Carbonyl ylides synthesis

Photofragmentation of Oxiranes to Carbonyl Ylides Synthesis of Tetrahydrofiirans... 

The application of 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition processes to the synthesis of substituted tetrahydrofurans has been investigated, starting from epoxides and alkenes under microwave irradiation. The epoxide 85 was rapidly converted into carbonyl ylide 86 that behaved as a 1,3-dipole toward various alkenes, leading to quantitative yields of tetrahydrofuran derivatives 87 (Scheme 30). The reactions were performed in toluene within 40 min instead of 40 h under classical conditions, without significantly altering the selectivi-ties [64]. 

Some examples of transformations involving carbonyl ylides are listed in Table 4.20. Entry 1 illustrates the conversion of P-acyloxy-a-diazoesters into a-acyloxyacrylates by ring fission of a cyclic carbonyl ylide [978]. This reaction has been used for the synthesis of the natural aldonic acid KDO (3-deoxy-Z)-manno-2-octulosonic acid), which is an essential component of the cell wall lipopolysaccharide of gram-negative bacteria (Figure 4.15). 

As with any modern review of the chemical Hterature, the subject discussed in this chapter touches upon topics that are the focus of related books and articles. For example, there is a well recognized tome on the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction that is an excellent introduction to the many varieties of this transformation [1]. More specific reviews involving the use of rhodium(II) in carbonyl ylide cycloadditions [2] and intramolecular 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions have also appeared [3, 4]. The use of rhodium for the creation and reaction of carbenes as electrophilic species [5, 6], their use in intramolecular carbenoid reactions [7], and the formation of ylides via the reaction with heteroatoms have also been described [8]. Reviews of rhodium(II) ligand-based chemoselectivity [9], rhodium(11)-mediated macrocyclizations [10], and asymmetric rho-dium(II)-carbene transformations [11, 12] detail the multiple aspects of control and applications that make this such a powerful chemical transformation. In addition to these reviews, several books have appeared since around 1998 describing the catalytic reactions of diazo compounds [13], cycloaddition reactions in organic synthesis [14], and synthetic applications of the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition [15]. 

In more recent work, Chiu and co-workers [167, 168] have reported an intramolecular 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition approach toward the pseudolaric acids 85, in which the di-polarophile is an unactivated 1,1-disubstituted alkene. Hence, treatment of the diazo ketone 86 with catalytic Rh2(OAc)4 furnished a mixture of tricyclic products 87 and 88 in nearly equal proportions (Scheme 19.13). The synthesis of 2-pyridones [169] and their application to the ipalbidine core [170] has been described. The pentacyclic skeleton of the aspidosperma alkaloids was prepared via the cycloaddition of a push-pull carbonyl ylide [171]. The dehydrovindorosine alkaloids 89 have also been investigated, in which the a-diazo-/ -ketoester 90 undergoes a facile cycloaddition to furnish 91 in... 

Padwa has reported an approach to the ring system of the ribasine alkaloids 98 [174], using an intramolecular 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of the a-diazo ketone 99 to produce the pentacyclic skeleton 100 (Scheme 19.17). Wood [175] used an intermolecular 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of a carbonyl ylide for the total synthesis of ( )-epoxysorbicilli-nol 101 (Scheme 19.18). The key cycloaddition in this approach is the conversion of 102 to the natural product core 103, which sets the substitution pattern around the entire ring system in a single step. 

Synthesis, Structural Studies, and Reactivity of Carbonyl Ylides. . . ... 

SYNTHESIS, STRUCTURAL STUDIES, AND REACTIVITY OE CARBONYL YLIDES... 

Carbonyl ylides (1) are highly reactive dipoles that have been proposed as key intermediates in a variety of reactions since the 1960s (Fig. 4.1). Since these early reports, there has been a virtual explosion in the study of these unstable intermediates both at the theoretical level and more recently in their application to organic synthesis. This chapter will focus on the structure, generation, and chemical reactions of carbonyl ylides and will review the literature since 1984. 

The structure of the carbonyl ylide reveals that it is a 1,3-dipolar species and is poised to undergo a variety of different reactions. The ability of carbonyl ylides to engage in bond-forming processes has promoted their use in organic synthesis. Although there are several pathways open to these zwitterionic intermediates, there are a few that have been the focus of detailed mechanistic and synthetic investigations (Fig. 4.2). 

