Dipolar cycloaddition reaction of (phenylsulfonyl)propadiene with nitrones and alkylation studies of the cycloadducts

Regio- and stereoselective (3 + 2)-cycloaddition reactions of nitrones with cyclic allenes

An effective approach to access functionalized 2H-cyclonona(deca)[d]isoxazoles and 15-oxo-3,10-methanobenzo[b][1]azacyclododecines has been developed by the reaction of N-aryl-C,C-bis(methoxycarbonyl)nitrones with cyclonona(deca)-1,2-dienes in a one-pot fashion. The reaction of N-aryl-C-(phenylcarbamoyl)nitrones with these allenes proceeds strictly regioselectively giving the mixtures of diastereomeric isoxazolidines containing a double bond at the C⁴-position of the isoxazolidine ring. The quantum chemical calculations show that the regioselectivity of these reactions is in good agreement with the reactivity indices of the considered compounds.

New developments of ketonitrones in organic synthesis

Various vinyl ketonitrones are prepared using new strategies and were applied to synthesize heterocycles in organic synthesis.

1,3-Dipolar cycloadditions of acetylenic sulfones in solution and on solid supports

Several representative acetylenic sulfones were immobilized on a polymer support derived from Merrifield resin by means of ester linkers that were used to couple free carboxylic acid groups on the solid support with benzylic hydroxyl functions on the arylsulfonyl moieties of the acetylenes. Several examples of reversed ester linkers, using Merrifield resin directly, were also successfully prepared. The 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions of the solid-supported acetylenic sulfones were investigated with a series of 1,3-dipoles, including benzyl azide, ethyl diazoacetate, diazomethane, as well as representative nitrile oxides, nitrile imines, nitrile ylides, nitrones, azomethine imines, azomethine ylides, munchnones, and sydnones. In general, analogous cycloadditions were also performed with acetylenic sulfones in solution phase for comparison. The cycloadditions typically afforded good to excellent yields of the desired products in both solution and solid phase, although the latter reactions sometimes required more vigorous conditions. Except in the case of benzyl azide and diazo compounds, where mixtures of regioisomers were obtained, the other 1,3-dipoles reacted with high regioselectivity and afforded essentially unique regioisomers. Cleavage of the products from the resin was smoothly effected by alkaline hydrolysis, while several attempts at reductive desulfonylation with sodium amalgam or samarium diiodide-HMPA resulted in N-O or C-O scission, in addition to cleavage from the polymer. The method provides access to a number of important classes of heterocycles, including variously substituted and functionalized triazoles, pyrazoles, 1,2-oxazoles, pyrroles, as well as their dihydro and bicyclic analogues. The success of the cycloadditions on polymer supports paves the way to future investigations of sequential transformations leading to libraries of useful heterocycles.

Phenylsulfonyl ene-allenes as efficient precursors to bicyclic systems via intramolecular [2 + 2]-cycloaddition reactions

Various phenylsulfonyl allene derivatives were prepared with double bonds tethered either to the alpha-position or the gamma-position of the allene. These substrates underwent a highly regio- and stereospecific thermal [2 + 2]-cycloaddition across the nonactivated cumulene double bond, forming distal cycloadducts (i.e., 57) in the case of alpha-tethered allenes and proximal adducts (i.e., 25) in the case of gamma-tethered allenes. The mechanistic rationale for the observed stereospecificity involves initial diradical formation, followed by a rapid ring closure to the more stable cis-fused ring system. The tether may be equipped with heteroatoms, allowing for the formation of fused heterocycles (e.g., 61), and the cycloaddition can be facilitated by the introduction of sterically bulky groups and/or by conformational rigidity to the tether. Other modes of cyclization were observed in the presence of sodium benzenesulfinate or Lewis acids, in which cases polar mechanisms prevail. The chemoselectivity is reversed for [4 + 2]-cycloadditions, which prefer instead to engage the vinyl sulfone moiety, independent of whether the tether is attached to the alpha- or gamma-position of the allene.