Ethers, vinyl 2 + 2 cycloaddition reactions

Vinyl ethers undergo many cycloaddition reactions similar to those which take place with enamines. In general, however, these cycloaddition reactions with vinyl ethers take place less readily than those with enamines. These reactions include cycloaddition of vinyl ethers with ketene (200-205), phenyl isocyanate (206), sulfene (207,208), methyl acrylate (209), diethyl acetylenedicarboxylate (210), and diphenylnitrilimine (183). 

The stereochemistry of the product formed in the cycloaddition reaction depends on the approach of the substrate. There are two different approaches by which the reaction can proceed - endo and exo. For the reaction of e.g., a / , y-un-saturated a-keto ester with an ethyl vinyl ether there are four possible approaches... 

The chiral BOX-copper(ll) complexes, (S)-21a and (l )-21b (X=OTf, SbFg), were found by Evans et al. to catalyze the enantioselective cycloaddition reactions of the a,/ -unsaturated acyl phosphonates 49 with ethyl vinyl ether 46a and the cyclic enol ethers 50 giving the cycloaddition products 51 and 52, respectively, in very high yields and ee as outlined in Scheme 4.33 [38b]. It is notable that the acyclic and cyclic enol ethers react highly stereoselectively and that the same enantiomer is formed using (S)-21a and (J )-21b as the catalyst. It is, furthermore, of practical importance that the cycloaddition reaction can proceed in the presence of only 0.2 mol% (J )-21a (X=SbF6) with minimal reduction in the yield of the cycloaddition product and no loss of enantioselectivity (93% ee). 

More recently, further developments have shown that the reaction outlined in Scheme 4.33 can also proceed for other alkenes, such as silyl-enol ethers of acetophenone [48 b], which gives the endo diastereomer in up to 99% ee. It was also shown that / -ethyl-/ -methyl-substituted acyl phosphonate also can undergo a dia-stereo- and enantioselective cycloaddition reaction with ethyl vinyl ether catalyzed by the chiral Ph-BOX-copper(ll) catalyst. The preparative use of the cycloaddition reaction was demonstrated by performing reactions on the gram scale and showing that no special measures are required for the reaction and that the dihydro-pyrans can be obtained in high yield and with very high diastereo- and enantioselective excess. 

Our development of the catalytic enantioselective inverse electron-demand cycloaddition reaction [49], which was followed by related papers by Evans et al. [38, 48], focused in the initial phase on the reaction of mainly / , y-unsaturated a-keto esters 53 with ethyl vinyl ether 46a and 2,3-dihydrofuran 50a (Scheme 4.34). 

In a more recent work the same research group has applied cyclic and acyclic vinyl ethers in the oxazaborolidinone-catalyzed 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction with nitrones [30]. The reaction between nitrone 5 and 2,3-dihydrofuran 6 with 20 mol% of the phenyl glycine-derived catalyst 3c, gave the product 7 in 56% yield as the sole diastereomer, however, with a low ee of 38% (Scheme 6.9). 

In an analogous study by Meske, the impact of various oxazaborolidinone catalysts for the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions between acyclic nitrones and vinyl ethers was studied [31]. Both the diastereo- and the enantioselectivities obtained in this work were low. The highest enantioselectivity was obtained by the application of 100 mol% of the tert-butyl-substituted oxazaborolidinone catalyst 3d [27, 32] in the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction between nitrone la and ethyl vinyl ether 8a giving endo-9a and exo-9a in 42% and 27% isolated yield, respectively, with up to 20% ee for endo-9a as the best result (Scheme 6.10). 

The above described reaction has been extended to the application of the AlMe-BINOL catalyst to reactions of acyclic nitrones. A series chiral AlMe-3,3 -diaryl-BINOL complexes llb-f was investigated as catalysts for the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction between the cyclic nitrone 14a and ethyl vinyl ether 8a [34], Surprisingly, these catalysts were not sufficiently selective for the reactions of cyclic nitrones with ethyl vinyl ether. Use of the tetramethoxy-substituted derivative llg as the catalyst for the reaction significantly improved the results (Scheme 6.14). In the presence of 10 mol% llg the reaction proceeded in a mixture of CH2CI2 and petroleum ether to give the product 15a in 79% isolated yield. The diastereoselectiv-ity was the same as in the acyclic case giving an excellent ratio of exo-15a and endo-15a of >95 <5, and exo-15a was obtained with up to 82% ee. 

