The stereochemistry of palladium catalysed cyclisation reactions part C: Cascade reactions

PhI(OCOCF3)2-Mediated Construction of a 2-Spiropseudoindoxyl Skeleton via Cascade Annulation of 2-Sulfonamido-N-phenylpropiolamide Derivatives

A cascade annulation of 2-sulfonamido-N-phenylpropiolamide derivatives leading to the construction of the 2-spiropseudoindoxyl skeleton was realized under mild conditions with phenyliodine(III) bis(trifluoroacetate) (PIFA) as the sole oxidant. This metal-free spirocyclization process is suggested to encompass a sequential C(sp²)-C(sp) and C(sp²)-N bond formation with the concomitant introduction of a carbonyl oxygen.

Asymmetric palladium-catalysed intramolecular Wacker-type cyclisations of unsaturated alcohols and amino alcohols

The palladium (II)-catalysed reactions of alkenols and aminoalkenols such as oxycarbonylations or bicyclisations are powerful methods for the construction of oxygen and nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compounds. This review highlights recent progress in the development of the asymmetric palladium(II)-catalysed Wacker-type cyclisations of unsaturated polyols and aminoalcohols. The scope, limitations, and applications of these reactions are presented.

Synthesis of oxindoles by tandem Heck-reduction-cyclization (HRC) from a single bifunctional, in situ generated Pd/C catalyst

A tandem sequence involving palladium-catalyzed sequential Heck-reduction-cyclization transformations in mild conditions has been developed for the synthesis of oxindoles. The protocol involves inexpensive reagents and does not require any additives such as base or ligands.

Two palladium-catalyzed domino reactions from one set of substrates/reagents: efficient synthesis of substituted indenes and cis-stilbenoid hydrocarbons from the same internal alkynes and hindered Grignard reagents

Two types of domino reactions from the same internal alkynes and hindered Grignard reagents based on carbopalladation, Pd-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction, and a C-H activation strategy are described. The realization of these domino reactions relied on the control of the use of the ligand and the reaction temperature. Our study provides efficient access to useful polysubstituted indenes and cis-substituted stilbenes and may offer a new means of development of tandem/domino reactions in a more efficient way. [reaction: see text].

Palladium-Catalyzed Highly Stereoselective Synthesis of N-Aryl-3-arylmethylisoxazolidines via Tandem Arylation of O-Homoallylhydroxylamines

The palladium-catalyzed tandem arylation of O-homoallylhydroxylamines with 2 equiv of aryl bromides was examined. With Pd2(dba)3 (1 mol %) as the catalyst, Xantphos (2 mol %) as the ligand, and NaOt-Bu as the base, the reactions of O-homoallylhydroxylamines with aryl bromides via sequential N-arylation/cyclization/C-arylation in toluene afforded the corresponding N-aryl-3-arylmethylisoxazolidines in good yields with excellent diastereoselectivity.

Diels–Alder Reactions of Novel (1′-Arylallylidene)cyclopropanes with Heterodienophiles

Palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling of various aryl iodides with bicyclopropylidene provided isolable (1'-arylallylidene)cyclopropanes, which reacted with a number of carbonyl compounds in the presence of Eu(fod)3 under high pressure to furnish oxaspiro[2.5]octene derivatives in moderate to good yields (22-69%). The reactions of the allylidenecyclopropanes with two azo compounds as dienophiles afforded diazaspiro[2.5]octenes in high yields (82 and 99%) even at ambient pressure. When treated with nitrosobenzene, two of the allylidenecyclopropanes gave the Diels-Alder adducts in up to 83 and 40% yield. 2,5-Diiodo-p-xylene coupled twice with bicyclopropylidene, and the product underwent a twofold Diels-Alder reaction with nitrosobenzene to produce the bis(spirocyclopropaneoxazine) derivative in 88% yield. This overall transformation can be brought about in a one-pot, two-step operation by addition of the nitrosoarene to the reaction mixture immediately after formation of the allylidenecyclopropanes to furnish various 5-oxa-4-azaspiro[2.5]oct-7-ene derivatives in 22-77% yield. The coupling of methyl bicyclopropylidenecarboxylate with 2,6-dimethylphenyl iodide produced a mixture of very stable regioisomeric allylidenecyclopropane derivatives in 90% yield. The reaction of this mixture with N-phenyltriazolinedione gave a corresponding mixture of the spirocyclopropanated heterobicycles in 61% yield.

Formation of carbocycles through sequential carborhodation triggered by addition of organoborons

This article highlights recent developments in the formation of carbocycles via multiple carborhodation steps triggered by the rhodium-catalysed intermolecular addition of organoborons. Various types of cascade reactions have been developed to demonstrate that multiple carborhodation steps can precede potentially competing processes such as protonolysis.

