Intramolecular Hydroxycyclopropanation of ω-Vinyl Carboxylic Esters

Ti-Catalyzed Diastereoselective Cyclopropanation of Carboxylic Derivatives with Terminal Olefins

Cyclopropanols and cyclopropylamines not only serve as important structural motifs in medicinal chemistry but also show diverse reactivities in organic synthesis. Owing to the high ring strain energy, the development of a general protocol from stable and readily available starting materials to afford these cyclopropyl derivatives remains a compelling challenge. Herein, we describe that a Ti-based catalyst can effectively promote the diastereoselective syntheses of cyclopropanols and cyclopropylamines from widely accessible carboxylic derivatives (acids, esters, amides) with terminal olefins. To the best of our knowledge, this method represents the first example of direct converting alkyl carboxylic acids into cyclopropanols. Distinct from conventional studies in Ti-mediated cyclopropanations with reactive alkyl Grignard reagents as nucleophiles or reductants, this protocol utilizes Mg and Me₂SiCl₂ to turn over the Ti catalyst. Our method exhibits broad substrate scope with good functional group compatibility and is amenable to late-stage synthetic manipulations of natural products and biologically active molecules.

Catalytic radical cascade cyclization of alkene-tethered enones to fused bicyclic cyclopropanols

Fused bicyclic cyclopropanols were achieved via an unprecedented HAT-triggered radical cascade reaction of alkene-tethered enones in the presence of an iron catalyst.

Diastereo- and enantioselective preparation of cyclopropanol derivatives

The diastereoselective carbocupration reaction of alkoxy-functionalized cyclopropene derivatives, followed by a subsequent trapping of the resulting cyclopropylmetal species with an electrophilic source of oxygen (oxenoid) afforded various tetrasubstituted cyclopropanol derivatives in high diastereo- and enantiomeric ratios. Similarly, the enantioselective copper-catalyzed carbomagnesiation/oxidation (or amination) sequence on achiral nonfunctionalized cyclopropenes provided the desired cyclopropanol (and cyclopropylamine) derivatives in excellent diastereo- and enantiomeric excesses.

Additive Tuned Selective Synthesis of Bicyclo[3.3.0]octan-1-ols and Bicyclo[3.1.0]hexan-1-ols Mediated by AllylSmBr

The selective construction of bicyclo[3.3.0]octan-1-ols and bicyclo[3.1.0]hexan-1-ols was achieved by using an allylSmBr/additive(s) system. By employing HMPA as the only additive, the momoallylation/ketone-alkene coupling occurred preferably and afforded bicyclo[3.3.0]octan-1-ols in good yields with high diastereoselectivities. While the ester-alkene coupling predominated to generate bicyclo[3.1.0]hexan-1-ols in moderate yields with excellent diastereoselectivities in the presence of a proton source, such as pyrrole as the coadditive with HMPA. The tunable reactivity of allylSmBr by additive(s) would make it a versatile reagent in organic synthesis.

The Development of Alkoxide-Directed Metallacycle-Mediated Annulative Cross-Coupling Chemistry

Alkoxide-directed metallacycle-mediated cross-coupling is a rapidly growing area of reaction methodology in organic chemistry. Over the last decade, developments have resulted in > thirty new and highly selective intermolecular (or "convergent") C-C bond-forming reactions that have established powerful retrosynthetic relationships in stereoselective synthesis. While early studies were focused on developing transformations that forge a single C-C bond by way of a functionalized and unsaturated metallacyclopentane intermediate, recent advances mark the ability to employ this organometallic intermediate in additional stereoselective transformations. Among these more advanced coupling processes, those that embrace the metallacycle in subsequent [4+2] chemistry have resulted in the realization of a number of highly selective annulative cross-coupling reactions that deliver densely functionalized and angularly substituted carbocycles. This review discusses the early development of this chemistry, recent advances in reaction methodology, and shares a glimpse of the power of these processes in natural product synthesis.

The Kulinkovich hydroxycyclopropanation reaction in natural product synthesis

The Kulinkovich cyclopropanation reaction provides a flexible and convenient method for the synthesis of cyclopropanols. Together with the diverse chemistry of the cyclopropanol unit, it offers access to a wide range of functionalised unsaturated and saturated compounds. The successful use in the synthesis of natural compounds is outlined in this perspective.

