Diastereoselective ring opening of fully-substituted cyclopropanes via intramolecular Friedel-Crafts alkylation

We herein disclose a diastereoselective ring opening of non-donor-acceptor cyclopropanes via an intramolecular Friedel-Crafts alkylation en route to functionalized dihydronaphthalene scaffolds possessing quaternary carbon stereocentres. The transformation proceeds through a selective bond breaking at the most alkylated carbon centre with a pure retention of configuration. Mechanistic investigations and computational studies revealed that alkoxy functionality is the key for selective bond breaking leading to a complete retention of configuration.

Synthesis of Bridged Cyclopentane Derivatives by Catalytic Decarbonylative Cycloaddition of Cyclobutanones and Olefins

Herein, we report an intramolecular rhodium-catalyzed decarbonylative coupling between cyclobutanones and alkenes that proceeds by C-C activation and provides a distinct approach to a diverse range of saturated bridged cyclopentane derivatives. In this reaction, cyclobutanones serve as cyclopropane surrogates, reacting in a formal (4+2-1) transformation. To demonstrate the efficacy of this method, it was applied in a concise synthesis of the antifungal drug Tolciclate.

Lewis acid catalyzed intramolecular [3 + 2] cross cycloadditions of cobalt-alkynylcyclopropane 1,1-diesters with carbonyls for construction of medium-sized and polycyclic skeletons

A Lewis acid catalyzed intramolecular [3 + 2] cross cycloaddition of cobalt-alkynylcyclopropane 1,1-diesters with carbonyls has been successfully developed. Together with simple and efficient postcycloadditions of the cobalt-alkyne moiety, a general and efficient strategy for construction of structurally complex and diverse medium-sized skeletons and related polycycles was supplied successfully.

Lewis acid-mediated reactions of 1-cyclopropyl-2-arylethanone derivatives with allenic ester, ethyl acetoacetate, and methyl acrylate

TMSOTf-mediated reactions of 2-aryl-1-(1-phenylcyclopropyl)ethanones 1 with allenic esters afford a novel method for the synthesis of 6-methyl-3a,7-diaryl-3,3a-dihydro-2H-benzofuran-4-one derivatives 2 in moderate yields. In addition, we also found that TMSOTf-mediated reactions of 1-cyclopropyl-2-arylethanones with ethyl acetoacetate can provide the corresponding 2,3-dihydrobenzofuran-4-ol and dihydrofuro[2,3-h]chromen-2-one in moderate yields via a sequential reaction involving a nucleophilic ring-opening reaction of the cyclopropane by H2O, one intermolecular aldol type reaction and two intramolecular aldol type reactions, a cyclic transesterification, dehydration, and aromatization. Moreover, by using methyl acrylate to replace allenic ester, the corresponding 7-aryl-3,5,6,7-tetrahydro-2H-benzofuran-4-one and 5-aryl-3,5,6,7-tetrahydro-2 H-benzofuran-4-one can be formed in moderate to high yields in the presence of Bi(OTf)2Cl. Plausible reaction mechanisms have also been provided on the basis of control experiments.

Lewis Acid Mediated Reactions of 1-Cyclopropyl-2-arylethanones with Allenic Esters: A Facile Synthetic Protocol for the Preparation of Dihydrofuro[2,3-h]chromen-2-one Derivatives

TMSOTf-mediated reactions of 1-cyclopropyl-2-arylethanones with allenic esters afford a novel method for the synthesis of dihydrofuro[2,3-h]chromen-2-one derivatives in moderate to good yields. This process is a sequential reaction involving a nucleophilic ring-opening reaction of the cyclopropane by H(2)O, two intermolecular aldol-type reactions and one intramolecular aldol-type reaction, a cyclic transesterification, dehydration, and aromatization mediated by Lewis acid.

A Stereoselective Synthetic Route to 1,6-Dioxaspiro[4.4]non-3-en-2-ones from Cyclopropyl Alkyl Ketones and α-Ketoesters

[reaction: see text] The SnCl(4)-mediated reactions of cyclopropyl alkyl ketones with alpha-ketoesters afford a novel method for the synthesis of 1,6-dioxaspiro[4.4]non-3-en-2-ones with high stereoselectivities in moderate to good yields. This process is a sequential reaction involving a nucleophilic ring-opening reaction of the cyclopropane by H(2)O, an aldol-type reaction, and a cyclic transesterification mediated by Lewis acid.

