Silylated Cyclohexadienes: New Alternatives to Tributyltin Hydride in Free Radical Chemistry We are grateful to Prof. Dr. Dieter Seebach for generous financial support and to Prof. Dr. Erick M. Carreira for helpful discussions during the preparation of the manuscript. We also thank the Swiss Science National Foundation (2100-055280.98/1) for funding our work

Tin-free enantioselective radical reactions using silanes

Readily available hexyl silane is an excellent choice as a H-atom donor and a chain carrier in Lewis acid mediated enantioselective radical reactions. Conjugate radical additions to alpha,beta-unsaturated imides at room temperature proceed in good yields and excellent enantioselectivities.

Straightforward assembly of the octahydroisoquinoline core of morphinan alkaloids

The octahydroisoquinoline core of morphinan was assembled starting from readily available arylcyclohexadienes. Three different approaches were developed, including a metal- and an acid-mediated Mannich type process and an anionic-mediated cyclization. All provided the desired motif as a single diastereomer having a C9-C13-C14 trans-cis relative configuration.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of a novel pentagastrin-toxin conjugate designed for a targeted prodrug mono-therapy of cancer

A novel carbamate prodrug 2 containing a pentagastrin moiety was synthesized. 2 was designed as a detoxified analogue of the highly cytotoxic natural antibiotic duocarmycin SA (1) for the use in a targeted prodrug monotherapy of cancers expressing cholecystokinin (CCK-B)/gastrin receptors. The synthesis of prodrug 2 was performed using a palladium-catalyzed carbonylation of bromide 6, followed by a radical cyclisation to give the pharmacophoric unit 10, coupling of 10 to the DNA-binding subunit 15 and transformation of the resulting seco-drug 3b into the carbamate 2 via addition of a pentagastrin moiety.

Radical Transfer Hydroamination with Aminated Cyclohexadienes Using Polarity Reversal Catalysis: Scope and Limitations

The synthesis of various new 1-aminated-2,5-cyclohexadienes is described. These reagents can be used in radical transfer hydroaminations of unactivated and electron-rich double bonds. With thiols as polarity reversal catalysts good yields are obtained. The radical hydroamination occurs with good to excellent anti-Markovnikov selectivity. Many functional groups such as alcohols, silyl ethers, phosphonates, arylbromides, imides, amides, and also acidic protons are tolerated under the reaction conditions. DFT calculations provide insights into the aromatization of silyl, alkyl, and aminyl substituted cyclohexadienyl radicals to generate the corresponding C-, Si-, and N-centered radicals.

Silver-Catalyzed Asymmetric Synthesis of 2,3-Dihydrobenzofurans: A New Chiral Synthesis of Pterocarpans

2,3-Dihydrobenzofurans can be diastereoselectively prepared by condensation of aromatic aldehydes with 2,3-dihydrobenzoxasilepines under the catalysis of Ag(I) complexes, and in the presence of a source of fluoride ion. The application of this strategy by using chiral catalysts leads to a new enantioselective total synthesis of natural cis-pterocarpans and their trans isomers. Through this method, the first enantioselective total synthesis of the antifungal agent (-)-pterocarpin was achieved. In addition, a new entry into the heteroaromatic system of 2,5-dihydrobenzoxepine is also presented.

Intramolecular Carbolithiation of Allylo-Lithioaryl Ethers: A New Enantioselective Synthesis of Functionalized 2,3-Dihydrobenzofurans

A new and easy method for the diastereoselective synthesis of 3-functionalized 2,3-dihydrobenzofuran derivatives from allyl 2-bromoaryl ethers is described. The key step of this transformation involves an intramolecular carbolithiation reaction of allyl 2-lithioaryl ethers. The substituents in both the allyl and the aryl moieties play an important and decisive role in stopping the reaction at the benzofuran thus avoiding a gamma-elimination reaction. Finally, this process is amenable to the synthesis of enantiomerically enriched compounds by using (-)-sparteine as a chiral inductor.

