Mild and practical cycloaddition reactions of furans with phenyl vinyl sulfonate

Progress in the synthesis of δ-sultones

Abstract

Sultones, the cyclic esters of hydroxyl sulfonic acids, are a fascinating class of heterocycles and the recent years have witnessed an increasing interest in these molecules, especially in six-ring δ-sultones. The importance of these compounds is either because of their biological properties themselves or due to their versatility as intermediates in more complex target syntheses. Accordingly, the development of new synthesis methods to access δ-sultones is an important and rewarding task which we wish to highlight in this review.

Graphical abstract

Synthesis and Evaluation of Estrogen Receptor Ligands with Bridged Oxabicyclic Cores Containing a Diarylethylene Motif: Estrogen Antagonists of Unusual Structure

A new series of ligands for the estrogen receptor (ER) based on a three-dimensional structural motif consisting of a bridged oxabicyclic core (7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]heptene or heptadiene) were synthesized and examined for their receptor binding activity and as regulators of transcription through the two ER subtypes, ER alpha and ER beta. The prototypical ligands also contain a 1,2-diarylethylene motif, common to many nonsteroidal estrogens, as an embellishment on the oxabicyclic core. Thus, these ligands bear peripheral groups typically found in ER ligands, built here upon an overall three-dimensional core topology that is unusual for these targets. Most of these compounds were conveniently synthesized by a Diels-Alder reaction of various 3,4-diarylfurans with a variety of dienophiles, neat and under mild conditions in the absence of catalysts. Some of the synthesized compounds display good binding affinity for the ER, and in transcription assays, the highest affinity compounds are antagonists on both ERs. Molecular modeling studies suggest a structural basis for the antagonist activity of these compounds. These compounds, based on the bicyclo[2.2.1]core system, expand the structural diversity of ligands that can be antagonists for the estrogen receptors.

The Chatt-Dewar-Duncanson model revisited: X-ray, DFT and NMR studies of rhodium-alkene binding--deviations from structural ideality

An analysis has been made of deviations from ideal centrosymmetric bonding of alkenes to transition metals in square-planar complexes. Three separate approaches have been employed. Firstly, the geometries obtained for a series of X-ray crystal structures of monosubstituted rhodium-alkene complexes have been obtained. Secondly, DFT computations on closely related rhodium-alkene complexes are reported. Thirdly. the data have been augmented by recourse to the crystal structure serach and retrieval file (CSSR) database to retrieve the X-ray data for square-planar ethene and monosubstituted alkene complexes. The results obtained from these analyses provide a consistent picture. Two distortions from ideality are important: twisting of the alkene about the axis between the metal (M) and the alkene centroid and rolling of the alkene around a cylinder enclosing the metal, such that the two C-M bonds remain equal in length. The presence of both of these is verified through both X-ray structure determinations and DFT calculations. For the rolling distortion, there is a relationship between the electronic character of the substituent on the alkene and the direction of roll. The net effect of this is to place the more nucleophilic carbon of the alkene closer to the square plane. The significance of this for the regiochemistry of the Heck reaction is briefly discussed.

Diels-Alder Cycloadditions of Ethyl 2-Carbomethoxyethenesulfinates with Cyclopentadiene. Lewis Acid Enhancement and Adduct Identification with the Assistance of Competitive Stereodifferentiating Iodolactonization and Iodosultinization Reactions

Ethyl (Z)-2-carbomethoxyethenesulfinate (1) and ethyl (E)-2-carbomethoxyethenesulfinate (2) were each subjected to cyclopentadiene (ca. 3 equiv) in order to determine their reactivity in Diels-Alder reactions. Thermal reactions proceeded in less than 4 h, while Lewis Acid enhanced reactions were substantially faster and demonstrated greater selectivity. In particular, the BF(3).Et(2)O-mediated cycloaddition of 1 gave syn/endo cycloadduct 3a as a major diastereomer in about 90% yield. The reactions of 2 were less synthetically useful. The structures of the cycloadducts were established through a combination of X-ray crystal structure determinations and through exposure of the compounds to an electrophilic iodine reagent. Each cycloadduct underwent an iodocyclization reaction with either the carboxylic ester or the sulfinate ester participating in the formation of a polycyclic lactone or sultine, respectively. The iodocyclization reactions allowed further elucidation of the cycloadduct structures.