Cycloadditions Involving Nitrile Oxides

Making use of norbornenes in place of alkynes, Carell and colleagues explored the modification of DNA with a variety of oximes via the in-situ nitrile oxide-norbornene cycloaddition (Gutsmiedl et al, 2009). In this case, complete conversions were obtained at room temperature in 10-20 min, although a 10-fold excess of nitrile oxide with respect to the norbornene moieties was utilized. 

Therefore, as it stands, the nitrile oxide-alkyne cycloaddition holds promise as a mild conjugation strategy for macromolecular systems however, it still remains to be shown that efficient macromolecular-macromolecular conjugations are achievable through the use of equimolar stoichiometry of the respective reactive partners. 

---

Cycloadditions involving nitrile oxides are normally associated with the production of reduced indoxazenes (see Section II,D). However, with benzyne as the dipolarophile, 3-substituted indoxazenes may be prepared.27... 

Cycloadditions involving nitrile oxides have received only scant attention in the literature yet this year has seen exploration of the generalized reaction leading to isoxazolines, and its use during the synthesis of a natural product. The method affords high yields under mild conditions and is stereospecific (Scheme 51). A serious limitation to the use of simple aliphatic nitrile-oxides would appear to be their facile dimerization to l,2,5-oxadiazole-2-oxides. 

It is of interest to mention that DFT study performed, prior to experimental observations, revealed for Cu(I)-catalyzed cycloaddition of nitrile oxides to 1-alkynes, a stepwise mechanism involving unprecedented metalacycle intermediates, which appear to be common for a variety of dipoles (382). 

DFT studies of the intramolecular ene-like (or the so-called 1,3-dipolar ene) reaction between nitrile oxides and alkenes show that this reaction is a three-step process involving a stepwise carbenoid addition of nitrile oxide to form a bicyclic nitroso compound, followed by a retro-ene reaction of the nitrosocyclopropane intermediate. The competitive reactions, either the intramolecular [3 + 2] cycloaddition between nitrile oxides and alkenes or the intermolecular dimerization of nitrile oxides to form furoxans, can overwhelm the intramolecular 1,3-dipolar ene reaction if the tether joining the nitrile oxide and alkene is elongated, or if substituents such as trimethylsilyl are absent (425). 

A rapid access to carbocyclic nucleosides, containing a fused isoxazoline ring has been proposed, starting from cyclopentadiene. The route involves a het-ero Diels-Alder cycloaddition reaction of nitrosocarbonylbenzene followed by a 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of nitrile oxides, cleavage of the N-0 tether and transformation of the heterocyclic aminols into nucleosides via construction of purine and pyrimidine heterocycles (457). 

The synthesis of new 11-deoxyprostaglandin analogs with a cyclopentane fragment in the oo-chain, prostanoid 418, has been accomplished by a reaction sequence involving nitrile oxide generation from the nitromethyl derivative of 2-(oo-carbomethoxyhexyl)-2-cyclopenten-l-one, its 1,3-cycloaddition to cyclopenten-l-one and reductive transformations of these cycloadducts (459). Diastereoisomers of a new prostanoid precursor 419 with a 4,5,6,6a-tetrahydro-3aH-cyclopent[d isoxazole fragment in the oo-chain have been synthesized. Reduction of 419 gives novel 11-deoxyprostanoids with modified a- and oo-chains (460). 

A number of examples involving nitrile oxide cycloadditions to cyclic cis-disubstituted olefinic dipolarophiles was presented in the first edition of this treatise, notably to cyclobutene, cyclopentene, and to 2,5-dihydrofuran derivatives (15). The more recent examples discussed here also show, that the selectivity of the cycloaddition to 1,2-cis-disubstituted cyclobutenes depends on the type of substituent group present (Table 6.8 Scheme 6.41). The differences found can be explained in terms of the nonplanarity (i. e., pyramidalization) of the double bond in the transition state (15) and steric effects. In the cycloaddition to cis-3,4-diacetyl-(197) and cis-3,4-dichlorocyclobutene (198), the syn-pyramidalization of the carbon atoms of the double bond and the more facile anti deformability of the olefinic hydrogens have been invoked to rationalize the anti selectivity observed. 

Eully hydroxylated 1,4-iminopolyols have been obtained using cis-4-oxyisoxa-zolines. This synthesis involves nitrile oxide cycloaddition to furan followed by various oxidative transformations of the C2 enol ether portion of the resulting furoisoxazoline cycloadducts (21,82,293,294) (see Section 6.4.3). 

