Cyclization aromatic rings

The Pictet-Spengler reaction is an acid-catalyzed intramolecular cyclization of an intermediate imine of 2-arylethylamine, formed by condensation with a carbonyl compound, to give 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline derivatives. This condensation reaction has been studied under acid-catalyzed and superacid-catalyzed conditions, and a linear correlation had been found between the rate of the reaction and the acidity of the reaction medium. Substrates with electron-donating substituents on the aromatic ring cyclize faster than the corresponding unsubstituted compounds, supporting the idea that the cyclization process is involved in the rate-determining step of the reaction. 

The alkylpalladium intermediate 198 cyclizes on to an aromatic ring, rather than forming a three-membered ring by alkene insertion[161], Spirocyclic compounds are easily prepared[l62]. Various spiroindolines such as 200 were prepared. In this synthesis, the second ring formation involves attack of an alkylpalladium species 199 on an aromatic ring, including electron-rich or -poor heteroaromatic rings[l6.5]. 

The benzene derivative 401 by the intermolecular insertion of acrylate[278], A formal [2 + 2+2] cycloaddition takes place by the reaction of 2-iodonitroben-zene with the 1,6-enyne 402. The neopentylpalladium intermediate 403 undergoes 6-endo-lrig cyclization on to the aromatic ring to give 404[279],... 

The benzene derivative 409 is synthesized by the Pd-catalyzed reaction of the haloenyne 407 with alkynes. The intramolecular insertion of the internal alkyne, followed by the intermolecular coupling of the terminal alkyne using Pd(OAc)2, Ph3P, and Cul, affords the dienyne system 408, which cyclizes to the aromatic ring 409[281]. A similar cyclization of 410 with the terminal alkyne 411 to form benzene derivatives 412 and 413 without using Cul is explained by the successive intermolecular and intramolecuar insertions of the two triple bonds and the double bond[282]. The angularly bisannulated benzene derivative 415 is formed in one step by a totally intramolecular version of polycycli-zation of bromoenediyne 414[283,284],... 

The cyclization of the enediynes 110 in AcOH gives the cyclohexadiene derivative 114. The reaction starts by the insertion of the triple bond into Pd—H to give 111, followed by tandem insertion of the triple bond and two double bonds to yield the triene system 113, which is cyclized to give the cyclohexadiene system 114. Another possibility is the direct formation of 114 from 112 by endo-rype. insertion of an exo-methylene double bond[53]. The appropriately structured triyne 115 undergoes Pd-catalyzed cyclization to form an aromatic ring 116 in boiling MeCN, by repeating the intramolecular insertion three times. In this cyclization too, addition of AcOH (5 mol%) is essential to start the reaction[54]. 

The Fischer cyclization has proved to be a very versatile reaction which can tolerate a variety of substituents at the 2- and 3-positions and on the aromatic ring. An extensive review and compilation of examples was published several years ago[3]. From a practical point of view, the crucial reaction parameter is often the choice of the appropriate reaction medium. For hydrazones of unsymmetrical ketones, which can lead to two regioisomeric products, the choice of reaction conditions may determine the product composition. 

The adaptation of the Bischler-Napieralski reaction to solid-phase synthesis has been described independently by two different groups. Meutermans reported the transformation of Merrifield resin-bound phenylalanine derivatives 32 to dihydroisoquinolines 33 in the presence of POCI3. The products 34 were liberated from the support using mixtures of HF/p-cresol. In contrast, Kunzer conducted solid-phase Bischler-Napieralski reactions on a 2-hydroxyethyl polystyrene support using the aromatic ring of the substrate 35 as a point of attachment to the resin. The cyclized products 36 were cleaved from the support by reaction with i-butylamine or n-pentylamine to afford 37. 

The rationale for the predominance of linear cyclization products versus angular cyclization products has been accepted as qualitative." The mechanism of the Combes reaction has been argued. It was initially proposed that cyclization to linear products was due to initial protonation of a more reactive site on the aromatic ring (1-position of 13 corrresponding to the 10-position of 15) thus, blocking cyclization to angular products. Bom showed this not to be the case for the cyclization of 2-naphthyl amino-2-penten-4-one. No 10-deutero material was observed. 

