New cyclohexadienone derivatives: preparation and chiral discrimination in high-pressure Diels-Alder cycloadditions

Electrochemical Dearomatizing Methoxylation of Phenols and Naphthols: Synthetic and Computational Studies

The electrochemical oxidative dearomatizing methoxylation of phenols and naphthols was developed. It provides an alternative route for the preparation of methoxycyclohexadienones, important and versatile synthetic intermediates, that eliminates the need for stoichiometric high-energy chemical oxidants and generates hydrogen as a sole by-product. The reaction proceeds in a simple constant current mode, in an undivided cell, and it employs standardized instrumentation. A collection of methoxycyclohexadienones derived from various 2,4,6-tri-substituted phenols and 1-substituted-2-naphthols was obtained in moderate to excellent yields. These include a complex derivative of estrone, as well as methoxylated dearomatized 1,1'-bi-2-naphthols (BINOLs). The mechanism of the reaction was subject to profound investigations using density functional theory calculations. In particular, the reactivity of two key intermediates, phenoxyl radical and phenoxenium ion, was carefully examined. The obtained results shed light on the pathway leading to the desired product and rationalize experimentally observed selectivities regarding a side benzylic methoxylation and the preference for the functionalization at the para over the ortho position. They also uncover the structure-selectivity relationship, inversely correlating the steric bulk of the substrate with its propensity to undergo the side-reaction. Moreover, the loss of stereochemical information from enantiopure BINOL substrates during the reaction is rationalized by the computations.

Dearomatization of a 3-Hydroxypyridine Through an Unexpected Oxidative Deformylation Process: An Entry to Azacyclohexadienones

Phenols are well-known precursors of cyclohexadienones, which have widespread applications in organic synthesis. In contrast, their hydroxypyridine counterparts have not been explored yet. An unprecedented oxidative dearomatization of a 3-hydroxypyridine involving an unexpected deformylation step is reported. The chemical reactivity of the resulting unreported azacyclohexadiene-type compound was also explored.

One-Pot Access to 1,7a-Dihydro-1,3a-ethano-indene and 1,8a-Dihydro-1,3a-ethano-azulene Skeletons by a Sequential Gold(I)-Catalyzed Propargyl Claisen Rearrangement/Nazarov Cyclization/[4+2] Cycloaddition Reaction

An efficient synthetic approach to the tricyclic 1,7a-dihydro-1,3a-ethano-indene and 1,8a-dihydro-1,3a-ethano-azulene skeletons from suitable propargyl vinyl ethers is based on a one-pot, multistep process entailing a gold(I)-catalyzed propargyl Claisen rearrangement/Nazarov cyclization, a [4+2] cycloaddition of the formed six- or seven-membered ring-fused cyclopentadiene system, and a final protection step for the easy isolation and purification of the products by chromatography.

Stereocontrolled transformations of cyclohexadienone derivatives to access stereochemically rich and natural product-inspired architectures

The last two decades or so have witnessed an upsurge in defining the art of designing complex natural products and nature-inspired molecules. Throughout these decades, fundamental insights into stereocontrolled, step-economic and atom-economical synthesis principles were achieved by the numerous synthetic accomplishments particularly in diversity-oriented synthesis (DOS). This has empowered the visualization of the third dimension in synthetic design and thus has resulted in a dramatic increase with today's diversity-oriented synthesis (DOS) at the forefront enabling access to diverse scaffolds with a high degree of stereochemical and skeletal complexity. To this end, a starting material-based approach is one of the powerful tools utilized in DOS that allows rapid access to molecular architectures with a high sp3 content. Skeletal and stereochemical diversity is often paramount for the selective modulation of the biological function of a complementary protein in the biological space. In this context, stereocontrolled transformation of cyclohexadienone scaffolds has positioned itself as a powerful platform for the rapid generation of stereochemically enriched and natural product-inspired compound collections. In this review, we cover multidirectional synthetic strategies that utilized cyclohexadienone derivatives as pluripotent building blocks en route for the construction of novel chemical space.

A thermal decarboxylative Cloke–Wilson rearrangement of dispirocyclopropanes derived from para-quinone methides and bromo-Meldrum's acids: an approach to synthesize spirobutyrolactone para-dienones

An unprecedented approach to synthesize spirobutyrolactone para-dienones from para-quinone methides and bromo-Meldrum's acids has been developed.

