Selective Azetidine and Tetrahydropyridine Formation via Pd-Catalyzed Cyclizations of Allene-Substituted Amines and Amino Acids

Asymmetric Auto-Tandem Palladium Catalysis for 2,4-Dienyl Carbonates: Ligand-Controlled Divergent Synthesis

Developing new asymmetric auto-tandem catalysis processes, especially in a divergent manner, is highly attractive but extremely challenging. Presented herein is a palladium-catalyzed auto-tandem reaction between 2,4-dienyl carbonates and o-TsNH arylimines or trifluoroacetophenones that proceeds through a consecutive N-allylation, vinylogous addition, π-σ-π isomerization, and another N-allylation sequence. Importantly, switchable diastereodivergent synthesis could be achieved by tuning the chiral bisphosphine ligands, which led to the construction of a broad spectrum of fused tetrahydroquinoline architectures with moderate to excellent enantioselectivity. Ligand control even enabled effective access to regiodivergent azetidine or chemodivergent β-H elimination with fair enantioselectivity, further showing the versatility of the current auto-tandem catalysis.

Recent advances in the application of ring-closing metathesis for the synthesis of unsaturated nitrogen heterocycles

This short review summarizes recent advances relating to the application of ring-closing olefin-olefin and carbonyl-olefin metathesis reactions towards the synthesis of unsaturated five- and six-membered nitrogen heterocycles. These developments include catalyst modifications and reaction designs that will enable access to more complex nitrogen heterocycles.

Metal-catalyzed regiodivergent organic reactions

This review discusses metal-catalysed regiodivergent additions, allylic substitutions, CH-activation, cross-couplings and intra- or intermolecular cyclisations.

Gold- and Silver-Catalysed Cyclisation Reactions of β-Amino Allenes

Herein we report the formation of pyrrolines and tetrahydropyridines from the cyclisation reactions of β-amino allenes by both AuI and AgI catalysts in yields ranging from 5 to 70 %. AuI catalysts favour a 5-endo-dig cyclisation before rapid rearrangement to the 5-exo-dig product, while AgI favours a 6-endo-trig cyclisation. We also report the first known Ag2O catalysed cyclisation reaction of an allene which occurred in good yield (61 %).

An efficient Sn(ii)-catalyzed one-pot synthesis of a 3-substituted azetidine-2,4-dione framework

A novel Sn(ii)-catalyzed tandem cyclization reaction of aromatic aldehydes with ethyl cyanoacetate has been achieved to afford a series of 3-substituted azetidine-2,4-diones in good to excellent yields.

Novel acetylcholine and carbamoylcholine analogues: development of a functionally selective alpha4beta2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonist

A series of carbamoylcholine and acetylcholine analogues were synthesized and characterized pharmacologically at neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). Several of the compounds displayed low nanomolar binding affinities to the alpha4beta2 nAChR and pronounced selectivity for this subtype over alpha3beta4, alpha4beta4, and alpha7 nAChRs. The high nAChR activity of carbamoylcholine analogue 5d was found to reside in its R-enantiomer, a characteristic most likely true for all other compounds in the series. Interestingly, the pronounced alpha4beta2 selectivities exhibited by some of the compounds in the binding assays translated into functional selectivity. Compound 5a was a fairly potent partial alpha4beta2 nAChR agonist with negligible activities at the alpha3beta4 and alpha7 subtypes, thus being one of the few truly functionally selective alpha4beta2 nAChR agonists published to date. Ligand-protein docking experiments using homology models of the amino-terminal domains of alpha4beta2 and alpha3beta4 nAChRs identified residues Val111(beta2)/Ile113(beta4), Phe119(beta2)/Gln121(beta4), and Thr155(alpha4)/Ser150(alpha3) as possible key determinants of the alpha4beta2/alpha3beta4-selectivity displayed by the analogues.

Total synthesis of (+/-)-lysergic acid, lysergol, and isolysergol by palladium-catalyzed domino cyclization of amino allenes bearing a bromoindolyl group

Ergot alkaloids and their synthetic analogs have been reported to exhibit broad biological activity. We investigated direct construction of the C/D ring system of ergot alkaloids based on palladium-catalyzed domino cyclization of amino allenes. With this biscyclization as the key step, total synthesis of (+/-)-lysergic acid, (+/-)-lysergol, and (+/-)-isolysergol was achieved.

