Cyclopropanation ethyl diazoacetate

Catalytic, enantioselective cyclopropanation enjoys the unique distinction of being the first example of asymmetric catalysis with a transition metal complex. The landmark 1966 report by Nozaki et al. [1] of decomposition of ethyl diazoacetate 3 with a chiral copper (II) salicylamine complex 1 (Scheme 3.1) in the presence of styrene gave birth to a field of endeavor which still today represents one of the major enterprises in chemistry. In view of the enormous growth in the field of asymmetric catalysis over the past four decades, it is somewhat ironic that significant advances in cyclopropanation have only emerged in the past ten years. 

Incorporation of the phenethyl moiety into a carbocyclic ring was at first sight compatible with amphetamine-like activity. Clinical experience with one of these agents, tranylcypromine (79), revealed the interesting fact that this drug in fact possessed considerable activity as a monamine oxidase inhibitor and as such was useful in the treatment of depression. Decomposition of ethyl diazoacetate in the presence of styrene affords a mixture of cyclopropanes in which the trans isomer predominates. Saponification gives acid 77. Conversion to the acid chloride followed by treatment with sodium azide leads to the isocyanate, 78, via Curtius rearrangement. Saponification of 78 affords tranylcypromine (79). 

The catalytic asymmetric cyclopropanation of an alkene, a reaction which was studied as early as 1966 by Nozaki and Noyori,63 is used in a commercial synthesis of ethyl (+)-(lS)-2,2-dimethylcyclo-propanecarboxylate (18) by the Sumitomo Chemical Company (see Scheme 5).64 In Aratani s Sumitomo Process, ethyl diazoacetate is decomposed in the presence of isobutene (16) and a catalytic amount of the dimeric chiral copper complex 17. Compound 18, produced in 92 % ee, is a key intermediate in Merck s commercial synthesis of cilastatin (19). The latter compound is a reversible... 

The most significant and widely studied reactivity of the ruthenium and osmium porphyrin carbene complexes is their role in catalyzing both the decomposition of diazoesters to produce alkenes and the cyclopropanation of alkenes by diazoesters. Ethyl diazoacetate is used to prepare the carbene complex 0s(TTP)(=CHC02Et)... 

Pyridine-based N-containing ligands have been tested in order to extend the scope of the copper-catalyzed cyclopropanation reaction of olefins. Chelucci et al. [33] have carefully examined and reviewed [34] the efficiency of a number of chiral pyridine derivatives as bidentate Hgands (mainly 2,2 -bipyridines, 2,2 6, 2 -terpyridines, phenanthrolines and aminopyridine) in the copper-catalyzed cyclopropanation of styrene by ethyl diazoacetate. The corresponding copper complexes proved to be only moderately active and enantios-elective (ee up to 32% for a C2-symmetric bipyridine). The same authors prepared other chiral ligands with nitrogen donors such as 2,2 -bipyridines 21, 5,6-dihydro-1,10-phenanthrolines 22, and 1,10-phenanthrolines 23 (see Scheme 14) [35]. 

The copper complexes of these ligands were tested in the cyclopropanation of styrene with ethyl diazoacetate (Scheme 7) and the ene reaction between a-methylstyrene and ethyl glyoxylate (Scheme 8). hi both cases moderate enantioselectivities were obtained but these were lower than those foimd with the parent hgand. 

The solids were used as catalysts in the benchmark cyclopropanation reaction between styrene and ethyl diazoacetate (Scheme 7). As far as the nature of the clay is concerned, laponite was foimd to be the best support for the catalytic complexes. The best enantioselectivity results (Table 7) were obtained with ligand 6b (69% ee in trans cyclopropanes and 64% ee in cis cyclopropanes) but the recovered solid showed a lower activity and enantioselectivity, which was attributed to partial loss of the chiral ligand from the support. In general, the use of the three chiral ligands led to enantioselectivity results that were intermediate between those obtained in homogeneous phase with CuCl2 and Cu(OTf)2 as catalyst precursors. This seemed to indicate that the sohd behaved as a counterion with an intermediate coordinating abihty to the copper centers. 

Scheme 5.2 Cyclopropanation of styrene and ethyl diazoacetate using ruthenium-NHC complexes...

The use of stoichiometric ruthenium-NHC complexes generated in situ from [Ruljd-COCKp-cymene)], an imidazohnm salt [4] or an imidizol(idin)ium-2-carboxylate [4] has been applied in the cyclopropanation of styrene 5 with ethyl diazoacetate (EDA) 6 (Scheme 5.2). No base was necessary when imidazolium-2 carboxylate were employed. The diastereoselectivity was low and the cis/trans ratio was around 50/50 (Table 5.1). Although the diastereoselectivity was moderate, the reaction was highly chemoselectivity as possible side reactions (homologation, dimerisation and metathesis) were totally or partially suppressed. 

