Aliphatic nitrones

The reaction is versatile and proceeds with a variety of cyclic and acylic alkenes substituted with alkyl, aryl, vinyl and heteroatom substituents. Allene derivatives also undergo cycloaddition with nitrones ". A variety of cyclic and acyclic aliphatic nitrones bearing aliphatic and aromatic substituents has been tested. The reaction is, however, relatively sensitive to steric constraints and proceeds easily only for mono- and disubstituted alkenes. Steric requirements for a nitrone molecule are similar and, although several reactions with R, R2 are known, good yield has been achieved only with R = H (equation 105). 

The observed C=N stretching frequencies for aromatic nitronates are very similar to those of the corresponding nitrones, which appear at 1550-1600 cm (27). The observed absorbances for aliphatic nitrones are between 1600 and 1620 cm which is slightly lower that the corresponding nitronates. Moreover, the resonances observed for the nitronate function are slightly lower than those observed for oximes (1650-1685 cm ) (28). This data suggests a decrease in the C=N bond character in the order of oximes > nitronates > nitrones. 

The 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of nitrones to alkenes is a useful route to isoxazolidine derivatives, the reductive cleavage of which furnishes a range of compounds such as fi-hydroxy ketones, /S-amino alcohols, etc. [29]. Although Lewis acids are known to promote the cycloaddition [29,30], some nitrones, especially aliphatic nitrones, are unstable under these conditions and lower yields are sometimes obtained. The three-component coupling reaction of benzaldehyde, A/-benzylhydroxylamine, and A-phe-nylmaleimide proceeded smoothly in the presence of a catalytic amount of Sc(OTf)3, to afford the corresponding isoxazolidine derivative in a good yield with high diaster-eoselectivity (Eq. 12) [31]. 

Several examples of the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of nitrones using the heterochiral Yb(III) catalyst in the absence of MS 4A are shown in table 38. The reactions were performed by adding one equivalent of the corresponding nitrone to the Yb(III) catalyst and then, successively, the same nitrone and a dipolarophile. In all cases, reverse enantiofacial selectivities compared with those obtained in the presence of MS 4A were observed. When N-acryloy 1-1,3-oxazo lidin-2-one was used as a dipolarophile, the desired isoxazolidine derivative was obtained in 88% ee. Other substrates also gave high diastereo- and enantioselectivities in most cases. In the reaction of an aliphatic nitrone, low diastereoselectivity was observed, albeit the endo adduct was obtained in good yield and ee. 

The composition of prodncts of interaction of aliphatic nitrones with OH radicals can be very varied. For nitrones containing aromatic gronps, for example PEN, three paths of reactions are possible hydrogen-atom abstraction from alkyl gronps, addition of OH to aromatic rings, and nitrone gronps with formation of ARs [79, 80] ... 

The behavior of nitrones or isooximes at the dropping mercury electrode, resembles that of the oximes. Zuman and Exner [64] found that aromatic nitrones are reduced both in acidic and in alkaline solution in a four-electron wave to give a secondary amine and an intermediate Schiff s base aliphatic nitrones are only polarographically active in acidic solution. 

Thus it is not surprising that three-membered rings with two hetero atoms were mentioned in the literature at an early stage. For example, at the turn of the century, nitrones, hydrazones, and aliphatic diazo compounds were all formulated with three-membered rings (I, 2, 3). Later the three-membered ring structures for these compounds became questionable. The structure of the aliphatic diazo compounds was studied very intensively. For diazomethane no clas-... 

In the presence of a catalytic amount of tetrabutylammonium fluoride, either freshly dried over molecular sieves22 or as the trihydrate16, silylnitronates 2 derived from primary nitroalkanes react readily at — 78 C or below, via their in situ generated nitronates. with aromatic and aliphatic aldehydes to give the silyl-protected (/J, S )-nitroaldol adducts 3 in excellent yield4,22-24-26,27. Silylnitronates, derived from secondary nitroalkanes. afford the adducts in 30 40% overall yield24. In contrast to the classical Henry reaction (vide supra), the addition of silylnitronates to aldehydes is irreversible. Ketones are unreaetive under such conditions. 

Reactions of Nitrones and Aliphatic N-Oxides with Trimethylsilyl Cyanide 161... 

The closely related tributylstannyl nitronates 1120, which can be expected to react in the same way as O-silylnitronates, have been prepared by treatment of aliphatic nitro compounds 1035 with tributylstannylamine 1118 at 24°C or by heating of 1035 with tributylstannyl oxide 1119 in toluene with azeotropic removal of H2O [160] (Scheme 7.49). 

As already discussed in Section 7.4, hexamethyidisiiane 857 (which is produced on a technical scale), in the presence of catalytic amounts of tetrabutylammonium fluoride di- or trihydrate in THF, reduces aromatic heterocyclic N-oxides such as pyridine N-oxide 860, quinoline N-oxide 877, or isoquinoline N-oxide 879 to the heterocycles [95] and nitrones to Schiff-bases. Aromatic nitro compounds such as nitrobenzene are reduced analogously to azo compounds such as azobenzene [96]. As mentioned in Section 7.5, secondary aliphatic nitro groups are reduced to oximes. 

Acylation of the nitronate 9-71 leads to the iminium ion 9-72 which, by the addition of an isocyanide, forms the cation 9-73. Following two acyl group migrations, the compound 9-75 is obtained via 9-74. The best results were obtained when allylic nitro derivatives were used, as these can form the corresponding enolate in the presence of NEt3. Aliphatic nitro compounds could also be employed, but in these cases it was necessary to use the more basic DBU. 

