Fully Selective Synthesis of Spirocyclic-1,2-oxazine N-Oxides via Non-Catalysed Hetero Diels-Alder Reactions with the Participation of Cyanofunctionalysed Conjugated Nitroalkenes

Hetero Diels-Alder (HDA) reactions with the participation of E-2-aryl-1-cyano-1-nitroethenes and methylenecyclopentane were evaluated on the basis of experimental as well as quantumchemical data. It was found that contrary to most known HDA reactions, title processes are realised under non-catalytic conditions and with full regiocontrol. The DFT study shows, without any doubt, the polar but single-step reaction mechanism. Deeper exploration using Bonding Evolution Theory (BET) techniques gives a clear image of the sequences of electron density reorganisation along the reaction coordinate. The first C4-C5 bond is created in phase VII by merging two monosynaptic basins, while the second O1-C6 bond is created in the last phase by a donation of the nonbonding electron density of O1 to C6. Based on the research, we can conclude that the analysed reaction proceeds according to a two-stage one-step mechanism.

New processes for the synthesis of biologically relevant heterocycles

This article describes the utility of certain readily accessible, ring-fusedgem-dihalogenocyclopropanes as building blocks for the synthesis of heterocyclic and biologically active compounds.

gem-Dihalocyclopropanes as Building Blocks in Natural-Product Synthesis: Enantioselective Total Syntheses ofent-Erythramine and 3-epi-Erythramine

ent-Erythramine ((-)-1), the enantiomer of the alkaloid erythramine, was prepared in 15 steps from known compounds. The first of three pivotal bond-forming steps in the synthesis was a Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reaction of the starting materials to give a bis-silyl ether. The second involved silver(I)-induced electrocyclic ring opening of the gem-dichlorocyclopropane formed in the next step and trapping of the ensuing pi-allyl cation by the tethered nitrogen atom to give, following cleavage of the allyloxycarbonyl protecting group, an approximately 5:6 mixture of the chromatographically separable diastereoisomeric spirocyclic products. In the third critical bond-forming reaction, the iodide formed from one of the diastereoisomers underwent a radical-addition/elimination reaction sequence that led to (-)-1 in 89 % yield. The application of the same sequence of transformations to the other diastereoisomer afforded 3-epi-(+)-erythramine (3-epi-(+)-1).