Enantioselective Cascade Radical Addition–Cyclization–Trapping Reactions

Enantioselective radical cascade cyclization via Ti-catalyzed redox relay

Radical cascade cyclization reactions provide an efficient method for the construction of polycyclic architectures with multiple stereogenic centers. However, achieving enantioselectivity control of this type of reaction is a challenging task. Here, we report an enantioselective cyclization of polyfunctional aryl cyclopropyl ketone and alkyne units, wherein the stereochemical outcome is directed by a chiral Ti(salen) catalyst. This transformation was proposed to proceed via a radical cascade process involving the reductive ring-opening of the cyclopropyl ketone followed by two annulation events entailing cyclization of the ensuing alkyl radical onto the alkyne and subsequent addition of the incipient vinyl radical to the Ti(IV)-enolate.

Synthesis of Trifluoromethylated γ-Lactams through Radical Cascades of N-Cyano Alkenes with CF3SO2Na

We report herein a facile strategy to synthesize trifluoromethylated γ-lactams through trifluoromethylcarbonylation of N-cyano alkenes using readily available CF₃SO₂Na as the CF₃ radical source. A range of trifluoromethyl-containing γ-lactams was obtained in good yields. This transition-metal-free protocol is demonstrated with mild conditions, broad substrate scope, good functional group tolerance, convenient reagents, and an easy-to-handle operating system.

Controlling Enantioselectivity and Diastereoselectivity in Radical Cascade Cyclization for Construction of Bicyclic Structures

Radical cascade cyclization reactions are highly attractive synthetic tools for the construction of polycyclic molecules in organic synthesis. While it has been successfully implemented in diastereoselective synthesis of natural products and other complex compounds, radical cascade cyclization faces a major challenge of controlling enantioselectivity. As the first application of metalloradical catalysis (MRC) for controlling enantioselectivity as well as diastereoselectivity in radical cascade cyclization, we herein report the development of a Co(II)-based catalytic system for asymmetric radical bicyclization of 1,6-enynes with diazo compounds. Through the fine-tuning of D2-symmetric chiral amidoporphyrins as the supporting ligands, the Co(II)-catalyzed radical cascade process, which proceeds in a single operation under mild conditions, enables asymmetric construction of multisubstituted cyclopropane-fused tetrahydrofurans bearing three contiguous stereogenic centers, including two all-carbon quaternary centers, in high yields with excellent stereoselectivities. Combined computational and experimental studies have shed light on the underlying stepwise radical mechanism for this new Co(II)-based cascade bicyclization that involves the relay of several Co-supported C-centered radical intermediates, including α-, β-, γ-, and ε-metalloalkyl radicals. The resulting enantioenriched cyclopropane-fused tetrahydrofurans that contain a trisubstituted vinyl group at the bridgehead, as showcased in several stereospecific transformations, may serve as useful intermediates for stereoselective organic synthesis. The successful demonstration of this new asymmetric radical process via Co(II)-MRC points out a potentially general approach for controlling enantioselectivity as well as diastereoselectivity in synthetically attractive radical cascade reactions.

Enantioselective Radical-Polar Crossover Reactions of Indanonecarboxamides with Alkenes

Highly efficient asymmetric intermolecular radical-polar crossover reactions were realized by combining a chiral N,N'-dioxide/Ni^II complex catalyst with Ag₂ O under mild reaction conditions. Various terminal alkenes and indanonecarboxamides/esters underwent radical addition/cyclization reactions to afford spiro-iminolactones and spirolactones with good to excellent yields (up to 99 %) and enantioselectivities (up to 97 % ee). Furthermore, a range of different radical-mediated oxidation/elimination or epoxide ring-opening products were obtained under mild reaction conditions. The Lewis acid catalysts exhibited excellent performance and precluded the strong background reaction.

An efficient [3+2] annulation for the asymmetric synthesis of densely-functionalized pyrrolidinones and γ-butenolides

Disclosed here is a new [3+2] annulation of siloxy alkynes that provides robust access to highly enantioenriched, densely-substituted pyrrolidinones and γ-butenolides, whose direct synthesis remains challenging.

