Rearrangement of allylic azide and phenylthio groups of 3′-azido- or 3′-phenylthio-4′,5′-didehydro-5′-deoxyarabinofuranosyluridines

Unusual Transformations of Strain-Heightened Oxetanes

Oxetanes are important motifs for drug discovery and are valuable templates in organic synthesis. Much of their use as synthetic intermediates exploits their inherent strain, often resulting in chain extensions at the expense of the heterocycle. Modifications on the carbon alpha to the oxygen of oxetanes, such as the C═O of β-lactones, extend the modes of reactivity. Nevertheless, the outcomes are still largely predictable. On the other hand, other alpha modifications, such as a ═CH₂, a spiro-oxiranyl moiety, or a spiro-cyclopropyl group, increase strain and open pathways not available to simple oxetanes or β-lactones. Methods in generating 2-methyleneoxetanes, 1,5-dioxaspiro[3.2]hexanes, and 4-oxaspiro[2.3]hexanes have been developed by us and others. To date, reactions of these systems have sometimes been predictable, but often the outcomes have been unexpected. This has provided fertile ground for thinking about what controls reactivity and what other reaction pathways might be accessible to these strain-heightened oxetanes.This Account summarizes the published literature on the most straightforward approaches to 2-methyleneoxetanes, dioxaspirohexanes, and oxaspirohexanes and on their reactivity. In contrast to simple oxetanes, reactions of 2-methyleneoxetanes with nucleophiles at C4 release an enolate rather than an alkoxide. Also, 2-methyleneoxetanes can be converted to homopropargyl alcohols or undergo a silicon accelerated isomerization/electrocyclic ring opening, processes accessible only because of the exocyclic double bond. In addition, oxetane oxocarbenium ions, derived from protonation of the enol ether, can react with nucleophiles to provide 2,2-disubstituted oxetanes. Oxaspirohexanes are readily prepared by Simmons-Smith cyclopropanation of 2-methyleneoxetanes. These unusual systems undergo a variety of substituent dependent rearrangements in the presence of the Lewis acid BF₃·Et₂O. In addition, upon treatment with Zeise's dimer, oxaspirohexanes are transformed to synthetically useful 3-methylenetetrahydrofurans. Dioxaspirohexanes are easily accessed by dimethyldioxirane oxidation of 2-methyleneoxetanes. Predictably, dioxaspirohexanes react with many nucleophiles to give α-functionalized-β'-hydroxy ketones. Unexpectedly, 2,2-disubstituted oxetanes can also be selectively produced. This latter pathway has led to further unusual transformations, illuminating computational studies, and novel routes to biologically relevant molecules.

Highly selective hydrosilylation of equilibrating allylic azides

The Pt-catalyzed hydrosilylation of equilibrating allylic azides is reported. The reaction provides only one out of four possible hydrosilylation products in good yields and with very high chemoselectivity (alk-1-ene vs. alk-2-ene), regioselectivity (linear vs. branched), and excellent functional group tolerance.

Stereocontrolled Microwave-Assisted Domino [3,3]-Sigmatropic Reactions: A Winstein-Overman Rearrangement for the Formation of Differentiated Contiguous C-N Bonds

A domino [3,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement sequence employing a sequential reversible allylic azide rearrangement followed by an irreversible Overman reaction provides a new route to the formation of two contiguous C-N bonds. The reaction occurs in a stereocontrolled fashion in two steps from readily available alkenyl epoxides via initial azide anion ring opening of the epoxides.

Allylic azides: synthesis, reactivity, and the Winstein rearrangement

Organic azides are useful synthetic intermediates, which demonstrate broad reactivity. Unlike most organic azides, allylic azides can spontaneously rearrange to form a mixture of isomers. This rearrangement has been named the Winstein rearrangement. Using allylic azides can result in low yields and azide racemization in some synthetic contexts due to the Winstein rearrangement. Effort has been made to understand the mechanism of the Winstein rearrangement and to take advantage of this process. Several guiding principles can be used to identify which azides will produce a mixture of isomers and which will resist rearrangement. Selective reaction conditions can be used to differentiate the azide isomers in a dynamic manner. This review covers all aspects of allylic azides including their synthesis, their reactivity, the mechanism of the Winstein rearrangement, and reactions that can selectively elaborate an azide isomer. This review covers the literature from Winstein's initial report to early 2019.

Stereoselective Dynamic Cyclization of Allylic Azides: Synthesis of Tetralins, Chromanes, and Tetrahydroquinolines

This report describes the stereoselective synthesis of 3-azido-tetralins, -chromanes, and -tetrahydroquinolines via a tandem allylic azide rearrangement/Friedel-Crafts alkylation. Exposure of allylic azides with a pendant trichloroacetimidate to catalytic quantities of AgSbF6 proved optimal for this transformation. This cascade successfully differentiates the equilibrating azide isomers, providing products in excellent yield and selectivity (>25 examples, up to 94% yield and >25:1 dr). In many cases, the reactive isomer is only a trace fraction of the equilibrium mixture, keenly illustrating the dynamic nature of these systems. We demonstrate the utility of this process via a synthesis of hasubanan.

A concomitant allylic azide rearrangement/intramolecular azide-alkyne cycloaddition sequence

An intramolecular Huisgen cycloaddition of an interconverting set of isomeric allylic azides with alkynes affords substituted triazoles in high yield. The stereoisomeric vinyl-substituted triazoloxazines formed depend on the rate of cycloaddition of the different allylic azide precursors when the reaction is carried out under thermal conditions. In contrast, dimerized macrocyclic products were obtained when the reaction was done using copper(I)-catalyzed conditions, demonstrating the ability to control the reaction products through changing conditions.

Stereocontrol in a combined allylic azide rearrangement and intramolecular Schmidt reaction

Pre-equilibration of an interconverting set of isomeric allylic azides is coupled with an intramolecular Schmidt reaction to afford substituted lactams stereoselectively. The effect of substitution and a preliminary mechanistic study are reported. The synthetic potential of this method is demonstrated in the context of an enantioselective synthesis of an advanced intermediate leading toward pinnaic acid.