Tandem oxy-Cope/transannular ene reaction of 1,2-divinylcyclohexanols

Phosphine-promoted intramolecular Rauhut-Currier/Wittig reaction cascade to access (hetero)arene-fused diquinanes

We describe the first phosphine-promoted intramolecular Rauhut-Currier reaction that triggers an intramolecular Wittig process assembling new classes of diquinanes. The one-pot strategy provides ready access to simple diquinanes and various (hetero)arene-fused diquinanes incorporated with up to two contiguous all-carbon quaternary centers under metal-free and neutral conditions. We showcased the generality of the method on a broad range of substrates and demonstrated its synthetic utility in accessing various advanced intermediates relevant to natural product synthesis and material science.

Synergistic Pd(0)/Rh(II) Dual Catalytic [6 + 3] Dipolar Cycloaddition for the Synthesis of Monocyclic Nine-Membered N,O-Heterocycles and Their Alder-ene Rearrangement to Fused Bicyclic Compounds

The catalytic construction of a monocyclic medium-sized N,O-heterocyclic ring represents a formidable challenge in organic synthesis. Herein we report the synergistic palladium(0)/rhodium(II) dual catalytic cycloaddition of vinylpropylene carbonates with N-sulfonyl-1,2,3-triazoles to afford monocyclic nine-membered N,O-heterocycles. The catalytically generated 1,6-dipole-equivalent zwitterionic π-allyl palladium(II) complex and the 1,3-dipole-equivalent α-imino rhodium(II) carbenoid intermediate react with each other in a formal [6 + 3] dipolar cycloaddition to furnish nine-membered oxazonines, which can be transformed into cis-fused [4.3.0] bicyclic compounds via a transannular Alder-ene rearrangement. The tandem one-pot cycloaddition/Alder-ene rearrangement sequence is also possible.

Catalytic, transannular carbonyl-olefin metathesis reactions

Transannular carbonyl-olefin metathesis reactions complement existing procedures for related ring-closing, ring-opening, and intermolecular carbonyl-olefin metathesis. We herein report the development and mechanistic investigation of FeCl₃-catalyzed transannular carbonyl-olefin metathesis reactions that proceed via a distinct reaction path compared to previously reported ring-closing and ring-opening protocols. Specifically, carbonyl-ene and carbonyl-olefin metathesis reaction pathways are competing under FeCl₃-catalysis to ultimately favor metathesis as the thermodynamic product. Importantly, we show that distinct Lewis acid catalysts are able to distinguish between these pathways to enable the selective formation of either transannular carbonyl-ene or carbonyl-olefin metathesis products. These insights are expected to enable further advances in catalyst design to efficiently differentiate between these two competing reaction paths of carbonyl and olefin functionalities to further expand the synthetic generality of carbonyl-olefin metathesis.

Enantioselective catalytic transannular ketone-ene reactions

Highly enantio- and diastereoselective transannular ketone-ene reactions are catalyzed by a new chromium(III) triflate tridentate Schiff base complex. Electronically unactivated keto-olefins undergo heteroene reactions at ambient temperature to afford enantioenriched bicyclic alcohols, common structural motifs in natural products. The kinetic resolution of a configurationally stable planar-chiral cyclodecenone is also described.

Asymmetric Synthesis of Highly Functionalized Cyclopentanes by a Rhodium- and Scandium-Catalyzed Five-Step Domino Sequence

A domino sequence has been developed between vinyldiazoacetates and racemic allyl alcohols, involving five distinct steps. The sequence generates highly functionalized cyclopentanes with four new stereogenic centers as single diastereomers in 64-92% ee. The first step is a rhodium-catalyzed oxygen ylide formation, which is then followed by a [2,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement, an oxy-Cope rearrangement, a keto/enol tautomerization, and then finally a carbonyl ene reaction. With appropriate substrates, a further silyl deprotection and a 6-exo-trig cyclization can be added to the domino process.