Many groups have tackled the development of catalytic asymmetric versions of nitrile oxide cycloaddition reactions using chiral Lewis acid catalysts. However, Ukaji is the first and the only chemist who has succeeded in the achievement of such processes involving nitrile oxide cycloaddition reactions. He studied reactions... 

When recent advances in the chemistry of isoxazoles were reviewed by Kochetkov and Sokolov1 in this Series in 1963 (and by Quilico2 in 1962), the main features of isoxazole chemistry had been established. Since then some important new discoveries have been made, but probably the most significant advances have concerned the exploitation of the known features of their chemistry in synthesis. Particularly noteworthy developments include the further application of the cycloaddition of nitrile oxides in the synthesis of isoxazoles (Section II,C and D), the use of isoxazolium salts in peptide synthesis (Section III,B,2), syntheses involving the products of reductive cleavage of isoxazoles as intermediates (Section III,D and E) and annelation reactions via deprotonation of alkylisoxazoles (Section 1II,E). 

All reactions leading to isoxazoles (except true concerted cycloadditions of nitrile oxides and possibly some photochemical reactions) must involve, at some stage, cyclization of a system which contains all five atoms of the... 

The Meyer reaction is generally not of rtujor synthetic significarwe. It is observed when a nitro compound is exposed to strong acid. In diis way, carboxylic acids are obtained from primary nitro compounds. The reaction is thought to involve nitrile oxides and hydroxamic acids (RCONHOH) as intermediates. The latter can be isolated by avoiding heat, and the former have been trapped by 1,3-di-polar cycloaddition to alkenes and alkynes. ... 

Acetyl- and 3-benzoylisoxazoles 389 (and isoxazolines) have been prepared by one-pot reactions of alkynes (and alkenes) with ammonium cerium(iv) nitrate (CAN(lv)) or ammonium cerium(lll) nitrate tetrahydrate (CAN(m))-formic acid, in acetone or acetophenone. These processes probably involve 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of nitrile oxides produced via nitration of the carbonyl compound by cerium salts. The existence of nitrile oxides as reaction intermediates was proved by the formation of the dimer furoxan 390 when the above reaction was carried out in absence of any dipolarophile (Scheme 95) <2004T1671>. An analogous improved procedure has been applied to alkynyl glycosides as dipolarophiles for the preparation of carbohydrate isoxazoles <2006SL1739>. 

Another route involving 1,3-dipoIar addition was next attempted (54). The key feature of this route is a cycloaddition of nitrile oxide (55) 88 with citraconate 87 (Scheme 16). Treatment of 89 prepared from 3-bromopropanol with phenyl isocyanate produced the nitrile oxide 88 which was then subjected to cycloaddition with dimethyl citraconate 87 to afford the adducts 86a and 86b as a 1 1 mixture. In this reaction, as expected, 86a, in which the less hindered oxygen is substituted at the quaternary carbon, was the major product (56). Conveniently, however, the undesired adduct 86b could be separated in the following dehydration step. These adducts were next subjected to various reduction conditions (57) in order to obtain intermediate 85 (eq.9). Unfortunately, we could not obtain any of the desired compound even under Curran s conditions (Raney-Ni (W-2), boric acid) which are mild enough to suppress undesired side reactions. All compounds produced in this reduction were retro-aldol products 90-93 probably derived from 85 or its imine form. This... 

Oxo-2-alkenylphosphonates. A synthesis of this class of apparently useful compounds involves nitrile oxide cycloaddition with allylic phosphonates, conversion of the resulting isoxazolines to the conjugated oximes, and hence to the enones. The last step is readily achieved by the use of TiCl,. 

The reactivity of activated C-C double bonds with NHC has been reviewed more specifically. This report details the umpolung reaction involving Michael acceptors, the use of carbenes in Morita-Baylis-Hillman as well as in various cycloadditions. The catalysis of alkyne cycloaddition with nitrile oxide is also covered. 

The isoxazole nucleus that could be synthesized from nitrones can also be obtained from 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of nitrile oxides. Quilico et generated benzonitrile oxides 53 from the benzhydroxamic acid chloride 52 precursor. The reaction involving MA with 52 gave, on work-up, a 77% yield of the adduct 54. 

