Synthesis of Vinylcycloheptadienes by the Nickel-Catalyzed Three-Component [3 + 2 + 2] Cocyclization. Application to the Synthesis of Polycyclic Compounds

Cycloaddition of cyclopropanes for the elaboration of medium-sized carbocycles

The stereocontrolled formation of medium-sized carbocycles is a major goal in modern organic chemistry due to their widespread occurrence in natural products and pharmaceutically active ingredients. One approach consists in the use of cycloaddition reactions which notably results in high selectivities and atom-economy. To this end, cyclopropanes are ideal substrates since they can provide readily functionalized three- or five-carbon synthons. Herein we report advances made in cycloaddition reactions of cyclopropanes towards the synthesis of medium-sized carbocycles via transition metal catalysis or Lewis acid catalysis.

Elucidating the mechanism and origins of selectivity on catalyst-dependent cyclization reactions to form polycyclic indolines from a theoretical study

There is a significant role for bioactive polycyclic indolines in the pharmaceutical science field. In this paper, a systematic DFT study at the M06-D3/SMD/BS2//B3LYP-D3/BS1 level is adopted to investigate the cyclization reaction catalyzed by Rh₂(esp)₂ and InCl₃ to generate polycyclic indolines. Luckily, the simplification of the Rh₂(esp)₂ computational model is feasible, and successfully used in this study. The computational results detailed indicate the reaction mechanisms catalyzed by different catalysts, and the regio- and diastereo-selectivity. The regio-selectivity is controlled by the weak interaction (reflected in repulsive interaction) of the key transition state in the InCl₃-catalyzed pathway, and the larger distortion energy makes the regio-selectivity more obvious in the pathway catalyzed by Rh₂(esp)₂. It is important that this theoretical study suggests the significance of the catalyst in the reaction system in detail by NBO and FMO analysis. This paper is a good explanation of the experimental phenomenon caused by the catalyst where InCl₃ is more significant than Rh₂(esp)₂. The reaction mechanism and the importance of the catalysts are revealed in detail by this particular theoretical study.

The mechanism and origins of selectivities of multiply catalyzed cyclization reactions catalyzed by Rh₂(esp)₂ and InCl₃ are investigated by DFT calculations as well as distortion/interaction and noncovalent interaction (NCI) analyses.

Transition-Metal-Catalyzed Cycloaddition Reactions to Access Seven-Membered Rings

The efficient and selective synthesis of functionalized seven-membered rings remains an important pursuit within synthetic organic chemistry, as this motif appears in numerous drug-like molecules and natural products. Use of cycloaddition reactions remains an attractive approach for their construction within the perspective of atom and step economy. Additionally, the ability to combine multiple components in a single reaction has the potential to allow for efficient combinatorial strategies of diversity-oriented synthesis. The inherent entropic penalty associated with achieving these transformations has impressively been overcome with development of catalysis, whereby the reaction components can be pre-organized through activation by transition-metal-catalysis. The fine-tuning of metal/ligand combinations as well as reaction conditions allows for achieving chemo-, regio-, diastereo- and enantioselectivity in these transformations. Herein, we discuss recent advances in transition-metal-catalyzed construction of seven-membered rings via combination of 2-4 components mediated by a variety of metals. An emphasis is placed on the mechanistic aspects of these transformations to both illustrate the state of the science and to highlight the unique application of novel processes of transition-metals in these transformations.

Rhodium-Catalyzed Enantioselective [2 + 2 + 1] Cycloaddition of 1,6-Enynes with Cyclopropylideneacetamides

It has been established that a cationic rhodium(I)/( R)-tol-BINAP or ( R)-BINAP complex catalyzes the enantioselective [2 + 2 + 1] cycloaddition of 1,6-enynes, possessing monosubstituted alkene units, with cyclopropylideneacetamides at room temperature through the elimination of ethylene to give bicyclic (cyclopent-2-en-1-ylidene)acetamides with high enantioselectivity.

Fulvene Synthesis by Rhodium(I)-Catalyzed [2+2+1] Cycloaddition: Synthesis and Catalytic Activity of Tunable Cyclopentadienyl Rhodium(III) Complexes with Pendant Amides

It has been established that a Rh^I+ /segphos complex catalyzes the [2+2+1] cycloaddition of 1,6-diynes with cyclopropylideneacetamides to give substituted fulvenes in good yields. The reductive complexation of the product fulvenes with RhCl₃ in EtOH furnished the corresponding dinuclear cyclopentadienyl Rh^III complexes bearing a pendant amide moiety. These Rh^III complexes were highly active catalysts for oxidative annulation and cyclization through C(sp² )-H and C(sp³ )-H functionalization.

"Cut and Sew" Transformations via Transition-Metal-Catalyzed Carbon-Carbon Bond Activation

The transition metal-catalyzed "cut and sew" transformation has recently emerged as a useful strategy for preparing complex molecular structures. After oxidative addition of a transition metal into a carbon-carbon bond, the resulting two carbon termini can be both functionalized in one step via the following migratory insertion and reductive elimination with unsaturated units, such as alkenes, alkynes, allenes, CO and polar multiple bonds. Three- or four-membered rings are often employed as reaction partners due to their high ring strains. The participation of non-strained structures generally relies on cleavage of a polar carbon-CN bond or assistance of a directing group.