Base-promoted domino radical cyclization of 1,6-enynes

A good regioselective, high atom-economical and transition-metal-free method for the synthesis of α-functionalized ether derivatives via the domino radical cyclization of 1,6-enynes is described. A series of α-functionalized ether derivatives could be easily obtained in good yields with wide functional group tolerance by using less toxic and inexpensive Cs₂CO₃ as the base. The control experiment results show that the reaction involves a radical process. This strategy provides a regioselective way toward the formation of dual C-C bonds in one step.

Copper-catalyzed oxidative [2+2+1] annulation of 1,n-enynes with α-carbonyl alkyl bromides through C–Br/C–H functionalization

The Cu-catalyzed oxidative [2+2+1] annulation of 1,n-enynes (n = 6, 7) with α-carbonyl alkyl bromides through C–Br/C–H functionalization has been developed.

Copper promoted radical addition/cyclization of azobisisobutyronitrile with arylacrylamides: a convenient process to synthesize 3-(2′-cyano alkyl) oxindoles

A CuI promoted radical addition/cyclization of azobisisobutyronitrile with alkenes for the preparation of 3-(2′-cyano alkyl) oxindoles was developed.

Cascade radical reaction of substrates with a carbon-carbon triple bond as a radical acceptor

The limitation of hydroxamate ester as a chiral Lewis acid coordination moiety was first shown in an intermolecular reaction involving a radical addition and sequential allylation processes. Next, the effect of hydroxamate ester was studied in the cascade addition–cyclization–trapping reaction of substrates with a carbon–carbon triple bond as a radical acceptor. When substrates with a methacryloyl moiety and a carbon–carbon triple bond as two polarity-different radical acceptors were employed, the cascade reaction proceeded effectively. A high level of enantioselectivity was also obtained by a proper combination of chiral Lewis acid and these substrates.

Polarity-mismatched addition of electrophilic carbon radicals to an electron-deficient acceptor: cascade radical addition-cyclization-trapping reaction

The polarity-mismatched perfluoroalkyl radical addition to electron-deficient alkenes was studied. For this study, several substrates having two polarity-different radical acceptors were employed to investigate the regiochemical courses of cascade reaction. In the case of substrate 1 having a methacryloyl moiety, we found polarity-mismatched perfluoroalkylation giving 15a-e as a major course over the polarity-matched perfluoroalkylation giving 16a-e. Moreover, in the case of substrates 2-7, perfluoroalkyl radicals selectively added to an electron-deficient alkene moiety of 2-7, to give polarity-mismatched perfluoroalkylation products without the formation of regioisomers. Next, the control of enantioselectivity was studied. In the case of substrates 1 and 3, the reaction proceeded with good enantioselectivities by employing a chiral Lewis acid, prepared from chiral box ligand 24 and Zn(OTf)(2). For direct comparison, we also studied the reaction with other carbon radicals, derived from ICH(2)CO(2)Et, ICH(2)CN, BrC(CO(2)Et)(2)Me, and CCl(3)Br, which have electrophilic character.

Lewis acid-mediated radical cyclization: stereocontrol in cascade radical addition-cyclization-trapping reactions

An efficient approach for achieving radical cyclizations by using hydroxamate ester as a coordination tether with Lewis acid was studied. The chiral Lewis acid-mediated cascade radical addition-cyclization-trapping reaction proceeded smoothly with good enantio- and diastereoselectivities, providing various chiral γ-lactams.

Enantioselective Radical Cyclizations: A New Approach to Stereocontrol of Cascade Reactions

Stereocontrol in a cascade radical addition-cyclization-trapping reaction was achieved by a new approach, which utilizes a hydroxamate ester moiety as a coordinating chiral Lewis acid tether between two radical acceptors. A remarkable feature of this reaction is the construction of three bonds and tertiary and quaternary stereogenic centers through both inter- and intramolecular carbon-carbon bond-forming processes. The chiral Lewis acid mediated reaction of oxime ethers also proceeded smoothly with good enantio- and diastereoselectivities, indicating the usefulness of the cascade approach for the asymmetric synthesis of various gamma-lactams.