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

An Organocatalytic Oxy-Cope/Michael Cascade Reaction

Ethyl diazepane carboxylate catalyzes the oxy-Cope rearrangement of 4-hydroxy- and 4-alkoxy-1,5-hexadiene-2-carboxaldehydes via iminium ion activation. The resulting intermediate undergoes an intramolecular Michael reaction to furnish cyclopentane-containing products. The reaction proceeds with a range of substrates, including both cyclic and acyclic substrates, and tolerates substitution on the vinyl substituent. Substrates fused on a cycloalkane framework undergo net ring expansion/cyclopentannulation with a high degree of stereocontrol via chairlike transition states. The reaction extends iminium organocatalysis to the oxy-Cope rearrangement, embedded within a complexity-generating cascade transformation.

Tandem Prins cyclizations for the construction of oxygen containing heterocycles

Tandem Prins cyclization is a versatile method for the synthesis of fused/bridged/spirotetrahydropyran scaffolds. Therefore, it has become a powerful tool for the stereoselective synthesis of oxygen/nitrogen containing heterocycles. Indeed, previous review articles on Prins spirocyclization illustrate the synthesis of spirotetrahydropyran derivatives and the aza-Prins reaction demonstrates its application in the total synthesis of natural products. The current review is devoted specifically to highlight tandem Prins cyclizations for the construction of fused scaffolds and related frameworks with a particular emphasis on recent applications. The mechanistic aspects and the scope of the methods are briefly discussed herein.

CASSCF Calculations Reveal Competitive Chair (Pericyclic) and Boat (Pseudopericyclic) Transition States for the [3,3] Sigmatropic Rearrangement of Allyl Esters

(10,8)CASPT2/6-31G**//(10,8)CASSCF/6-31G** and CCSD(T)/cc-pVDZ//(10,8)-CASSCF/6-31G** calculations have been performed on the potential surface for the [3,3] sigmatropic allyl ester rearrangements of cis-3-penten-2-yl acetate (16) to trans-3-penten-2-yl acetate (17) and 3-buten-2-yl acetate (21) to trans-2-buten-1-yl acetate (22). The results are compared to DFT (B3LYP/6-31G**) calculations on the known 16 → 17 rearrangement that reported it to be concerted and pseudopericyclic through a boat-shaped transition structure ( Birney, D. M. et al. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2009 , 131 , 528 - 537 ). The CASSCF calculations, on the other hand, uncovered competitive concerted pathways for both the 16 → 17 and 21 → 22 rearrangements, though it was necessary to apply certain approximations in the former case. While one CASSCF pathway in each case involves a boat-shaped transition structure, similar to the one located through DFT calculations, the other pathway involves a chair-shaped transition structure. Preference for chair or boat is shown to be method dependent. Moreover, examination of the CASSCF active-space orbitals clearly confirms that the boat-shaped transition structures are pseudopericyclic but significantly also established that the chair-shaped transition structures are clearly pericyclic. Conclusions based on these results, and regarding our understanding of pericyclic vs pseudopericyclic reactions, are proffered.

CASSCF Computational Study of Pseudopericyclic Character in Electrocyclic Rearrangements Involving Heteroatoms

The Complete Active Space Self-Consistent Field (CASSCF) computational method, with the 6-31G* basis set, was used to examine six electrocyclic rearrangements, each involving a 1,2,4,6-heptatetraene skeleton with two variously located oxygen and/or nitrogen heteroatoms, as a way to determine which, if any, are pseudopericyclic as opposed to pericyclic. Primarily through the close examination of the active space orbitals, but also considering transition structure geometries and activation energies, it was concluded that rearrangements 3 → 4, 5 → 6, 7 → 8, and 9 → 10 are pseudopericyclic with two orbital disconnections each, whereas the 13 → 14 and 15 → 16 rearrangements are pericyclic. Our conclusions agreed with those of others in two of the four cases that had been studied previously by density functional theory (3 → 4 and 7 → 8) but ran contrary to the previous conclusions that the 5 → 6 rearrangement is pericyclic and that the 15 → 16 rearrangement is pseudopericyclic. Our results are also compared and contrasted to previous similar ones of ours involving the 3 → 4 electrocyclization (essentially pericyclic), the 11 → 12 [3,3] sigmatropic rearrangement (pseudopericyclic), and similar [3,3] sigmatropic rearrangements (all pericyclic), and detailed rationales for these latest results are provided.

