Eta3-pyranyl and eta3-pyridinyl molybdenum pi-complexes as chiral scaffolds for the enantioselective construction of substituted oxa- and aza[3.3.1]bicyclics: first enantio- and regiocontrolled [5+3] cycloaddition reactions

Organometallic enantiomeric scaffolding: a strategy for the enantiocontrolled construction of regio- and stereodivergent trisubstituted piperidines from a common precursor

Reported herein is a general and efficient method to construct 2,3,6-trisubstituted piperidines in a substituent-independent fashion. From the high enantiopurity organometallic scaffold (-)-Tp(CO)(2)[(η-2,3,4)-(1S,2S)-1-benzyloxycarbonyl-5-oxo-5,6-dihydro-2H-pyridin-2-yl)molybdenum (Tp = hydridotrispyrazolylborato), a variety of TpMo(CO)(2)-based 2,3,6-trifunctionalized complexes of the (η-3,4,5-dihydropyridinyl) ligand were easily obtained in 5 steps through a sequence of highly regio- and stereospecific metal-influenced transformations (15 examples). From the 2,3,6-trifunctionalized molybdenum complexes, either 2,6-cis-3-trans or 2,3,6-cis systems were selectively obtained through the choice of an appropriate stereodivergent demetalation protocol. The potential of this strategy in synthetic chemistry was demonstrated by the short total synthesis of four natural and one non-natural alkaloids: indolizidines (±)-209I and (±)-8-epi-219F in the racemic series, and enantiocontrolled syntheses of (-)-indolizidine 251N, (-)-quinolizidine 251AA, and (-)-dehydroindolizidine 233E.

Transition-metal-catalyzed cycloadditions for the synthesis of eight-membered carbocycles

Eight-membered carbocycles are found in a wide variety of natural products that exhibit a broad range of biological and medicinal activities (cf. the most potent anticancer drug, taxol). However, the synthesis of eight-membered carbocycles is quite challenging as traditional approaches are met with entropic and enthalpic penalties in the ring-forming transition states. These negative effects can be totally or partially avoided with the implementation of transition-metal-catalyzed/mediated cycloadditions. In this Focus Review, examples of elegant and efficient metal-catalyzed and some metal-mediated cycloadditions (including Ni- catalyzed [4+4] and Rh-catalyzed [4+2+2] and [5+2+1] reactions) are presented to illustrate this. Application of these cycloaddition reactions in total synthesis is also presented to show the significance of these reactions in addressing challenges in natural product synthesis.

Novel Substitutions of 1-Alkoxy- and 1-Arylsulfonyloxy-η-Allylmolybdenum Complexes. A Case for η-Alkenyl Carbene Complexes as Intermediates

A series of acyclic and cyclic 1-alkoxy- and 1-arylsulfonyloxy-substituted TpMo(CO)(2)(η(3)-allyl) complexes was synthesized and characterized, and exchange of the oxygenated substituent was investigated under a variety of reaction conditions. 1-Alkoxy-substituted η(3)-allyl and η(3)-butenyl complexes participated in direct, uncatalyzed exchange of the alkoxy substituent with benzylamine, but required a Lewis acid for exchange with alcohols. The 1-alkoxy-substituted η(3)-cyclohexenyl complex was unreactive towards exchange under all conditions investigated. The corresponding acyclic arylsulfonyloxy-substituted complexes underwent direct, uncatalyzed exchange with both benzylamine and alcohols, while the arylsulfonyloxy-substituted cyclohexenyl compounds participated in direct substitution with benzylamine, but not alcohols. High enantiopurity acyclic and cyclic alkoxy- and arylsulfonyloxy-substituted complexes provided exchange products with predominant, but incomplete, losses in enantiomeric excess in all cases examined. Mechanisms accounting for the observed reactivity trends and for the losses in enantiomeric excess are discussed. Reaction of alkoxy-substituted complexes through an associative mechanism and of arylsulfonyloxy-substituted compounds through a dissociative mechanism is suggested.

A new reaction motif: "homo-S(N)2'-like" direct nucleophilic addition to neutral eta(3)-allylmolybdenum complexes. total synthesis of the antimalarial (+)-isofebrifugine

Charge neutral TpMo(CO)(2)(5-acyloxy-eta(3)-pyranyl) and TpMo(CO)(2)(5-acyloxy-eta(3)-pyridinyl) scaffolds undergo a novel intermolecular "homo-S(N)2'-like" reaction with a variety of carbon nucleophiles. Combined with an annulative demetalation, the homo-S(N)2'-like substitution/annulative demetalation sequence rapidly generates 2,7-dioxabicyclo[4.3.0]nonane and 2-aza-7-oxabicyclo[4.3.0]nonane frameworks in good to excellent yields with high enantiopurity. An enantiocontrolled total synthesis of the antimalarial alkaloid (+)-isofebrifugine was achieved utilizing this reaction cascade.

Organometallic enantiomeric scaffolding. A molybdenum-mediated intramolecular nucleophilic ketalization-demetalation cascade. Total synthesis of (+)-(1R,2S,5S,7R)-2-hydroxy-exo-brevicomin

TpMo(CO)(2)(5-oxo-eta(3)-pyranyl) scaffolds bearing an internal alkoxide undergo a novel intramolecular nucleophilic ketalization reaction. The anionic intermediate is easily demetalated, rapidly providing the 6,8-dioxabicyclo[3.2.1]oct-3-en-2-one framework in moderate to good yields with high enantiopurity. An enantiocontrolled total synthesis of (+)-(1R,2S,5S,7R)-2-hydroxy-exo-brevicomin was accomplished utilizing the reaction sequence.

