Cycloisomerization of 1,n-Enynes Via Carbophilic Activation

Catalytic enantioselective cyclization and C3-fluorination of polyenes

(Xylyl-phanephos)Pt(2+) in combination with XeF(2) mediates the consecutive diastereoselective cation-olefin cyclization/fluorination of polyene substrates. Isolated yields were typically in the 60-69% range while enantioselectivities reached as high as 87%. The data are consistent with a stereoretentive fluorination of a P(2)Pt-alkyl cation intermediate.

Gold(I)-catalyzed aminohalogenation of fluorinated N'-aryl-N-propargyl amidines for the synthesis of imidazole derivatives under mild conditions

A procedure for the synthesis of fluorinated imidazole derivatives from propargyl amidines has been developed. Under gold(I) catalysis, propargyl amidines were converted into 5-fluoromethyl imidazoles in the presence of Selectfluor through a cascade cyclization/fluorination process. In contrast, imidazole-5-carbaldehydes were obtained in high yields when N-iodosuccinimide (NIS) was used as the halogenating reagent. The polarity of the solvent and light had significant impact on the formation of the carbaldehydes. These transformations showed excellent functional-group tolerance. An unfluorinated substrate with an electron-withdrawing group also underwent aminohalogenation to give the corresponding product in good yield. Mechanistic investigation revealed the general pathways of these transformations.

Mechanistic and sterochemical insights on the Pt-catalyzed rearrangement of oxiranylpropargylic esters to cyclopentenones

A mechanism for the rearrangement of oxiranylpropargylic esters to cyclopentenones catalyzed by PtCl(2) is proposed based on DFT calculations (M06/6-31++G(d,p)). Although the basic steps are coincidental with those proposed by Sarpong et al., who characterized a 2H-pyran as intermediate, calculations have revealed other intricate details of this complex rearrangement. The 2H-pyran is proposed to result from the ring-opening of a bicyclic oxonium ion that follows the nucleophilic capture by the epoxide of a platinum carbene generated by an initial Pt-mediated 1,2-propargylic rearrangement. The key steps in the evolution of this system are the electrocyclic ring-opening of the 2H-pyran to a α-methoxycarbonyl dienone and an iso-Nazarov ring closure. Prior to those, changes in hapticity and in the conformation of the dienone are required in order to produce the helical conformation needed to generate a single diastereomer of the cyclopentenone product obtained experimentally. The metal is needed well beyond the first step of the mechanism, and both electrocyclic reactions are favored by coordination to the metal when compared to their uncomplexed counterparts. Moreover, we have experimentally demonstrated that the rearrangement is stereoconvergent, a feature that is traced back to the initial configuration of the epoxide, which determines the somewhat counterthermodynamic placement of the metal syn to the methyl group of the stereogenic center in the 2H-pyran intermediate. Finally, starting from enantiopure oxiranylpropargylic ester 13, a racemate of cyclopentenone (R*,S*)-16 was obtained. Thus, the sequence does not proceed with memory of chirality, and the absolute stereochemical information is already lost at the stage of the 2H-pyran 14.

Enantioselective cyclizations of silyloxyenynes catalyzed by cationic metal phosphine complexes

The discovery of complementary methods for enantioselective transition metal-catalyzed cyclization with silyloxyenynes has been accomplished using chiral phosphine ligands. Under palladium catalysis, 1,6-silyloxyenynes bearing a terminal alkyne led to the desired five-membered ring with high enantioselectivities (up to 91% ee). As for reactions under cationic gold catalysis, 1,6- and 1,5-silyloxyenynes bearing an internal alkyne furnished the chiral cyclopentane derivatives with excellent enantiomeric excess (up to 94% ee). Modification of the substrate by incorporating an α,β-unsaturation led to the discovery of a tandem cyclization. Remarkably, using silyloxy-1,3-dien-7-ynes under gold catalysis conditions provided the bicyclic derivatives with excellent diastereo- and enantioselectivities (up to >20:1 dr and 99% ee).

Asymmetric Au-catalyzed cycloisomerization of 1,6-enynes: An entry to bicyclo[4.1.0]heptene

A comprehensive study on the asymmetric gold-catalyzed cycloisomerization reaction of heteroatom tethered 1,6-enynes is described. The cycloisomerization reactions were conducted in the presence of the chiral cationic Au(I) catalyst consisting of (R)-4-MeO-3,5-(t-Bu)(2)-MeOBIPHEP-(AuCl)(2) complex and silver salts (AgOTf or AgNTf(2)) in toluene under mild conditions to afford functionalized bicyclo[4.1.0]heptene derivatives. The reaction conditions were found to be highly substrate-dependent, the best results being obtained in the case of oxygen-tethered enynes. The formation of bicyclic derivatives, including cyclopropyl pentasubstituted ones, was reported in moderate to good yields and in enantiomeric excesses up to 99%.