Cyclic enones, alkenes

Cyclic enones, such as substituted cyclohex-2-enones or cyclohexa-2,5-diones, also undergo sigmatropic photorearrangement to form bicyclo[3.1.0]hexanones (lumiketones) or bicyclo[3.1.0]hex-3-en-2-ones, respectively, for which both concerted and stepwise (biradical) reaction mechanisms have been proposed.640,641,770 For example, a [l,2]-shift concurrently with the ring contraction (termed the type A reaction) is observed upon irradiation of the methylphenyl derivative 159 in polar solvents, whereas phenyl migration (termed the type B reaction) predominates in nonpolar solvents (Scheme 6.70).771,772 The reactions are believed to proceed via both the n,n and n,Tt triplet ketone states. In the presence of alkenes, cyclic enones may readily undergo a competitive photocycloaddition reaction (Section 6.1.5). 

Merritt et al. [124,170-174] carried out some of the earliest additions of fluorine to carbon-carbon double bonds. The fluorination of cis and trans propenyl benzene in a nonpolar solvent at low temperature gave predominantly erythro and threo difluorides respectively. More recently, Rozen [175] carried out similar reactions, but used a more polar solvent (trichlorofluoro methane, chloroform and ethanol) and a very low concentration of fluorine. Thus, in the fluorination of cis and trans 3-hexene- l-ol acetate (Fig. 72), syn addition occured to give exclusively the erythro and threo difluoro compounds respectively. Corresponding results were obtained in the addition of fluorine to other alkenes, including cyclic alkenes and cyclic enones. 

This chapter summarizes and discusses the recent advances in the organic photochemistry of C=C double bonds. Special attention is focused on the photocycloaddition of alkenes to cyclic enones, including the mechanism, regio- and stereoselectivity and synthetic applications of the reaction. 

Prediction of the regioselectivity in the intermolecular photocycloaddition of enones to alkenes following this method provides similar results to those rationalized by the oriented -complex. However, it is in contrast with Weedon s previously discussed trapping results which indicate no selectivity in the first bond formation at the a- or /J-carbon positions in cyclic enones. 

The intermolecular photocycloaddition of alkenes to cyclic enones was found to afford cis- and trans-fused bicyclic systems. This stereoselectivity and the diastereofacial selectivity of chiral alkenes and/or enones is discussed below. 

Demonstration of the unique synthetic utility of the [2 + 2] photocycloaddition reaction of enones to alkenes and the success in controlling the stereoselectivity, to some extent, in the intermolecular additions (discussed above) prompted further studies and development of new synthetic applications in the intramolecular photoadditions during the last decade. In most cases that have been studied, the alkene was tethered to the cyclic enone by three carbon units or two carbons and one heteroatom. 

Schuster, D.I., Kaprinidis, N Wink, D.J., and Dewan, J.C. (1991) Stereochemistry of [2 + 2] photocycloaddition of cyclic enones to alkenes structural and mechanistic considerations in formation of trans-fused cycloadducts. Journal of Organic Chemistry, 56, 561-567. 

There is a striking difference between the photochemical reactivity of oc,(3-unsaturated enones and the corresponding ynones. Whereas many cyclic enones undergo [2+2] cycloaddition to alkenes at the C=C double bond of the enone (probably from the triplet nn state) to yield cyclobutanes, acyclic enones easily deactivate radiationless by rotation about the central C-C single bond. Ynones on the other hand behave much more like alkyl-substituted carbonyl compounds and add to (sterically less encumberd) alkenes to yield oxetanes (Sch. 11) [38,39]. The regioselectivity of the Paterno-Biichi reaction is similar to that of aliphatic or aromatic carbonyl compounds with a preference for primary attack at the less substituted carbon atom (e.g., 41 and 42 from the reaction of but-3-in-2-one 40 with... 

