Alkaloids cycloaddition

Thermal and photochemical electrocyclic reactions are particularly useful in the synthesis of alkaloids (W. Oppolzer, 1973,1978 B K. Wiesner, 1968). A high degree of regio- and stereoselectivity can be reached, if cyclic olefin or enamine components are used in ene reactions or photochemical [2 + 2]cycloadditions. 

The intramolecular cycloaddition reaction of enamides has been exploited in alkaloid synthesis (81JOC3763). One successful application is provided by the total synthesis of the fused indolizidine 5 from 4 as a 1 1 mixture of epimers in 43% total yield 5 is a key intermediate in aspidosperma alkaloid synthesis (79JA3294). 

Alkaloid syntheses by cascade cycloaddition/cyclization reactions of A-acyli-minium ion 98CC1417. 

Tandem cyclization-cycloaddition of diazoketones in the synthesis of some alkaloids 97F303. 

The aporphinoid alkaloid PO-3 (129) was also prepared by intermolecular benzyne cycloaddition between 1-methylene isoquinolines 148 and arynes derived from 147 (Scheme 53). The alkaloid was finally isolated by means of preparative thin layer chromatography (91JOC2984). 

A number of comprehensive reviews1 6on the reaction of A-acyliminium ions, including detailed accounts of their application in alkaloid synthesis7- 8, have appeared. This section does not deal with [4 + 2] cycloaddition reactions of A -acyliminium ions these will be discussed in Section D.1.6.1.1. 

The intramolecular cycloaddition has proven to be the method of choice for the preparation of steroids. A diastereomeric mixture of 204, prepared from 191 and tosylate 203 has been cleanly converted to dl-estra-1,3,5(10)-trien-17-one (205) in 85% yield (equation 130). A second example of the intramolecular cycloaddition reaction is the formation of the cycloadduct (209), the key intermediate in a synthesis of the As-pidosperma alkaloid aspidospermine, upon heating 208 at 600 °C (equation 131)124. The sulfone 208 can be prepared by reaction of 3-ethyl-3,4,5,6-tetrahydropyridine (206) with the acid chloride 207. 

The Diels-Alder cycloadditions of both 2-vinylindoles and 3-vinylindoles are very attractive methods for preparing [bjannelated indoles to serve as lead substances and as building blocks for alkaloids. Pindur and coworkers [84] have extensively studied the vinylindole Diels Alder chemistry. 

The intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction of 78 was investigated during the synthesis of isoquinoline alkaloids [65ij. No reaction occurred when solid-phase conditions were used (Florosil in DCM and CaCli) or when a variety of Lewis acids were employed (SnCU, BF3, RAICI2, Ti(z — Pr)4-TiCl4). A 56 % yield of 79 was obtained by carrying out the cycloaddition in toluene in a sealed tube at 200 °C. jS-CD catalysis in water under milder conditions (Equation 4.11) improved the conversion to 84 %. 

The analgesic alkaloid epibatidine (57) continues to receive much synthetic interest <96JOC4600, 96T11053, 96TL7845> and Tmdell has devised a novel approach to the synthesis of this alkaloid, the key step of which utilizes a [4 + 2] cycloaddition of methyl 3-bromopropiolate with A -Boc-pyrrole (55) to afford the 7-azabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane skeleton 56 characteristic of this alkaloid <96JOC7189>. 

Among the many recent applications to natural products, syntheses of pyrrolizidine and indolizidine alkaloids that take advantage of the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition methodology have been reviewed [8]. The regio- and stereochemistry [9] as well as synthetic appHcations [10] of nitrile oxide cycloadditions have also been discussed. 

The product of the reaction in Entry 8 was used in the synthesis of the alkaloid pseudotropine. The proper stereochemical orientation of the hydroxy group is determined by the structure of the oxazoline ring formed in the cycloaddition. Entry 9 portrays the early stages of synthesis of the biologically important molecule biotin. The reaction in Entry 10 was used to establish the carbocyclic skeleton and stereochemistry of a group of toxic indolizidine alkaloids found in dart poisons from frogs. Entry 11 involves generation of a nitrile oxide. Three other stereoisomers are possible. The observed isomer corresponds to approach from the less hindered convex face of the molecule. 

Enantioenriched (-)-rosmarinecine, which belongs to the group of pyrrolizidine alkaloids [413], has been synthesized by Goti, Brandi and coworkers applying an intramolecular 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition as the key step [414]. The required nitrone was obtained in situ from L-malic acid. Moreover, 1,3-dienes as precursors for a cy-... 

Padwa s group has not only developed highly efficient domino reactions using transition metal catalysis, but they are also well known for their unique combinations of a cycloaddition and a N-acyliminium ion cyclization. An example of this strategy, which is very suitable for the synthesis of heterocycles and alkaloids, is the reaction of 4-98 to give 4-101 via the intermediates 4-99 and 4-100 (Scheme 4.22). Furthermore, 4-101 was transformed into the alkaloid (+)-y-lycorane 4-102 [32]. 

