[4 + 3] Cycloaddition of Aromatic α,β-Unsaturated Aldehydes and Ketones with Epoxides: One-Step Approach to Synthesize Seven-Membered Oxacycles Catalyzed by Lewis Acid

Expedient cobalt-catalyzed stereospecific cascade C-N and C-O bond formation of styrene oxides with hydrazones

Cobalt-catalyzed cascade C-N and C-O bond formation of epoxides with hydrazones is described to furnish oxadiazines using air as an oxidant. The catalyst plays a dual role as a Lewis acid followed by a redox catalyst to accomplish the C-H/O-H cyclization. Optically active styrene oxide can be reacted enantiospecifically (>99% ee).

Acid-catalyzed formal cycloaddition of α,β-unsaturated carbonyls with epoxides: dioxepines or acetals?

It has been recently reported that the reaction of α,β-unsaturated carbonyl derivatives with epoxides in the presence of a homogeneous acid catalyst readily delivers the corresponding dioxepines via formal (4 + 3) cycloaddition. We report herein that the same apparent reactivity can be triggered via heterogeneous catalysis. Characterization of products by means of NMR correlation experiments and DFT modeling revealed, however, that products are the acetals of the unsaturated reagent rather than the desired heterocycles.