Allenyl Azide Cycloaddition Chemistry. Synthesis of Pyrrolidine-Containing Bicycles and Tricycles via the Possible Intermediacy of Azatrimethylenemethane Species

Reductive Alkylation of Azides and Nitroarenes with Alcohols: A Selective Route to Mono- and Dialkylated Amines

Herein, we demonstrated an efficient protocol for reductive alkylation of azides/nitro compounds via a borrowing hydrogen (BH) method. By following this protocol, selective mono- and dialkylated amines were obtained under mild and solvent-free conditions. A series of control experiments and deuterium-labeling experiments were performed to understand this catalytic process. Mechanistic studies suggested that the Ir(III)-H was the active intermediate in this reaction. KIE study revealed that the breaking of the C-H bond of alcohol might be the rate-limiting step. Notably, this solvent-free strategy disclosed a high TON of around 5600. Based on kinetic studies and control experiments, a metal-ligand cooperative mechanism was proposed.

Understanding the 1,3-Dipolar Cycloadditions of Allenes

We have quantum chemically studied the reactivity, site-, and regioselectivity of the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition between methyl azide and various allenes, including the archetypal allene propadiene, heteroallenes, and cyclic allenes, by using density functional theory (DFT). The 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactivity of linear (hetero)allenes decreases as the number of heteroatoms in the allene increases, and formation of the 1,5-adduct is, in all cases, favored over the 1,4-adduct. Both effects find their origin in the strength of the primary orbital interactions. The cycloaddition reactivity of cyclic allenes was also investigated, and the increased predistortion of allenes, that results upon cyclization, leads to systematically lower activation barriers not due to the expected variations in the strain energy, but instead from the differences in the interaction energy. The geometric predistortion of cyclic allenes enhances the reactivity compared to linear allenes through a unique mechanism that involves a smaller HOMO-LUMO gap, which manifests as more stabilizing orbital interactions.

Cycloaddition/annulation strategies for the construction of multisubstituted pyrrolidines and their applications in natural product synthesis

Pyrrolidines are privileged substructures of numerous bioactive natural products and drugs.

Efficient Trapping of 1,2-Cyclohexadienes with 1,3-Dipoles

1,2-Cyclohexadienes are transient intermediates that undergo rapid dimerization and intermolecular trapping with activated olefins and heteroatomic nucleophiles. Fluoride-mediated desilylative elimination of readily accessible 6-silylcyclohexene-1-triflates allows the mild, chemoselective, and functional-group tolerant generation of cyclic allene intermediates, which undergo efficient trapping reactions with stable 1,3-dipoles. The reactions proceed with high levels of both regio- and diastereoselectivity. The reaction of cyclic allenes with azides is accompanied by the facile loss of dinitrogen, resulting in the formation of tetrahydroindoles or polycylic aziridines depending on the azide employed.

Fates of imine intermediates in radical cyclizations of N-sulfonylindoles and ene-sulfonamides

Two new fates of imine intermediates formed on radical cyclizations of ene-sulfonamides have been identified, reduction and hydration/fragmentation. Tin hydride-mediated cyclizations of 2-halo-N-(3-methyl-N-sulfonylindole)anilines provide spiro[indoline-3,3'-indolones] or spiro-3,3'-biindolines (derived from imine reduction), depending on the indole C2 substituent. Cyclizations of 2-haloanilide derivatives of 3-carboxy-N-sulfonyl-2,3-dihydropyrroles also presumably form spiro-imines as primary products. However, the lactam carbonyl group facilitates the ring-opening of these cyclic imines by a new pathway of hydration and retro-Claisen-type reaction, providing rearranged 2-(2'-formamidoethyl)oxindoles.

Synthesis studies on the Melodinus alkaloid meloscine

The pentacyclic Melodinus alkaloid (±)-meloscine was synthesized in 19 chemical steps from 2-bromobenzaldehyde through a route featuring an allenyl azide cyclization cascade to deliver the core azabicyclo[3.3.0]octane substructure. Peripheral functionalization of this core included a Tollens-type aldol condensation to set the quaternary center at C(20) and a diastereoselective ring closing metathesis to forge the tetrahydropyridine ring.

