Cycloaddition of pyrroles

Indoles are usually constructed from aromatic nitrogen compounds by formation of the pyrrole ring as has been the case for all of the synthetic methods discussed in the preceding chapters. Recently, methods for construction of the carbocyclic ring from pyrrole derivatives have received more attention. Scheme 8.1 illustrates some of the potential disconnections. In paths a and b, the syntheses involve construction of a mono-substituted pyrrole with a substituent at C2 or C3 which is capable of cyclization, usually by electrophilic substitution. Paths c and d involve Diels-Alder reactions of 2- or 3-vinyl-pyrroles. While such reactions lead to tetrahydro or dihydroindoles (the latter from acetylenic dienophiles) the adducts can be readily aromatized. Path e represents a category Iley cyclization based on 2 -I- 4 cycloadditions of pyrrole-2,3-quinodimcthane intermediates. 

An efficient synthesis of rigid tricyclic (5 5 5) nitrogen heterocycles 64 has been achieved via sequential and tandem Ugi/intramolecular Diels-Alder (IMDA) cycloaddition of pyrrole derivatives <2004JOC1207> and the trienes 477 were prepared by the acylaton of amines 475 with the anhydride 476. The amines 475 were in turn prepared starting from pyrrole-2-carbaldehyde. The triene 477 on heating in toluene at 80 °C for 15 h underwent the IMDA to afford the tricyclic compound 64 as a single diastereomer in quantitative yield. The sterically bulky N-substitutent on the triene 477 promoted cycloaddition under milder condition at 65 °C in toluene to provide the tricyclic compound 64 in quantitative yield (Scheme 108). 

Use has been made of the C-N cleavage in the conversion of the bicyclic tertiary amines, derived from the 4tc + 2tc cycloaddition of pyrroles and isoindoles with benzynes, into aromatic systems, e.g. naphthalen-l,4-imines and anthracen-9,10-imines yield naphthalenes and anthracenes with the extrusion of the nitrogen bridge [24] in yields which are higher than those obtained by standard oxidation procedures. 

Kende described an impressive example of the use of the [34-4] cycloaddition in natural product synthesis (Scheme 14.10) [101]. A key nortropinone intermediate for the total synthesis of ( )-isostemofoHne 105 was acquired through the tropane system 104, which was formed from the [34-4] cycloaddition of pyrrole 103 and a siloxy-substituted vinylcarbenoid of 87 in 90% yield. 

A well-established cycloaddition of pyrroles is the [2+2] cycloaddition with dichlorocarbene. This is in competition with the Reimer-Tiemann formylation ... 

The first total synthesis of the intricate Stemona alkaloid (+ /—)-isostemofoline (224) was reported by Kende and coworkers 81) starting from 1,2-hexanediol (225) which was straightforwardly converted to 227 (Scheme 22) 82). Reductive cycUzation with sodium hydrosulfite in refluxing aqueous ethanol, and protection of the unstable pyrrole as tert-butyl carbamate, afforded 228 in five steps with 12% overall )deld. The key bicyclic ketone 231 was assembled by [4 + 3] cycloaddition of pyrrole 228 and diazoester 229 promoted by rhodium octanoate dimer, followed by enol silane deprotection, exo-specific hydrogenation, and nucleophilic decarboxylation (47% overall yield). Sodium methoxide-catalyzed aldol condensation of ketone 231 and furfural provided the Q-j/i-unsaturated ketone 232 whose olefin configuration was established by nOe studies. Allylation of 232 provided a 2.4 1 mixture of ketone 234 and the corresponding allylic enol ether 233, which could be converted to the former via a stereoselective Claisen rearrangement. 

Noyori et al., among the early developers of [4+3] cycloaddition reactions, introduced a general approach to tropane alkaloids utilizing an intermolecular [4+3] cycloaddition of pyrroles with oxyallylic cations [9,10]. This is exemplified by the synthesis of (—)-hyoscyamine 12. Heating a solution of A-carbomethoxypyrrole 2 with excess tetrabromoacetone 6 in the presence of Fe2(CO)9 resulted in the formation of diastereoisomers 7 and 8 in a ratio of 2 1, respectively (Scheme 19.3). 