The sequence could even be prolonged by including a Pummerer reaction. Thus, treatment of 4-103 with trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) gave the furan 4-104, which underwent a cycloaddition to furnish 4-105 the erythryna skeleton 4-109 was obtained after subsequent addition of a Lewis acid such as BF3- Et20 (Scheme 4.23) [33]. It can be assumed that 4-106, 4-107 and 4-108 act as intermediates. In a more recent example, these authors also used the procedure for the synthesis of indole alkaloids of the Aspidosperma type [34]. 

Having an efficient total synthesis of the indole alkaloid vindoline in mind, the Boger group [47] developed a facile entry to its core structure using a domino [4+2]/[3+2] cycloaddition. Reaction of the 1,3,4-oxadiazoles 4-139 led to 4-140 in high yield and excellent stereoselectivity via the intermediates 4-141 and 4-142 (Scheme 4.29). 

A retro-l,3-dipolar cycloaddition followed by an 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition was used for a highly efficient total synthesis of (-)-histrionicotoxin (4-354) (HTX) by Holmes and coworkers [123]. HTX is a spiropiperidine-containing alkaloid which was isolated by Doly, Witkop and coworkers [124] from the brightly colored poison-arrow frog Dendrobates histrionicus. It is of great pharmacological interest as a noncompetitive inhibitor of acetylcholine receptors. 

Diels-Alder reactions are one of the most fundamental and useful reactions in synthetic organic chemistry. Various dienes and dienophiles have been employed for this useful reaction.1 Nitroalkenes take part in a host of Diels-Alder reactions in various ways, as outlined in Scheme 8.1. Various substituted nitroalkenes and dienes have been employed for this reaction without any substantial improvement in the original discovery of Alder and coworkers.2 Nitrodienes can also serve as 4ti-components for reverse electron demand in Diels-Alder reactions. Because the nitro group is converted into various functional groups, as discussed in Chapters 6 and 7, the Diels-Alder reaction of nitroalkenes has been frequently used in synthesis of complex natural products. Recently, Denmark and coworkers have developed [4+2] cycloaddition using nitroalkenes as heterodienes it provides an excellent method for the preparation of heterocyclic compounds, including pyrrolizidine alkaloids. This is discussed in Section 8.3. 

Oppolzer and Robbiani have reported highly stereoselective total syntheses of alkaloids such as chelidonine by an intramolecular o-quinodimethene/nitrostyrene-cycloaddition (Scheme S.7).34 (Benzocyclobutane is used as a source of quinodimethene). The high regio- and stereoselectivity in the intramolecular cycloaddition is remarkable a strong preference for transition state, exo-N02, over transition state, emfo-N02, is responsible for the stereoselectivity. 

Since Huisgen s definition of the general concepts of 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition, this class of reaction has been used extensively in organic synthesis. Nitro compounds can participate in 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition as sources of 1,3-dipoles such as nitronates or nitroxides. Because the reaction of nitrones can be compared with that of nitronates, recent development of nitrones in organic synthesis is briefly summarized. 1,3-Dipolar cycloadditions to a double bond or a triple bond lead to five-membered heterocyclic compounds (Scheme 8.12). There are many excellent reviews on 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition, in particular, the monograph by Torssell covers this topic comprehensively. This chapter describes only recent progress in this field. Many papers have appeared after the comprehensive monograph by Torssell. Here, the natural product synthesis and asymmetric 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition are emphasized.630 Synthesis of pyrrolidine and -izidine alkaloids based on cycloaddition reactions are also discussed in this chapter. 

Kibayashi and coworkers have used enantiometrically pure allylic silyl ethers obtained from amino acids in cycloaddition with nitrones (Eq. 8.49).71 Cyclic nitrone reacts with a chiral allyl ether to give selectively the exo and erythro isomer (de 90%). Optically active alkaloids containing a piperidine ring such as (+)-monomorine,71c (+)-coniine,71a and (-)-oncinotine71b have been prepared from the addition product. 

Diastereoselective intramolecular cycloaddition of nitrones is useful for constructing nitrogen- containing cyclic structures. The reaction serves as a key step in a number of natural product syntheses.63 Tufarriello and coworkers have used this strategy for preparing cocaine and other alkaloids.74 As a classical example, enantioselective total synthesis of (+)-luciduline is presented in Scheme 8.13, in which a useful feature of the 1,3-dipolar addition of nitrones is nicely illustrated.75... 

A potentially useful approach to the marine alkaloid papuamine based on INOC strategy is proposed as shown in Scheme 8.21. In fact, a tnms-hydrindane intermediate has been synthesized in racemic form using a model sequence of reactions involving a nitrile oxide cycloaddition as a key step (Eq. 8.69).106... 

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