Some New Radical Reactions for Organic Synthesis

Synthetic Approaches to α-, β-, γ-, and δ-lycoranes

Lycorane is a pentacyclic core presented in alkaloids isolated from the Amaryllidaceae family of herbaceous flowering plants. Members of this class of natural products have shown to display important biological properties including analgesic, antiviral, and antiproliferative activities. This review presents the known synthetic routes toward α-, β-, γ-, and δ-lycoranes. α-(19 routes), β-(10 routes), γ-(38 routes), and δ-(6 routes).

Unified, Radical-Based Approach for the Synthesis of Spiroketals

[reaction: see text] Functionalization of S-(3-chloro-2-oxo-propyl)-O-ethyl xanthate 1 by two consecutive xanthate transfer reactions, followed by spirocyclization of the resulting dihydroxy ketones, provides a flexible and highly convergent access to diversely substituted spiroketals, containing five-, six-, and seven-membered rings.

Powerful CarbonCarbon Bond Forming Reactions Based on a Novel Radical Exchange Process

Xanthates and related derivatives have proved to be extremely useful for both inter- and intramolecular radical additions. The broad applicability of the intermolecular addition to un-activated olefins opens tremendous opportunities for synthesis, since various functional groups can be brought together under mild conditions and complex structures can be rapidly assembled. The presence of the xanthate in the product is also a powerful asset for further modifications, by both radical and non-radical pathways. Of special importance is the access to highly substituted aromatic and heteroaromatic derivatives and the synthesis of block polymers through a controlled radical polymerisation mediated by various thiocarbonylthio group containing agents (RAFT and MADIX processes).

Cyano(ethoxycarbonothioylthio)methyl Benzoate: A Novel One-Carbon Radical Equivalent

[reaction: see text] Cyano(ethoxycarbonothioylthio)methyl benzoate 3 has been prepared and shown to be an excellent one-carbon radical equivalent that can be applied for the introduction of an acyl unit via xanthate transfer radical addition to olefins. The corresponding adducts can be further elaborated. A rare 1,5-nitrile translocation was also observed during the study.

Synthesis of 3-Arylpiperidines by a Radical 1,4-Aryl Migration

[reaction: see text] A route to 3-arylpiperidines, 3-arylpyridines, and 5-arylpiperidin-2-ones involving a radical 1,4-aryl migration has been explored. The sequence requires a xanthate addition to an N-allylarylsulfonamide, followed by acetylation and treatment with dilauroyl peroxide to give the 1,4-aryl transfer product, which upon acidic hydrolysis affords the desired piperidine derivative.

A direct approach to alpha-trifluoromethylamines

[reaction: see text] S-[1-(N-Acetylamino)-2,2,2-trifluoroethyl]-O-ethyl dithiocarbonate (6), a readily available xanthate, adds efficiently to various functionalized olefins to give the corresponding adducts 8 via a radical chain reaction initiated by a small amount of lauroyl peroxide.

Intramolecular addition of benzylic radicals onto ketenimines. Synthesis of 2-alkylindoles

The inter- and intramolecular addition of free radicals onto ketenimines is studied. All the attempts to add intermolecularly several silicon, oxygen or carbon centered radicals to N-(4-methylphenyl)-C,C-diphenyl ketenimine were unsuccessful. In contrast, the intramolecular addition of benzylic radicals, generated from xanthates, onto the central carbon of a ketenimine function with its N atom linked to the ortho position of the aromatic ring occurred under a variety of reaction conditions. These intramolecular cyclizations provide a novel radical-mediated synthesis of 2-alkylindoles.

Tin-free radical sequences under acidic conditions. Convergent access to azole-containing structures

[reaction: see text] Various xanthates add efficiently to olefins bearing [1,2,4]triazole, imidazole, or benzimidazole moieties in the presence of camphorsulfonic acid via a radical chain reaction initiated by a small amount of lauroyl peroxide. The adducts may be transformed to more complex molecules by implementing a further radical cyclization.

A flexible strategy for the divergent modification of pleuromutilin

The complex antibacterial natural product, pleuromutilin, can be directly modified by the radical addition reaction of various xanthates to the unactivated terminal olefin present on C-12.

A new synthesis of pyrroles

The radical reaction between an N-ethylsulfonylenamide and an alpha-xanthyl ketone gives an intermediate gamma-keto imine which spontaneously ring-closes to the pyrrole.

A convergent approach to 3-substituted-5-methoxyindoles. Application to the synthesis of melatonin [correction]

A convergent, radical based synthesis of 5-methoxyindoles including melatonin is described.

A short synthesis of the erythrina skeleton and of (+/-)-alpha-lycorane

[reaction: see text] A new nonchain 5-endo radical cyclization starting with xanthates was exploited in a short synthesis of (+/-)-alpha-lycorane and the erythrina ring system.

A new synthesis of 1-chloroalkynes

4-Unsubstituted isoxazolinones derived from the corresponding beta-ketoesters can be chlorinated and converted into 1-chloroalkynes upon treatment with sodium nitrite and ferrous sulfate in aqueous acetic acid.