Directed ortho metalation sequence

In a sequence that proceeds by tandem directed ortho metalation steps (Scheme 133) the N,N-diethyl isonicotinamide (447a) has been converted into the chemotherapeutic alkaloid ellipticine (589) (Scheme 182) (80JA1457). Thus, in a rapid, one-pot procedure, metalation of 447a followed by condensation with N-protected indole-3-carboxaldehyde derivatives leads to the intermediates 615 which, upon second metalation and aerial oxidation affords the quinones 616 in modest to good yields. Established steps were used to convert 616, R = CH2OMe into ellipticine (589), concluding a route which complements that based on the oxazolino DMG (Scheme 175). 

Snieckus and Fu reported a new general and regiospecific synthesis of 9-phenanthrols involving direct ortho-metalation, Suzuki cross-coupling, and an LDA-mediated directed remote metalation sequence (Eq. (11)) [27]. 

The ready availability of ort/io-functionalized arylboronic acids by a direct ortho-metallation-boronation sequence (Scheme 2-45) provides a very useful synthetic link to the cross-coupling protocol. Snieckus has amply demonstrated that the sequence has considerable scope for the synthesis of unsymmetrical biaryls, heterobiaryls, and terphenyls [120]. 

V. Snieckus and co-workers developed a new carbamoyl Baker-Venkataraman rearrangement, which allowed a general synthesis of substituted 4-hydroxycoumarins in moderate to good overall yields. The intermediate arylketones were efficiently prepared from arylcarbamates via directed ortho metallation and Negishi cross coupling. The overall sequence provided a regiospecific anionic Friedel-Crafts complement for the construction of ortho-acyl phenols and coumarins. 

The synthesis of hippadine (44) and ungeremine (48) was performed by a combination of the directed ortho metallation and the modified Suzuki cross coupling reactions 134) (Scheme 15). (7-Bromo-5-mesyloxy)indoline reacted with (6-formyl-3,4-methylenedioxy)benzeneboronic acid under the modified Suzuki reaction conditions to give the pyrrolophenanthridone ring system 128, which was reduced with sodium bis(2-methoxyethoxy)alumi-num hydride (SMEAH) in boiling toluene to produce ungeremine (48) in 54% yield. Also, starting with 7-iodoindoline, a similar reaction sequence afforded anhydrolycorin-7-one (119), which was transformed to hippadine (44) in 90% yield by oxidation with DDQ. 

The palladium-catalyzed formation of diarylamines has been used in several contexts to form molecules with biological relevance. The ability to prepare haloarenes selectively by an ortho-metallation halogenation sequence allows for the selective delivery of an amino group to a substituted aromatic structure. Snieckus has used directed metallation to form aryl halides that were subsequently reacted with anilines to prepare diarylamines (Eq. 34)) [156]. Frost and Mendon a have reported an iterative strategy to prepare (by palladium-catalyzed chemistry) amides and sulfonamides that may act as peptidomimetics. Diarylamine units are constructed using the DPPF-ligated palladium catalysts, and the products are then acylated or sulfo-nated with 4-bromo benzoyl or arylsulfonyl chlorides [157]. 

The starting point for the metallation sequence was /7-chlorophenol, whose directing power was first maximised by conversion to the carbamate 3. Ortholithiation and reaction with N,N-diethylcarbamoyl chloride gave the amide 4. The second ortho carbonyl substituent was then introduced simply by allowing the lithiated carbamate 5 to undergo an anionic ortho-Fries rearrangement to the bis-amide 6. The phenol was protected as its methyl ether 7. 

In a very neat reaction sequence, A-methylaziridines have been shown to be useful directing groups for ortho-metallation <05OL3749>. Reaction of 165 with s-BuLi followed by trapping with a carbonyl compound provides alcohol 167. Subsequent intramolecular aziridine ring opening provides isobenzofuran derivative 168. 

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