Stereospecific 1,4-Addition of Organolithium Reagents to Unprotected 1- and 2-Naphthalenecarboxylic Acids. A Facile Route to 1,1,2- and -1,2,2-Trisubstituted 1,2-Dihydronaphthalenes

Base-Induced Dehydrogenative and Dearomative Transformation of 1-Naphthylmethylamines to 1,4-Dihydronaphthalene-1-carbonitriles

Solvothermal treatment of 1-naphthylmethylamine with potassium hydride (KH) or n-butyllithium (n-BuLi)-potassium t-butoxide (t-BuOK) in THF induces unusual two consecutive β-hydride eliminations to form 1-naphthonitrile and KH. The freshly generated KH is hydridic enough to undergo dearomative hydride addition to the resultant 1-naphthonitrile regioselectively at the C4 position to afford α-cyano benzylic carbanion, which could be functionalized by a series of electrophiles, liberating the corresponding 1,4-dihydronaphthalene-1-carbonitriles having a quaternary carbon center.

Dearomatizing Anionic Cyclization and Novel Skeletal Rearrangement: High Yield Formation of Multiply Substituted Bicyclic or Polycyclic Spirocyclopentadienes and Phenanthrene Derivatives from 4-Aryl 1-Lithio-1,3-butadienes

Both 4-phenyl 1-lithio-1,3-butadienes and 4-naphthyl 1-lithio-1,3-butadienes underwent highly efficient and selective intramolecular nucleophilic addition of the butadienyllithium to the aromatic rings, resulting in full dearomatization of the phenyl rings and partial dearomatization of the naphthyl rings. When the reactions were carried out at lower temperatures, ipso intramolecular nucleophilic attack took place exclusively to afford the spirocyclopentadiene derivatives upon hydrolysis or further treatment with a variety of electrophiles. 4-Naphthyl 1-lithio-1,3-butadienes and 4-phenyl 1-lithio-1,3-butadienes were found to proceed in this reaction under similar conditions, with the former being faster even at -78 degrees C. However, when the reaction of 4-naphthyl 1-lithio-1,3-butadienes was carried out at higher temperatures, such as 75 degrees C, an interesting skeletal rearrangement took place to afford the vicinal attack products, tetrasubstituted phenanthrenes, via a dearomatization/rearomatization process. Mechanistic investigation revealed that the kinetically favored ipso attack intermediates might undergo thermal skeletal rearrangement via 1,2-alkyl shift.

First General, Direct, and Regioselective Synthesis of Substituted Methoxybenzoic Acids by Ortho Metalation

New general methodology of value in aromatic chemistry based on ortho-metalation sites in o-, m-, and p-anisic acids (1-3) (Scheme 1) is described. The metalation can be selectively directed to either of the ortho positions by varying the base, metalation temperature, and exposure times. Metalation of o-anisic acid (1) with s-BuLi/TMEDA in THF at -78 degrees C occurs exclusively in the position adjacente to the carboxylate. On the other hand, a reversal of regioselectivity is observed with n-BuLi/t-BuOK. With LTMP at 0 degrees C, the two directors of m-anisic acid (2) function in concert to direct introduction of the metal between them while n-BuLi/t-BuOK removes preferentially the proton located ortho to the methoxy and para to the carboxylate (H-4). s-BuLi/TMEDA reacts with p-anisic acid (3) exclusively in the vicinity of the carboxylate. According to these methodologies, routes to very simple methoxybenzoic acids with a variety of functionalities that are not easily accessible by other means have been developed (Table 1).

The First Regioselective Metalation and Functionalization of Unprotected 4-Halobenzoic Acids

[reaction: see text] By treatment with s-BuLi, s-BuLi/TMEDA, or t-BuLi at approximately -78 degrees C, 4-fluoro- and 4-chlorobenzoic acids (1a,b) are metalated preferentially in the position adjacent to the carboxylate. A complete reversal in regioselectivity is observed for 1a when treated with LTMP; a sequential process involving a rapid intraaggregate lithiation through a quasi dianion complex "QUADAC" is postulated to explain the unusual reactivity of Me(2)S(2) and I(2).