Nearly every substitution of the aromatic ring has been tolerated for the cyclization step using thermal conditions, while acid-promoted conditions limited the functionality utilized. Substituents included halogens, esters, nitriles, nitro, thio-ethers, tertiary amines, alkyl, ethers, acetates, ketals, and amides. Primary and secondary amines are not well tolerated and poor yield resulted in the cyclization containing a free phenol. The Gould-Jacobs reaction has been applied to heterocycles attached and fused to the aniline. 

A variety of aryl systems have been explored as substrates in the Knorr quinoline synthesis. Most notable examples are included in the work of Knorr himself who has demonstrated the high compatibility of substituted anilines as nucleophilic participants in that reaction. In the case of heteroaromatic substrates however, the ease of cyclization is dependent on the nature and relative position of the substituents on the aromatic ring." For example, 3-aminopyridines do not participate in ring closure after forming the anilide... 

Cyclization of the intermediate, 182, by means of ethyl orthoformate takes a quite different course. The nitrogen on the aromatic ring in this case becomes one of the exocyclic groups to afford the chorazanil (185) a compound that shows diuretic activity. 

Preparation o the key intermediate for the chloroquinoline series starts with Shiff base formation of metachloroaniline with ethyl oxaloacetate (66). Heating of the intermediate leads to cyclization into the aromatic ring and consequent formation of the quinoline ring (67). Saponification of the ester to the acid... 

Reduction of anilines containing acid, ester, or carbonyl functions provides a convenient entry to bi- and tricyclic systems, cyclization occurring once the rigidity of the aromatic ring has been lost through saturation (1,2,61,77). 

Pyridinium chloride ([PyHjCl) has also been used in a number ofcyclization reactions of aryl ethers (Scheme 5.1-4) [4, 18]. Presumably the reaction initially proceeds by deallcylation of the methyl ether groups to produce the corresponding phenol. The mechanism of the cyclization is not well understood, but Pagni and Smith have suggested that it proceeds by nucleophilic attack of an Ar-OH or Ar-0 group on the second aromatic ring (in a protonated form) [4]. 

One of the first reactions to be carried out in a molten salt (albeit at 270 °C) was the Scholl reaction. This involves the inter- or intramolecular coupling of two aromatic rings. A example of this reaction, in which 1-phenylpyrene was cyclized to indeno[l,2,3-cd]pyrene [26] is given in Scheme 5.1-7. A more elaborate version of the Scholl reaction is shown in Scheme 5.1-8 and involves bicyclization of an aromatic cumulene [27]. 

Step 3 of Figure 27.14 Third Cyclization The third cationic cyclization is somewhat unusual because it occurs with non-Markovnikov regiochemistry and gives a secondary cation at C13 rather than the alternative tertiary cation at C14. There is growing evidence, however, that the tertiary carbocation may in fact be formed initially and that the secondary cation arises by subsequent rearrangement. The secondary cation is probably stabilized in the enzyme pocket by the proximity of an electron-rich aromatic ring. 

Electrocyclization of certain a,/ y,<5-unsaturated diazo compounds, in which one of the double bonds is embedded in an aromatic ring, affords benzodiazepines. The diazoalkenes 1, produced by heating the sodium salts of the corresponding tosylhydrazoncs, can undergo two kinds of cyclization, [1,5] to yield 3//-pyrazoles, and [1,7] to give diazepines. 

Scheme 2.11 shows some examples of Robinson annulation reactions. Entries 1 and 2 show annulation reactions of relatively acidic dicarbonyl compounds. Entry 3 is an example of use of 4-(trimethylammonio)-2-butanone as a precursor of methyl vinyl ketone. This compound generates methyl vinyl ketone in situ by (3-eliminalion. The original conditions developed for the Robinson annulation reaction are such that the ketone enolate composition is under thermodynamic control. This usually results in the formation of product from the more stable enolate, as in Entry 3. The C(l) enolate is preferred because of the conjugation with the aromatic ring. For monosubstituted cyclohexanones, the cyclization usually occurs at the more-substituted position in hydroxylic solvents. The alternative regiochemistry can be achieved by using an enamine. Entry 4 is an example. As discussed in Section 1.9, the less-substituted enamine is favored, so addition occurs at the less-substituted position. 

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