Cyclopropylcarbinyl radicals as three-carbon insertion units: easy synthesis of C-15 macrocyclic ketones by three-carbon ring expansion

A visible-light mediated ring opening reaction of alkylidenecyclopropanes for the generation of homopropargyl radicals

Classical cyclopropylcarbinyl radical clock reactions have been widely applied to conduct mechanistic studies for probing radical processes for a long time; however, alkylidenecyclopropanes, which have a similar molecular structure to methylcyclopropanes, surprisingly have not yet attracted researcher's attention for similar ring opening radical clock processes. In recent years, photocatalytic NHPI ester activation chemistry has witnessed significant blooming developments and provided new synthetic routes for cross-coupling reactions. Herein, we wish to report a non-classical ring opening radical clock reaction using innovative NHPI esters bearing alkylidenecyclopropanes upon photoredox catalysis, providing a brand-new synthetic approach for the direct preparation of a variety of alkynyl derivatives. The potential synthetic utility of this protocol is demonstrated in the diverse transformations and facile synthesis of bioactive molecules or their derivatives and medicinal substances.

Molecular mechanism of activation of human musk receptors OR5AN1 and OR1A1 by (R)-muscone and diverse other musk-smelling compounds

Understanding olfaction at the molecular level is challenging due to the lack of crystallographic models of odorant receptors (ORs). To better understand the molecular mechanism of OR activation, we focused on chiral (R)-muscone and other musk-smelling odorants due to their great importance and widespread use in perfumery and traditional medicine, as well as environmental concerns associated with bioaccumulation of musks with estrogenic/antiestrogenic properties. We experimentally and computationally examined the activation of human receptors OR5AN1 and OR1A1, recently identified as specifically responding to musk compounds. OR5AN1 responds at nanomolar concentrations to musk ketone and robustly to macrocyclic sulfoxides and fluorine-substituted macrocyclic ketones; OR1A1 responds only to nitromusks. Structural models of OR5AN1 and OR1A1 based on quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) hybrid methods were validated through direct comparisons with activation profiles from site-directed mutagenesis experiments and analysis of binding energies for 35 musk-related odorants. The experimentally found chiral selectivity of OR5AN1 to (R)- over (S)-muscone was also computationally confirmed for muscone and fluorinated (R)-muscone analogs. Structural models show that OR5AN1, highly responsive to nitromusks over macrocyclic musks, stabilizes odorants by hydrogen bonding to Tyr260 of transmembrane α-helix 6 and hydrophobic interactions with surrounding aromatic residues Phe105, Phe194, and Phe207. The binding of OR1A1 to nitromusks is stabilized by hydrogen bonding to Tyr258 along with hydrophobic interactions with surrounding aromatic residues Tyr251 and Phe206. Hydrophobic/nonpolar and hydrogen bonding interactions contribute, respectively, 77% and 13% to the odorant binding affinities, as shown by an atom-based quantitative structure-activity relationship model.

Diversity in the Syntheses of Muscone, Muscopyridine and Civetone

Syntheses of muscone, muscopyridine and civetone since 1997 have been reviewed.

A Practical Synthesis of (rac)-Muscone and (R)-(–-)-muscone

A practical synthesis of ( rac)-muscone in three steps is described, using commercially available 1,10-dibromodecane as the starting material. In the first step, an aldol reaction of 1,10-dibromodecane with ethyl acetoacetate affords the important intermediate 2,15-hexadecanedione in 70% yield. A cyclisation reaction in the second step aided by propyl zinc iodide gives dehydro-muscone in 84% yield. Hydrogenation of dehydro-muscone with Pd–-C completes the synthesis of ( rac)-muscone. Furthermore, ( R)-(–-)-muscone is enantioselectively prepared via the formation of a ketal intermediate from dehydro-muscone and 1,4-di- O-benzyl- D-threitol.

A three-carbon (n+1+2) ring expansion method for the synthesis of macrocyclic enones. Application to muscone synthesis

The three-carbon ring expansion methodology commences with the preparation of a cyclic allene (C9, C11, C13), readily available from the corresponding cycloalkene via dibromocarbene addition and subsequent treatment with methyllithium. Dichloroketene addition to the cyclic allene regioselectively provides the [2+2] cycloadduct which is reductively dechlorinated with zinc in methanol. The resulting cyclobutanone is then catalytically hydrogenated; cyclobutanone ring opening is affected with trimethylsilyl iodide; immediate dehydroiodination of the resulting beta-iodocycloalkanone with diazabicycloundecane (DBU) provides the corresponding macrocyclic enone. The 15-membered enone was converted to dl,-muscone with (CH(3))(2)CuLi.

