Cycloadditions and Cyclizations

Cycloadditions and cyclization reactions are among the most important synthetic applications of donor-substituted allenes, since they result in the formation of a variety of carbocyclic and heterocyclic compounds. Early investigations of Diels-Alder reactions with alkoxyallenes demonstrated that harsh reaction conditions, e.g. high pressure, high temperature or Lewis acid promotion, are often required to afford the corresponding heterocycles in only poor to moderate yield [12b, 92-94]. Although a,/3-unsaturated carbonyl compounds have not been used extensively as heterodienes, considerable success has been achieved with activated enone 146 (Eq. 8.27) or with the electron-deficient tosylimine 148 (Eq. 8.28). Both dienes reacted under 

In the [4 + 2] cycloadditions discussed so far, the enol ether double bond of alkoxyallenes is exclusively attacked by the heterodienes, resulting in products bearing the alkoxy group at C-6of the heterocycles. This regioselective behavior is expected for [4+2] cycloadditions with inverse electron demand considering the HOMO coefficients of methoxyallene 145 [100]. In contrast, all known intramolecular Diels-Alder reactions of allenyl ether intermediates occur at the terminal C=C bond [101], most probably because of geometric restrictions. 

R1 = H, Me, allyl, CMe2OH, CHMeOH, CHMeOTBS, CHPhOH, R2 = Ph, aryl, C02Et, CF3, HC=CHC02Me Hal = Cl or Br 

The few reported [2 + 2] cycloadditions of alkoxyallenes illustrated in Eqs 8.29 and 8.30 are probably of less synthetic importance. Cyclobutene derivative 162 could be prepared in good yield by cycloaddition of tetramethoxyallene 39 and acetylenedicar-boxylate 161 [105], whereas the reaction of 1,1-diethoxyallene 163 and phenylisocya-nate (164) gave the expected /3-lactam 165 [106]. Another example for a [2 + 2] cycloaddition is the dimerization of 39 described by Saalfrank et al. [107]. 

Just one reaction has been described where lithiated methoxyallene 42 reacted with bicyclo[3.2.0]heptenone 175 to form the triquinane derivative 176 via a tandem oxy-Cope-transannular ring closure sequence (Eq. 8.31) [111]. However, cycloocta-none 177 was isolated as a major product, which is unusual since other alkenyl-lithium compounds and 175 provide only triquinanes. The authors assumed that the additional sp2-hybridized C-atom in the eight-membered ring intermediate (eno-late of 177) induces a conformation which is less susceptible to transannular ring closure. 

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The terms cycloaddition and cyclization generally refer to concerted and stepwise reactions, respectively. Nevertheless, in this section they will be used indiscriminately since, in most of the processes, the mechanisms are uncertain. Formation of non-cyclic products proceeding through a cydization/cycloreversion pathway is also included in this section. 

Scheme 7.45. Intermolecular competition reactions that examine the relative rates of cycloaddition and cyclization.

On the other hand, silver salts can act as a mild Lewis acid, promoting various reactions such as allylations, aldolizations, cycloadditions, and cyclizations. Silver salts can also be used as halide scavengers, acting as cocatalysts in cross-coupling reactions catalyzed by other metals, especially palladium. In the latter context, the exact role of silver salts is far from clear and may be more complex than just halide... 

Dr. Albert Padwa (Emory University) starts the volume with a fascinating chapter on the cycloaddition and cyclization chemistry of 2H-azirines, an area in which he has been closely connected with some of the most interesting developments. Dr. Nuzhat Arshad and Dr. Oliver Kappe of the University of Graz (Austria) update our knowledge of heterocyclic BINAP analogues, important ligands for asymmetric synthesis. 

A selective sampling of the photochemical cycloaddition and cyclization chemistry of 2H-azirines has been outlined in this chapter. Some photochemical sequences increase molecular complexity more than others, but each seems to provide complex heterocyclic structures in a very efficient manner. Indeed, many of these photoreactions rapidly construct hetero-polycyclic systems that are difficult to produce in other ways. In contrast to their photochemical behavior, the major thermal reaction of 2H-azirines generally involves C(2)-N bond cleavage to form vinyl nitrenes which further react by either insertion into an adjacent C-H bond or else undergo addition across a neighboring rc-bond. The 27i-electrons of the carbon-nitrogen double bond of 2H-azirines can also participate in thermal symmetry-allowed [4- -2]-cycloadditions with a variety of substrates. It is clear from the above discussion that the chemistry of 2H-azirines is both mechanistically complex and... 

Since mechanistic considerations in these areas have been discussed in detail by Hoffmann, a variety of regio- and stereo-selective [4 + 3] cycloaddition and cyclization reactions are described in this section. 

Carbene reactions provide a versatile approach to the synthesis of five-membered nitrogen-containing rings. Of particular importance here are intramolecular insertion of a carbene into C — H and N — H bonds, addition onto multiple carbon-carbon bonds, intermediate formation of ylides as a result of carbene addition onto the heteroatom followed by rearrangement, cycloaddition, and cyclization. 

Nitrogen heterocycles. Aziridines, oxazoles, and quinolines are formed from various InClj-catalyzed cycloadditions and cyclization reactions. The pyrroloquinoline skeleton, characteristic of several alkaloids, can be assembled in one step. ... 

Cycloaddition and cyclization routes were used to access certain 1,3-diazines. The 4+2 cycloaddition reaction of 4-(N-allyl-N-aryl)amino-l,3-diaza-l,3-butadienes with vinyl-, isopropenyl-, and chloroketene led to pyrimidinone-fused pyrimidinones <97T13841>. Cis-cyclopenta[d]pyrimidines were derived from cis-2-amino-l-cyclopentanecarboxylates by cyclization with KOCN and KSCN <97JHC1211>. 2-Thioxopyrido[3, 2 4,5]thieno[3,2-r/]pyrimidin-4(3//)-ones 19 were prepared by cyclocondensation of 2-carbethoxy-3-amino-4-phenyl-6-substituted-thieno[2,3-/)]pyridines and isothiocyanates <97JHC937>. Thiazolyl-benzimidazoles derived from 2-cyanomethyl-l//-benzimidazole and 2,3-dihydrothiazole-2-(3//)-thiones were cyclized to the corresponding thiazolo[4,5-r/]pyrimidines <97PHA346>. Reductive cyclization of 6-cyanomethyl-5-nitropyrimidines afforded 7-alkyl-5//-pyrrolo[3,2-r/]pyrimidines and 6-amino-7,7-dialkyl-7//-pyrrolo[3,2-rf]pyrimidines <97T391>. 7-Methyl-5-alkyl-2-vinyl-pyrazolo[3,4-r/]pyrimidine-4,6(5//,7//)-diones arose from cyclization and alkylation of... 

Transition metal-mediated cycloaddition and cyclization reactions have played a vital role in the advancement and applications of modem synthetic organic chemistry. Rhodium-catalyzed cycloadditions/cyclizations have attracted significant attention because of their versatility in the transformations of activated and unactivated acetylenes, olefins, allenes, etc. These reactions are particularly valuable because of their ability to increase molecular complexity through a convergent and highly selective combination of acyclic components. In addition, these reactions allow for the preparation of molecules with chemical, biological, and medicinal importance with greater atom economy. Recent developments in rhodium-catalyzed cycloaddition and cyclization reactions are described in this section. 

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