Palladium-Catalyzed Cyclization of 1,ω-Dienols: Multiple Ways to Intramolecularly Trap a Carbocation

The tandem catalytic cyclization-rearrangement of 1,omega-dien-3-ols by palladium(II) produces different types of products, depending on the structure of starting material. The pinacol rearrangement, benzannulation, and oxy-Cope rearrangement are major pathways of transforming the putative sigma-alkylpalladium carbocation. Turnover of the cyclization is achieved by beta-hydride elimination and reoxidation of palladium with benzoquinone. The overall course of the reaction is very sensitive to small changes in the substrate structure.

Cascading pericyclic reactions: building complex carbon frameworks for natural product synthesis

Tandem reactions have emerged as powerful strategies to synthesize complex structures, in particular, processes involving pericyclic reactions. This article describes recent advancement by our group in the development of novel tandem pericyclic reactions aimed at constructing diterpene frameworks.

Conservation of the Planar Chiral Information in the Tandem Oxy-Cope/Ene Reaction

[reaction: see text] We report the stereoselective synthesis of a Decalin unit using a tandem oxy-Cope/ene reaction. [3,3]-Shift of 1,2-divinylcyclohexenol 18 generates (1E, 3Z, 7E) cyclodecatrien-2-ol 23 which tautomerizes to ketone 21 (Figure 3). The chiral information embedded in 23 is transferred into the newly formed stereogenic carbon C6 in 21. The efficiency of the chirality transfer is a reflection of the difference in the rates of ring inversion versus tautomerization of 23. Ketone 21 undergoes a carbonyl-ene reaction to give Decalin 20. Assuming a rapid equilibrium between macrocyclic diastereomers, the diastereomeric ratio of the transannular ene reaction is governed by the Curtin-Hammett principle. Analysis of the conservation of the planar chiral information in the tandem oxy-Cope/ene reaction is presented.

Highly Efficient Transfer of Chirality from Macrocyclic Conformation in the Tandem Oxy-Cope/Claisen/Ene Reaction

We report three highly stereoselective pericyclic reactions occurring in cascade leading to the synthesis of Decalins skeletons possessing two contiguous quaternary centers. The tandem reaction is triggered by an oxy-Cope rearrangement to create in situ a 10-membered ring enol ether macrocyle 6, which immediately rearranges via a Claisen [3,3] shift to the corresponding E-cyclodec-6-en-1-one 7. The latter spontaneously cyclizes via a transannular ene reaction to produce Decalin 5. Analysis of the mechanism with respect to the origin of the high diastereoselectivity of the tandem oxy-Cope/Claisen/ene reaction is presented.

Temperature- and time-dependent stereochemical control in thermally induced keto-ene cyclizations

Reaction conditions determine the stereoselection in the intramolecular keto-ene reaction. The thermolysis of chiral 2-acyl-3-allyl-substituted 1,3-perhydrobenzoxazines derived from (-)-8-aminomenthol gives a mixture of only two cis-3-hydroxy-3,4-disubstituted pyrrolidine nuclei. The stereochemistry of the major diastereoisomer depends on both the temperature and the reaction time.

Highly diastereoselective synthesis of decalin skeletons with quaternary carbon centers via the tandem oxy-Cope/ene/Claisen reaction

The highly diastereoselective cascade sequence of three successive thermal pericyclic reactions of 1,2-divinylcyclohexanol allyl and propargyl ethers is described. This novel tandem process provides an efficient synthesis of sesqui- and diterpenoid skeletons having a quaternary carbon at C9. [reaction: see text]

Total synthesis of (+)-arteanniun M using the tandem oxy-Cope/ene reaction

[see reaction]. The first total synthesis of (+)-arteannuin M was accomplished using the tandem oxy-Cope/transannular ene reaction as the key step to construct the bicyclic core of the natural product. The tandem reaction proceeded with high diastereo- and enantiomeric excess.