Isoxazolines A-oxides have been synthesized from primary aliphatic nitro compounds and alkenes by a two-step procedure consisting of 1,3-DC of a 1-halo-substituted silyl nitronate followed by halosilane elimination <06S2265>. 

Microwave irradiation induces 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions of nitrones, such as 152, with aliphatic and aromatic nitriles in the absence of solvent. The products of these reactions are the corresponding 2,3-dihydro-l,2,4-oxadiazoles 156 (Scheme 9.48). The use of microwaves led to yields that were always higher than those obtained with classical heating, with the differences being more significant with the less reactive nitriles [99]. 

Many cycloadditions of nitrones86,172 174 and thiones give cycloaddition-cycloreversion equilibria. A-Methyl-C,C-diphenyl- and A-methyl-C-phenyl-nitrones, react with aliphatic thiones forming 1,4,2-oxathiazolidines, while 4 does not afford a cycloadduct.172 A-Methyl-C,C-2,2,4,4-tetramethyl-3-cyclo-butanonenitrone reacts with alicyclic thioketones to give 1,4,2-oxathiazolidines,174 while with 4 it enters into a metathesis reaction. 

A general method for nitrone formation is based on the interaction of nitro compounds with carbanions. Interaction between nitroso compounds (175) and anions of aliphatic nitro compounds (178) leads to nitrones (179). The source of anions are metal salts of nitro compounds, triethylamines, and trimethylsilylni-tronates (Scheme 2.63) (334, 335). 

Metalated cyclic aldo-nitrones are characterized by high reactivity toward electrophilic reagents. Reactions with aldehydes and ketones afford satisfactory yields of a-hydroxymethyl substituted derivatives of nitrones (551). The reactions were also carried out with a number of aliphatic, aromatic, and hetero-aromatic aldehydes and ketones (Schemes 2.124 and 2.125). 

Butenylmagnesium chloride converts aromatic nitro compounds 383 (Ar = 2-Me(V I I4. 2- or 4-CIC6H4 or 2.6-Mei(VJ h) into the nitrones 384 aliphatic nitro compounds 385 (R = Pr or C5H11) yield allyl nitrones 386 in this reaction425. 

Reactions of aliphatic nitro compounds with nucleophiles have been reviewed442-444. The oxidative reaction of nitronate anions, e.g. 410, with thiocyanate anions to yield thiocyanates 411 proceeds by a radical radical-anion chain mechanism SrnI (equation 133). Analogous replacements by azide, benzenesulphinate and 4-chlorobenzenethiolate have been reported445. 

Decarboxylation of 1,3-dimethylorotic acid in the presence of benzyl bromide yields 6-benzyl-1,3-dimethyluracil and presumably involves a C(6) centered nucleophilic intermediate which could nonetheless have either a carbene or ylide structure. Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FT-ICR) mass spectrometry has been used to explore the gas-phase reactions of methyl nitrate with anions from active methylene compounds anions of aliphatic ketones and nitriles react by the 5n2 mechanism and Fco reactions yielding N02 ions are also observed nitronate ions are formed on reaction with the carbanions derived from toluenes and methylpyridines. 

A study of the regioselectivity of the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of aliphatic nitrile oxides with cinnamic acid esters has been published. AMI MO studies on the gas-phase 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of 1,2,4-triazepine and formonitrile oxide show that the mechanism leading to the most stable adduct is concerted. An ab initio study of the regiochemistry of 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions of diazomethane and formonitrile oxide with ethene, propene, and methyl vinyl ether has been presented. The 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of mesitonitrile oxide with 4,7-phenanthroline yields both mono-and bis-adducts. Alkynyl(phenyl)iodonium triflates undergo 2 - - 3-cycloaddition with ethyl diazoacetate, Ai-f-butyl-a-phenyl nitrone and f-butyl nitrile oxide to produce substituted pyrroles, dihydroisoxazoles, and isoxazoles respectively." 2/3-Vinyl-franwoctahydro-l,3-benzoxazine (43) undergoes 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition with nitrile oxides with high diastereoselectivity (90% de) (Scheme IS)." " ... 

The radical-anions of aliphatic nitrocompounds are detectable in aqueous solution as transient intermediates formed during continuous electrolysis in the cavity of the esr spectrometer [4], Decay of the species occurs by protonation and then further reactions. 2-Methyl-2-nitropropane has no acidic hydrogens so that it can be examined in aqueous alkaline solution where the radical-anion is not protonated. Over the pH range 9-11, this radical-anion decays by a first order process with k = 0.8 0.1 s at 26 C. Decay results from cleavage of the carbon-nitrogen bond to give a carbon centred radical and nitrite ion. Ultimately, the di-(ferr,-butyI)nitrone radical is formed in follow-up reactions [5],... 

Ooi has recently reported application of chiral P-spiro tetraaminophosphonium salt 37 as a catalyst for the highly enantio- and diasterioselective direct Henry reaction of a variety of aliphatic and aromatic aldehydes with nitroalkanes (Scheme 5.51) [92]. Addihon of the strong base KO Bu generates in situ the corresponding catalyhcally active triaminoiminophosphorane base A. Ensuing formation of a doubly hydrogen-bonded ion pair B positions the nitronate for stereoselective addition to the aldehyde. This catalyst system bears many similarities to guanidine base catalysis. 

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