Base-mediated cascade rearrangements of aryl-substituted diallyl ethers

Two base-mediated cascade rearrangement reactions of diallyl ethers were developed leading to selective [2,3]-Wittig-oxy-Cope and isomerization-Claisen rearrangements. Both diaryl and arylsilyl-substituted 1,3-substituted propenyl substrates were examined, and each exhibits unique reactivity and different reaction pathways. Detailed mechanistic and computational analysis was conducted, which demonstrated that the role of the base and solvent was key to the reactivity and selectivity observed. Crossover experiments also suggest that these reactions proceed with a certain degree of dissociation, and the mechanistic pathway is highly complex with multiple competing routes.

Divergent pathways to furosesquiterpenes: first total syntheses of (+)-zedoarol and (Rac)-gweicurculactone

Divergent transformation of a non-natural elemane to furo-guaiane and furo-cadinane cores.

Toward a symphony of reactivity: cascades involving catalysis and sigmatropic rearrangements

Catalysis and synthesis are intimately linked in modern organic chemistry. The synthesis of complex molecules is an ever evolving area of science. In many regards, the inherent beauty associated with a synthetic sequence can be linked to a certain combination of the creativity with which a sequence is designed and the overall efficiency with which the ultimate process is performed. In synthesis, as in other endeavors, beauty is very much in the eyes of the beholder. It is with this in mind that we will attempt to review an area of synthesis that has fascinated us and that we find extraordinarily beautiful, namely the combination of catalysis and sigmatropic rearrangements in consecutive and cascade sequences.

Tandem RCM-Claisen rearrangement-[2+2] cycloaddition of O,O'-(but-2-en-1,4-diyl)-bridged binaphthols

Attempted RCM of 2,2'-bis(allyloxy)-1,1'-binaphthyl resulted in a Claisen-type rearrangement of a postulated labile dioxacyclodecine proceeding at room temperature and followed by [2+2] cycloaddition. Structures of products were confirmed by X-ray crystallography. A mechanistic rationalisation based on relative stabilities of proposed intermediates and transition states is provided.

The chemistry of the polycyclic polyprenylated acylphloroglucinols

With their fascinating biological profiles and stunningly complex molecular architectures, the polycyclic polyprenylated acylphloroglucinols (PPAPs) have long provided a fertile playing field for synthetic organic chemists. In particular, the recent advent of innovative synthetic methods and strategies together with C-C bond-forming reactions and asymmetric catalysis have revitalized this field tremendously. Consequently, PPAP targets which once seemed beyond reach have now been synthesized. This Review aims to highlight the recent achievements in the total synthesis of PPAPs, as well as notable methods developed for the construction of the bicyclo[3.3.1] core of these chemically and biologically intriguing molecules.

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.

Fast oxy-cope rearrangements of bis-alkynes: competition with central C-C bond fragmentation and incorporation in tunable cascades diverging from a common bis-allenic intermediate

Fast anionic oxy-Cope rearrangements of 1,5-hexadiyn-3,4-olates can be incorporated into cascade transformations which rapidly assemble densely functionalized cyclobutenes or cyclopentenones via a common bis-allenic intermediate. The competition between fragmentation, 4π-electrocyclic closure, and aldol condensation can be efficiently controlled by the nature of the acetylenic substituents. The rearrangement of bis-alkynes with two hydroxyl substituents opens a conceptually interesting entry in the chemistry of ε-dicarbonyl compounds and suggests a new approach to analogues of rocaglamide/aglafolin.

Total synthesis of (-)-agelastatin A: the application of a sequential sigmatropic rearrangement

An enantioselective total synthesis of (-)-agelastatin A from (-)-2,3-O-isopropylidene-d-threitol is described. The sequential Overman/Mislow-Evans rearrangement of the allylic bistrichloroimidate is the key step, which efficiently installed a diaminohydroxy group.

Pericyclic domino reactions: concise approaches to natural carbocyclic frameworks

This tutorial review highlights new research in the area of pericyclic domino reactions. It is directed towards chemists interested in cascading reactions and the total synthesis of natural products. Concise approaches to natural frameworks are described, as well as the application of domino reactions in the context of target-oriented synthesis and total synthesis.