Section B gives some examples of metal-catalyzed cyclopropanations. In Entries 7 and 8, Cu(I) salts are used as catalysts for intermolecular cyclopropanation by ethyl diazoacetate. The exo approach to norbornene is anticipated on steric grounds. In both cases, the Cu(I) salts were used at a rather high ratio to the reactants. Entry 9 illustrates use of Rh2(02CCH3)4 as the catalyst at a much lower ratio. Entry 10 involves ethyl diazopyruvate, with copper acetylacetonate as the catalyst. The stereoselectivity of this reaction was not determined. Entry 11 shows that Pd(02CCH3) is also an active catalyst for cyclopropanation by diazomethane. 

Cyclopropanation reactions involving ethyl diazoacetate and olefins proceed with high efficiency in aqueous media using Rh(II) carboxy-lates. Nishiyama s Ru(II) Py-box and Katsuki s Co(II) salen complexes that allow for highly enantioselective cyclopropanations in organic solvents can also be applied to aqueous cyclopropanations with similar results. In-situ generation of ethyl diazoacetate and cyclopropanation also proceeds efficiently (Eq. 3.33).135... 

In another reaction dendritic pyridine derivatives such as 82 or 83 were tested as co-catalysts for enantioselective cyclopropanation of styrene with ethyl diazoacetate [102]. Using catalyst 82, enantiomer ratios of up to 55 45 were obtained. However, with catalyst 83 bearing larger branches yields and selectivities did not increase. The relatively low selectivities were rationalized by the presence of a large number of different conformations that this non-rigid system may adopt. 

The same difference in regioselectivity holds for cyclopropanation with ethyl diazoacetate 25 K It is assumed that Cu(OTf)2 or Cu(BF4)2 are reduced to the Cu(I) salts by the diazo compound the ability of CuOTf to form stable complexes with olefins may then explain why, with these catalysts, cyclopropanation is governed by the steric environment around a double bond rather than by its electron-richness. 

As for cyclopropanation of alkenes with aryldiazomethanes, there seems to be only one report of a successful reaction with a group 9 transition metal catalyst Rh2(OAc)4 promotes phenylcyclopropane formation with phenyldiazomethane, but satisfactory yields are obtained only with vinyl ethers 4S) (Scheme 2). Cis- and trans-stilbene as well as benzalazine represent by-products of these reactions, and Rh2(OAc)4 has to be used in an unusually high concentration because the azine inhibits its catalytic activity. With most monosubstituted alkenes of Scheme 2, a preference for the Z-cyclopropane is observed similarly, -selectivity in cyclopropanation of cyclopentene is found. These selectivities are the exact opposite to those obtained in reactions of ethyl diazoacetate with the same olefins 45). Furthermore, they are temperature-dependent for example, the cisjtrcms ratio for l-ethoxy-2-phenylcyclopropane increases with decreasing temperature. 

Table 2. Stereoselectivities for cyclopropane formation from olefins and ethyl diazoacetate with representative copper catalysts (reproduced from reference 59, with the permission of the American Chemical Society)... 

The dominant role of copper catalysts has been challenged by the introduction of powerful group VIII metal catalysts. From a systematic screening, palladium(II) and rhodium(II) derivatives, especially the respective carboxylates62)63)64-, have emerged as catalysts of choice. In addition, rhodium and ruthenium carbonyl clusters, Rh COJjg 65> and Ru3(CO)12 e6), seem to work well. Tables 3 and 4 present a comparison of the efficiency of different catalysts in cyclopropanation reactions with ethyl diazoacetate under standardized conditions. 

Table 6. Cyclopropanation reactions with ethyl diazoacetate using equimolar amounts of alkene and diazo ester" b... 

The common by-products obtained in the transition-metal catalyzed reactions are the formal carbene dimers, diethyl maleate and diethyl fumarate. In accordance with the assumption that they owe their formation to the competition of olefin and excess diazo ester for an intermediate metal carbene, they can be widely suppressed by keeping the actual concentration of diazo compound as low as possible. Usually, one attempts to verify this condition by slow addition of the diazo compound to an excess (usually five- to tenfold) of olefin. This means that the addition rate will be crucial for the yields of cyclopropanes and carbene dimers. For example, Rh6(CO)16-catalyzed cyclopropanation of -butyl vinyl ether with ethyl diazoacetate proceeds in 69% yield when EDA is added during 30 minutes, but it increases to 87 % for a 6 h period. For styrene, the same differences were observed 65). 

