Domino process/reactions

The dual nature of enamine-iminium pairs allows unique possibilities for domino processes. Reactions of enamines with electrophiles afford electrophilic iminium ions that are ready to react with another (internal or external) nucleophile. Conversely, reactions of unsaturated imininm ions with nucleophiles afford enamines. Examples of intramolecular enamtne-catalyzed domino processes are depicted in Scheme 35. In all of these reactions, both enamine and iminium mediated steps can be distinguished. 

Brandi A., Cicchi S. Domino Processes Involving Pericyclic reactions in Seminars in Organic Synthesis. 23th Summer Sch A. Corhella 1998 3, Ed. Trombini, Pb. Soc. Chim. Ital. 

The time-resolved aspect of domino processes would, however, be in agreement with cascade reactions as a third expression used for the discussed transformations. Unfortunately, the term cascade is employed in so many dilferent connections - for example, photochemical cascades, biochemical cascades or electronic cascades - on each occasion aiming at a completely dilferent aspect, that it is not appropriate moreover, it also makes the database search much more difficult Moreover, if water molecules are examined as they cascade, they are simply moving and do not change. Several additional excellent reviews on domino reactions and related topics have been published [7], to which the reader is referred. 

For clarification, individual transformations of independent functionalities in one molecule - also forming several bonds under the same reaction conditions -are not classified as domino reactions. The enantioselective total synthesis of (-)-chlorothricolide 0-4, as performed by Roush and coworkers [8], is a good example of tandem and domino processes (Scheme 0.1). I n the reaction of the acyclic substrate 0-1 in the presence of the chiral dienophile 0-2, intra- and intermolecular Diels-Alder reactions take place to give 0-3 as the main product. Unfortunately, the two reaction sites are independent from each other and the transformation cannot therefore be classified as a domino process. Nonetheless, it is a beautiful tandem reaction that allows the establishment of seven asymmetric centers in a single operation. 

The term domino process is correlated to substrates and products without taking into account that the different steps may be catalyzed by diverse catalysts or enzymes, as long as all steps can be performed under the same reaction conditions. 

Tropinone is a structural component of several alkaloids, including atropine. The synthesis is based on a double Mannich process with iminium ions as intermediates. The Mannich reaction in itself is a three-component domino process, which is one of the first domino reactions developed by humankind. 

Another beautiful example of an early domino process is the formation of daphnilactone A (0-19), as described by Heathcock and coworkers [17]. In this process the precursor 0-17 containing two hydroxymethyl groups is oxidized to give the corresponding dialdehyde, which is condensed with methylamine leading to a 2-azabutadiene. There follow a cycloaddition and an ene reaction to give the hexacycle 0-18, which is transformed into daphnilactone A (0-19) (Scheme 0.6). 

On the other hand, many reactions are known where in a first intermolecular step a functionality is introduced which than can undergo an intramolecular reaction. A nice example is the reaction of dienone 0-34 with methyl acrylate in the presence of diethylaluminum chloride to give the bridged compound 0-35 (Scheme 0-11). The first step is an intermolecular Michael addition, which is followed by an intramolecular Michael addition. This domino process is the key step of the total synthesis of valeriananoid A, as described by Hagiwara and coworkers [21]. 

A different situation exists if the single steps in a domino process follow different mechanisms. Here, it is not normally adjustment of the reaction conditions that is difficult to differentiate between similar transformations rather, it is to identify conditions that are suitable for both transformations in a time-resolved mode. Thus, when designing new domino reactions a careful adjustment of all factors is very important. 

For the reason of comparison and the development of new domino processes, we have created a classification of these transformations. As an obvious characteristic, we used the mechanism of the different bond-forming steps. In this classification, we differentiate between cationic, anionic, radical, pericyclic, photochemical, transition metal-catalyzed, oxidative or reductive, and enzymatic reactions. For this type... 

The overwhelming number of examples dealing with domino processes are those where the different steps are from the same category, such as cationic/ cationic or transition metal/transition metal-catalyzed domino processes, which we term homo domino processes . An example of the former reaction is the synthesis of progesterone (see Scheme 0.3), and for the latter the synthesis of vitamin E (Scheme 0.7). 

There are, however, also many examples of mixed domino processes , such as the synthesis of daphnilactone (see Scheme 0.6), where two anionic processes are followed by two pericydic reactions. As can be seen from the information in Table 0.1, by counting only two steps we have 64 categories, yet by including a further step the number increases to 512. However, many of these categories are not - or only scarcely - occupied. Therefore, only the first number of the different chapter correlates with our mechanistic classification. The second number only corresponds to a consecutive numbering to avoid empty chapters. Thus, for example in Chapters 4 and 6, which describe pericydic and transition metal-catalyzed reactions, respectively, the second number corresponds to the frequency of the different processes. 

In most of the hitherto known cationic domino processes another cationic process follows, representing the category of the so-called homo-domino reactions. In the last step, the final carbocation is stabilized either by the elimination of a proton or by the addition of another nucleophile, furnishing the desired product. Nonetheless, a few intriguing examples have been revealed in which a succession... 