Diastereoselective Synthesis of Morphan Derivatives by Michael and Hetero-Michael Addition of 1,1-Enediamines to Quinone Monoketals

A general and concise method was developed for the synthesis of highly functionalized morphans 3-4 by the Michael and hetero-Michael addition reaction of different types of quinone monoketals 1 and 1,1-enediamines 2 in ethanol or 1,4-dioxane at reflux. This method is suitable for the efficient parallel syntheses of N-containing heterocycles. A library of highly functional morphan derivatives was easily constructed using the Michael/hetero-Michael reaction.

Organocatalytic asymmetric desymmetrization of 4,4-disubstituted cyclohexadienones via an intermolecular Diels–Alder reaction

Asymmetric desymmetrization of 4,4-disubstituted cyclohexadienones via a chiral phosphoric acid-catalyzed enantioselective intermolecular Diels–Alder reaction is developed.

Asymmetric transformations of achiral 2,5-cyclohexadienones

Cyclohexadienones are versatile platforms for performing asymmetric synthesis as evidenced by the numerous natural product syntheses that exploit their diverse reactivity profile. However, there are few general methods available for the direct asymmetric synthesis of chiral cyclohexadienones. To circumvent this problem, several researchers have developed catalytic asymmetric methods that employ readily available achiral 2,5-cyclohexadienones as substrates. Many of these reactions are desymmetrizations in which one of the enantiotopic alkenes of an achiral dienone is transformed. Others involve selective reaction at one alkene of an unsymmetrically substituted, achiral dienone. This review will cover advances in this area over the last 20 years and the application of these strategies in complex molecule synthesis.

Synthesis of o-chlorophenols via an unexpected nucleophilic chlorination of quinone monoketals mediated by N,N'-dimethylhydrazine dihydrochloride

An unexpected nucleophilic chlorination of a quinone monoketal while carrying out a pyrazolidine synthesis has led to a general preparation of multisubstituted phenols. The products are obtained in good to high yields under mild conditions. The bridged pyrazolidines that were the original targets are obtained in the presence of a protic solvent.

Enantioselective syntheses of candenatenins B and C using a chiral anthracene auxiliary

An asymmetric synthesis of two anticancer natural products, candenatenins B and C, is described, leading to a revision of the originally assigned stereochemistry. The synthesis follows a Diels-Alder/retro-Diels Alder strategy using a chiral anthracene auxiliary to access both targets with 90% ee. The inherent structural qualities of the auxiliary allow for both regio- and diastereoselective transformations.

Addition of lithiated methoxyallene to aziridines – a novel access to enantiopure piperidine and β-amino acid derivatives

Addition of lithiated methoxyallene to aziridine derivatives provided the expected primary addition products. The less substituted carbon of the aziridine ring was attacked selectively. The primary adducts could be converted to enantiopure piperidine derivatives or β-amino acid derivatives. The unexpected reactions lead to a tricyclic sulfonamide and to alkynyl-substituted aminoethers. The efficient two-step conversion of a piperidone derivative to a benzomorphan demonstrates the potential of this approach to biologically active compounds.

Diels-Alder reactions using 4,7-dioxygenated indanones as dienophiles for regioselective construction of oxygenated 2,3-dihydrobenz[f]indenone skeleton

Regioselective construction of 4,8,9-trioxygenated 2,3-dihydrobenz[f]indenones, key intermediates for the synthesis of kinamycin antibiotics, was achieved via Diels-Alder reactions (DAR) using 4,7-dioxygenated indanone-type compounds as dienophiles. Reaction of indanetrione with 1-methoxybutadiene gave a 1 : 1 mixture of undesired 4,5,9-trioxygenated 2,3-dihydrobenz[f]indenone and [4.4.3]propellane. The addition of Lewis acid did not affect the product ratio, whereas the use of the 6-bromoindanetrione exclusively afforded the latter propellane. On the other hand, DAR of benzyne derived from bromoindan and furan gave 5,8-epoxy-2,3-dihydrobenz[f]indene, which was subjected to acid-induced ring opening to give 2,3-dihydrobenz[f]indenone with undesired 4,5,9-trioxy functions.

Enantioselective Synthesis of Hydrobenzofuranones Using an Asymmetric Desymmetrizing Intramolecular Stetter Reaction of Cyclohexadienones

A series of cyclohexadienones were synthesized by dearomatization of phenols followed by Dess-Martin oxidation. Asymmetric intramolecular Stetter reactions of these substrates provide hydrobenzofuranones in good to excellent yields and excellent stereoselectivities. Up to three stereocenters as well as quaternary stereocenter are formed from polysubstituted substrates. A scale up experiment demonstrates the utility of this transformation.