Allenyl azide cycloaddition chemistry: application to the total synthesis of (±)-meloscine

The pentacyclic alkaloid (±)-meloscine was prepared in 19 steps through a reaction sequence that features a putative azatrimethylenemethane intermediate, generated through cascade cyclization of an allenyl azide substrate, to deliver the core azabicyclo[3.3.0]octadiene substructure. Subsequent manipulation of the peripheral functionality then delivered (±)-meloscine.

Catalyst-free preparation of 1,2,4,5-tetrasubstituted imidazoles from a novel unexpected domino reaction of 2-azido acrylates and nitrones

A highly efficient and convenient method for the synthesis of 1,2,4,5-tetrasubstituted imidazoles from readily accessible 2-azido acrylates and nitrones has been developed. This reaction proceeded under mild conditions without the assistance of any metal, acid, or base.

Allenyl azide cycloaddition chemistry. 2,3-cyclopentennelated indole synthesis through indolidene intermediates

The thermal, photochemical, and photochemical/CuI-mediated cascade cyclizations of a range of substituted 1-(2-azidophenyl)-3-alkenylallenes are described. These reactions provide both 1,2- and 2,3-cyclopentennelated indole products in varying ratios. In most cases, high regioselectivity for the 2,3-annelated isomer can be achieved under the hnu/CuI conditions. Computational studies of this multistep reaction support the intermediacy of indolidene intermediates whose electrocyclizations (with or without copper present) define the regioselectivity branch point in the sequence.

Allenyl azide cycloaddition chemistry: exploration of the scope and mechanism of cyclopentennelated dihydropyrrole synthesis through azatrimethylenemethane intermediates

Detailed studies of the thermal conversion of 1-azidohepta-3,4,6-trienes into cyclopentennelated dihydropyrroles are presented. High levels of diastereoselectivity and regioselectivity are documented. A mechanistic proposal that accounts for all of the diverse results is developed through the use of density functional calculations. These calculations provide support for the intervention of unexpected mechanistic subtleties, such as the planarity of an azatrimethylenemethane diyl intermediate and an apparent Woodward-Hoffmann-type electrocyclization of a five-atom diyl array.

Cyclization cascade of allenyl azides: a dual mechanism

A density functional theory based computational approach to describing the mechanistic course of the allene azide cycloaddition cascade sequence has been developed. The results of these calculations permit characterization of key reactive intermediates (diradicals and/or indolidenes) and explain the different behaviors observed in the experimental studies between conjugated and nonconjugated species. Furthermore, computational analysis of certain intermediates offer insight into issues of regioselectivity and stereoselectivity in cases where different reaction channels are in competition, suggesting suitable substitutions to achieve a single regioisomer in the indole synthesis via azide-allene cyclization.

Allenyl azide cycloaddition chemistry. Synthesis of annelated indoles from 2-(allenyl)phenyl azide substrates

[reaction: see text] Thermolysis of 2-(allenyl)phenyl azides leads to a cascade cyclization sequence furnishing both C(2)-C(3) and N-C(2) cyclopentannelated indoles.

Reaction of Allenyl Esters with Sodium Azide: An Efficient Synthesis of E-Vinyl Azides and Polysubstituted Pyrroles

The nucleophilic addition of sodium azide to 1,2-allenyl esters can generate vinyl azides in excellent yields with excellent regio- and stereoselectivities. Moreover, pyrroles are synthesized using 1-allyllic 1,2-allenyl esters as substrates in t-BuOH at 65 degrees C. The sequential reaction for pyrroles is developed on the basis of a novel domino process involving nucleophilic addition, cycloaddition, denitrogenation, and aromatization.

Organic azides: an exploding diversity of a unique class of compounds

Since the discovery of organic azides by Peter Griess more than 140 years ago, numerous syntheses of these energy-rich molecules have been developed. In more recent times in particular, completely new perspectives have been developed for their use in peptide chemistry, combinatorial chemistry, and heterocyclic synthesis. Organic azides have assumed an important position at the interface between chemistry, biology, medicine, and materials science. In this Review, the fundamental characteristics of azide chemistry and current developments are presented. The focus will be placed on cycloadditions (Huisgen reaction), aza ylide chemistry, and the synthesis of heterocycles. Further reactions such as the aza-Wittig reaction, the Sundberg rearrangement, the Staudinger ligation, the Boyer and Boyer-Aubé rearrangements, the Curtius rearrangement, the Schmidt rearrangement, and the Hemetsberger rearrangement bear witness to the versatility of modern azide chemistry.