Organometallic enantiomeric scaffolding. Sequential semipinacol/1,5-"Michael-like" reactions as a strategic approach to bridgehead-quaternary center aza[3.3.1]bicyclics: application to the total synthesis of (-)-adaline

A nontraditional approach to the enantiocontrolled construction of quaternary center-bearing heteroatom-bridged bicyclo[3.3.1]nonanes (homotropanes) is reported that is based on organometallic enantiomeric scaffolding. This strategy takes advantage of the unique reactivity profiles of TpMo(CO)(2)(5-oxo-eta(3)-pyranyl) and TpMo(CO)(2)(5-oxo-eta(3)-pyridinyl) scaffolds, and features a molybdenum-mediated semipinacol/1,5-"Michael-like" reaction sequence to establish the quaternary center and synthesize the bridged bicyclic structure. An asymmetric total synthesis of (-)-adaline highlights this methodology.

Organometallic enantiomeric scaffolding: general access to 2-substituted oxa- and azabicyclo[3.2.1]octenes via a Brønsted acid catalyzed [5 + 2] cycloaddition reaction

6-Substituted TpMo(CO) 2(eta-2,3,4-pyranyl)- and TpMo(CO) 2(eta-2,3,4-pyridinyl) scaffolds (Tp = hydridotrispyrazolylborato) function as reaction partners in an efficient regio- and stereocontrolled synthesis of functionalized oxa- and azabicyclo[3.2.1]octenes through a novel Brønsted acid catalyzed [5 + 2] cycloaddition reaction. Excellent exo-selectivities are obtained, and the reaction gives products with complete retention of enantiomeric purity when carried out with chiral, nonracemic scaffolds. The substituent at C-6 of the eta (3)-coordinated heterocyclic scaffold not only influences [5 + 2] reactivity but also plays a critical role in the demetalation step directing the reaction to only one of two possible products.

Practical, scalable, high-throughput approaches to eta3-pyranyl and eta3-pyridinyl organometallic enantiomeric scaffolds using the Achmatowicz reaction

A unified strategy for the high-throughput synthesis of multigram quantities of the eta(3)-oxopyranyl- and eta(3)-oxopyridinylmolybdenum complexes TpMo(CO)(2)(eta(3)-oxopyranyl) and TpMo(CO)(2)(eta(3)-oxopyridinyl) is described (Tp = hydridotrispyrazolylborato). The strategy uses the oxa- and aza-Achmatowicz reaction for the preparation of these organometallic enantiomeric scaffolds, in both racemic and high enantiopurity versions.

The enantiomeric scaffold approach to highly functionalized 1-oxadecalines: enantio- and regiocontrolled [4 + 2] cycloadditions of 5-alkenyl-eta3-pyranylmolybdenum complexes

TpMo(CO)2(5-alkenyl-eta-2,3,4-pyranyl) diene complexes function as excellent chiral scaffolds for the efficient regio- and enantiocontrolled synthesis of highly functionalized 1-oxadecaline derivatives through a novel transition metal-mediated Diels-Alder reaction. Very good to excellent yields and excellent levels of endo selectivity are obtained, and the reaction gives products with complete retention of enantiomeric purity when carried out with chiral, nonracemic scaffolds. A subtle structural modification on the diene (replacement of an H by a trans-CH3 group) leads to a complete change of regiochemistry, which is discussed from a mechanistic point of view. The role of the eta3-coordinated TpMo(CO)2 moiety is also critical to the further functionalization of the [4 + 2] cycloadducts, as illustrated by the preparation of 20 variously functionalized 1-oxadecaline derivatives (>98% ee when carried out with high enantiopurity scaffolds).

A new approach to promoting sluggish Diels-Alder reactions: dihapto-coordination of the diene

The cycloaddition between 1,3-cyclohexadiene and various enones and enals (methyl vinyl ketone, ethyl vinyl ketone, methacrolien) is accomplished at room temperature in yields ranging from 51 to 68% without the use of Lewis acids, high pressures, or microwave reactors. This normally sluggish cyclization is accomplished by precoordination of the diene to a pi-basic molybdenum complex. The eta2-bound metal is thought to promote a Michael reaction between the uncoordinated portion of the diene and the enone, and the resulting enolate then closes to form the cycloalkene product. The organic cycloadduct is removed by oxidation with air or with silver triflate in nearly quantitative yield. For more sterically hindered enones (e.g., mesityl oxide) and for methyl acrylate, the desired outcome requires the use of BF3.OEt2, and yields are significantly lower (15-35%)

Organometallic enantiomeric scaffolding: organometallic chirons. Total synthesis of (-)-Bao Gong Teng A by a molybdenum-mediated [5 + 2] cycloaddition

Bao Gong Teng A, an optically active tropane alkaloid with hypotensive and miotic activity isolated from the Chinese herb Erycibe obtusifolia Benth, was synthesized by an "organometallic chiron" strategy in which single enantiomers of TpMo(CO)(2)(eta(3)-pyridinyl) complexes are produced in quantity and then elaborated easily and efficiently to generate, after demetalation, highly enantiopure advanced synthetic intermediates possessing the tropane core.