C-C versus C-O anionic domino cycloalkylation of stabilized carbanions: facile one-pot stereoselective preparation of functionalized bridged bicycloalkanones and cyclic enol ethers

Domino Ring Expansion: Regioselective Access to 9-Membered Lactones with a Fused Indole Unit from 2-Nitrophenyl-1,3-cyclohexanediones

The domino anionic fragmentation of 2-nitrophenyl-1,3-cyclohexanediones containing an electrophilic appendage such as aldehyde and epoxide is disclosed. This reaction, initiated by a series of nucleophiles, involves the generation of an intermediate hydroxylate followed by the regioselective formation and fragmentation of an intermediate lactolate into enolate. This strategy, devoid of any protecting group, enlarges the initial ring and provides an original access to decorated 9-membered lactones with a fused indole unit.

Allotwinning in a molecular crystal: (1R,3S)-dimethyl 2-oxocyclohexane-1,3-dicarboxylate

Two polytypic modifications of (1R,3S)-dimethyl 2-oxocyclohexane-1,3-dicarboxylate intergrow to form allotwins. One phase shows monoclinic symmetry, Cc, while the other is orthorhombic Pmc21. The structures may be considered as two different modes of superstructure ordering of an underlying, disordered structure. Considered in the same metrically orthorhombic unit cell a = 37.8883, b = 4.7233, c = 11.6835 Å, the two can be conveniently distinguished by their non-standard centering, Cc being represented as Xc with the centering vectors (0 0 0); (½ 0 ½); (¼ ½ ¾); (¾ ½ ¼); and Pmc21 as Xmc21 with the centering vectors (0 0 0); (½ 0 0). The difference between the allotwin domains lies only in the relationship between next-nearest neighbors along the stacking direction 100 and hence the conformations and packing efficiencies are identical for both phases and all three domains. The stacking sequences for the two phases correspond to ABAB for the orthorhombic stacking and ABA'B'/AB'A'B for the two (equivalent) monoclinic stackings. The monoclinic phase dominates comprising ca 80% of the total volume. Within the monoclinic phase, the ratio between the two possible orientations is highly unbalanced (6:1) indicating relatively large domains. The allotwinning detected in this sample may appear exotic in molecular compounds, but we suggest that the rarity of such examples in the literature is a reflection of the paucity of software that can identify and handle such cases. It is easy to overlook the possibility that a complex diffraction pattern originates from allotwinning and assume that normal mono-component twinning is the cause. The underlying mechanism in this case is the formation of two-dimensional layers of molecules that allow for two equivalent, but in terms of absolute geometry, different, ways of stacking.

Synthetic Studies on the MARDi Cascade: Stereoselective Synthesis of Heterocyclic Seven-Membered Rings

[reaction: see text] A versatile stereoselective synthesis of substituted and functionalized heterocyclic seven-membered rings is described. The approach involves a formal two-carbon ring expansion of heterocyclic cyclopentanones through a base-induced anionic domino three-component transformation named the MARDi cascade leading either to oxa-, aza-, or thiacycloheptanes bearing up to five contiguous stereogenic centers.

Selective Construction of Carbocyclic Eight-Membered Rings by Ring-Closing Metathesis of Acyclic Precursors

Although the efficient preparation of cyclooctanoids has remained a long-standing objective, a real breakthrough was possible only relatively recently with the development of more specific reagents and by the development of new reactions. The direct construction of carbocyclic eight-membered rings from acyclic precursors is still a challenge, mainly because of unfavorable entropic and enthalpic factors that preclude ring formation. This Minireview describes the utilization of ring-closing metathesis (RCM) as a new approach to synthesize cyclooctanoids.

Stereoselective synthesis of bicyclo[4.2.1]nonane skeletons by ring-closing metathesis: a new versatile methodology for the efficient assembly of functionalized cyclooctanoids

[reaction: see text] A new versatile methodology, resulting in a formal three-carbon ring expansion of cyclopentanones, for the efficient assembly of functionalized cyclooctanoids is described. The approach is based on the chemo-, regio-, and stereoselective alpha,gamma-difunctionalization of beta-ketoesters followed by ring-closing metathesis to form functionalized bicyclo[4.2.1]nonanes, precursors of the corresponding cyclooctanes, by selective ring cleavage of the one-carbon-atom bridge.

Enantiopure synthesis of all four stereoisomers of carbapenam-3-carboxylic acid methyl ester

The retro-Dieckmann reaction has been used as a stereodivergent synthetic tool on N-Boc-7-azabicyclo[2.2.1]heptan-2-one-1-carboxylic acid methyl ester to obtain enantiopure trans- and cis-5-(carboxymethyl)pyrrolidine-2-carboxylic acid methyl esters. These disubstituted pyrrolidines have been used as starting materials to develop concise and straightforward syntheses of all four stereoisomers of carbapenam-3-carboxylic acid methyl esters. In this way, we have confirmed unequivocally the stereochemistry of two carbapenams isolated from strains of Serratia and Erwinia species.

Isoxazole --> benzisoxazole rearrangement promoted cascade reactions affording stereodefined polycycles

[reaction: see text] A new chemo-, regio-, and stereoselective cascade reaction features a novel isoxazole --> benzisoxazole rearrangement and affords highly functionalized, differentially protected compounds. The products of this reaction are directly converted to a number of complex, structurally diverse polycyclic molecules. These transformations highlight the unique chemistry inherent to readily prepared fused isoxazoles.

Efficient and stereoselective synthesis of bicyclo[3.2.1]octan-8-ones: synthesis and palladium-catalyzed isomerization of functionalized 2-vinyl-2,3,3a,4,5,6-hexahydro-2,3-benzofurans

A new C,O-cyclodialkylation of dilithiated cyclic beta-keto esters and beta-keto sulfones with 1,4-dibromo-2-butene is reported which results in regio- and diastereoselective formation of 2-vinyl-2,3,3a,4,5,6-hexahydro-2,3-benzofurans. The products could be efficiently transformed into functionalized bicyclo[3.2.1]octan-8-ones by a palladium-catalyzed rearrangement reaction. In case of sulfone derivatives, this rearrangement proceeds with high stereospecifity to give exclusively the endo-configured diastereomers. The bicyclo[3.2.1]octane skeleton is present in a large number of pharmacologically important natural products.