Chameleon Reactivity of the Allene Bond of 4-Vinylidene-2-oxazolidinone: Novel Through-Space Conjugative Nucleophilic Addition of Electron-Rich Alkenes and Hetero-Nucleophiles

The Calpha==Cbeta double bond of allene carbamates 1 serves as an electron acceptor similar to the double bond of conjugated enones by means of a through-space interaction with the N--SO2 bond; the carbamate double bond is thus subject to nucleophilic addition for a wide variety of nucleophiles, which proceeds under mild conditions by heating at 70-100 degrees C. Depending on the kind of nucleophiles, 1 displays three different reaction modes: 1) Typically enol ethers and allylsilanes promote 1,3-sulfonyl migration of 1 and undergo the inverse electron demand Diels-Alder reaction with the 1-aza-1,3-butadiene intermediates II thus formed to furnish bicyclic 2-alkoxy-5-sulfonyltetrahydropyridines 2 and 2-silylmethyl-5-sulfonyltetrahydropyridines 3, respectively, with high regio- and stereoselectivity and retention of configuration of the double bonds of these electron-rich alkenes; 2) silanes (RnSiH4-n, n=1-3) and thiols deliver the hydride and the thiolate at the Cbeta carbon and promote the 1,3-sulfonyl migration, followed by protonation of the thus-formed carbamate anion (Z)-III to provide, for example, (Z)-4 a and (Z)-4 j, respectively; 3) alcohols simply add to the Calpha==Cbeta double bond and provide (E)-6. Usually, the reaction with alcohols is accompanied by the second pathway, giving rise to, for example, (Z)-4 b in addition to (E)-6 b. Phenol engages in the third pathway and provides (E)-6 g exclusively. Heteroaromatics, such as furans and benzofurans follow the first pathway, however, in a different regioselectivity from enol ethers and allylsilanes, delivering the oxygen atom at the 3-position of 5-sulfonyltetrahydropyridines (2 g and 2 h). Indoles, on the other hand, show a dichotomy, equally enjoying the first and the third pathways and provide mixtures of (E)-7 and (E)-8, respectively.

Pd-catalyzed regio- and stereoselective cyclization-heck reaction of monoesters of 1,2-allenyl phosphonic acids with alkenes

[reaction: see text] The cyclization-Heck reactions of monoesters of 1, 2-allenyl phosphonic acids with alkenes were studied. The reaction afforded 4-(1-Z-alkenyl)-2-ethoxy-2,5-dihydro[1,2]oxaphosphole 2-oxides regio- and stereoselectively. Pd(II) was regenerated from the in situ formed Pd(0) using CaH2(cat.)/NaI/O2 or benzoquinone to furnish the catalytic cycle.

The regioselective α-alkylation of the benzophenone imine of glycinamide, alaninamide, and related derivatives

The benzophenone imine of glycinamide was alkylated using ion pair extraction (RX, 10% aq. NaOH, Bu4NHSO4 (1 equiv.), CH2Cl2, rt) to give the α-monosubstituted products, which were then alkylated a second time using stronger basic conditions (KO-t-Bu, THF, 0 °C, RX). Crystal structures of the Schiff bases of glycinamide, an α-monosubstituted and an α,α-disubstituted product were reported.Key words: benzophenone imines, Schiff bases, alkylation, ion pair extraction (IPE), phase-transfer catalysis (PTC), anhydrous base, X-ray crystal structures.

Studies on Pd0-Catalyzed Cyclization ofN-3,4-Alkadienyl Toluenesulfonamides with Organic Halides: Selective Synthesis of 2,3-Dihydropyrroles, 1,2,3,6-Tetrahydropyrridines, and Azetidines

The palladium-catalyzed coupling-cyclization of beta-amino allenes with organic halides ranging from aryl halide to 1-alkenyl halide was studied. 2,3-Dihydro-1H-pyrroles were obtained by reaction of 3-substituted-5-unsubstituted-3,4-allenyl amides under conditions A, while the reaction of 5-substituted-3,4-allenyl amides afforded 1,2,5,6-tetrahydropyridines and/or azetidines with high de under conditions B or C. The skeleton and relative configuration of the six-membered products were established by the X-ray diffraction studies of 10 ka. Allenyl amide 4 q reacted with 1,4-diiodobenzene 6 r to afford double cyclization product 15. The structure of its major stereoisomer was also determined by the X-ray diffraction study.

Decarboxylative Ring Contractions and Olefin Insertions of Vinyl Oxazinanones

[Structure: see text] 6-Vinyl oxazinanones undergo catalytic, diastereoselective, decarboxylative ring contraction to form vinyl azetidines in good yield. Performing the decarboxylation in the presence of Michael acceptors results in decarboxylative olefin insertion to provide diastereoenriched substituted vinyl piperidines.

From allene to allene: a palladium-catalyzed approach to β-allenyl butenolides and their application to the synthesis of polysubstituted benzene derivatives

An allene to allene protocol for the synthesis of beta-allenyl butenolides in moderate to high yields from 2,3-allenoic acids and propargylic carbonates catalyzed by Pd(OAc)2-TFP has been developed; the products were applied successfully to the Diels-Alder reaction with electron-deficient alkynes to afford polysubstituted benzene derivatives with an excellent regioselectivity.

