Reactions of levoglucosenone and its derivatives with diazo compounds

(3+2)-Cycloadditions of Levoglucosenone (LGO) with Fluorinated Nitrile Imines Derived from Trifluoroacetonitrile: An Experimental and Computational Study

The in situ-generated N-aryl nitrile imines derived from trifluoroacetonitrile smoothly undergo (3+2)-cycloadditions onto the enone fragment of the levoglucosenone molecule, yielding the corresponding, five-membered cycloadducts. In contrast to the 'classic' C(Ph),N(Ph) nitrile imine, reactions with fluorinated C(CF3),N(Ar) analogues lead to stable pyrazolines in a chemo- and stereoselective manner. Based on the result of X-ray single crystal diffraction analysis, their structures were established as exo-cycloadducts with the location of the N-Ar terminus of the 1,3-dipole at the α-position of the enone moiety. The DFT computation demonstrated that the observed reaction pathway results from the strong dominance of kinetic control over thermodynamic control.

Higher-order [8+2]-cycloadditions of tropothione with levoglucosenone (LGO) and structurally similar exo-cyclic enones derived from cyrene

Levoglucosenone (LGO) and structurally similar exo-cyclic enones derived from cyrene (dihydrolevoglucosenone) react with tropothione following the higher-order [8 + 2]-cycloaddition pathway. Reactions were performed at room temperature in CH₂Cl₂ solutions in absence of any activating reagent. Whereas reaction of tropothione with LGO occurred with complete stereoselectivity, leading to a single, sterically favored exo cycloadduct, identified as polycylic thiophene derivative, reactions performed with exo-cyclic enones yielded in some instances mixtures of two isomeric exo and endo cycloadducts, derived from spiro-tetrahydrothiophene as major and minor components, respectively, of the studied reaction mixtures. Exo and endo [8 + 2] cycloadducts differ in absolute configuration at the newly created chiral centers. Structures of exo and endo cycloadducts were confirmed by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis.

Levoglucosenone: Bio-Based Platform for Drug Discovery

Levoglucosone (LGO) is a bio-privileged molecule that can be produced on scale from waste biomass. This chiral building block has been converted via well-established chemical processes into previously difficult-to-synthesize building blocks such as enantiopure butenolides, dihydropyrans, substituted cyclopropanes, deoxy-sugars and ribonolactones. LGO is an excellent starting material for the synthesis of biologically active compounds, including those which have anti-cancer, anti-microbial or anti-inflammatory activity. This review will cover the conversion of LGO to biologically active compounds as well as provide future research directions related to this platform molecule.

Recent advances in the catalytic cyclopropanation of unsaturated compounds with diazomethane

The main achievements and development trends of the past 10–15 years related to the catalytic cyclopropanation of unsaturated compounds with diazomethane are integrated and analyzed. The attention is focused on the most efficient catalysts based on palladium compounds. Data on the effects of substrate structure and nature of catalyst components on the regio- and stereoselectivity of these reactions are systematized. Characteristic features of safe methods for diazomethane generation are considered, including the use of membrane technologies and continuous-flow and in situ preparation methods, which have prospects for industrial application.

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