Construction of aryl-substituted triquinanes through the interrupted Nazarov reaction

Interrupted reactions in chemical synthesis

Interrupted reactions reroute established processes to new and often unanticipated end points. Of particular interest are the cases in which a known reactive intermediate takes on a new reaction pathway, either because this pathway is lower in energy or because the conventional pathway is no longer available. Through analysis of documented cases, we aim to dissect the known interrupted reactions and trace their mechanistic origins. As new chemical processes are being discovered at a seemingly ever-increasing pace, it is likely that new interrupted reactions will continue to emerge. Our hope is that the cases considered in this Review will help identify new classes of these fascinating transformations.

New Twists in Nazarov Cyclization Chemistry

The defining feature of the Nazarov cyclization is a 4π-conrotatory electrocyclization, resulting in the stereospecific formation of functionalized cyclopentanones. The reaction provides access to structural motifs that are found in many natural products and drug targets. Harnessing the full potential of the Nazarov cyclization broadens its utility by enabling the development of new methodologies and synthetic strategies. To achieve these goals through efficient cyclization design, it is helpful to think of the reaction as a two-stage process. The first stage involves a 4π-electrocyclization leading to the formation of an allylic cation, and the second stage corresponds to the fate of this cationic intermediate. With a complete understanding of the discrete events that characterize the overall process, one can optimize reactivity and control the selectivity of the different Stage 2 pathways.In this Account, we describe the development of methods that render the Nazarov cyclization catalytic and chemoselective, focusing specifically on advances made in our lab between 2002 and 2015. The initial discovery made in our lab involved reactions of electronically asymmetric ("polarized") substrates, which cyclize efficiently in the catalytic regime using mild Lewis acidic reagents. These cyclizations also exhibit selective eliminative behavior, increasing their synthetic utility. Research directed toward catalytic asymmetric Nazarov cyclization led to the serendipitous discovery of a 4π-cyclization coupled to a well-behaved Wagner-Meerwein rearrangement, representing an underexplored Stage 2 process. With careful choice of promoter and loading, it is possible to access either the rearrangement or the elimination pathway. Additional experimental and computational studies provided an effective model for anticipating the migratory behavior of substiutents in the rearrangements. Problem-solving efforts prompted investigation of alternative methods for generating pentadienyl cation intermediates, including oxidation of allenol ethers and addition of nucleophiles to dienyl diketones. These Nazarov cyclization variants afford cyclopentenone products with vicinal stereogenic centers and a different arrangement of substituents around the ring. A nucleophilic addition/cyclization/elimination sequence can be executed enantioselectively using catalytic amounts of a nonracemic chiral tertiary amine.In summary, the discovery and development of several new variations on the Nazarov electrocyclization are described, along with synthetic applications. This work illustrates how strongly substitution patterns can impact the efficiency of the 4π-electrocyclization (Stage 1), allowing for mild Lewis acid catalysis. Over the course of these studies, we have also identified new ways to access the critical pentadienyl cation intermediates and demonstrated strategies that exploit and control the different cationic pathways available post-electrocyclization (Stage 2 processes). These advances in Nazarov chemistry were subsequently employed in the synthesis of natural product targets such as (±)-merrilactone A, (±)-rocaglamide, and (±)-enokipodin B.

Nazarov reaction: current trends and recent advances in the synthesis of natural compounds and their analogs

Recent applications of the Nazarov reaction to stereoselective synthesis of pharmacology-relevant cyclopentenone scaffolds are summarized.

Efficient catalytic-free method to produce α-aryl cycloalkanones through highly chemoselective coupling of aryl compounds with oxyallyl cations

Efficient catalytic-free method to produce α-aryl cycloalkanones through highly chemoselective coupling of aryl compounds with oxyallyl cations at room temperature.

An organocatalytic asymmetric Nazarov cyclization

An organocatalytic asymmetric Nazarov cyclization of diketoesters that proceeds by means of a dual activation mechanism has been developed. Screening of a number of catalysts led to a new thiourea that incorporates a primary amino group. The method gives rise to cyclic products with two adjacent quaternary asymmetric carbon atoms, one of which is an all-carbon stereocenter, with complete or nearly complete diastereoselectivity and in high or very high enantiomeric excess. A brief and very convenient synthesis of the acyclic diketoester starting materials through nucleophilic addition to a ketene is also described.

Nazarov cyclizations of an allenyl vinyl ketone with interception of the oxyallyl cation intermediate for the formation of carbon-carbon bonds

Treatment of an allenyl vinyl ketone with BF(3) x Et(2)O leads to a cyclic oxyallyl cation by a Nazarov reaction, and when this reaction is conducted in the presence of an acyclic diene, [4 + 3] and [3 + 2] products are obtained efficiently with high regio- and stereoselectivity. The proportion of [4 + 3] to [3 + 2] product depends on the substitution on the diene. Cyclic dienes react with the oxyallyl cation by forming only one carbon-carbon bond, but the site of bond formation can be affected by steric hindrance. Electron-rich alkenes intercept the allyl cation by forming one carbon-carbon bond, or two carbon-carbon bonds through [3 + 2] cyclization. In some instances, further treatment of the initial products with BF(3) x Et(2)O leads to equilibrated products in good yield.

A mild, catalytic and efficient Nazarov cyclization mediated by phosphomolybdic acid

A mild, selective and efficient Nazarov cyclization of divinyl ketones catalyzed by phosphomolybdic acid (PMA) is described. The process demonstrates a broad substrate scope with functional group tolerance under short reaction times. PMA supported on silica gel is more efficient than the bulk catalyst and is recycled up to three times without significant activity loss.

Synthesis of 5-hydroxycyclopent-2-enones from allenyl vinyl ketones via an interrupted Nazarov cyclization

Treatment of an allenyl vinyl ketone with trifluoroacetic acid leads to Nazarov cyclization, and the intermediate carbocation is trapped efficiently by trifluoroacetate. Hydrolysis of the ester with methanol and basic alumina provides, in good to excellent overall yield, a 5-hydroxycyclopent-2-enone in which the alcohol is predominantly trans to a substituent at C-4.

Traceless chiral auxiliaries for the allene ether Nazarov cyclization

The key stereochemical factors that determine transfer of asymmetry from the chiral auxiliary to the cyclopentenone in the allene ether version of the Nazarov reaction have been elucidated. On the basis of the new insights into the mechanism, two highly effective chiral auxiliaries were designed and prepared.

Interrupting the Nazarov cyclization with indoles

A carbon-terminated interrupted Nazarov reaction is described. The trimethylsilyl enol ethers derived from propargyl vinyl ketones undergo selective proton transfer at the distal acetylenic carbon atom to provide allenyl vinyl ketones as transient intermediates. In the presence of indoles, a cascade of reactions is initiated that converts the initially formed pentadienyl cations to cyclopentenones bearing a quaternary alpha carbon atom.