Evidence for heterolytic cleavage of a cyclic oxonium ylide: implications for the mechanism of the Stevens [1,2]-shift

Organocatalytic Enantioselective [1,2]-Stevens Rearrangement of Azetidinium Salts

The first organocatalyzed enantioselective [1,2]-Stevens rearrangement is reported. 4-Alkylideneproline derivatives are produced in up to 86% yield and in up to 90:10 er, with recrystallization enhancing er up to >99.5:0.5. Product configuration was opposite that predicted by existing stereochemical models for this organocatalyst class, and DFT calculations revealed a novel mode of asymmetric induction. The adaptability of this catalytic strategy for asymmetric [1,2]-Stevens rearrangements of other heterocyclic amines was demonstrated.

Aziridinium Ylides: Underutilized Intermediates for Complex Amine Synthesis

Harnessing the chemistry of onium ylide intermediates generated from transition metal catalysis is a powerful strategy to convert simple precursors into complex scaffolds. While the chemistry of onium ylides has been studied for over three decades, transformations of aziridinium ylides have just recently emerged as a versatile way to exploit the strain of these reactive intermediates to furnish densely functionalized N-heterocycles in a highly stereocontrolled manner. Herein, we provide a short overview of the key concepts and recent developments in this area, with a focus on how mechanistic studies to delineate the factors controlling the reactivity of aziridinium ylides can stimulate fruitful future investigations.

Catalytic Staudinger Reduction at Room Temperature

We report an efficient catalytic Staudinger reduction at room temperature that enables the preparation of a structurally diverse set of amines from azides in excellent yields. The reaction is based on the use of catalytic amounts of triphenylphosphine as a phosphine source and diphenyldisiloxane as a reducing agent. Our catalytic Staudinger reduction exhibits a high chemoselectivity, as exemplified by reduction of azides over other common functionalities, including nitriles, alkenes, alkynes, esters, and ketones.

Ring Expansion of Bicyclic Methyleneaziridines via Concerted, Near-Barrierless [2,3]-Stevens Rearrangements of Aziridinium Ylides

The synthesis of densely functionalized azetidinesin a highly stereocontrolled manner is challenging, but interest in the bioactivities of these small heterocycles has stimulated methods for their preparation. We recently reported a one-carbon ring expansion of bicyclic methylene aziridines under dirhodium catalysis capable of delivering enantioenriched azetidines. This work explores this ring expansion using computational and experimental studies. DFT computations indicate that the reaction proceeds through formation of an aziridinium ylide, which is precisely poised for concerted, asynchronous ring-opening/closing to deliver the azetidines in a [2,3]-Stevens-type rearrangement. The concerted nature of this rearrangement is responsible for the stereospecificity of the reaction, where axial chirality from the initial allene substrate is transferred to the azetidine product with complete fidelity. The computed mechanistic pathway highlights the key roles of the olefin and the rigid structure of the methylene aziridine in differentiating our observed ring expansion from competing cheletropic elimination pathways noted with ylides derived from typical aziridines.

Domino Reaction of Pyrrolidinium Ylides: Michael Addition/[1,2]-Stevens Rearrangement

A novel domino reaction featuring a Michael addition/[1,2]-Stevens rearrangement reaction of pyrrolidinium ylides with electrophilic alkenes is described. Ylides generated under mild conditions from 2-aryl- N-cyanomethyl- N-methylpyrrolidinium salts entered the Michael addition, followed by a [1,3]-hydrogen shift and finally the [1,2]-Stevens rearrangement to give 3-aryl-2-cyano-2-(2-EWG-ethyl)-1-methylpiperidines.