palladium-catalyzed allylic substitution reaction. In the latter case, enantioenriched compounds with ee values up to 58% can be obtained when an appropriate chiral ligand is used. [reaction: see text]

Stereo- and regioselectivity of Pd(0)/InI-mediated allylic additions to aldehydes and ketones. In situ generation of allylindium(III) intermediates from N-acylnitroso Diels-Alder cycloadducts and 1-amino-4-acetoxycyclopentenes

Acylnitroso Diels-Alder cycloadduct (11, 37, and 45)- and cyclopentenyl acetate (8 and 9)-derived allylindium(III) species were generated in situ from palladium(0) catalysts and indium(I) iodide, and the stereo- and regiochemistry of their additions to aldehydes and ketones were investigated. Solvent, catalyst, and ionic effects were examined for the reaction of N-acetyl cycloadduct (11) and benzyloxyacetaldehyde (10). The solvent mixture of THF/H(2)O with Pd(OAc)(2).PPh(3) catalysis was found to be optimal. The addition of N-acetyl cycloadduct to aliphatic aldehydes afforded products in good yields and high regio- and stereoselectivity, with the cis-1,4-isomers constituting 90-95% of the products. The reactions with N-Boc (37a) and N-methylcarbamate (37b) cycloadducts also gave the cis-1,4-products predominantly. The same regio- and stereoselectivity applied to the reactions of 4-acetoxy-1-(N-hydroxyphenyacetamido)cyclopentene (8). 4-Acetoxy-1-phenylacetamidocyclopentene (9), however, afforded trans-1,4-products exclusively. Mechanistic speculations involving chelated transition states are described.

A novel scandium ortho-methoxynitrosobenzene-dimer complex: mechanistic implications for the nitroso-Diels-Alder reaction

Arylnitroso dienophiles exist in equilibrium with their dimeric counterparts, which in turn form stable bidentate complexes with scandium(III) triflate and react with cyclohexadiene to give the corresponding Diels-Alder adduct at the same rate as the normal thermal process.

Regio- and stereoselective ring openings of 3-Aza-2-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-ene systems with copper catalyst-modified grignard reagents: application to the synthesis of an inhibitor of 5-lipoxygenase

Treatment of acylnitroso hetero Diels-Alder cycloadducts 2 with organomagnesium reagents in the presence of a catalytic amount of copper induces ring opening to afford predominantly monocyclic anti-1,2-hydroxamic acids 12. Alkylmagnesium reagents were found to give superior regio- and stereoselectivities compared with vinyl and arylmagnesium reagents. This cycloadduct ring opening methodology was applied to the synthesis of a unique cyclopentenyl hydroxamic acid-based inhibitor of 5-lipoxygenase.

Novel 1,4-benzodiazepines from acylnitroso-derived hetero-Diels-Alder cycloadducts

[reaction: see text] N(4)-Hydroxy-1,4-benzodiazepines were synthesized in a single step from synthetically versatile acylnitroso-derived hetero-Diels-Alder cycloadducts. The efficiency of this transformation was found to be dependent on the NH pK(a) of the cycloadduct sulfonamide.

Regio- and stereochemically controlled formation of hydroxamic acid containing anti- or syn-1,4-cycloalkenols from acylnitroso-derived Diels-Alder adducts

Treatment of acylnitroso hetero Diels-Alder cycloadducts 2 with iron(III) or copper(II) in an alcohol solvent induces ring opening to afford predominantly monocyclic anti-1,4-hydroxamic acids 3. However, treatment of cycloadducts 2 with copper(II) in toluene reverses the stereoselectivity of the ring opening to afford syn-1,4-hydroxamic acids 4. These regio- and stereoselective processes separately provide anti-1,4- and syn-1,4-disubstituted cyclopentenes while regenerating a hydroxamic acid moiety, thus enhancing the chemical versatility of the Diels-Alder cycloadducts.

Synthesis of a conformationally restricted substrate analogue of siderophore biosynthetases

[reaction: see text] A conformationally restricted analogue (5) of N(omega)-acetyl-N(omega)-hydroxyornithine and -lysine was synthesized. The synthesis features an efficient acylnitroso hetero-Diels-Alder cycloadduct (1) ring opening with palladium(0) and methylnitroacetate.