Cyclization, radicals carbenes

The converse situation in which ring closure is initiated by the attack of a carbon-based radical on the heteroatom has been employed only infrequently (Scheme 18c) (66JA4096). The example in Scheme 18d begins with an intramolecular carbene attack on sulfur followed by rearrangement (75BCJ1490). The formation of pyrrolidines by intramolecular attack of an amino radical on a carbon-carbon double bond is exemplified in Scheme 19. In the third example, where cyclization is catalyzed by a metal ion (Ti, Cu, Fe, Co " ), the stereospecificity of the reaction depends upon the choice of metal ion. 

Chapter 10 considers the role of reactive intermediates—carbocations, carbenes, and radicals—in synthesis. The carbocation reactions covered include the carbonyl-ene reaction, polyolefin cyclization, and carbocation rearrangements. In the carbene section, addition (cyclopropanation) and insertion reactions are emphasized. Recent development of catalysts that provide both selectivity and enantioselectivity are discussed, and both intermolecular and intramolecular (cyclization) addition reactions of radicals are dealt with. The use of atom transfer steps and tandem sequences in synthesis is also illustrated. 

Organic halides play a fundamental role in organic chemistry. These compounds are important precursors for carbocations, carbanions, radicals, and carbenes and thus serve as an important platform for organic functional group transformations. Many classical reactions involve the reactions of organic halides. Examples of these reactions include the nucleophilic substitution reactions, elimination reactions, Grignard-type reactions, various transition-metal catalyzed coupling reactions, carbene-related cyclopropanations reactions, and radical cyclization reactions. All these reactions can be carried out in aqueous media. 

Reactions of 1,2,4-thiadiazoles with radicals and carbenes are virtually unknown. Catalytic hydrogenations and dissolving metal reductions usually cleave the N-S bond in a reversal of the oxidative cyclization procedures used in synthesis of 1,2,4-thiadiazoles (see Section 5.08.9.4). 

The formation of five- and six-membered heterocycles by radical cyclization is discussed in a comprehensive review <2004H(63)1903>. Representative examples of ring syntheses involving carbenoid (Table 6) or nitrenoid (Table 7) intermediates are given. In many cases, the free carbene or nitrene is probably not involved, and the distinction between insertion and addition reactions given in the tables is not always clear cut. Such reactions are particularly useful for the preparation of tricyclic compounds. The application of carbenes and carbenoids in the synthesis of heterocyles is summarized in a review <1996AHC(65)93>. 

In addition to cationic cyclizations, other conditions for the cyclization of polyenes and of ene-ynes to steroids have been investigated. Oxidative free-radical cyclizations of polyenes produce steroid nuclei with exquisite stereocontrol. For example, treatment of (259) and (260) with Mn(III) and Cu(II) afford the D-homo-5a-androstane-3-ones (261) and (262), respectively, in approximately 30% yield. In this cyclization, seven asymmetric centers are established in one chemical step (226,227). Another intramolecular cyclization reaction of iodo-ene poly-ynes was reported using a carbopaUadation cascade terminated by carbonylation. This carbometalation—carbonylation cascade using CO at 111 kPa (1.1 atm) at 70°C converted an acycHc iodo—tetra-yne (263) to a D-homo-steroid nucleus (264) [162878-44-6] in approximately 80% yield in one chemical step (228). Intramolecular aimulations between two alkynes and a chromium or tungsten carbene complex have been examined for the formation of a variety of different fiised-ring systems. A tandem Diels-Alder—two-alkyne annulation of a triynylcarbene complex demonstrated the feasibiHty of this strategy for the synthesis of steroid nuclei. Complex (265) was prepared in two steps from commercially available materials. Treatment of (265) with Danishefsky s diene in CH CN at room temperature under an atmosphere of carbon monoxide (101.3 kPa = 1 atm), followed by heating the reaction mixture to 110°C, provided (266) in 62% yield (TBS = tert — butyldimethylsilyl). In a second experiment, a sequential Diels-Alder—two-alkyne annulation of triynylcarbene complex (267) afforded a nonaromatic steroid nucleus (269) in approximately 50% overall yield from the acycHc precursors (229). 

In fact, the formation of benzene from hexa-l,3-diene-5-yne is possible by at least three different mechanistic pathways (i) at temperatures below 500 - 600°C preferably by an electrocyclization via the isobenzene followed by a 1,3-hydrogen shift, (ii) at temperatures above 500 - 600 °C preferably by the discussed carbene mechanism, and (iii) in the presence of hydrogen radicals by an intramolecular radical cyclization sequence. For further discussion including labelling studies see Nuchter U, Zimmermann G, Francke V, Hopf H (1997) Liebigs Ann/Recueil 1505 and the references cited herein. 

Sulfur controlled radical cyclization of A -ethenyl-a-bromo-alkanamides occurs in a A-exo-trig manner to give the trans-3,A-Rhodium catalyzed carbene insertion reactions are very useful for the preparation of bicyclic P-lactams but are little used to form monocyclic p-lactams. High yields and exceptional stereocontrol are achieved when a-diazo-amides are decomposed in the presence of rhodium(II) catalysts to give (63) (93BMC2409). 

---