This category corresponds to the construction of the carbocyclic ring by 2 + 4 cycloaddition with pyrrole-2,3-quinodimethane intermediates. Such reactions can be particularly useful in the synthesis of 5,6-disubstituted indoles. Although there are a few cases where a pyrrolequinodimethane intermediate is generated, the most useful procedures involve more stable surrogates. Both 1,5-di-hydropyrano[3,4-b]pyrrol-5(lf/)-ones[l] and l,6-dihyropyrano[4,3-b]pyrrol-6-(in)-ones[2] can serve as pyrrole-2,3-quinodimethane equivalents. The adducts undergo elimination of CO2. 

Endo adducts are usually favored by iateractions between the double bonds of the diene and the carbonyl groups of the dienophile. As was mentioned ia the section on alkylation, the reaction of pyrrole compounds and maleic anhydride results ia a substitution at the 2-position of the pyrrole ring (34,44). Thiophene [110-02-1] forms a cycloaddition adduct with maleic anhydride but only under severe pressures and around 100°C (45). Addition of electron-withdrawiag substituents about the double bond of maleic anhydride increases rates of cycloaddition. Both a-(carbomethoxy)maleic anhydride [69327-00-0] and a-(phenylsulfonyl) maleic anhydride [120789-76-6] react with 1,3-dienes, styrenes, and vinyl ethers much faster than tetracyanoethylene [670-54-2] (46). 

The reactions of pyrroles with dienophiles generally follow two different pathways involving either a [4 + 2] cycloaddition or a Michael-type addition to a free a-position of the pyrrole ring. Pyrrole itself gives a complex mixture of products with maleic anhydride or maleic acid and with benzyne reacts to give 2-phenylpyrrole rather than a product of cycloaddition (Scheme 47). 

A-Substituted pyrroles, furans and dialkylthiophenes undergo photosensitized [2 + 2] cycloaddition reactions with carbonyl compounds to give oxetanes. This is illustrated by the addition of furan and benzophenone to give the oxetane (138). The photochemical reaction of pyrroles with aliphatic aldehydes and ketones results in the regiospecific formation of 3-(l-hydroxyalkyl)pyrroles (e.g. 139). The intermediate oxetane undergoes rearrangement under the reaction conditions (79JOC2949). 

Whereas the cycloaddition of arylazirines with simple alkenes produces A -pyrrolines, a rearranged isomer can be formed when the alkene and the azirine moieties are suitably arranged in the same molecule. This type of intramolecular photocycloaddition was first detected using 2-vinyl-substituted azirines (75JA4682). Irradiation of azirine (54) in benzene afforded a 2,3-disubstituted pyrrole (55), while thermolysis gave a 2,5-disubstituted pyrrole (56). Photolysis of azirine (57) proceeded similarly and gave 1,2-diphenylimidazole (58) as the exclusive photoproduct. This stands in marked contrast to the thermal reaction of (57) which afforded 1,3-diphenylpyrazole (59) as the only product. 

Finally, the bimolecular cycloaddition of alkynes with 2-phenylazirines in the presence of molybdenum hexacarbonyl has been studied (79TL2983). The pyrrole derivatives (294) obtained appear to arise from an initial [2 + 2] cycloaddition followed by a ring opening reaction. 

In another example of a radical process at the pyrrole C-2 position, it has been reported that reductive radical cycloaddition of l-(2-iodoethyl)pyrrole and activated olefins, or l-(oj-iodo-alkyl)pyrroles 34 lead to cycloalkano[a]pyrroles 35 via electroreduction of the iodides using a nickel(II) complex as an electron transfer catalyst <96CPB2020>. Thus, it appears the radical chemistry of pyrroles portends to be a fertile area of research in the immediate or near future. 

The analgesic alkaloid epibatidine (57) continues to receive much synthetic interest <96JOC4600, 96T11053, 96TL7845> and Tmdell has devised a novel approach to the synthesis of this alkaloid, the key step of which utilizes a [4 + 2] cycloaddition of methyl 3-bromopropiolate with A -Boc-pyrrole (55) to afford the 7-azabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane skeleton 56 characteristic of this alkaloid <96JOC7189>. 