Joining the rings: the preparation of 2- and 3-indenyl-triptycenes, and curious related processes

The indenyltriptycenes, and , where the 3- or 2-indenyl, respectively, is attached at the 9-position of the triptycene, are attractive prototypes of molecular gearing systems that can also incorporate a brake. These molecules have been prepared from their respective indenylanthracenes, and , by the [4 + 2] cycloaddition of benzyne to the anthracene fragment, and the rotational barriers about the indenyl-triptycenyl single bonds in (12 kcal mol(-1)) and (<9 kcal mol(-1)) have been measured. The precursor anthracenes, and , were prepared by using palladium-catalysed coupling reactions. Unexpectedly, the Heck-type reaction of 9-bromoanthracene, , with indene leads to the formation of 3-indenylanthracene ; moreover, this process is accompanied by a novel palladium-catalysed carbocyclisation reaction leading to the indenophenanthrylene . The addition of benzyne to 9-(3-indenyl)anthracene, , yields the corresponding indenyltriptycene, , and, surprisingly, the anthracenyl methano-bridged phenanthrene . It has been demonstrated that 2-arylindenes can act as 1,3-dienes in the [4 + 2] cycloadditions of benzyne. The products , , and have been characterised by X-ray crystallography.

Rhodium-Catalyzed Cascade Reaction of 1,6-Enynes Involving Addition, Cyclization, and β-Oxygen Elimination

The reaction of arylboronic acids with 1,6-enynes that contain an allylic ether moiety is catalyzed by a rhodium(I) complex to produce cyclopentanes with a tetrasubstituted exo olefin and a pendant vinyl group. The reaction is initiated by the regioselective addition of an arylrhodium(I) species to the carbon-carbon triple bond of the 1,6-enyne. The resulting alkenylrhodium(I) compound subsequently undergoes intramolecular carborhodation of the allylic double bond in a 5-exo-trig mode. Beta elimination of the methoxy group affords the cyclization product and the catalytically active methoxorhodium(I) species. The use of alkyl Grignard reagents instead of arylboronic acids as organometallic nucleophiles was also examined.

Cascade Reactions in Total Synthesis

The design and implementation of cascade reactions is a challenging facet of organic chemistry, yet one that can impart striking novelty, elegance, and efficiency to synthetic strategies. The application of cascade reactions to natural products synthesis represents a particularly demanding task, but the results can be both stunning and instructive. This Review highlights selected examples of cascade reactions in total synthesis, with particular emphasis on recent applications therein. The examples discussed herein illustrate the power of these processes in the construction of complex molecules and underscore their future potential in chemical synthesis.

Pd(II)-Catalyzed Cascade Wacker−Heck Reaction: Chemoselective Coupling of Two Electron-Deficient Reactants

A novel palladium(II)-catalyzed oxy-carbopalladation process was developed allowing for the orchestrated union of hydroxy ynones with ethyl acrylate, two electron-deficient reactants. With beta-hydroxy ynones, this cascade Wacker-Heck process gave access to highly functionalized tri- or tetrasubstituted dihydropyranones featuring an unusual dienic system. For diastereomerically pure and for enantioenriched beta-hydroxyynones, these reactions proceed without affecting the stereochemical integrity of the existing stereocenters. In addition, tetrasubstituted furanones can be prepared when alpha-hydroxyynones and ethyl acrylate are used as starting materials. The dihydropyranones and furanones obtained upon cyclization are novel compounds, but structurally related carbohydrate derivatives featuring a similar dienic system have been used as starting materials for the construction of polyannulated products, suggesting that these cascade Pd(II)-mediated oxidative heterocyclizations are of value for various synthetic applications.

Palladium-catalyzed tandem N-arylation/carboamination reactions for the stereoselective synthesis of N-aryl-2-benzyl pyrrolidines

[reaction: see text] The tandem N-arylation/carboamination of gamma-amino alkenes with two different aryl bromides provides rapid entry to differentially arylated N-aryl-2-benzyl pyrrolidine derivatives in good yields with good to excellent levels of diastereoselectivity. The selective diarylation is achieved in a one-pot process by an in situ modification of the palladium catalyst via phosphine ligand exchange.

Palladium-catalyzed direct arylation of simple arenes in synthesis of biaryl molecules

Significant progress has been made in the direct arylation of simple arenes. A number of catalyst systems have been developed which enable the intramolecular direct arylation of aryl chlorides, bromides and iodides in high yield as well as conditions capable of achieving intermolecular direct arylation with simple arenes. This account describes recent progress by our group and others in the development of these reactions.