Hie dipolar cycloaddition of nitrile oxides to terminal sugar alkenes (see VoL 23, Chapter 10, Scheme 18 Vol. 25, Chapter 2, Scheme 11) has been tqiplied to the preparation of the u-gfyeero-D-ga/ocio-configuiated isoxazolines 38 from hept-6-enose 37, and two methods for the chain-extension of primary iodides, both presumed to involve radical mechanisms, have been reported examples are given in Schemes S and 6. ... 

Numerous 1,2,4-oxadiazole derivatives have been synthesized over the last century one of the typical methods involves the cycloaddition of nitrile oxides with nitriles to form two bonds in a single step (Scheme 9.11) [40]. Although the cycloaddition reaction has been recognized to be useful for synthesizing versatile 1,2,4-oxadiazoles, the limited scope of substituents at the 3- and 5-positions is a serious problem for the reaction since the nitrile oxides used... 

Although nitrile oxide cycloadditions have been extensively investigated, cycloadditions of silyl nitronates, synthetic equivalent of nitrile oxides in their reactions with olefins, have not received similar attention. Since we found that the initial cycloadducts, hl-silyloxyisoxazolidines, are formed with high degree of stereoselectivity and can be easily transformed into isoxazolines upon treatment with acid or TBAF, intramolecular silylnitronate-olefin cycloadditions (ISOC) have emerged as a superior alternative to their corresponding INOC reactions [43]. Furthermore, adaptability of ISOC reactions to one-pot tandem sequences involving 1,4-addition and ISOC as the key steps has recently been demonstrated [44]. 

The product of the reaction in Entry 8 was used in the synthesis of the alkaloid pseudotropine. The proper stereochemical orientation of the hydroxy group is determined by the structure of the oxazoline ring formed in the cycloaddition. Entry 9 portrays the early stages of synthesis of the biologically important molecule biotin. The reaction in Entry 10 was used to establish the carbocyclic skeleton and stereochemistry of a group of toxic indolizidine alkaloids found in dart poisons from frogs. Entry 11 involves generation of a nitrile oxide. Three other stereoisomers are possible. The observed isomer corresponds to approach from the less hindered convex face of the molecule. 

The C(6)-C(15) segment was synthesized by Steps C-l and C-2. The stereoselectivity of the cycloaddition reaction between the nitrile oxide and allylic alcohol is the result of a chelated TS involving the Mg alkoxide.39... 

A potentially useful approach to the marine alkaloid papuamine based on INOC strategy is proposed as shown in Scheme 8.21. In fact, a tnms-hydrindane intermediate has been synthesized in racemic form using a model sequence of reactions involving a nitrile oxide cycloaddition as a key step (Eq. 8.69).106... 

In a related area, a novel 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition strategy involving 1,2-isopropylidene furanoside-fused oxepane derivatives and 4-0-allyl nitrone or nitrile oxide species to give chiral oxepinopyran and oxepinooxepane systems has been described <00TL10135>. 

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). 

The stereoselective synthesis of the 12-acetoxy enone 428, related to the limonoid azadiradione, has been achieved in 12 steps (16% overall yield), starting from tricyclic diester 429. The key steps involve an intramolecular 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of a nitrile oxide and a Stille coupling reaction of vinyl iodide with stannylfuran (469). 

An expedient and fully stereocontrolled synthesis of epothilones A (435, R = H) and B (435, R = Me) has been realized (473, 474). The routes described, involve an extensive study of nitrile oxide cycloadditions, as substitutes for aldol addition reactions, leading to the realization of a highly convergent synthesis, based on the Kanemasa hydroxyl-directed nitrile oxide cycloaddition. 

An efficient synthetic route to (10Z)- and (10 )-19-lluoro-la,25-dihydroxy vitamin D3 has been developed (488). The key feature of this pathway is the introduction of a 19-fluoromethylene group to a (5 )-19-nor-10-oxo-vitamin D derivative. The 10-oxo compound 445 has been obtained via a 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction of (5 )-la,25-dihydroxyvitamin D with in situ generated nitrile oxide, followed by ring cleavage of the formed isoxazoline moiety with molybdenum hexacarbonyl. Conversion of the keto group of (5 )-19-nor-10-oxo-vitamin D to the E and Z fluoromethylene group has been achieved via a two-step sequence, involving a reaction of lithiofluoromethyl phenyl sulfone, followed by the reductive de-sulfonylation of the u-lluoro-j3-hydroxysulfone. The dye-sensitized photoisomerization of the (5 )-19-fluorovitamin D affords the desired (5Z)-19-fluorovitamin D derivatives, (10Z)- and (10 )-19-fluoro-la,25-dihydroxy-vitamin D3. 

---