One of the most fascinating aspects of domino reactions is the fact that the number of steps being included in one sequence is not really limited therefore, the complexity of a domino process is simply a question of imagination and skill. 

As discussed previously, West and coworkers developed a two-step domino process, which is initiated by a Nazarov reaction. This can be extended by an electrophilic substitution. Thus, reaction of 1-179 with TiCl4 led to 1-182 via the intermediate cations 1-180 and 1-181. The final product 1-183 is obtained after aqueous workup in 99% yield (Scheme 1.43) [23]. It is important to mention here that all six stereocenters were built up in a single process with complete diastereoselectivity hence, the procedure was highly efficient. 

Cationic/reductive domino processes were first described in 2003, and are consequently among the youngest domino procedures described in this book. To date, only two (albeit very useful) examples typifying a combination of a cationic reaction with a reduction procedure have been identified. 

Anionic domino processes are the most often encountered domino reactions in the chemical literature. The well-known Robinson annulation, double Michael reaction, Pictet-Spengler cyclization, reductive amination, etc., all fall into this category. The primary step in this process is the attack of either an anion (e. g., a carban-ion, an enolate, or an alkoxide) or a pseudo anion as an uncharged nucleophile (e. g., an amine, or an alcohol) onto an electrophilic center. A bond formation takes place with the creation of a new real or pseudo-anionic functionality, which can undergo further transformations. The sequence can then be terminated either by the addition of a proton or by the elimination of an X group. 

Besides the numerous examples of anionic/anionic processes, anionic/pericydic domino reactions have become increasingly important and present the second largest group of anionically induced sequences. In contrast, there are only a few examples of anionic/radical, anionic/transition metal-mediated, as well as anionic/re-ductive or anionic/oxidative domino reactions. Anionic/photochemically induced and anionic/enzyme-mediated domino sequences have not been found in the literature during the past few decades. It should be noted that, as a consequence of our definition, anionic/cationic domino processes are not listed, as already stated for cationic/anionic domino processes. Thus, these reactions would require an oxidative and reductive step, respectively, which would be discussed under oxidative or reductive processes. 

Domino transformations combining two consecutive anionic steps exist in several variants, but the majority of these reactions is initiated by a Michael addition [1]. Due to the attack of a nucleophile at the 4-position of usually an enone, a reactive enolate is formed which can easily be trapped in a second anionic reaction by, for example, another n,(5-urisalurated carbonyl compound, an aldehyde, a ketone, an inline, an ester, or an alkyl halide (Scheme 2.1). Accordingly, numerous examples of Michael/Michael, Michael/aldol, Michael/Dieckmann, as well as Michael/SN-type sequences have been found in the literature. These reactions can be considered as very reliable domino processes, and are undoubtedly of great value to today s synthetic chemist... 

Similarly, the addition of an amine to the enone moiety can initiate a domino process leading to substituted diaminocyclohexanes [34]. In this transformation an imino aldol reaction occurs. The observed stereoselectivity was again >95 5, and the yield between 51 % and 69% in all cases. 

Domino processes involving Homer-Wadsworth-Emmons (HWE) reactions constitute another important approach. Among others, HWE/Michael sequences have been employed by the group of Rapoport for the synthesis of all-cis-substituted pyrrolidines [143], and by Davis and coworkers to access new specific gly-coamidase inhibitors [144]. Likewise, arylnaphthalene lignans, namely justicidin B (2-281) and retrojusticidin B (2-282) [145], have been synthesized utilizing a domino HWE/aldol condensation protocol developed by Harrowven s group (Scheme 2.65) [146]. 

Wittig reactions have also been employed in domino processes. For example, Schobert and coworkers developed an effective addition/Wittig reaction protocol which provides access to a, 3-disubstituted tetronic acids, tetronates, as well as to five-, six- and seven-membered O-, N-, and S-heterocycles [149]. 

Ogasawara and coworkers have also published a complete series of threefold anionic domino reactions, all of which are based on an initial retro-aldol process. For instance, starting from chiral bicyclo[3.2.1]octenone 2-437, a formal total synthesis of (-)-morphine (2-445) [233] has been successfully performed (Scheme 2.103) [234]. Transformation of 2-437 into the substrate 2-488, necessary for the domino reaction, was achieved in seven linear steps. The domino process was then initiated by simply refluxing a solution of 2-438 in benzene in the presence of ethy-... 

Leaving the (retro-)aldol addition-initiated threefold anionic domino processes, we are now describing sequences which are initiated by a SN-type transformation. In particular, domino reactions based on SN/1,4-Brook rearrangement/SN reactions are well known. For example, the group of Schaumann obtained functionalized cyclopentanols of type 2-461 by addition of lithiated silyldithioacetals 2-458 to epoxy-homoallyl tosylates 2-459 in 41-75% yield (Scheme 2.106) [248]. 

The following example completes the section of threefold anionic domino processes initiated by a SN-type reaction. As discussed earlier in Section 2.2, the reaction of a five-membered cyclic phosphonium ylide with enones, a, 3-unsaturated esters, and a, 3-unsaturated thioesters provides cycloheptene or hydroazulene derivatives in a domino Michael/intramolecular Wittig reaction. This sequence... 

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