Aromatization 1-6 ring closure mechanism

The mechanism of this novel process is proposed to involve formation of a nine-membered ring, which after tautomerization undergoes an electrocylic ring closure to form the bicyclo[4.3.0]nonadienone intermediate. Elimination of ROH gives the aromatic product observed (Scheme 79). 

A fundamentally different approach to the synthesis of 3-pyrrolines is evidenced in the annulation in Eq. 13.50 [58]. Ethyl 2,3-butadienoate 150 reacts with N-sulfony-limine 151 in the presence of triphenylphosphine under very mild conditions to give JV-protected 3-pyrroline 152 in 90% yield. The mechanism that has been postulated is related to that of the Baylis-Hillman reaction. Michael addition of triphenylphosphine to the allenyl ester generates a zwitterion that combines with the imine to give 153 in a non-concerted process. This is followed by ring closure, proton exchange and expulsion of triphenylphosphine to give 152. This annulation is successful only for aromatic or cinnamyl imines [59]. 

A common feature of any cyclization reaction is that a new intramolecular C—C bond is produced that would not have been formed in the absence of the catalyst. Those reactions in which one ring closure step is sufficient to explain the formation of a given cyclic product will be called simple cyclization processes, although their mechanism is, as a rule, complex. We shall distinguish those cases in which any additional skeletal rearrangement step(s) is (are) required to explain the process. Some specific varieties of hydrocarbon ring closure processes are not included. A recent excellent review deals with the formation of a second ring in an alkyl-substituted aromatic compound (12). Dehydrocyclodimerization reactions have also to be omitted—all the more since it is doubtful whether a metallic function itself is able to catalyze this process (13). 

The thermal ring closure reaction of a 1,3,5-triene to a 1,3-cyclohexadiene occurs by a concerted disrotatory electrocyclic mechanism. An example of the latter is the oxepin-benzene oxide equilibrium (7) which favors the oxepin tautomer at higher temperatures (Section 5.17.1.2). Oxepin (7) was found to rearrange to phenol during attempted distillation at normal pressure (67AG(E)385>. This aromatization reaction may be considered as a spontaneous rearrangement of the oxirane ring to the dienone isomer followed by enolization (equation 7). 

Evidence also suggests, however, that alkanes with only five carbon atoms in a linear chain may undergo aromatization via 1,5 ring closure followed by ring enlargement. Numerous mechanisms were put forward to rationalize these transformations.209... 

A concerted elimination-cyclization mechansim, involving a sulfenyl halide in a 1,3-butadiene-1-thio system, is the most probable mechanism for the formation of benzo[6 Jthiophenes from cinnamic acids or 4-aryl-2-butanones by treatment with thionyl chloride. The reactions shown in Scheme 5 have been carefully worked out, and the intermediates isolated (75JOC3037). The unique aspect of this synthesis is the reduction of the sulfinyl chloride (a) by thionyl chloride to form the sulfenyl chloride (b). The intermediate (b) was isolated and converted in pyridine to the 3-chlorobenzo[6]thiophene-2-carbonyl chloride in 36% yield (73TL125). The reaction is probably initiated by a sulfenyl ion attack on the aromatic ring, since it is promoted by electron-releasing groups para to the site of ring closure. For example, when X in (36) was N02, a 23% yield of (37), a mixture of 5-and 7-nitro derivatives, was obtained, but when X in (36) was OMe, a 54% yield of (37) was obtained, contaminated with some 3,4-dichloro-5-methoxybenzo[6]thiophene-2-carboxylic acid. 

Two mechanisms have been proposed for the Knoevenagel reaction. In one, the role of the amine is to form an imine or iminium salt (378) which subsequently reacts with the enolate of the active methylene compound. Under normal circumstances elimination of the amine would give the cinnamic acid derivative (379). However, when an o-hydroxy group is present in the aromatic aldehyde intramolecular ring closure to the coumarin can occur. The timing of the various steps may be different from that shown (Scheme 118). 

There are different approaches to ring closure reactions by the S l mechanism. By far the most studied system is when the aromatic moiety has an appropriate substituent in ortho position to the leaving group16,19. 

Aromatic rings can also trap aryl radicals in the propagation cycle of the S l mechanism to give ring closure product. The reaction of o-dihalobenzenes 341 with 2-naphthalenethiolate ion (342) in liquid ammonia under photostimulation gives the ring closure product 343 as well as the substitution product 344 (equation 201 )344. 

Formally, the aromatization of 6 is the dihydro variant of the Bergman cyclization [7] however, compared to the latter process, the ring-closure of 6 does not require additional ( external ) hydrogen atoms to proceed. Whereas the mechanism of the Bergman cyclization, involving a benzene-1,4-diyl intermediate, is comparatively clear-cut [8], the aromatization of 6 is more complex and at least three different mechanisms are presently discussed for the process (Scheme 3) [9]. 

Distinct functional groups with acidic hydrogens can also promote these transformations. For instance, benzoylnitromethane (208) or ethyl bromopyruvate (206) react with isoquinoline (6) and acetylenedicarboxylates via the same dipolar mechanism to generate a pyrrolo[2,l-a]isoquinoline scaffold. However, in these cases, after closure of the 5-membered ring, a double-bond formation via dehydrogenation or nitrous acid elimination yields the fully aromatic ring systems 207 and 209 (Scheme 28) [82, 183]. 

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