Stereochemistry of the Kulinkovich cyclopropanation of nitriles

The stereochemistry of the Kulinkovich cyclopropanation of nitriles with alkenes has been examined by employing (E)-disubstituted alkenes and deuterium-labeled homoallylic alcohols as a stereochemical probe. An intramolecular cyclopropanation proceeds with preservation of the olefin configuration. On the other hand, intermolecular counterparts occur with both preservation and reversal of the olefin configuration, which corresponds to retention and inversion of configuration at the Ti-C bond, respectively, in the cyclopropane-forming step. These uncommon stereochemical outcomes contrast with that of the Kulinkovich cyclopropanation of tertiary amides.

Low-valent titanium-mediated stereoselective alkylation of allylic alcohols

We have developed low-valent titanium-mediated 1,3-transpositive cross-coupling reactions of acyclic and cyclic allylic alcohols for the stereoselective introduction of ethyl, 2-silylethyl, 2-phenethyl, and alkenyl groups. Cross-coupling of an allylic alcohol with a vinylsilane or styrene derivative is particularly noteworthy, as an efficient cross-selective coupling of two alkenes has been elusive. The stereochemistry of the cross-coupling alkylation is consistent with syn addition/beta-elimination.

Olefin Exchange-Mediated Cyclopropanation of Nitriles with Homoallylic Alcohols

We report herein olefin exchange-mediated cyclopropanation of nitriles with homoallylic alcohols. The use of homoallylic alcohols is central to the successful implementation.

Alpha-hydroxy esters via enantioselective hydrogen-mediated C-C coupling: regiocontrolled reactions of silyl-substituted 1,3-diynes

[reaction: see text] Catalytic hydrogenation of ethyl glyoxalate in the presence of 1,3-diynes 4a-9a using chirally modified rhodium catalysts enables formation of alpha-hydroxy esters 4c-9c in highly optically enriched form. Notably, for such trialkylsilyl-substituted 1,3-diynes, C-C coupling occurs exclusively at the carbon atom bearing silicon. Pi-back-bonding from low valent rhodium as described by the Dewar-Chatt-Duncanson model appears to direct the regiochemistry of C-C coupling, as corroborated by calculations of the diyne LUMO coefficients.

Use of Cyclopropanols as Conformational Constraints in RCM

[reaction: see text] Sequential application of the Kulinkovich cyclopropanation of carboxylic esters and RCM of the resulting cis-dialkenyl-tethered cyclopropanols provides an expedient route to functionalized medium-sized carbocycles. Subsequent elaboration of the cyclopropanol functionality, such as one-carbon ring expansion, to afford synthetically useful alpha,beta-enones is also worth noting.

Unusual Ambiphilic Carbenoid Equivalent in Amide Cyclopropanation

[reaction: see text] The titanium-methylene complexes derived from the TiCl(4)-Mg-CH(2)Cl(2) system serve as a novel class of ambiphilic carbenoid equivalents, which not only efficiently effect cyclopropanations of a variety amides but also exhibit high chemoselectivity.

Diastereoselective, titanium-mediated cyclization of omega-vinyl tethered imides

[reaction: see text] Diastereoselective reductive coupling reactions of omega-vinyl tethered cyclic imides are achieved by a preexisting stereocenter at an allylic position. Particularly noteworthy is the effective use of a 1:2 mixture of Ti(O-i-Pr)4 and n-BuLi to afford the N-acylhemiaminal products in good yields.

Titanium-Mediated Alkylative Coupling of N-Acylpyrroles

[reaction: see text]. Inter- and intramolecular titanium-mediated coupling reactions of N-acylpyrroles are reported for convenient functionalization of terminal olefins. Comparison with the Kulinkovich reaction of esters and other carboxylic acid derivatives is also included.

Low-Valent Titanium-Mediated Cyclopropanation of Vinylogous Esters

[reaction: see text] Inter- and intramolecular titanium-mediated cyclopropanation reactions of vinylogous esters are reported. Comparison between the Kulinkovich cyclopropanation of esters and vinylogous esters provides mechanistic insight regarding reaction variables such as reaction temperature, solvents, and a Lewis acid additive.

