Cyclopropanes, diastereoselectivity

In 1963, Dauben and Berezin published the first systematic study of this syn directing effect (Scheme 3.15) [37]. They found that the cyclopropanation of 2-cyclohexen-l-ol 32 proceed in 63% yield to give the syn isomer 33 as the sole product. They observed the same high syn diastereoselectivity in a variety of cyclic allylic alcohols and methyl ethers. On the basis of these results, they reasonably conclude that there must be some type of coordinative interaction between the zinc carbenoid and the substrate. 

Alkenylcarbene complexes react with in situ-generated iodomethyllithium or dibromomethyllithium, at low temperature, to produce cydopropylcarbene complexes in a formal [2C+1S] cycloaddition reaction. This reaction is highly diastereoselective and the use of chiral alkenylcarbene complexes derived from (-)-8-phenylmenthol has allowed the enantioselective synthesis of highly interesting 1,2-disubstituted and 1,2,3-trisubstituted cyclopropane derivatives [31] (Scheme 9). As in the precedent example, this reaction is supposed to proceed through an initial 1,4-addition of the corresponding halomethyllithium derivative to the alkenylcarbene complex, followed by a spontaneous y-elimi-nation of lithium halide to produce the final cydopropylcarbene complexes. 

Attempts to increase the diastereoselectivity by a more rigid cyclopropane backbone were not successful. However, the incorporation of racemic trans-cyclopropane carboxylate 35 is completely regioselective, and both diastereomeric products 36 were isolated in a ratio of 4.1 1 [39] (Scheme 23). 

Negishi E, Tan Z (2005) Diastereoselective, Enantioselective, and Regioselective Carbo-alumination Reactions Catalyzed by Zirconocene Derivatives. 8 139-176 Netherton M, Fu GC (2005)Pa]ladium-catalyzed Cross-Coupling Reactions of Unactivated Alkyl Electrophiles with Organometallic Compounds. 14 85-108 Nicolaou KC, King NP, He Y (1998) Ring-Closing Metathesis in the Synthesis of EpothUones and Polyether Natmal Products. 1 73-104 Nishiyama H (2004) Cyclopropanation with Ruthenium Catalysts. 11 81-92 Noels A, Demonceau A, Delaude L (2004) Ruthenium Promoted Catalysed Radical Processes toward Fine Chemistry. 11 155-171... 

More recently, Carreira reported a [Fe(TPP)Cl]-catalyzed diastereoselective synthesis of trifluoromethyl-substituted cyclopropane in aqueous media [56]. The carbene precursor trifluoromethyl diazomethane is difficult to be handled, generated in situ from trifluoroethyl amine hydrochloride, and reacts with styrene in the presence of [Fe(TPP)Cl] to give the corresponding cyclopropanes in high yields and with excellent diastereoselectivities (Scheme 12). 

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. 

A NHC-Cu complex 9 has also been used in the cyclopropanation of 5 and cyclooctene 8 using EDA 6 (Scheme 5.3) [5]. Complex 9 was isolated prior to use and, as in the case of NHC-Ru complex, the cyclopropanation reaction did not display high diastereoselectivity. However, products 7 and 10 were obtained in good to excellent yields depending on the ratio between the alkenes and EDA. Improved yields were obtained when alkenes were used in six- or ten-fold excess. 

In addition, this methodology was extended to the cyclopropanation of a series of alkenes with phenyldiazomethane, giving rise to the corresponding cyclopropanes with high yields, diastereo- and enantioselectivities, as shown in Scheme 6.9. It was shown that the diastereoselectivity of these reactions was not greatly altered by the type of rhodium carboxylate catalyst that was used. 

In 2005, Doyle et al. reported an original sequence of two successive intramolecular cyclopropanations involving a bis(diazoacetates), using a sterically encumbered oxaimidazolidine carboxylate dirhodium(II) catalyst, Rh2[(45, 5)-BSPIM]4. An excellent result, depicted in Scheme 6.16, was obtained resulting from a double diastereoselection. 

In recent years, the variety of useful diazo substrates for asymmetric intramolecular cyclopropanation processes has really expanded. As another example, Charette and Wurz have reported the first example of an intramolecular cyclopropanation involving a-nitro-a-diazo carbonyl compounds.This reaction, catalysed by Rh2[(S)-DOSP]4, led to the formation of nine-membered nitrocyclopropyl lactones in good yields and enantioselectivities with extremely high diastereoselectivities (Scheme 6.17). This novel methodology constituted an efficient entry into chiral functionalised macrocyclic-fused cyclopropane oc-amino acids. 

The threo stereoisomer was the major product obtained by the synthesis in Scheme 13.14. This stereochemistry was established by the conjugate addition in Step A, where a significant (4-6 1) diastereoselectivity was observed. The C(4)-C(7) stereochemical relationship was retained through the remainder of the synthesis. The other special features of this synthesis are in Steps B and C. The mercuric acetate-mediated cyclopropane ring opening was facilitated by the alkoxy substituent.19 The reduction by NaBH4 accomplished both demercuration and reduction of the aldehyde group. 

A better diastereoselectivity with Cu-catalyzed cyclopropanation was discovered. 

A simple one-pot preparation of cA-cyclopropanes from y,8-ketoal-kenes using intramolecular alkylation under aqueous conditions was reported. Sequential treatment of y,8-keto alkenes with aqueous NBS in DMSO and then with solid KOH provides cA-cyclopropanes in good overall yields with a diastereoselective excess >99% (Eq. 6.18).38... 

A novel cyclopropanation method based on a domino l,4-addition/SN sequence has recently been described by Florio and coworkers [95]. A diastereoselective Michael reaction of lithiated aryloxiranes 2-174, obtained from 2-173, onto an a,(3-un-... 

The Davies group has described several examples of a rhodium-catalyzed decomposition of a diazo-compound followed by a [2+1] cycloaddition to give divinyl cyclopropanes, which then can undergo a Cope rearrangement. Reaction of the pyrrol derivative 6/2-51 and the diazo compound 6/2-52 led to the tropane nucleus 6/2-54 via the cyclopropane derivative 6/2-53 (Scheme 6/2.11) [201]. Using (S)-lactate and (R)-pari lolaclorie as chiral auxiliaries at the diazo compound, a diastereoselectivity of around 90 10 could be achieved in both cases. 

Intermolecular cyclopropanation of olefins poses two stereochemical problems enantioface selection and diastereoselection (trans-cis selection). In general, for stereochemical reasons, the formation of /ra ,v-cyclopropane is kinetically more favored than that of cis-cyclopropane, and the asymmetric cyclopropanation so far developed is mostly /ram-selective, except for a few examples. Copper, rhodium, ruthenium, and cobalt complexes have mainly been used as the catalysts for asymmetric intermolecular cyclopropanation. 

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