Knoevenagel reactions, domino

A more recent application of the Knoevenagel reaction is its use in domino reactions. The term domino reaction is used for two or more subsequent transformations, where the next reaction step is based on the functionality generated in the preceding step. Such reactions are also called tandem reactions or cascade reactions. 

Besides the domino Michael/SN processes, domino Michael/Knoevenagel reactions have also been used. Thus, Obrecht, Filippone and Santeusanio employed this type of process for the assembly of highly substituted thiophenes [102] and pyrroles [103]. Marinelli and colleagues have reported on the synthesis of various 2,4-disubstituted quinolines [104] and [l,8]naphthyridines [105] by means of a domino Michael addition/imine cyclization. Related di- and tetrahydroquinolines were prepared by a domino Michael addition/aldol condensation described by the Hamada group [106]. A recent example of a domino Michael/aldol condensation process has been reported by Brase and coworkers [107], by which substituted tetrahydroxan-thenes 2-186 were prepared from salicylic aldehydes 2-184 and cycloenones 2-185 (Scheme 2.43). 

So far, only those domino Knoevenagel/hetero-Diels-Alder reactions have been discussed where the cycloaddition takes place at an intramolecular mode however, the reaction can also be performed as a three-component transformation by applying an intermolecular Diels-Alder reaction. In this process again as the first step a Knoevenagel reaction of an aldehyde or a ketone with a 1,3-dicarbonyl compound occurs. However, the second step is now an intermolecular hetero-Diels-Alder reaction of the formed 1 -oxa-1,3 -butadiene with a dienophile in the reaction mixture. The scope of this type of reaction, and especially the possibility of obtaining highly diversified molecules, is even higher than in the case of the two-component transformation. The stereoselectivity of the cycloaddition step is found to be less pronounced, however. 

This three-component reaction as the key step of this synthesis is called a domino-Knoevenagel-hetero-Diels-Alder reaction. Domino reactions are defined as processes of two or more bond forming reactions in which a subsequent transformation takes place by virtue of the functionalities introduced in a former transformation.2,16 The tetrahydrocarbolinaldehyde 11 first reacts in a Knoevenagel type condensation with Meldrum s acid 14 and ethyleneammonium diacetate 41 as the catalyst to oxabutadiene 44 which then undergoes a Diels-Alder reaction with enol ether 13. 

The ability of L-Pro to promote the Knoevenagel reaction has been harnessed in domino reaction sequences for the preparation of important target products. Several bicyclic and polycyclic systems have been obtained by these means. As an example, coumarines were prepared by the one-pot condensation reaction of o-hydroxybenzaldehydes with active methylene compounds (Scheme 2.8). In a related procedure, flavanones were synthesised from aromatic (3-ketoesters and aldehydes (Scheme 2.8). The domino sequence comprises in this case, a proline-catalysed Knoevenagel condensation and an intramolecular Michael addition. 

Scheme 8.22 Domino reaction involving Michael/Knoevenagel reaction sequence.

An early example of an asymmetric domino Michael/Knoevenagel reaction was reported by Jorgensen et al. [167] in 2006, providing the synthesis of chiral cyclohexenones from the reaction of tert-butyl 3-oxobutyrate and a, 3-unsaturated aldehydes catalyzed by chiral diphenylprolinol silyl ether derivative. Soon after, the... 

In 2009, Hayashi et al. reported a novel asymmetric domino Michael-Knoevenagel reaction catalysed by silylated biphenylprolinol occurring between an a,(3-unsaturated aldehyde and dimethyl 3-oxopentanedioate, affording the corresponding chiral substituted cyclohexenone derivatives, which were further converted into the corresponding alcohols as single dia-stereomers by treatment with NaBH4 with excellent enantioselectivities of up to 99% ee (Scheme 1.39). °... 

A closely related methodology was applied by Zhao et al. to the enantio-selective synthesis of tetrasubstituted thiochromanes on the basis of a domino thia-Michael-Knoevenagel reaction between 2-mercaptobenzaldehydes and benzylidenemalonates with the same quinine thiourea catalyst. Steric and electron effects were found to affect profoundly the stereoselectivities of the reaction. Thus, it was shown that the diastereoselectivity of the reaction... 

A large number of aldehydes and structurally different CH-acidic methylene compounds can be employed in such a domino-Knoevenagel + hetero-Diels-Alder reaction. 

Domino Knoevenagel hefero-Diels-Alder reactions [7]... 

Tietze L. F. Domino-Reactions the Tandem-Knoevenagel-Hetero-Diels-Alder Reaction and Its Application in Natural Product Synthesis J. Heterocycl. Chem. 1990 27 47-69... 

The domino reaction consists of a Knoevenagel condensation giving an intermediate which immediately undergoes an intramolecular hetero-Diels-Alder reaction with inverse electron demand [18]. 

Peer-reviewed journals [18] sections in review [89]. A Knoevenagel condensation is described imder 4.8.2 Cycloadditions - The Diels-Alder Reaction, since both reactions were performed combined in a domino-type process. 

Scheme 2.70. Asymetric domino Knoevenagel/Michael addition reaction.

Scheme 2.163. The domino Knoevenagel/hetero-Diels-Alder reaction.

The domino Knoevenagel/hetero-Diels-Alder reaction is a prominent example of the great advantage of domino processes as it not only allows the efficient synthesis of complex compounds such as natural products starting from simple substrates, but also permits the preparation of highly diversified molecules. Due to the vast number of reports that have been made, only a few recent publications can be discussed here, although several excellent reviews on this topic have been produced that provide a more detailed insight into this useful method [372]. 

As the name implies, the first step of this domino process consists of a Knoevenagel condensation of an aldehyde or a ketone 2-742 with a 1,3-dicarbonyl compound 2-743 in the presence of catalytic amounts of a weak base such as ethylene diammonium diacetate (EDDA) or piperidinium acetate (Scheme 2.163). In the reaction, a 1,3-oxabutadiene 2-744 is formed as intermediate, which undergoes an inter- or an intramolecular hetero-Diels-Alder reaction either with an enol ether or an alkene to give a dihydropyran 2-745. 

Scheme 2.167. Synthesis of diversified heterocycles by domino Knoevenagel/hetero-Diels-Alde reaction.

Other valuable substrates for the domino Knoevenagel/hetero-Diels-Alder reaction are chiral oxathiolanes such as 2-778, which are easily accessible by condensation of 2-thioacetic acid and a ketone in the presence ofpTsOH, followed by oxidation with hydrogen peroxide [390]. As described by Tietze and coworkers, the Knoevenagel condensation of 2-778 with aldehydes as 2-777 can be performed in... 

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