Rhodium(II) pivalate has also been recommended for the cyclopropanation of vinyl halides with ethyl diazoacetate 78). As Table 8 shows, yields with this catalyst are far higher and reaction conditions milder than with copper. Failures are noted,... 

Table 8. Cyclopropanation of vinyl halides with ethyl diazoacetate in the presence of rhodium(Il) pivalate (Rhpiv) or copper...

Only a few results are available concerning competitive cyclopropanation of non-conjugated dienes. The case of 1,4-hexadiene72 (mixture of Z and E isomers) illustrates the reactivity difference between a monosubstituted and a 1,2-disubstituted double bond, whereas in limonene (24)47, a 1,1-disubstituted and a trisubstituted double bond compete for the carbenoid derived from ethyl diazoacetate. In both cases, the less substituted double bond reacts preferentially (Scheme 8). 

The preference for the less substituted double bond also determines the outcome of the copper-catalyzed cyclopropanation of isotetraline with dimethyl diazomalonate which gives 27 and its dehydrogenated relative 2883) the same behavior of the carbenoid derived from ethyl diazoacetate has been reported 84). 

Cyclopropanation of C=C bonds by carbenoids derived from diazoesters usually occurs stereospeciflcally with respect to the configuration of the olefin. This has been confirmed for cyclopropanation with copper 2S,S7,60 85), palladium 86), and rhodium catalysts S9,87>. However, cyclopropanation of c -D2-styrene with ethyl diazoacetate in the presence of a (l,2-dioximato)cobalt(II) complex occurs with considerable geometrical isomerization88). Furthermore, CuCl-catalyzed cyclopropanation of cis-2-butene with co-diazoacetophenone gives a mixture of the cis- and trans-1,2-dimethylcyclopropanes 89). 

For cyclopropanations with ethyl diazoacetate, a rather weak influence of the olefin structure has been noted 59 60, (Table 7). The preference for the sterically less crowded cyclopropane is more marked for 1,2-disubstituted than for 1,1-disubstituted olefins. The influence of steric factors becomes obvious from the fact that the ratio Z-36/E-36, obtained upon cyclopropanation of silyl enol ethers 35, parallels Knorr s 90> empirical substituent parameter A.d of the group R 60). These ZjE ratios, however, do not represent the thermodynamic equilibrium of both diastereomers. 

It has been pointed out earlier that the anti/syn ratio of ethyl bicyclo[4.1,0]heptane-7-carboxylate, which arises from cyclohexene and ethyl diazoacetate, in the presence of Cul P(OMe)3 depends on the concentration of the catalyst57). Doyle reported, however, that for most combinations of alkene and catalyst (see Tables 2 and 7) neither concentration of the catalyst (G.5-4.0 mol- %) nor the rate of addition of the diazo ester nor the molar ratio of olefin to diazo ester affected the stereoselectivity. Thus, cyclopropanation of cyclohexene in the presence of copper catalysts seems to be a particular case, and it has been stated that the most appreciable variations of the anti/syn ratio occur in the presence of air, when allylic oxidation of cyclohexene becomes a competing process S9). As the yields for cyclohexene cyclopropanation with copper catalysts [except Cu(OTf)2] are low (Table 2), such variations in stereoselectivity are not very significant in terms of absolute yields anyway. 

Metal complexes of tetra-4-ferf-butylphthalocyanine [PcM, M = Mn(III)OAc, Cu(II), Co(II), Ni(II), Fe(II) (C5H5N)2, Rh(III)Cl] have also been tested for their stereoselective potential in the cyclopropanation of styrene with ethyl diazoacetate 101K The Co(II) and Rh(I) complexes, already highly active at room temperature, produced the 2-phenylcyclopropanecarboxylic esters in a E Z isomer ratio of 1.0-1.2 which compares well with the value obtained with the rhodium(III) porphyrin 47 a (1.2). In the other cases, E.Z ratios of 2.0-2.2 were observed, except for M = Fe(II) (C5HsN)2 where it was (3.0) the E.Z ratio of the purely thermal reaction was 2.0. 

Diverging results have been reported for the carbenoid reaction between alkyl diazoacetates and silyl enol ethers 49a-c. Whereas Reissig and coworkers 60) observed successful cyclopropanation with methyl diazoacetate/Cu(acac)2, Le Goaller and Pierre, in a note without experimental details u8), reported the isolation of 4-oxo-carboxylic esters for the copper-catalyzed decomposition of ethyl diazoacetate. According to this communication, both cyclopropane and ring-opened y-keto ester are obtained from 49 c but the cyclopropane suffers ring-opening under the reaction conditions. 

---