Kinetics and regioselectivity of ring opening of 1-bicyclo[3.1.0]hexanylmethyl radical

Rate constants for the rearrangement of 1-bicyclo[3.1.0]hexanylmethyl radical (2) to 3-methylenecyclohexenyl radical (3) and 2-methylenecyclopentyl-1-methyl radical (1) were measured using the PTOC-thiol competition method. The ring-expansion pathway is described by the rate equation, log(k/s-1) = (12.5 +/- 0.1) - (4.9 +/- 0.1)/theta; the non-expansion pathway is described by log(k/s-1) = (11.9 +/- 0.6) - (6.9 +/- 0.8)/theta. Employing the slower trapping agent, tri-n-butylstannane, favors methylenecyclohexane over 2-methyl-methylenecyclopentane by more than 120:1 at ambient or lower temperatures.

Cyclopropyl Alkynes as Mechanistic Probes To Distinguish between Vinyl Radical and Ionic Intermediates

[reaction: see text] The reactions of (trans-2-phenylcyclopropyl)ethyne, 1a, (trans,trans-2-methoxy-3-phenylcyclopropyl)ethyne, 1b, and (trans,trans-2-methoxy-1-methyl-3-phenylcyclopropyl)ethyne, 1c, with either aqueous sulfuric acid or tris(trimethylsilyl)silane (or tributyltin hydride) and AIBN have been investigated. Protonation and addition of the silyl (or stannyl) radical occurred at the terminal position of the alkyne giving an alpha-cyclopropyl-substituted vinyl cation or radical, respectively. Under both reaction conditions, 1a yielded products derived from ring opening toward the phenyl substituent. Alkynes 1b and 1c, however, gave different products depending on whether radical or cationic conditions were used. When radical conditions were employed, products derived from regioselective ring opening toward the phenyl substituent were obtained. In contrast, when cationic conditions were employed, products derived from selective ring opening toward the methoxy substituent were isolated. The corresponding alpha-cyclopropyl-substituted vinyllithium derivatives were also synthesized and were found to be stable toward rearrangement. An estimate of the rate constants for ring opening of the alpha-cyclopropylvinyl cations was also made: values of 10(10)-10(12) s(-1) were found for the vinyl cations derived from protonation of the terminal carbon of alkynes 1a-c. Based on these results, cyclopropyl alkynes 1a-c can be classified as hypersensitive mechanistic probes for the detection of vinyl radical or cationic intermediates generated adjacent to the cyclopropyl ring and, in the case of 1b and 1c, the distinction between a radical or cationic intermediate is possible.

Diradical-Promoted (n + 2 − 1) Ring Expansion: An Efficient Reaction for the Synthesis of Macrocyclic Ketones

[reaction: see text] A diradical-promoted (n + 2 - 1) ring expansion reaction based on vinyl side chain insertion (+2C) and decarbonylation (-1C) has been developed. Flash vacuum pyrolysis (FVP) of medium- and large-ring 2-trimethylsilyloxy-2-vinyl-cycloalkanones at 500-600 degrees C affords the one-carbon ring-expanded cycloalkanones in good yields. Methyl groups on the vinyl moiety are transformed regiospecifically as corresponding alpha- and beta-substituents, respectively. 2-Ethynyl precursor analogues react in a manner similar to give alpha,beta-unsaturated cyclic ketones.

Three-Carbon Ring Expansion by Cyclopropane Insertion: Macrocyclic Musks from Readily Available C-12 Starting Materials

A thermal three-carbon ring expansion based on side chain ring insertion of a cyclopropane moiety is described. Flash vacuum pyrolysis (FVP) of 1-cyclopropyl-cycloalk-3-enol derivatives leads to the three-carbon ring expanded enones with clean retention of double bond geometry. Substrates bearing methyl groups on the cyclopropane ring undergo regioselective bond cleavage, allowing for the systematic preparation of selectively substituted macrocyclic musks from low-priced C-12 starting compounds.