Pyrroles can also be prepared by 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of C-trimethylsilyl amides such as 1497 with dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate in boihng toluene to give, via the azomethinimide 1498, 78% 1499 [45]. On employing a threefold excess of dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate the cycloadduct 1499 is obtained in nearly quantitative yield [45] (Scheme 9.26). 

In 2007, a novel C2-symmetric diphenylthiophosphoramide ligand was found to be a fairly efficient chiral ligand for the Cu(I)-promoted 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of imines and pyrrole-2,5-dione derivatives to give the corresponding adducts in moderate to good enantioselectivities and good yields (Scheme 10.14). ... 

Pagenkopf s group developed a novel domino process for the synthesis of pyrroles 4-183, which allows for the control over the installation of substituents at three positions and seems to be very suitable for combinatorial chemistry [62]. The process consists of a 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of an intermediate 1,3-dipole formed from the cyclopropane derivative 4-181 with a nitrile to give 4-182 followed by dehydration and isomerization (Scheme 4.39). The yield ranges from 25 to 93 %, and the procedure also works well with condensed cyclopropanes. 

Dipolar cycloaddition reaction of azomethine ylides to alkynes or alkenes followed by oxidation is one of the standard methods for the preparation of pyrroles.54 Recently, this strategy has been used for the preparation of pyrroles with CF3 or Me3Si groups at the (3-positions.55 Addition of azomethine ylides to nitroalkenes followed by elimination of HN02 with base gives pyrroles in 96% yield (Eq. 10.48).56... 

The reaction of 1 -phenyl-3-p-nitrophenylnitrile ylid (387) to methylenecyclo-propane 4 is the sole reported example of cycloaddition of this dipole type. The only product isolated from the reaction was the pyrrole 390, which arose via 389,... 

The formation of a diverse array of five-membered ring heterocycles via the cycloaddition of isocyanides with furan- or pyrrole-based enones was reported. The reaction mechanism is discussed and an example is shown below <06OL3975>. 

The [4+2] cycloaddition of dimethyl-1,2,4,5-tetrazine-3,6-dicarboxylate 41 with ketene A, O-acetals or cyanamide yielded tetrafunctionalized pyridazines 42 or 1,2,4-triazine 43 respectively. Treatment of 42-43 with zinc dust in AcOH afforded pyrrole 44 or imidazole 45 derivatives <06S1513>. 

In addition to cydocondensation reactions of the Paal-Knorr type, cycloaddition processes play a prominent role in the construction of pyrrole rings. Thus, 1,3-dipo-lar cycloadditions of azomethine ylides with alkene dipolarophiles are very important in the preparation of pyrroles. The group of de la Hoz has studied the micro-wave-induced thermal isomerization of imines, derived from a-aminoesters, to azomethine ylides (Scheme 6.185) [346]. In the presence of equimolar amounts of /i-nitrostyrenes, three isomeric pyrrolidines (nitroproline esters) were obtained under solvent-free conditions in 81-86% yield within 10-15 min at 110-120 °C through a [3+2] cycloaddition process. Interestingly, using classical heating in an oil bath (toluene reflux, 24 h), only two of the three isomers were observed. 

Pyrrolyl)-4,5-dihydroisoxazole derivatives 402 have been synthesized (Scheme 1.48) in good yields (66%-78%) by regioselective 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of nitrile oxides to 1-phenylsulfony 1-1,3-dienes, followed by Barton-Zard pyrrole annulation using ethyl isocyanoacetate anion (444). 

Dipolar cycloaddition of nitrile oxide 425 with allyl bromide followed by hydrogenation of dihydroisoxazole derivative 426 (Scheme 1.54) gives a pyrrol-substituted steroid derivative 427 (466). 

Similarly, in a 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of DMAD to the conformationally locked cyclic a-alkoxycarbonylnitrone (727), bicyclic ring systems, containing a nitrogen atom at the bridgehead position have been synthesized. A mechanistic interpretation of the origin of the fused pyrroles (729) includes the intermediate formation of the aziridine ring in (728) (Scheme 2.303) (820). 

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