The reactions of nitrones constitute the absolute majority of metal-catalyzed asymmetric 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions. Boron, aluminum, titanium, copper and palladium catalysts have been tested for the inverse electron-demand 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction of nitrones with electron-rich alkenes. Fair enantioselectivities of up to 79% ee were obtained with oxazaborolidinone catalysts. However, the AlMe-3,3 -Ar-BINOL complexes proved to be superior for reactions of both acyclic and cyclic nitrones and more than >99% ee was obtained in some reactions. The Cu(OTf)2-BOX catalyst was efficient for reactions of the glyoxylate-derived nitrones with vinyl ethers and enantioselectivities of up to 93% ee were obtained. 

The Lewis acid-catalyzed reaction of nitrone 21 with ethyl vinyl ether 22 (Scheme 8.8) was also investigated for BH3 and AlMe3 coordinated to 21 [32]. The presence of BH3 decreases the activation energy for the formation of 23 by 3.1 and 4.5 kcal mol to 9.6 kcal mol for the exoselective reaction and 11.6 kcal-mol for the endo-selective reaction, respectively, while the activation energy for the formation of 24 increases by >1.4 kcal mol , compared to those for the uncatalyzed reaction. The transition-state structure for the BH3-exo-selective 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction of nitrone 21 with ethyl vinyl ether 22 is shown in Fig. 8.19. 

Fig. 8.19 The calculated transition-state structure for the BH3-exo-selective 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction of nitrone 21 with ethyl vinyl ether 22 [32 ...

Stabilised sulphur ylides react with alkenylcarbene complexes to form a mixture of different products depending on the reaction conditions. However, at -40 °C the reaction results in the formation of almost equimolecular amounts of vinyl ethers and diastereomeric cyclopropane derivatives. These cyclopropane products are derived from a formal [2C+1S] cycloaddition reaction and the mechanism that explains its formation implies an initial 1,4-addition to form a zwitterionic intermediate followed by cyclisation. Oxidation of the formed complex renders the final products [30] (Scheme 8). 

The dimerization of the parent ketene gives the P-lactone. One molecule of ketene reacts across the C=C bond as a donor and the other molecule reacts across the C=0 bond as an acceptor. This is similar to the concerted [2+2] cycloaddition reaction between bis(trifluoromethyl)ketene and ethyl vinyl ether to afford the oxetane (Scheme 26) [127], A lone pair on the carbonyl oxygen in the ketene molecule as a donor activates the C=C bond as the alkoxy group in vinyl ether. 

The [4+2] cycloaddition reaction of N-atylaldimines with vinyl ethers is effectively catalyzed by ytterbium(III) triflate to give quinoline derivatives (e.g., 50) in good yield <95S801>. 

Both ( )-l-phenylsulfonyl and (5)-(+)-3-p-tolylsulfmyl -alk-3-en-2-ones can exhibit high diastereoselectivity in their reactions with vinyl ethers and styrenes, with the dienophile having a dominant influence on the stereochemical outcome <96T1205,96TL3687>. Indol-2-ylideneacetic acid esters can act as both dienophile and heterodiene in cycloaddition reactions in the latter case pyrano[3,2-h]indoles are formed <96SYN519>. 

The reactivity of the prototype o-QM as heterodiene in Diels-Alder cycloaddition reactions with several substituted alkenes such as methyl vinyl ether (MVE), styrene,... 

Nitrooxazoles and 4-nitroisoxazoles 480 are versatile substrates for domino cycloaddition reactions with ethyl vinyl ether 481 to form the tricyclic nitroso acetals 482 and 483 (Equation 129) <1999T13809, 2001T4237>. 

The scope and efficiency of [4+2] cycloaddition reactions used for the synthesis of pyridines continue to improve. Recently, the collection of dienes participating in aza-Diels Alder reactions has expanded to include 3-phosphinyl-l-aza-l,3-butadienes, 3-azatrienes, and l,3-bis(trimethylsiloxy)buta-l, 3-dienes (1,3-bis silyl enol ethers), which form phosphorylated, vinyl-substituted, and 2-(arylsulfonyl)-4-hydroxypyridines, respectively <06T1095 06T7661 06S2551>. In addition, efforts to improve the synthetic efficiency have been notable, as illustrated with the use of microwave technology. As shown below, a synthesis of highly functionalized pyridine 14 from 3-siloxy-l-aza-1,3-butadiene 15 (conveniently prepared from p-keto oxime 16) and electron-deficient acetylenes utilizes microwave irradiation to reduce reaction times and improve yields <06T5454>. 

It was found that 2-propenyloxymagnesium bromide reacts much more readily with nitrile oxides than other known dipolarophiles of electron-deficient, electron-rich, and strained types, including 3-buten-2-one, ethyl vinyl ether, and norbomene, respectively (147). Therefore, this BrMg-alkoxide is highly effective in various nitrile oxide cycloaddition reactions, including those of nitrile oxide/Lewis acid complexes. 