Wartenkin and co-workers (15,16) developed a versatile route for the synthesis of carbonyl ylides via the decomposition of 2-methoxy-2,5,5-A -l,3,4-oxadiazo-line (59) under thermal conditions (Scheme 4.12). 

Carbon-heteroatom multiple bonds can also participate in cycloaddition reactions with carbonyl ylides leading to the synthesis of interesting heterocycles (Scheme 4.18). 

Carbonyl ylides can be viewed as an adduct between a carbonyl group and a carbene and, in fact, some ylides have been prepared this way (see above). The application of carbonyl ylides to the synthesis of complex natural products has been greatly advanced by the finding that stabilized carbenoids can be generated by the decomposition of ot-diazocarbonyl compounds with copper and rhodium complexes. The metallocarbenoids formed by this method are highly electrophilic on carbon and readily add nucleophiles such as the oxygen of many carbonyl derivatives to form carbonyl ylides. This type of reaction is in fact quite old with the first report being the addition of diazomalonate and benzaldehyde (33,34). 

Carbonyl ylides derived from nitrogen-substituted carbonyl moieties provided for the synthesis of very stable push-pull dipolar intermediates. Although these compounds are quite stable, they still have sufficient reactivity to engage in cycloaddition and related processes. Carbonyl ylides derived from amides have been trapped in intermolecular cycloadditions to give aminals (Scheme 4.34) (56). 

Over the last 15 years, Padwa et al. (73,74) have been heavily involved with the study and application of carbonyl ylides as cycloaddition precursors in synthesis. Their work has helped make the tandem ylide formation-dipolar cycloaddition process a synthetically accessible transformation. Much of Padwa s early work focused on determining the extent and limitations of this methodology. Many of the early systems were carbocyclic in nature and helped define basic parameters such as... 

Alkaloids are another family of compounds that are easily accessible from synthetic routes utilizing carbonyl ylides. The complex structure of naturally occurring alkaloids has been the driving force for the generation of new carbonyl ylide methodology. These studies have resulted in the discovery of several new reaction manifolds as well as the total synthesis of several natural products. 

Nair et al. (87,88) achieved a synthesis of spirooxindole-containing molecules by adding isatins to various carbonyl ylides (Scheme 4.46). There has been relatively little research regarding the efficiency of C=0 of 1,2-dicarbonyl compounds as dipolarophiles relative to their olefinic counterparts. As anticipated, Nair found that the more electrophilic carbonyl of the isatin 187 (non-amide carbonyl) reacted smoothly with the carbonyl ylide formed from diazoketone 186 to give the spirocyclic adduct 188. Nair s yields were moderate to good (44—83%), but were based on recovered isatin. 

Nair et al. (87) was able to extend this methodology with five-, six-, and seven-member carbonyl ylides. The five-membered ylide was the same carbonyl ylide as that used by Padwa for the synthesis of the illudins. The use of the seven-membered ylide was novel due to the fact that ylides greater than six atoms are generally difficult to form and indeed the yield of the cycloaddition with isatin (187) suffered and the product was isolated in only 32% yield. 

Padwa and co-workers (60,106,107) have been highly active in using carbonyl ylides for the synthesis of a number of bioactive alkaloids (Scheme 4.51). In an approach to the aspidosperma alkaloids, a push-pull carbonyl ylide was used to generate a bicyclic ylide containing a tethered indole moiety. This strategy ultimately allowed for the synthesis of the dehydrovindorosin skeleton (108). Starting from a quaternary substimted piperidone (200), elaboration of the 3-carboxylic acid provided p-ketoester amide 201. Addition of the indole tethered side chain provided a very rapid and efficient method to generate the cycloaddition precursor 203. 

Isomunchnones play a large part in the synthetic efforts Padwa and co-workers (91-94,96,98,110,111). The Lycopodium alkaloids are a large family of natural products and have inspired numerous synthetic routes to approach these compounds. Interest in this class of alkaloids stems from the myriad of biological properties they exhibit. Padwa utilized the carbonyl ylide methodology in tandem with a cationic 71-cyclization to complete a formal synthesis of ( ) lycopodine (Scheme 4.55) (96,112). 

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