Azido-enone intramolecular cycloaddition

In another example (Scheme 8), the intramolecular cycloaddition of an azido functionality onto an enone group afforded bicyclic derivatives with bridgehead iV atoms. The cyclopentenone derivative 28 afforded the indolizidinone 30 through the proposed compound 29 which might react through a diradical intermediate or through a betaine intermediate <2002TL5385>. 

Molander and Hiersemann (60) reported the preparation of the spirocyclic keto aziridine intermediate 302 in an approach to the total synthesis of (zb)-cephalotax-ine (304) via an intramolecular 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of an azide with an electron-deficient alkene (Scheme 9.60). The required azide 301 was prepared by coupling the vinyl iodide 299 and the aryl zinc chloride 300 using a Pd(0) catalyst in the presence of fni-2-furylphosphine. Intramolecular 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of the azido enone 301 in boiling xylene afforded the desired keto aziridine 302 in 76% yield. Hydroxylation of 302 according to Davis s procedure followed by oxidation with Dess-Martin periodinane delivered the compound 303, which was converted to the target molecule (i)-cephalotaxine (304). 

The intramolecular 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction of azides has become an increasingly useful process for the construction of natural products and molecules of theoretical interest.192 193 For example, 2-substituted azido enone (238) was prepared from the corresponding bromide by treatment with sodium azide. Thermolysis of this material afforded aziridinyl ketone (240) presumably via a transient dipolar cycloadduct (239).193 Ketone (240) was subsequently converted to an intermediate previously used to prepare histrionicotoxin (241 Scheme 56). 

In a related example, Sha and coworkers reported on the intramolecular cycloaddition of azido-enone 95 as the key step for a total synthesis of ( )-desamylperhydrohistrionicotoxin 98 (Scheme 23) (1991JOC2694). The reaction sequence proceeds by an initial dipolar cycloaddition of azide 95 to produce the unstable triazoline 96 which undergoes a subsequent loss of nitrogen to give aziridine 97 that was ultimately converted to 98. 

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