Oxime Ethers as Radical Acceptors

The reactivity of oxime ethers as radical acceptors is enhanced by Lewis acids, BF3 being the most effective.343... 

Oxime ethers and imines are viable intramolecular radical acceptors. Advanced precursors of (—)-tetrodotoxin were prepared via radical cyclization reactions using oxime ethers as radical acceptors [105]. In the synthesis of (+)-7-deoxypancratistatin (160) [106] (Scheme 55), the intermediate 159 was prepared via tandem radical cyc-lizations of the precursor 158 possessing an A -aziridinylimine and an 0-benzyloxime moiety. Direct formation of lactones is possible as shown in the reaction of the (2,2-diphenylhydrazono)acetate 161, which afforded the hydrazino lactone 162 along with the epimer 163. (-t-)-Furanomycin (164) was synthesized from 162 [107] (Scheme 56). Normally, use of nitrile radical acceptors is limited to cyclopentanone synthesis, but the rigidity of the 1,6-anhydro scaffolding in the bromide 166 enabled radical cyclization to give the tricyclic ketone 167, which comprises the entire skeletal framework of tetrodotoxin [108] (Scheme 57). 

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