Carbocyclization, reductive

The growing importance of cyclopropane derivatives (A. de Meijere, 1979), as synthetic intermediates originates in the unique, olefin-like properties of this carbocycle. Cyclopropane derivatives with one or two activating groups are easily opened (see. p. 69f.). Some of these reactions are highly regio- and stereoselective (E. Wenkert, 1970 A, B E. J. Corey, 1956 A, B, 1975 see p. 70). Many appropriately substituted cyclopropane derivatives yield 1,4-difunctional compounds under mild nucleophilic or reductive reaction conditions. Such compounds are especially useful in syntheses of cyclopentenone derivatives and of heterocycles (see also sections 1.13.3 and 4.6.4). 

A two-step synthesis of indoles from o-nitrobenzaldehydes proceeds by condensation with nitromcthanc followed by reductive cyclization. Like the Leim-gruber Batcho method, the principal application of the reaction is to indoles with only carbocyclic substituents. The forniation of the o,p-dinitrostyrenes is usually done under classical Henry condensation conditions but KF/18-crown-6 in propanol was found to be an advantageous reaction medium for acetoxy-substituted compounds[1]. The o,p-dinitrostyrenes can also be obtained by nitration of p-nitrostyrenes[2]. 

Acyloins are useful starting materials for the preparation of a wide variety of heterocycles (e.g., oxazoles and imidazoles ) and carbocyclic compounds (e.g., phenols ). Acyloins lead to 1,2-diols by reduction, and to 1,2-diketones by mild oxidation. 

Pyrroles are hydrogenated with more difficulty than are carbocyclic aromatics. In compounds containing both rings, hydrogenation will proceed nonselectively or with preference for the carbocyclic ring (/9), unless reduction of the carbocyclic ring is impeded by substituents. Acidic solvents are frequently used but are not necessary. 

The widespread occurrence and biological significance of polyoxygenated carbocycles provided the impetus to apply RCM to sugar-derived dienes. Carbohydrate carbocyclization based on a sequence of Vasella reductive opening of iodo-substituted methyl glycosides [25], and RCM of the dienes available from the resulting unsaturated aldehydes, were used to prepare a series of natural compounds (Schemes 5-7). 

It was also of interest to apply such lOOC reactions to formation of carbocyclic rings. Oxime olefins 230 a-e, formed in good yield via reaction of 229 with 0-silyl-a-bromoaldoximes 228 in the presence of F ions, cyclized in a sealed tube at 190 °C to provide 231 a-e (Eq. 24, Table 22) [63]. Reduction of 231a provided amino alcohol 232 a in 68% yield. Amino alcohol 232 e was converted stereo-specifically to the fused -lactam 233. 

Other Carbocyclic Aromatic Compounds Reduction of Carbocyclic Rings... 

Another important reductive coupling is the conversion of esters to a-hydroxyketones (acyloin condensation).267 This reaction is usually carried out with sodium metal in an inert solvent. Good results have also been obtained for sodium metal dispersed on solid supports.268 Diesters undergo intramolecular reactions and this is also an important method for the preparation of medium and large carbocyclic rings. 

Metal-mediated reductive coupling of alkenes and alkynes affords access to complicated organic structures, including carbocyclic and heterocyclic molecules, from readily available starting materials. While most of these coupling reactions were initially developed as stoichiometric processes, many selective, catalytic versions have been developed over the past decade these advancements have made reductive coupling much more attractive to synthetic chemists. 

Syntheses of Carbocyclic Compounds (1.V.2.V )-2 (.V )-Amino(4-metho-xyphenyl)methyl]cyclopropan-l-ol 392 (Scheme 1.45) has been prepared by a stepwise procedure involving a 1,3-dipolar nitrile oxide cycloaddition to allyl alcohol followed by a constmction of the cyclopropa d isoxazole system, and reduction of the bicycle (436). 

Intramolecular arylation of G-H bonds gives cyclic aromatic compounds. In this intramolecular arylation, the carbon-palladium cr-bond is first formed by the oxidative addition of Pd(0) species and then the resulting electrophilic Pd(n) species undergoes the intramolecular G-H bond activation leading to the formation of the palladacycle, which finally affords the cyclic aromatic compounds via reductive elimination.87 For example, the fluoroanthene derivative is formed by the palladium-catalyzed reaction of the binaphthyl triflate, as shown in Scheme 8.88 This type of intramolecular arylation is applied to the construction of five- and six-membered carbocyclic and heterocyclic systems.89 89 89 ... 

The borostannylation of an enyne has also been reported by Tanaka to proceed in a high yield (Scheme 71).273 The mechanism of this cyclization has not been investigated in detail, but the insertion of the alkyne takes place preferentially into the Pd-B bond over the Pd-Sn bond. Then, the addition of the vinylpalladium 279 to the alkene moiety followed by reductive elimination furnished the cycloadduct 278. However, Tanaka does not exclude a palladacycle intermediate. Similarly, a borylsilylative carbocyclization has also been reported by Tanaka.274... 

In this review, an attempt is made to exhaustively catalog the rapidly growing subset of metal-catalyzed reductive C-C bond formations comprising the hydrometallative and hydrogenative carbocyclization of 7t-unsaturated substrates, and application of these methods in target-oriented synthesis. Content is organized on the basis of reaction... 

With the advent of enantioselective zirconocene-catalyzed alkene carbomagnesiation,27 27a 27c 28 28a chirally modified zirconocenes soon were applied to asymmetric reductive diene carbocyclization.2 a c As demonstrated by the reductive cyclization of 5a,29 highly enantioselective cyclization is enabled through the use Brintzinger s chiral, mszz-zirconocene.30 30a (For the preparation and resolution of chiral tf .szz-zirconocene 6, see Refs 30,30a.) However, moderate diastereoselectivities and yields are generally observed (Scheme 5). 

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