Development of Useful Reactions Based on the Novel Reactivities of Allenic Compounds and Their Application to Tandem Cyclizations

This review highlights a recent study on allenic compounds by the author's group. In the first section, the organocopper-mediated ring-opening reaction of ethynylaziridines and palladium-catalyzed reductive synthesis of allenes are described. In the second section, palladium-catalyzed stereoselective cyclization of allenes, including the tandem reaction, leading to aziridines, pyrrolidines, benzoisoindoles, and cyclopropanes is presented. The final section reviews aziridination and medium-ring formation due to the intramolecular reaction of bromoallenes. The latter reaction is based on the author's recent discovery that bromoallenes can act as allylic dication equivalents in the presence of a palladium catalyst and alcohol.

Development of Useful Reactions Involving Tandem Cyclizations Based on the Novel Reactivities of Allenic Compounds

This review highlights author's recent study on allenic compounds. In the first section, organocopper-mediated ring-opening reaction of ethynylaziridines and palladium-catalyzed reductive synthesis of allenes including those which are not accessible by other means, are described. In the second section, palladium-catalyzed stereoselective cyclization of allenes and tandem reaction leading to aziridines, pyrrolidines, benzoisoindoles, and cyclopropanes are presented. The final section presents aziridination and medium-ring formation by intramolecular reaction of bromoallenes, which are scarcely investigated until quite recently. The latter reaction is based on our recent discovery that bromoallenes can act as allylic dication equivalents in the presence of a palladium catalyst and alcohol.

Studies on Pd(II)-catalyzed coupling-cyclization of alpha- or beta-amino allenes with allylic halides

The palladium-catalyzed coupling-cyclization of alpha- or beta-amino allenes with allylic halides leading to 3-allylic 2,5-dihydropyrroles and 1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridines, respectively, was studied. The starting materials are easily available. The skeletons of both two classes of products were established by the X-ray diffraction studies of 7i and 9b. Through the study of the reaction of 2b with 3-chloro-1-butene, 1-chloro-2-butene, and pi-allyl palladium species and the stereochemical outcome of the coupling cyclization of (S)-2m and (R)-2n, it is believed that the current transformation most likely proceeded via a Pd(II)-catalyzed pathway, although a Pd(0) pathway cannot be completely excluded.

Tuning the reaction paths in palladium(0)-catalyzed coupling-cyclization reaction of beta-amino allenes with organic halides: a substituent switch

[reaction: see text] Substituent effects on the allene moiety and the N-protecting group were found to be the dominant factor in determining the reaction paths in the Pd(0)-catalyzed coupling-cyclization reaction of beta-amino allenes with organic halides.

Palladium(0)-Catalysed Cyclisation of Functionalised Allenyl Ethers with Hypervalent Iodonium Salts

The palladium(0)-catalysed coupling and cyclisation of allenyl alcohols and allenyl amines with hypervalent iodonium salts afforded cyclised heterocyclic acetals and morpholines under mild conditions.

[Development of aziridination and azetizination reactions of amino allenes using a palladium catalyst]

Palladium-catalyzed synthesis of alkenylaziridines and azetidines from alpha- and beta-amino allenes are presented. Whereas palladium-catalyzed reaction of N-arylsulfonyl-alpha-amino allenes with an aryl iodide in the presence of potassium carbonate in DMF at around 70 degrees C affords the corresponding 3-pyrroline derivatives, the reaction in refluxing 1,4-dioxane under similar conditions yields exclusively or most predominantly the corresponding 2-alkenylaziridines bearing an aryl group on the double bond. Similarly, N-arylsulfonyl-beta-amino allenes can be also cyclized into the corresponding alkenylazetidines bearing 2,4-cis-sunstituents under palladium-catalyzed cyclization conditions in DMF.

Stereoselective synthesis of 2-alkenylaziridines and 2-alkenylazetidines by palladium-catalyzed intramolecular amination of alpha- and beta-amino allenes

Whereas palladium-catalyzed reaction of N-arylsulfonyl-alpha-amino allenes with an aryl iodide (4 equiv) in the presence of potassium carbonate (4 equiv) in DMF at around 70 degrees C affords the corresponding 3-pyrroline derivatives, the reaction in refluxing 1,4-dioxane under otherwise identical conditions yields exclusively or most predominantly the corresponding 2-alkenylaziridines bearing an aryl group on the double bond. Similarly, N-arylsulfonyl-beta-amino allenes can be also cyclized into the corresponding alkenylazetidines bearing a 2,4-cis-configuration under palladium-catalyzed cyclization conditions in DMF.