In the preparative application of [2 + 2]-photocycloadditions of cyclic enones to (substituted) alkenes, two factors concerning product formation are of decisive relevance, namely the regioselectivity and the (overall) rate of conversion. Regarding the regioselectivity in the addition to mono- and 1,1-disubstituted alkenes, Corey had shown that the preferred addition mode of cyclohex-2-enone to isobutene or 1,1-dimethoxyethylene was the one leading to—both cis- and trans-fused—bicyclo[4.2.0]octan-2-ones with the substituents on C(7) [8]. In contrast, in the reaction with acrylonitrile, the alternate orientation was observed to occur preferentially. Similar results were also reported by Cantrell for the photocycloaddition of 3-methyl-cyclohex-2-enone to differently substituted alkenes [14]. No significant differences in the overall rates of product formation for the different alkenes were observed in these studies. In order to explain these observed... 

Fukuzumi and Otera studied the reduction of electron-deficient alkenes in lactones and cyclic enones using Sml2.53 More recently, the use of Hilmersons Sml2 H20-amine system was shown to be effective for the selective reduction of a,p-unsaturated esters and conjugated double and triple bonds (Scheme 4.44).54,55... 

Ethylene [17,18] or monosubstituted alkenes [18-20] have been used to carry out the CM step (Scheme 8). In this latter case, the presence of either oxygen or nitrogen at the propargylic position seems to have an influence on the regioselectivity of the incorporation of the CM partner. The extension of this reaction to cyclic enones produces trienes, able to perform intramolecular Diels-Alder cycloaddition reactions giving fused tricyclic products [21]. 

The mechanism of the [2 + 2] photocycloaddition of alkenes with cyclenones is a multistep process that involves the addition of alkenes to the 3 7t,tt triplet state of a cyclic enone and the formation of 1,4-biradical intermediates [35]. Except for the reaction of 1-alkenes, up to four new stereogenic centers are formed during the cycloaddition (Scheme 10). 

Introduction of chiral auxiliaries in the starting materials is very attract for applications to organic synthesis. However, to be of synthetic interest, chiral auxiliaries have to be inexpensive, readily introduced on the starting ma rial, inert in the conditions of irradiation, and readily removed from the photo ducts. Even if the first requirements can be easily satisfied with chiral ket esters, and amides, it is often difficult to avoid side reactions involving auxiliary [63]. In order to control all the asymmetric centers created in the in molecular photocycloadditions of cyclic enones with alkenes, esters of c alcohols were first considered. Although menthyl and bomyl derivatives ga only low de, 8-phenylmenthyl esters produced a far better asymmetric inducti [64]. The facial selectivity was found to depend on the syn/anti nature of t cycloadducts and the structure and location of the chiral auxiliary on either tl enone or the alkenyl moiety. More surprisingly the selectivity also depe strongly on the nature of the solvent (Scheme 21). 

The preferred orientation of addition (equation 49) is the opposite of that found for alkene addition to cyclic enones, and this difference is not easily accounted for. 

Introduction of an alkylthio group on the allene system increased the reactivity of the allene moiety in [2 + 2] cycloaddition reactions. It proved possible to conduct reactions of this allene at much lower temperatures. By adding Lewis acids, the reaction temperature could be decreased even more, as was illustrated by the Lewis acid catalyzed [2-1-2] cycioadditions of l-trimethylsilyl-l-methylthio-l,2-propadiene with a variety of electron-poor alkenes, including cyclic and non-cyclic enones, acrylates, methyl fumarate and acrylonitrile. When a chiral diol 21 based titanium catalyst was employed, the [2-1-2] cycloaddition reactions of /-acryloyl-l,3-oxazolidin-2-ones 17a and 17b with allenyl sulfides 18 yielded methylenecyclobutanes 19 and 20 with high optical purities (equation The highest yields were obtained with electron-poor allenophile 17b. 

Among these reactions, the photochemical cycloadditions of C=C bonds, which can create up to four asymmetric carbons during the photochemical step, are particularly interesting, and numerous synthetic applications of this reaction have been reported. Advances in the understanding of the origin of asymmetric induction, during addition of alkenes with carbonyl derivatives, cyclic enones, and aromatic compounds, will be discussed in detail. 

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