Mechanism of Anionic Dearomatizing Reactions of Diphenylphosphinamide Derivatives: A Theoretical and Experimental Study

The mechanism of the anionic dearomatisation of phosphinamide derivatives has been investigated both theoretically and experimentally. The potential-energy surface of model reactions was studied at the Becke3LYP/6-31+G* level of theory, and according to this study, a pre-reactive complex is formed between the alkyllithium and the phosphinamide. This complex evolves preferentially through NC(alpha)-metalation of the phosphinamide. The intramolecular nucleophilic addition of the carbanion to the ortho position of the aromatic ring leads to the dearomatised products, in a reaction that has been shown to be under thermodynamic control. Coordinating co-solvents, such as hexamethyl phosphoramide (HMPA) or N,N'-dimethyl-N,N'-propylene urea (DMPU), appear to influence the reaction by favouring the formation of solvent-separated ion pairs. The cyclisation reaction of allylphosphinamide derivatives was also studied. It was found that both the alpha- and gamma-attack of the allyl anion can take place, however the formation of the seven-membered ring products derived from the gamma-attack are clearly favoured.

Diastereo- and enantioselective dearomatization of rhenium-bound naphthalenes

Dihapto-coordinated naphthalene complexes of the form TpRe(CO)(L)(eta(2)-naphthalene) (L = PMe(3), pyridine, or 1-methylimidazole) undergo electrophilic addition with dimethoxymethane and with various Michael acceptors to generate 1H-naphthalenium species. These naphthalenium complexes undergo intra- or intermolecular nucleophilic addition reactions with stabilized enolates, silyl ketene acetals, or enols to form the corresponding dihydronaphthalene complexes. Oxidative decomplexation generates the free dihydronaphthalene. When a resolved form of the rhenium dearomatization agent is used, these reactions can be performed enantioselectively. DFT calculations provide a useful guide in explaining the observed stereochemistry. Depending on reaction conditions, a Michael-Michael ring-closure sequence (MIMIRC) or a net [2 + 4] cycloaddition with the bound naphthalene is also observed, and the corresponding tricyclic molecules can be removed from the metal in high yield.

Synthesis of functionalized 1,4-cyclohexadienes through intramolecular anionic dearomatization of N-alkyl-N-benzyldiphenylphosphinamides. Insight into the reaction mechanism

A generalization of the intramolecular nucleophilic dearomatization-electrophilic alkylation reactions of N-alkyl-N-benzyldiphenylphosphinamide anions is presented. The process has been optimized by analyzing the effects of metalation and quench times, additives, the nature of the electrophiles used (MeI, CF(3)SO(3)Me, Me(3)O(+)BF(4)(-), AllylBr, PhCH(2)Br, BrCH(2)CO(2)Me, and RCH=O, where R = Ph, 4-Cl-C(6)H(4), 4-MeO-C(6)H(4), and (i)()Pr), and the alkyl substituent linked to the nitrogen of the phosphinamide. Both HMPA and DMPU act as catalysts. The latter proved to be much more efficient for obtaining high yields of substituted tetrahydrobenzo[c][1,2]-1lambda(5)-phospholes containing a 1,4-cyclohexadiene system with very high regio- and diastereoselectivity. Steric effects in the neighborhood of the benzylic anion tend to decrease the stereoselectivity of the anionic cyclization. The optimization study also served to shed light on the reaction mechanism of the dearomatization process by identifying several intermediate species and showing the reversibility of the anionic cyclization step as well as of the reaction with aldehydes.

Dearomatizing anionic cyclization of substituted N-cumyl-N-benzyl- benzamides on treatment with LDA: synthesis of partially saturated substituted isoindolones

On treatment with LDA, substituted N-benzylbenzamides (including those bearing electron-withdrawing, electron-donating, or conjugating groups) become lithiated and cyclize to give, after aqueous quench, a range of partially saturated isoindolones as single regio- and stereoisomers. In general, the isoindolones resist rearomatization. Reaction of N-cumyl-N-benzylbenzamides leads to cyclized products which may be deprotected to give N-unsubstituted isoindolones.

Dearomatization of naphthalene: novel stereoselective cyclization reactions promoted by Osmium(II)

A series of Michael acceptors has been combined with the Os(II) eta(2)-naphthalene complex (1) to form stable 1H-naphthalenium species. Under acidic conditions, these complexes undergo ring closure at C2 to form the phenanthrenone core. In contrast, the corresponding 1-methylnaphthalene complex (15) upon addition of MVK at C8 undergoes ring closure at C5 to form a bridged tricyclic complex (18). Michael addition of MVK to the naphthalene complex (1) followed by deprotonation, an inter-ring linkage isomerization, and ring closure forms a 9-methylphenalene complex (21). In all cases, the organic cyclization products may be decomplexed by heating with silver triflate and isolated in moderate yield.