However, most asymmetric 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions of nitrile oxides with alkenes are carried out without Lewis acids as catalysts using either chiral alkenes or chiral auxiliary compounds (with achiral alkenes). Diverse chiral alkenes are in use, such as camphor-derived chiral N-acryloylhydrazide (195), C2-symmetric l,3-diacryloyl-2,2-dimethyl-4,5-diphenylimidazolidine, chiral 3-acryloyl-2,2-dimethyl-4-phenyloxazolidine (196, 197), sugar-based ethenyl ethers (198), acrylic esters (199, 200), C-bonded vinyl-substituted sugar (201), chirally modified vinylboronic ester derived from D-( + )-mannitol (202), (l/ )-menthyl vinyl ether (203), chiral derivatives of vinylacetic acid (204), ( )-l-ethoxy-3-fluoroalkyl-3-hydroxy-4-(4-methylphenylsulfinyl)but-1 -enes (205), enantiopure Y-oxygenated-a,P-unsaturated phenyl sulfones (206), chiral (a-oxyallyl)silanes (207), and (S )-but-3-ene-1,2-diol derivatives (208). As a chiral auxiliary, diisopropyl (i ,i )-tartrate (209, 210) has been very popular. 

The 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of nitrones to vinyl ethers is accelerated by Ti(IV) species. The efficiency of the catalyst depends on its complexation capacity. The use of Ti( PrO)2Cl2 favors the formation of trans cycloadducts, presumably, via an endo bidentate complex, in which the metal atom is simultaneously coordinated to the vinyl ether and to the cyclic nitrone or to the Z-isomer of the acyclic nitrones (800a). Highly diastereo- and enantioselective 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions of nitrones with alkenes, catalyzed by chiral polybi-naphtyl Lewis acids, have been developed. Isoxazolidines with up to 99% ee were obtained. The chiral polymer ligand influences the stereoselectivity to the same extent as its monomeric version, but has the advantage of easy recovery and reuse (800b). 

On the basis of available experimental data, it is impossible to choose a definite pathway of elimination of silanol. However, study of silylation of methyl P -nitropropionate (411) with BSA in the presence of trapping agents rigorously proved that silyl nitronate D is initially formed. This compound can be detected in the [3 + 2]-cycloaddition reaction with methyl acrylate product (413). If silylation of AN (411) is performed in the presence of ethyl vinyl ether, a-nitrosoalkene E can be successfully trapped in as heterodiene a Diels-Alder reaction. Dihydroox-azine (414) is formed, and its silylation affords isolable product (415). 

Jprgensen and co-workers (247) investigated the asymmetric 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction catalyzed by bis(oxazoline)-copper(II) complexes. In the presence of 25 mol% 269c, nitrone (401) reacts with ethyl vinyl ether and methoxypropene to afford the [3 + 2] adducts in modest diastereoselectivity and high enantioselectivity, Eq. 217. Ethyl vinyl ether preferentially forms the exo adduct while methoxypropene prefers the endo mode for reasons that are unclear. 

Berberinium chloride (45) also undergoes stereospecific cycloaddition reactions with vinyl ethers or cyclopentadiene. ... 

Inspired by the previous results, Leighton et al. reported the enantioselective [3 + 2] acylhydrazone-enol ether cycloaddition reaction by employing the same pseudoephedrine-based chiral silane. The pyrazohdine product was obtained in 61% yield with 6 1 dr and 77% ee in 24 h. The use of tert-butyl vinyl ether led to an improvement in both diastereoselectivity and enantioselectivity as shown in Scheme 34 [108]. 

Cycloaddition of nitrones (e.g. 166, equation 107) to alkoxyaUtenes proceeds in high yield with complete diastereoselectivity, giving 1,2-isoxazolidines of type 167. Similar reactions have been reported for vinyl ethers , vinyl acetate , enamines , vinyl imidazoles , enamides, vinyl sulfones and vinyl sulfides . Since the resultant 1,2-oxazolidines of type 167 and its analogs can be hydrolyzed under acidic conditions, this reaction may also be considered as an approach to O-unsubstituted N-alkylhydroxylamines . 

The inverse-electron demand 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition has also been pursued with other Ti(IV) complexes (364). The cycloaddition reaction of C,Al-diphenyl nitrone to ferf-butyl vinyl ether catalyzed by different bidentate C2-symmetrical ligands gave moderate to good diastereoselectivity, and up to 41% ee was achieved. 

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