Design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of (E)-3-(4-methanesulfonylphenyl)-2-(aryl)acrylic acids as dual inhibitors of cyclooxygenases and lipoxygenases

A group of (E)-3-(4-methanesulfonylphenyl)acrylic acids possessing a substituted-phenyl ring (4-H, 4-Br, 3-Br, 4-F, 4-OH, 4-OMe, 4-OAc, and 4-NHAc) attached to the acrylic acid C-2 position were prepared using a stereospecific Perkin condensation reaction. A related group of compounds having 4- and 3-(4-isopropyloxyphenyl)phenyl, 4- and 3-(2,4-difluorophenyl)phenyl and 4- and 3-(4-methanesulfonylphenyl)phenyl substituents attached to the acrylic acid C-2 position were also synthesized, using a palladium-catalyzed Suzuki cross-coupling reaction, for evaluation as dual cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX) inhibitors. (E)-2-(3-Bromophenyl)-3-(4-methanesulfonylphenyl)acrylic acid (9h), and compounds having 4-(4-isopropyloxyphenyl-, 2,4-difluorophenyl-, or 4-methylsulfonylphenyl)phenyl moieties at the acrylic acid C-2 position (11a,b,d), were particularly potent COX-2 inhibitors with a high COX-2 selectivity index (COX-2 IC50 approximately 0.32 microM, SI > 316) similar to the reference drug rofecoxib (COX-2 IC50 = 0.5 microM, SI > 200). Acrylic acid analogs with a C-2 4-hydoxyphenyl (9d, IC50 = 0.56 microM), or 4-acetamidophenyl (9g, IC50 = 0.11 microM), substituent were particularly potent 5-LOX inhibitors that may participate in an additional specific hydrogen-bonding interaction. A number of compounds possessing a C-2 substituted-phenyl moiety (4-Br, 4-F, and 4-OH), or a 4- or 3-(2,4-difluorophenyl)phenyl moiety, showed potent 15-LOX inhibitory activity (IC50 values in the 0.31-0.49 microM range) relative to the reference drug luteolin (IC50 = 3.2 microM). Compounds having a C-2 4-acetylaminophenyl, or 4-(2,4-difluorophenyl)phenyl, moiety exhibited anti-inflammatory activities that were equipotent to aspirin, but less than that of celecoxib. The structure-activity data acquired indicate the acrylic acid moiety constitutes a suitable scaffold (template) to design novel acyclic dual inhibitors of the COX and LOX isozymes.

Asymmetric synthesis of hydrobenzofuranones via desymmetrization of cyclohexadienones using the intramolecular Stetter reaction

Dearomatization of phenols followed by oxidation affords cyclohexadienyloxyacetaldehydes, which produce hydrobenzofuranones via asymmetric intramolecular Stetter reaction in good to excellent yield. Quaternary as well as up to three contiguous stereocenters may be formed in good to excellent enantioselectivities and high diastereoselectivities.

Chiral anthracene and anthrone templates as stereocontrolling elements in Diels–Alder/retro Diels–Alder sequences

The development of chiral anthracene templates for use in Diels-Alder/retro Diels-Alder sequences is described. A summary of past results and new progress is reported.

Stereoselectivity Control by Oxaspiro Rings during Diels−Alder Cycloadditions to Cross-Conjugated Cyclohexadienones: The Syn Oxygen Phenomenon

The diastereofacial selectivity operating in Diels-Alder additions involving spirocyclic cross-conjugated cyclohexadienones with dienes of varying reactivity has been investigated. The study has included the ether series 1a-c as well as the lactone/ketone pair 2a/2b. In all cases, the preferred [4+2] cycloaddition pathway consisted of bonding from that pi-surface syn to the oxygen atom. 4-Substituted-4-methyl-2,5-cyclohexadienones (monocyclic systems) were also examined and found to undergo bond formation preferentially from the face bearing the more electron-withdrawing of the two groups at the 4 position. Kinetic parameters were determined for the cycloaddition of 1a and 2a to cyclopentadiene. The rate acceleration profile of solvents was in the order CF(3)CH(2)OH >> CH(3)CN approximately CH(2)Cl(2) for the production of 9a from 1a and CF(3)CH(2)OH >> CH(2)Cl(2) > CH(3)CN for the production of 21a from 2a, respectively. This spread in polarity had no major impact on product distribution, a phenomenon also reflected in the behavior of 4-substituted-4-methyl-2,5-cyclohexadienones under comparable conditions. Theoretical assessment of these experimental facts was undertaken at the HF/6-31G level. The facial selectivity is understandable in terms of the secondary interaction between the HOMO of the diene and LUMO of the dienophile as well as the effective hyperconjugation between the newly forming bond and the 4-anti-C-C sigma-orbital due to the more electron-donating bond, as defined by the Cieplak model.