Lewis acid-catalyzed atom transfer radical cyclization of unsaturated β-keto amides

Stereospecific cyclization reaction of alkenyl esters and amides of ethenetricarboxylate

The stereospecificity of the cyclization reaction of (E)- and (Z)-2-alkenyl esters and amides of ethenetricarboxylate has been examined. The reaction of (E)/(Z)-2-butenyl esters with AlCl3 or FeCl3 gave trans-substituted chlorinated γ-lactone diastereomers stereospecifically. (E)/(Z)-2-butenyl and pentenyl amides undergo an intramolecular ene reaction at room temperature gradually. At 80 °C, the (Z)-alkenyl amides were transformed to cis-substituted ene adducts and the (E)-amides were transformed to cis- and trans-substituted ene adduct mixtures. The reaction of (E)/(Z)-2-alkenyl amides with ZnI2 gave trans-substituted γ-lactam diastereomers stereospecifically along with the ene adducts.

A computational study on Lewis acid-catalyzed diastereoselective acyclic radical allylation reactions with unusual selectivity dependence on temperature and epimer precursor

In stereoselective radical reactions, it is accepted that the configuration of the radical precursor has no impact on the levels of stereoinduction, as a prochiral radical intermediate is planar, with two identical faces, independently of its origin. However, Sibi and Rheault (J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2000, 122, 8873-8879) remarkably obtained different selectivities in the trapping of radicals originated from two epimeric bromides, catalyzed by chelating Lewis acids. The selectivity rationalization was made on the basis of different conformational properties of each epimer. However, in this paper we show that the two epimers have similar conformational properties, which implies that the literature proposal is unable to explain the experimental results. We propose an alternative mechanism, in which the final selectivity is dependent on different reaction rates for radical formation from each epimer. By introducing a different perspective of the reaction mechanism, our model also allows the rationalization of different chemical yields obtained from each epimer, a result not rationalized by the previous model. Adaptation to other radical systems, under different reaction conditions, is also possible.

A facile and highly efficient route to α-amino phosphonates via three-component reactions catalyzed by Mg(ClO4)2or molecular iodine

Three-component reactions of aldehydes, amines, and diethyl phosphite catalyzed by Mg(ClO4)2 or molecular iodine afforded the corresponding alpha-amino phosphonates in excellent yields under mild reaction conditions.

Synthesis of Tertiary and Quaternary Stereogenic Centers: A Diastereoselective Tandem Reaction Sequence Combining Mukaiyama and Free Radical-Based Allylation

Reported herein is a strategy employing a Mukaiyama reaction in tandem with a free radical-based allyl transfer reaction for the elaboration of functionalized tertiary and quaternary centers. The appropriate choice of alcohol-protecting group on the starting alpha-methyl-beta-hydroxyaldehyde and the nature of the Lewis acid used in the Mukaiyama reaction provided access to 3,4-anti and 3,4-syn aldolization products, precursors of the free-radical allylation reaction. After migration or exchange of the Lewis acid, the allyl transfer reaction with allyltributylstannane is then performed by taking advantage of the endocyclic effect, leading to the 2,3-anti relative stereochemistry. Importantly, (13)C NMR studies of the chelated intermediates are also reported and provide additional support for the endocyclic effect. In some cases, the remarkable reactivity of the aluminum-based Lewis acids allowed the use of allyltrimethylsilane, an interesting reagent from an ecological standpoint. The isolation of a key intermediate is also indicative of an atom transfer mechanism when the silicon-based reagent is employed.