Lewis Acid Mediated Reactions of Cyclopropyl Aryl Ketones with α-Ketoesters: Facile Preparation of 5,6-Dihydropyran-2-ones

[reaction: see text] A new general method for the synthesis of 5,6-dihydropyran-2-ones from cyclopropyl aryl ketones (monoactivated cyclopropanes) and alpha-ketoesters in good to excellent yields has been developed. The process involves a cascade of reactions, including a nucleophilic ring-opening reaction of monoactivated cyclopropane by H2O, Lewis acid mediated transesterification, and an aldol type reaction.

Ring-Expanding Reaction of Cyclopropyl Amides with Triphenylphosphine and Carbon Tetrahalide

We succeeded in activating cyclopropyl amides (monoactivated cyclopropane) through the corresponding imidoyl halides prepared in situ in the presence of 2 equiv of PPh3 and 1 equiv of CX4, and the ring-expanding products (N-substituted pyrrolidin-2-ones) were obtained in good yields. The reaction mechanism was investigated on the basis of oxygen-18 tracer experiment.

Investigation of the Effects of the Structure and Chelate Size of Bis-oxazoline Ligands in the Asymmetric Copper-Catalyzed Cyclopropanation of Olefins: Design of a New Class of Ligands

A set of novel, C(2)-symmetric bis-oxazoline ligands has been synthesized by mounting two oxazoline rings onto an optically active 1,3-dioxolane backbone. This design allows for the control of both orientation as well as the proximity of the oxazolinyl R-groups around the reactive site. As a result of the twist imparted by the 1,3-dioxolane ring, the stereogenic oxazolinyl substituents can be brought either toward or away from the complexed metal in a controllable fashion. Starting from L-amino alcohols and either L- or D-tartaric acid, two sets of ligands (6b-e and 7a,b) were synthesized and evaluated in the copper-catalyzed cyclopropanation of olefins. The comparison of benzyl and isopropyl derivatives of these ligands with previously reported five- and six-membered bis-oxazolines clearly indicates the beneficiary effect of the larger chelate size and the chiral tether of the tartrate-derived ligand. The effect of the different oxazolinyl groups along with the different substituents on the dioxolane tethers was also investigated. The influence of the alkyl group of the diazoacetate was studied, and the diazoacetate derived from (-)-8-phenylmenthol was found to be superior to (-)-menthyl diazoacetate. The cyclopropanation of vinyl acetate, a relatively unexplored substrate for this reaction, furnished cyclopropanol derivatives in good optical purity.

Cyclopentene Synthesis from 1,3-Dienes via Base-Induced Ring Contraction of 3,6-Dihydro-2H-thiopyrans: Studies on Diastereoselection and Mechanism

An investigation of the scope and mechanism of a new synthesis of cyclopentenes from 3,6-dihydro-2H-thiopyrans is described. Alkyl halides substituted with an electron-withdrawing group in the alpha-position were reacted with sodium thiosulfate, yielding the corresponding Bunte salts, which could be transformed to reactive thiocarbonyl compounds by elimination of the elements of bisulfite with mild base treatment. In situ trapping by 1,3-dienes afforded in good yields a variety of 3,6-dihydro-2H-thiopyrans substituted with electron-withdrawing groups at the 2-position. Exposure of these cycloadducts to strong base at low temperature effected a novel ring contraction, affording 2-(methylthio)-3-cyclopentenes after quenching with methyl iodide. The level of diastereoselectivity exhibited during the generation of these cyclopentenes was found to be dependent on the nature of the electron-withdrawing group at the 2-position of the dihydrothiopyran as well as the substitution pattern originally present in the diene component. In some cases, reducing the temperature during the ring contraction resulted in the isolation of good yields of vinyl cyclopropanes of high isomeric purity. With one substrate, highly diastereoselective rearrangement of a vinyl cyclopropane to a cyclopentene was unambiguously demonstrated, suggesting that this might be a key feature of the overall ring contraction mechanism.