New regio and stereoselective intermolecular Pauson–Khand reactions of allenamides

The intermolecular Pauson-Khand reaction

Five membered carbocycles are important building blocks for many biologically active molecules. Moreover, substituted cyclopentenones (e.g. cyclopentenone prostaglandins) exhibit characteristic biological activity. The efficiency and atom economy of the Pauson-Khand reaction render this process potentially one of the most attractive methods for the synthesis of such compounds. Although it was discovered in its intermolecular form, the scope of the intermolecular Pauson-Khand reaction has always been limited by the poor reactivity and selectivity of the alkene component. The past decade, especially the last three years, has seen concerted efforts to broaden the scope of this reaction. In this overview, we provide a comprehensive and critical coverage of the intermolecular Pauson-Khand reaction based on the reactivity characteristics of different classes of alkenes and a rationalization of successes and misfortunes in this area.

Copper-Catalyzed Stereospecific N-Allenylations of Amides. Syntheses of Optically Enriched Chiral Allenamides

[reaction: see text] Syntheses of chiral allenamides via a stereospecific amidation of optically enriched allenyl iodides using catalytic copper(I) salt and N,N'-dimethylethylene-diamine are described here.

Syntheses of 2,5-Disubstituted Dihydrofurans from γ-Substituted Chiral Allenamides

[reaction: see text] Details of a synthesis of dihydrofurans using gamma-substituted chiral allenamides are described here. Some transformations of these dihydrofurans are also examined including a highly stereoselective dihydroxylation and a rare account of a Lewis acid-mediated removal of an N-acyl substituent at the anomeric carbon of a tetrahydrofuran ring system. These studies provide further support for the synthetic utility of allenamides.

Highly Regioselective Radical Cyclizations of Allenamides

The first radical cyclizations of allenamides are described. These reactions are highly regioselective for the central carbon of the allenic moiety, leading to an efficient preparation of nitrogen heterocycles such as isoquinolines, and carbocycles such as indane and naphthalene derivatives. The exo-cyclization mode could also be achieved in some cases, leading to the synthesis of isoindoles. The feasibility of a tandem radical cyclization using allenamide is also established. [reaction: see text]