Ambident reactivity of 5-aminopyrazoles towards donor-acceptor cyclopropanes

DFT study on the mechanism of phosphine-catalyzed ring-opening reaction of cyclopropyl ketones

In the present study, the mechanism, origin of chemoselectivity, and substituent effects of the phosphine-catalyzed ring-opening reaction of cyclopropyl ketone have been investigated using the DFT method. Multiple pathways, including the formation of hydrofluorenone, the Cloke-Wilson product, and cyclopenta-fused product, were studied and compared. The computational results show that the pathway for the formation of hydrofluorenone is the most favorable one, which involves four processes: nucleophilic substitution to open the three-membered ring, an intramolecular Michael addition for the formation of an enolate intermediate, an intramolecular [1,5]-proton transfer to give ylide, and an intramolecular Wittig reaction to deliver the final product. For disclosing the origin of chemoselectivity, structural analysis and local reactivity index analysis were performed. Moreover, substituent effects were also considered using QTAIM analysis. The current study would provide useful insights for understanding phosphine-catalyzed chemoselective reactions.

Concise approach to γ-(het)aryl- and γ-alkenyl-γ-aminobutyric acids. Synthesis of vigabatrin

γ-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) and GABA derivatives have attracted increased attention over the years in the fields of medicinal chemistry and chemical biology due to their interesting biological properties and synthetic relevance. Here, we report a short synthetic route to γ-(het)aryl- and γ-alkenyl-γ-aminobutyric acids, including the antiepileptic drug vigabatrin, from readily available donor-acceptor cyclopropanes and ammonia or methylamine. This protocol includes a facile synthesis of 2-oxopyrrolidine-3-carboxamides and their acid hydrolysis to γ-aryl- or γ-alkenyl-substituted GABAs, which can serve as perspective building blocks for the synthesis of various GABA-based N-heterocycles and bioactive compounds.

Synthesis of 1,5-Substituted Pyrrolidin-2-ones from Donor-Acceptor Cyclopropanes and Anilines/Benzylamines

We developed a straightforward synthetic route to pharmacologically important 1,5-substituted pyrrolidin-2-ones from donor-acceptor cyclopropanes bearing an ester group as one of the acceptor substituents. This method includes a Lewis acid-catalyzed opening of the donor-acceptor cyclopropane with primary amines (anilines, benzylamines, etc.) to γ-amino esters, followed by in situ lactamization and dealkoxycarbonylation. The reaction has a broad scope of applicability; a variety of substituted anilines, benzylamines, and other primary amines as well as a wide range of donor-acceptor cyclopropanes bearing (hetero)aromatic or alkenyl donor groups and various acceptor substituents can be involved in this transformation. In this process, donor-acceptor cyclopropanes react as 1,4-C,C-dielectrophiles, and amines react as 1,1-dinucleophiles. The resulting di- and trisubstituted pyrrolidin-2-ones can be also used in subsequent chemistry to obtain various nitrogen-containing polycyclic compounds of interest to medicinal chemistry and pharmacology, such as benz[g]indolizidine derivatives.