Stereochemistry of Cyclopropane Formation Involving Group IV Organometallic Complexes

The reaction of (Z)-HDC=CHCH(OCH(3))C(6)H(5) (1) with Cp(2)Zr(D)Cl followed by BF(3).OEt(2) gave phenylcyclopropanes 3a and 3b, both having cis deuterium. This stereochemical outcome requires inversion of configuration at the carbon bound to zirconium and is consistent with a "W-shaped" transition state structure for cyclopropane formation. In a Kulinkovich hydroxycyclopropanation, trans-3-deutero-1-methyl-cis-2-phenyl-1-cyclopropanol (5) was formed stereospecifically from Ti(O-i-Pr)(4), ethyl acetate, EtMgBr, and trans-beta-deuterostyrene. This stereochemistry requires retention of configuration at the carbon bound to titanium and is consistent with frontside attack of the carbon-titanium bond on a carbonyl group coordinated to titanium. In a de Meijere cyclopropylamine synthesis, a 3:1 mixture of N,N-dimethyl-N-(trans-3-deutero-trans-2-phenylcyclopropyl)amine (6a) and N,N-dimethyl-N-(cis-3-deutero-cis-2-phenylcyclopropyl)amine (6b) was formed from Ti(O-i-Pr)(4), DMF, Grignard reagents, and trans-beta-deuterostyrene. This stereochemistry requires inversion of configuration at the carbon bound to titanium and is consistent with a W-shaped transition structure for ring closure.

Diastereoselective titanium-mediated construction of cis-2,3-ring annelated 1-(2'-chloroethyl)cyclopropanols

Titanium(IV)-mediated cyclopropanation induced by reaction of cycloalkylmagnesium bromides 1a-e in the presence of titanium tetraisopropoxide with ethyl beta-chloropropionate 2 yielded cis-fused 1-(2'-chloroethyl)cyclopropanols 3b-e with diastereoselectivity highly depending on the ring size. Unexpected rearrangement products 5d,e were isolated in some cases.

Radical fragmentation of omega-bromoalkyl cyclobutanones. A modular approach to eight-membered carbocycles

[reaction: see text] An eight-membered ring was conveniently appended onto a cycloalkene carboxylate by employing a facile radical cyclization-fragmentation reaction of an omega-bromoalkyl spirocyclobutanone, which was readily accessible by the Kulinkovich cyclopropanation and subsequent electrophilic addition to a 3-bromoalkyl acetal.

Electrophilic cyclizations of vinylcyclopropanols to tethered aldehydes

[reaction: see text]. The intramolecular, stereoselective addition of 1-vinylcyclopropanols to tethered aldehydes has been achieved under mild conditions. Thus, sequential application of the titanium-mediated cyclopropanation of alpha,beta-unsaturated esters and the electrophilic cyclization of the aldehyde-tethered cyclopropanol products provides the facile formation of carbocyclic rings.

A theoretical study on the mechanism and diastereoselectivity of the Kulinkovich hydroxycyclopropanation reaction

A detailed mechanism for the Kulinkovich hydroxycyclopropanation reaction has been explored with density functional theory calculations on the reactions between R(1)COOMe and Ti(OMe)(2)(CH(2)CHR(2)) (R(1) and R(2) are hydrogen and alkyl groups). Addition of ester to titanacyclopropane is found to be fast, exothermic, and irreversible. It has a preference for the alpha-addition manifold over the beta-addition manifold in which its cycloinsertion transition states suffer from the steric repulsion between the R(2) and ester. The following intramolecular methoxy migration step is also exothermic with reasonable activation energy. The cyclopropane-forming step is the rate-determining step, which affords the experimentally observed cis-R(1)/R(2) diastereoselectivity in the alpha-addition manifold by generating cis-R(1)/R(2) 1,2-disubstituted cyclopropanol when R(1) is primary alkyl groups. On the contrary, the unfavored beta-addition manifold offers the diastereoselectivity contradicting the experimental observations. The effects of R(1) and R(2) on the regio- and stereoselectivity are also discussed.

Enantioselective synthesis of 2-substituted cyclobutanones

[formula: see text] An enantioselective synthesis of 2-substituted cyclobutanones has been achieved by sequential application of the titanium-mediated cyclopropanation of alpha-hydroxy esters and the pinacol-type rearrangement of the resulting alpha-hydroxycyclopropylcarbinols.

Palladium-mediated ring opening of hydroxycyclopropanes

[reaction: see text] The palladium-mediated ring opening of substituted cyclopropanols has been found to take place predominantly at the less substituted C-C bond. Thus, sequential application of the titanium-mediated cyclopropanation of esters and the palladium-mediated ring opening of the resulting cyclopropanols provides a convenient method for functionalizing monosubstituted olefins.