Ring-Strain Effects in Base-Induced Sommelet-Hauser Rearrangement: Application to Successive Stereocontrolled Transformations

Sigmatropic [1,5] Carbon Shift of Transient C3 Ammonium Enolates

The stereospecific sigmatropic [1,5] carbon shift of C3 ammonium enolates is discovered. According to mechanistic, kinetic and computational experiments, this new rearrangement proceeds via the catalytic generation of a transient C3 ammonium enolate by intramolecular aza-Michael addition. This intermediate rapidly undergoes [1,5] sigmatropic carbon migration to furnish the respective tetrahydroquinoline-4-ones with excellent diastereoselectivities of d.r. >99 : 1 and in 61-98 % yield.

Synthesis of tertiary alkyl fluorides and chlorides by site-selective nucleophilic ring-opening reaction of α-aryl azetidinium salts

Site-selective nucleophilic ring-opening reactions of 2-arylazetidine-2-carboxylic acid ester-derived tetraalkyl ammonium salts 2 with tetrabutylammonium halides (Bu₄NX) to give tertiary alkyl halides are successfully demonstrated. For example, a nucleophilic ring-opening reaction of 2-(o-tolyl) derivative 2a with 1.2 equivalents of tetrabutylammonium fluoride (Bu₄NF) in THF at 60 °C preferentially proceeded at a more substituted carbon atom (2-position) compared to a less-substituted carbon atom (4-position) and afforded tert-butyl 4-(dimethylamino)-2-fluoro-2-(o-tolyl)butanoate 3aa in 71% yield as the corresponding tertiary alkyl fluoride. This result was applied to synthesize optically active organofluorine compounds starting from commercially available (R)-1-phenylethylamine.

Site-selective nucleophilic ring-opening of 2 with Bu₄NX proceeded at a much-substituted 2-position preferentially and produced tertiary alkyl halides 3.

The aryne Sommelet–Hauser rearrangement

An aryne induced transition-metal-free and mild Sommelet–Hauser rearrangement of tertiary benzylamines for the synthesis of α-aryl amino acid derivatives in moderate to good yields and with broad substrate scope is presented.

Azetidine-Borane Complexes: Synthesis, Reactivity, and Stereoselective Functionalization

The present study reports, for the first time, the synthesis and structural features of azetidine-borane complexes, as well as their reactivity in lithiation reactions. A temperature-dependent stereoselectivity has been disclosed in the reaction of borane with N-alkyl-2-arylazetidines, allowing for a stereoselective preparation of azetidine-borane complexes 2 and 3. A regioselective hydrogen/lithium permutation, at the benzylic position, was observed in lithiation reactions of complexes possessing a syn relationship, between the ring proton and the BH₃ group. In contrast, scarce or no reactivity was noticed in complexes lacking such a stereochemical requirement. The configurational stability of the lithiated intermediates has also been investigated, in order to shed some light on the stereoselectivity of the lithiation/electrophile trapping sequence. Calculations helped in supporting experimental observations, concerning structure and reactivity of these azetidine-borane complexes. Data suggest that the BH₃ group could promote the lithiation reaction likely by an electrostatic complex induced proximity effect. Interestingly, a new synthetic strategy for the synthesis of N-alkyl-2,2-disubstituted azetidines has been developed.

Base-promoted diastereoselective α-alkylation of borane N-((S)-1'-phenylethyl)azetidine-2-carboxylic acid ester complexes

The base-promoted α-alkylation of N-((S)-1-phenylethyl)azetidine-2-carboxylic acid esters 1 was investigated. The use of diastereomerically pure borane complexes 3 as substrates, which are easily prepared from 1, dramatically improved the yields and diastereoselectivities of α-alkylated products 2. For example, the treatment of tert-butyl ester (1S,2S,1'S)-3a with 2.4 equivalents of lithium bis(trimethysilyl)amide (LiHMDS) at 0 °C followed by 2.6 equivalents of benzyl bromide afforded α-benzylated (2S,1'S)-2aa in 90% yield as almost a single diastereomer. Our method enables the production of optically active α-substituted azetidine-2-carboxylic acid esters starting from commercially available (S)-1-phenylethylamine, which is one of the least expensive chiral compounds.

Unusual biaryl torsional strain promotes reactivity in Cu-catalyzed Sommelet-Hauser rearrangement

A Cu-catalyzed Sommelet-Hauser dearomatization of dihydrophenanthridine and diazo compounds is reported for the synthesis of spiro-indolines. A spiro-structure with adjacent quaternary and tertiary carbon centers was constructed in one step as a single isomer. Increasing steric hindrance by introducing ortho-substituents dramatically improved substrate reactivity in this transformation.

Deciphering Stability of Five-Membered Heterocyclic Radicals: Balancing Act Between Delocalization and Ring Strain

Computational studies on five-membered heterocycles with single heteroatom and their isomeric dehydro-borole 1a-1c, cyclopentadiene 2a-2c, pyrrole 3a-3c, furan 4b-4c, phosphole 5a-5c, and thiophene 6b-6c radicals have been carried out. Geometrical aspects through ground state electronic structures and stability aspects using bond dissociation energies (BDE) and radical stabilization energies (RSE) have been envisaged in this regard. Spin densities, electrostatic potentials (ESP), and natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis unveiled the extent of spin delocalization. The estimated nucleus-independent chemical shifts (NICS) values revealed the difference in aromaticity characteristics of radicals. Particularly the heteroatom centered radicals exhibit odd electron π-delocalized systems with a quasi-antiaromatic character. Various factors such as, the relative position of the radical center with respect to heteroatoms, resonance, ring strain and orbital interactions influence the stability that follows the order: heteroatom centered > β-centered > α-centered radicals. Among the influences of various factors, we confirmed the existence of a competition between delocalization and the ring strain, and the interplay of both decides the overall stability order.

Dearomative [2,3] sigmatropic rearrangement of ammonium ylides followed by 1,4-elimination to form α-(ortho-vinylphenyl)amino acid esters

A base-induced dearomative [2,3] sigmatropic rearrangement followed by 1,4-elimination produced α-(ortho-vinylphenyl)amino acid esters.

Structural and mechanistic studies of the base-induced Sommelet–Hauser rearrangement of N-α-branched benzylic azetidine-2-carboxylic acid-derived ammonium salts

The base-induced Sommelet–Hauser rearrangement of N-α-branched benzylic azetidine-2-carboxylic acid ester-derived ammonium salts was demonstrated.

Hemin-catalyzed sulfonium ylide formation and subsequently reactant-controlled chemoselective rearrangements

The Stevens and Sommelet–Hauser rearrangements can be controlled by the electronic property of the substituents on the benzyl group together with solvent effects.

Recent advances in the chemistry of metallated azetidines

The almost unexplored four-membered azetidines represent a particularly interesting class of molecules, among the family of saturated nitrogen heterocycles. This review reports recent developments in direct metal-based functionalization of the azetidine ring, focusing on the regio- and stereoselectivity of these reactions.