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

Radical Group Transfer of Vinyl and Alkynyl Silanes Driven by Photoredox Catalysis

Radical group transfer is a powerful tool for the formation of C-C bonds. These processes typically involve radical addition to C-C π bonds, followed by fragmentation of the resulting cyclic intermediate. Despite the advantageous lability of organosilanes in this context, silicon-tethered radical acceptor groups have remained underexplored in radical group transfer reactions. We report a general photoredox-catalyzed protocol for the radical group transfer of vinyl and alkynyl silanes onto sp3 carbons, using activated and unactivated iodides as radical precursors. Our method displays high diastereoselectivity and excellent functional group tolerance, and enables direct formation of group transfer products by in situ ring opening. Mechanistic investigations revealed that the reaction proceeds via an unusual dual catalytic cycle, resulting in an overall redox-neutral process.

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.

Experimental and Theoretical Study on the Regioselective Radical Cyclization Reactions of 1-(o-Alkenylaryl)-2-amido-1-ketones for the Construction of Indeno[2,1-d][1,3]oxazin-9-ones

A simple and efficient two-step method for the construction of novel 2,4,9a-trisubstituted-4a,9a-dihydroindeno[2,1-d][1,3]oxazin-9-ones has been developed. The NHC-catalyzed aza-benzoin reaction of o-alkenyl benzaldehydes with N-acylarylimines afforded 1-(o-alkenylaryl)-2-amido-2-aryl-1-ethanones, which underwent regioselective 5-exo-trig radical cyclization to furnish the three-ring-fused heterocyclic products, generally in good yields. The synthetic method displayed good tolerance toward the nature of substituents, substitution pattern, and steric hindrance of o-alkenyl benzaldehydes. Based on this method, the synthesis of unprecedented dihydrobenzo[6,7]indeno[2,1-d][1,3]oxazin-7-ones and dihydropyrido[2',3':3,4]cyclopenta[1,2-d][1,3]oxazin-9-ones has been achieved by employing o-alkenylnaphthaldehyde and o-alkenylnicotinaldehyde as substrates. The regioselectivity between 5-exo-trig and 6-endo-trig radical cyclization reactions of different 1-(o-alkenylaryl)-2-amido-2-aryl-1-ethanones were elucidated with DFT calculations.

Stereoselective hydrogen atom transfer to acyclic radicals: a switch enabling diastereodivergent borylative radical cascades

Radical cascade reactions are powerful tools to construct structurally complex molecules. However, the stereochemical control of acyclic radical intermediates remains a persistent challenge, due to the low differentiation between the two faces of these species. This hurdle further makes stereodivergent synthesis rather more difficult to be accomplished, in particular for intermediates resulted from complex cascades. Here we report an efficient strategy for stereoselective hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) to acyclic carbon radicals, which are generated via N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC)-boryl radicals triggered addition-translocation-cyclization cascades. A synergistic control by the NHC subunit and a thiol catalyst has proved effective for one facial HAT, while a ZnI2-chelation protocol allows for the preferential reaction to the opposite face. Such a stereoselectivity switch enables diastereodivergent construction of heterocycles tethering a boron-substituted stereocenter. Mechanistic studies suggest two complementary ways to tune HAT diastereoselectivity. The stereospecific conversions of the resulting boron-handled products to diverse functionalized molecules are demonstrated.

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.

α,γ-Dioxygenated amides via tandem Brook rearrangement/radical oxygenation reactions and their application to syntheses of γ-lactams

Pyrrolidones are common heterocyclic fragments in various biologically active compounds. Here, a two-step radical-based approach to γ-lactams bearing three to four stereocenters starting from epoxides, N-allylic silylacetamides and TEMPO is reported. The sequence starts with a new tandem nucleophilic substitution/Brook rearrangement/single electron transfer-induced radical oxygenation furnishing orthogonally protected α,γ-dioxygenated N-allylamides with wide scope, mostly good yields, and partly good diastereo- and enantioselectivity for defined combinations of chiral epoxides and chiral amides. This represents a very rare example of an oxidative geminal C-C/C-O difunctionalization next to carbonyl groups. The resulting dioxygenated allylic amides are subsequently subjected to persistent radical effect-based 5-exo-trig radical cyclization reactions providing functionalized pyrrolidones in high yields as diastereomeric mixtures. They converge to 3,4-trans-γ-lactams by base-mediated equilibration, which can be easily further diversified. Stereochemical models for both reaction types were developed.

