Knoevenagel/hetero-Diels-Alder sequence

An interesting entry to functionalized dihydropyrans has been intensively studied by Tietze in the 1990s using a three-component domino-Knoevenagel Hetero-Diels-Alder sequence. The overall transformation involves the transient formation of an activated heterodienophile by condensation of simple aldehydes with 1,3-dicarbonyls such as barbituric acids [127], Meldrum s acid [128], or activated carbonyls. In situ cycloaddition with electron-rich alkenes furnished the expected functionalized dihydropyrans. Two recent examples concern the reactivity of 1,4-benzoquinones and pyrazolones as 1,3-dicarbonyl equivalents under microwave irradiation. In the first case, a new three-component catalyst-free efficient one-pot transformation was proposed for the synthesis of pyrano-1,4-benzoquinone scaffolds [129]. In this synthetic method, 2,5-dihydroxy-3-undecyl-1,4-benzoquinone, paraformaldehyde, and alkenes were suspended in ethanol and placed under microwave irradiations to lead regioselectively the corresponding pyrano-l,4-benzoquinone derivatives (Scheme 38). The total regioselectivity was... 

In this transformation two new C-C-rr-bonds are formed from three different components. The enantioselectivity of this reaction is generally low (< 5%). With cyclic ketones the corresponding products were obtained as single diastereomers. It is proposed that this reaction involves a Knoevenagel-hetero-Diels-Alder sequence where proline utilizes both iminium and enamine catalysis (Scheme 9.20). 

Snider et al. have synthesised the antiinsectan ( )-leporin [496] 7-26 using the domino-Knoevenagel-hetero Diels-Alder sequence. The intermediate 1-oxa-1,3-butadiene 7-25 was formed in situ by condensation of the pyridone 7-23 and the dienal 7-24. Subsequently, a hetero Diels-Alder reaction occurred accompanied by minor side reactions. Thus, the desired cycloadduct 7-27 was formed only in moderate yield as 5 1 mixture with its trans-fused diastereomer (Fig. 7-6). Functionalisation of the nitrogen atom yielded the natural product. A similar reaction sequence occurred in the synthesis of the structurally related free radical scavenger ( )-pyridoxatin, however, in this approach the hetero Diels-Alder reaction represented only a side reaction competing with the desired intramolecular ene reaction [497]. 

Scheme 3. Tietze s biomimetic synthesis of the alkaloid hirsutine (20) through a domino Knoevenagel/ hetero-Diels-Alder sequence.

G. Frapper, C. Bachmann, Y. Gu, R. Coval De Sousa, F. Jerome, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 2011, 13, 628-636. Mechanisms of the Knoevenagel hetero Diels-Alder sequence in multicomponent reactions to dihydropyrans experimental and theoretical investigations into the role of water. 

The tandem Knoevenagel-Diels-Alder sequence is well known, and has been extensively studied by Tietze and others. The Knoevenagel products have been shown to be active as dienophiles in normal-electron-demand Diels-Alder reactions, as well as heterodienes in inverse-electron-demand hetero-Diels-Alder reactions. One of the most elegant examples of a tandem Knoevenagel-hetero-Diels—Alder sequence is Tietze s synthesis of hirsutine 76. In this sequence, a mixture of aldehyde 70, Meldrum s acid 71, enol ether 73 (a mixture of isomers) and a catalytic amount of ethylenediamine diacetate were sonicated in Benzene for 12 h at 60 °C. This effected a cascade sequence that began with Knoevenagel condensation to form the heterodiene 72, followed by intermolecular hetero-Diels-Alder reaction with enol ether 73 to lead to 74, which underwent in situ hydrolysis and decarboxylation to yield intermediate 75 in 84% yield. 

In recent years, many novel MCRs - including Michael addition-initiated three-component domino sequences [10], Knoevenagel/hetero-Diels-Alder-based MCRs [11], radical chain MCRs [12], transition metal-catalyzed Pauson-Khand MCRs [13], as well as Petasis MCRs [14], have been added to the chemisf s armamentarium and successfully applied to all fields of organic synthesis. 

Scheme 10.32. General scheme for multicomponent domino Knoevenagel/hetero-Diels-Alder hydrogenation sequence.

What is described as a domino Knoevenagel-hetero-Diels-Alder reaction , involving the reaction of the glucose-derived aldehyde 93 with a 1,3-dicarbonyl compound in presence of either proline or ethylenediammonium acetate, leads to the doubly annulated 5 6 6-fused compound 94 (Scheme 30) <2004S1150>. If the dicarbonyl compound is Meldmm s acid, however, the sequence is completed by spontaneous elimination of acetone and carbon dioxide from the Diels-Alder adduct, to give compound 95 <2005ASC1353>. 

A novel one-pot synthesis of various fused lactones has been achieved via a domino sequence of Knoevenagel/ hetero-Diels-Alder/elimination reactions of N- and 0-prenyl aryl aldehyde derivatives with Meldrum s acid in the presence of D- or L-proline with high diastereoselectivity (Scheme 68) <2005MI1353>. 

Fig. 5.5. Products of the multicomponent domino-Knoevenagel-hetero-Diels-Alder-hydrogenation sequence with a, fi- and y-amino aldehydes with different 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds.

Tetrahydroalstonine 7-7, a heteroyohimboid alkaloid, has been synthesised in enantiopure form by Martin et al. by means of an oxa Diels-Alder reaction as key step. The trienic precursor 7-5 underwent a thermal intramolecular cycloaddition to form a 5 1 mixture of 7-6 and its 15/J-epimer. The main cycloadduct was then subjected to a straightforward sequence to yield the natural product 7-7 (Fig. 7-2) [483-485]. In earlier work, Ogasawara et al. have employed a con-ceptionally different domino Knoevenagel-hetero Diels-Alder approach to this alkaloid and other natural products [486-488]. 

The following example is a sequence consisting of a Knoevenagel condensation and a subsequent hetero-Diels-Alder reaction. An aromatic... 

Deoxyloganin (24) has previously been synthesized by Tietze and coworkers, utilizing an intramolecular hetero-Diels-Alder reaction to construct the iridoid core (Scheme 10). The synthesis commenced with conversion of (5)-citronellal (47) to enol ether 48 in seven steps. Knoevenagel condensation of the aldehyde with Meldrum s acid, followed by in situ intramolecular hetero-Diels-Alder reaction afforded pyran 49, with all the carbons required for the natural product core installed. Conversion of 49a, via methanolysis and a reduction/elimination sequence, to lactol acetate 50, was achieved in four steps. Finally, glycosylation and deprotection provided the natural product in a total of 14 steps. 

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