Cycloadditions ketene equivalents

A key transformation in Corey s prostaglandin synthesis is a Diels-Alder reaction between a 5-(alkoxymethyl)-l,3-cyclopenta-diene and a ketene equivalent such as 2-chloroacrylonitrile (16). As we have already witnessed in Scheme 3, it is possible to bring about a smooth [4+2] cycloaddition reaction between 5-substituted cyclopentadiene 15 and 2-chloroacrylonitrile (16) to give racemic 14 as a mixture of epimeric chloronitriles. Under these conditions, the diastereomeric chloronitriles are both produced in racemic form because one enantiotopic face of dienophile 16 will participate in a Diels-Alder reaction with the same facility as the other enantiotopic face. In subsequent work, Corey s group demonstrated that racemic hydroxy acid 11, derived in three steps from racemic 14 (see Scheme 3), could be resolved in a classical fashion with (+)-ephe-... 

Notice that the a-acetoxyacrylonitrile is in fact a "ketene equivalent" [30] in the Diels-Alder condensation with furan, since ketene itself undergoes [2 + 21-cycloadditions rather than [4 + 2] cycloadditions. 

Another example of the use of the [5-1-2] cycloaddition as a strategy-level reaction is provided in the total synthesis of (-i-)-aphanamol I (138) [41], isolated in 1984 as a minor toxic principle of Aphanamhcis grandifolia. This target presents an array of synthetic challenges that are addressed quite effectively using the allenyl [5-1-2] cycloaddition. In this case, the allenyl unit ultimately functions as a ketene equivalent in the... 

Ketene acetals and thioacetals can be used as ketene equivalents in cyclobutanone synthesis in situations where ketene to alkene cycloadditions are inefficient such as in the case of electron-deficient alkenes.14 Although thermal cycloadditions of ketene acetals and thioacetals with electron-deficient alkenes have been observed (see Section 1,3.2.1.), such cycloadditions proceed more efficiently and under milder conditions with metal catalysts. Efficient cycloadditions between ketene dimethyl acetal and alkenes substituted by a single electron-withdrawing group have been reported.15... 

Ketene thioacetals can also be used as ketene equivalents in the preparation of cyclobutanones and cyclobutanes. Boron trifluoride catalyzes the [2 + 2] cycloaddition of 2-[(l-pyrro-lidinyl)mcthylene]-1,3-dithiane (39) with dimethyl maleate (40).17 Although the cycloadduct is obtained in good yield, stereochemical integrity is not maintained and the thermodynamically most stable isomer predominates. 

Ketene equivalents have found widespread use as partners in Diels-Alder reactions for the construction of cyclic, fused, and bridged unsaturated ketones. However, ketene equivalents based on simple vinyl sulfoxides are poor dienophiles and show low levels of diastereocontrol. Recently, Aggarwal and colleagues reported that (l/ ,3/ )-2-methylene-l,3-dithiolane 1,3-dioxide (187) was a highly reactive and highly selective chiral ketene equivalent.116 Diels-Alder cycloaddition of this... 

Nitroethylene undergoes rapid cycloaddition to 1,3-dienes subsequent conversion of the nitro to a carbonyl group, e.g. (1) (2) -+ (3), exemplifies its application as a dienophilic ketene equivalent (Scheme... 

Cycloadditions of ketenes with alkenes and alkynes constitute the most popular method for the synthesis of cyclobutanones and cyclobutenones. Unfoitunately, however, this process is truly general only for highly nucleophilic ketenophiles such as conjugated dienes and enol ethers. In general, unactivated alkenes and alkynes fail to react in good yield with either alkyl- or aryl-substituted ketenes, or with ketene itself To circumvent this limitation, dichloroketene is usually employed as a ketene equivalent, since this electrophilic ketene reacts well with many types of unactivated multiple bonds, and the resultant cycloadducts undergo facile dechlorination under mild conditions. ... 

Cycloadditions. With Et2A10Et present, a-chloroalkenyl acetates react with carhonyl compounds and imines to furnish 3-lactones and 3-lactams, respectively. The ketene equivalent also combines with oximes to give 5-isoxazolidones. ... 

Isoindolines and isoquinolines a,co-Diynes in which the connecting chains contain a nitrogen atom undergo [2+2+2]-cycloaddition with ketene equivalents derived from the carbene complexes. After the formation of a benzene ring, the products are isoindoline or isoquinoline derivatives. 

Nitroethene and vinyl sulfoxides have also been employed as ketene equivalents. Nitroethene is an excellent dienophile and oxidation of the initial nitro-adduct gives the corresponding ketone. However, the thermal instability of nitroethene limits its appUcation to cycloadditions with reactive dienes. An attractive feature of vinyl sulfoxides as ketene equivalents is that they can be obtained in optically active form because of the chirality of the sulfoxide group, thus allowing enan-tioselective Diels-Alder reactions. Cycloaddition of p-tolyl vinyl sulfoxide with cyclopentadiene requires heat and gives a mixture of all four (two exo and two... 

But what do we do if we want the product of a ketene [4 + 2] cycloaddition We must use a compound that is not a ketene but that can be transformed into a ketone afterwards—a masked ketene or a ketene equivalent. The two most important types are nitroalkenes and compounds such as the cyanohydrin ester in the second example. 

Williams has demonstrated the use of 1-phenylsulfinyl-l-trimethylsilylethene (164) and phenyl vinyl sulfoxide as effective ketene equivalents for the Diels-Alder reaction [142,143], important as it is known that ketenes do not undergo satisfactory [4+2] cycloadditions. The initial cycloadduct (165), derived from the Diels-Alder reaction between 1-phenylsulfinyl-l-trimethylsilylethene (164) and cyclopentadiene, undergoes a facile sila-Pummerer rearrangement to give the thioacetal (166), which yields the product (167) upon hydrolysis (Scheme 5.55) [142]. 

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