Copper-Catalyzed Trifluoromethylation/Cyclization of Alkynes for Synthesis of Dioxodibenzothiazepines

A facile and efficient approach for the synthesis of the CF₃-containing dioxodibenzothiazepines has been developed via copper-catalyzed trifluoromethylation/cyclization of alkynes utilizing a radical relay strategy. This method has demonstrated low catalyst loading, high regiocontrol, and broad scope under mild conditions. Good compatibility for the N-protecting group, gram-scale experiment, and further derivation of product prove the versatility of this transformation.

Construction of novel bridged aromatic ring-fused oxazocine frameworks via an N-heterocyclic carbene-catalyzed azabenzoin reaction and radical-initiated cascade cyclization

A novel method for the construction of 1,5-methanobenzo[f][1,3]oxazocin-6-ones and 6,10-methanopyrido[3,2-f][1,3]oxazocin-5-ones from o-vinyl aromatic aldehydes and N-acylarylimines was developed via NHC-catalyzed and radical-initiated reactions.

Rhodium-Catalyzed Enantioselective Radical Addition of CX4 Reagents to Olefins

We describe the synthetically useful enantioselective addition of Br-CX₃ (X=Cl or Br) to terminal olefins to introduce a trihalomethyl group and generate optically active secondary bromides. Computational and experimental evidence supports an asymmetric atom-transfer radical addition (ATRA) mechanism in which the stereodetermining step involves outer-sphere bromine abstraction from a [(bisphosphine)Rh^II BrCl] complex by a benzylic radical intermediate. This mechanism appears unprecedented in asymmetric catalysis.

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.

Radicals in transition metal catalyzed reactions? transition metal catalyzed radical reactions? a fruitful interplay anyway: part 1. Radical catalysis by group 4 to group 7 elements

This review summarizes the current status of radical-based transition metal catalyzed reactions in organic chemistry. The underlying features of radical generation from transition metal complexes and radical reactivity in the framework of transition metal catalysis are discussed. The available arsenal to detect radicals in transition metal catalyzed transformations is presented. Available strategies to combine radical intermediates with transition metal catalysis are outlined. In the main part the currently known synthetic methodology of transition metal catalyzed reactions proceeding via radical intermediates is discussed. This part covers catalytic radical reactions involving group 4 to group 7 elements.

Enantioselective polyene cyclization via organo-SOMO catalysis

The first organocatalytic enantioselective radical polycyclization has been accomplished using singly occupied molecular orbital (SOMO) catalysis. The presented strategy relies on a selective single-electron oxidation of chiral enamines formed by condensation of polyenals with an imidazolidinone catalyst employing a suitable copper(II) oxidant. The reaction proceeds under mildly acidic conditions at room temperature and shows compatibility with an array of electron-poor as well as electron-rich functional groups. Upon termination by radical arylation followed by subsequent oxidation and rearomatization, a range of polycyclic aldehydes were accessed (12 examples, 54-77% yield, 85-93% ee). The enantioselective formation of up to six new carbocycles in a single catalyst-controlled cascade is described. Evidence for a radical-based cascade mechanism is indicated by a series of experimental results.

Origin of stereocontrol in the construction of the 12-oxatricyclo[6.3.1.0(2,7)]dodecane ring system by Prins-pinacol reactions

Polycyclic products containing the 12-oxatricyclo[6.3.1.0(2,7)]dodecane moiety having either the trans (8a-e) or cis (9a-e) relative configuration of the oxacyclic bridge and the cis angular substituents are formed stereospecifically by Prins-pinacol cyclizations of unsaturated alpha-dithianyl acetals 14a-e or 15a-e. These results show that the topography (boat or chair) of the Prins cyclization of the sulfur-stabilized oxocarbenium ions generated from acetals 14a-e or 15a-e is controlled by the stereoelectronic influence of the allylic substituents, with steric effects playing a minor role. A complex molecular rearrangement that is terminated by a thio-Prins-pinacol reaction is also identified.