Dihaloindium hydride as a novel reducing agent

Dihaloindium hydrides (X2InH) are novel reducing reagents, which act in both an ionic and a radical manner. The hydrides were easily generated from InX3 and Bu3SnH to reduce a variety of functionalities such as aldehydes, ketones, enones, and imines. The combination of a phosphine and Cl2InH accomplished the selective transformation from acid chlorides to aldehydes. One-pot treatment of Cl2InH, enones, and aldehydes achieved reductive aldol reactions, in which the predominant reduction of enones was followed by an aldol reaction between the resulting indium enolates and the remaining aldehydes. It is noteworthy that both anti- and syn-selective aldols were obtained by the use of THF and an aqueous solvent, respectively. The replacement of Bu3SnH with Et3SiH as a hydride source allowed the catalytic use of InBr3 to give the syn-selective aldols. The dehalogenation of alkyl halides was achieved by a catalytic amount of InCl3 in the presence of Bu3SnH. This procedure was applied to some representative cyclizations as radical proof. A simple and non-toxic system, NaBH4/InCl3, also promoted dehalogenation, intramolecular cyclization, and intermolecular coupling reactions. In addition, the Et3SiH/InCl3 system was found applicable to an effective intramolecular cyclization of enynes.

Approach to 3-Aminoindolin-2-ones via Oxime Ether Functionalized Carbamoylcyclohexadienes

O-Benzyloxime ether substituted amidocyclohexadienes were prepared in three steps in good yields from 2-aminoacetophenone. EPR spectroscopic observations and product analyses showed that peroxide-induced decompositions of model compounds led to indolin-2-ones with benzyloxyaminyl substitution at their 3-positions. The cyclization steps were very rapid and took place regioselectively at the C-atoms of the C=N bonds, by 5-exo ring closures. An O-trityloxime ether analogue was also prepared. The cyclohexadienyl intermediate smoothly yielded an alkoxylaminyl radical again by rapid 5-exo-cyclization. However, ring closure was quickly followed by another beta-scission step that released the persistent trityl radical and a 3-nitrosoindolin-2-one derivative. EPR spectroscopic evidence showed that the nitroso compound trapped other transient intermediates to afford a series of nitroxides. GC-MS analyses of products formed in reactions including methyl thioglycolate indicated that 1-benzyl-3-methyl-1,3-dihydro-2H-indol-2-one was derived from the indolinone moiety.

Preparation of β-and γ-lactams via ring closures of unsaturated carbamoyl radicals derived from 1-carbamoyl-1-methylcyclohexa-2,5-dienes

1-Carbamoyl-1-methylcyclohexa-2,5-dienes produced the corresponding delocalised 1-carbamoyl-1-methylcyclohexa-2,5-dienyl radicals on treatment with radical initiators. At temperatures above ca. 300 K dissociation to produce toluene and aminoacyl (carbamoyl) radicals took place. The alternative dissociation of the 1-carbamoyl-1-methylcyclohexa-2,5-dienyl radicals to release methyl radicals and an aromatic amide did not compete. Aminoacyl radicals with allyl, butenyl or similar side chains underwent cyclisations. Moderate yields of N-benzyl-azetidin-2-ones and N-benzyl-pyrrolidin-2-ones were isolated for a range of substituents. The main by-products were N-benzyl-N-alkenylformamides. Ring closure did not take place to a significant extent for precursors with alk-2-ynyl or 2-cyanoalkyl side chains. An improved yield of 1,3-dibenzylazetidin-2-one was obtained by use of lauroyl peroxide as initiator and by inclusion of methyl thioglycolate as polarity reversal catalyst.

Diastereoselective intramolecular SmI2-H2O-amine mediated couplings

The SmI2-H2O-amine mixture has been shown to be effective for intramolecular couplings providing diastereoselectivities of up to 100% de in the coupling of O-cyclohexenyliodophenol derivatives into heterocycles.

Radical transfer hydrosilylation/cyclization using silylated cyclohexadienes

[reaction: see text] A new method for mild metal-free hydrosilylation is described. Silylated cyclohexadienes are used as radical transfer hydrosilylating reagents for various double and triple bonds. A trialkylsilane is transferred from a cyclohexadiene moiety to an alkene. The hydrosilylation can be combined with a C-C bond formation as shown for the preparation of silylated cycloalkanes from the corresponding dienes.