Radical stereoselectivity intermolecular reactions

Alkenes bearing an amide substituent derived from /rrw.. -2,5-dimethyipyrrolidine are suitable systems for stereoselective intermolecular C-C bond formation. The addition of hexyl, cyclohexyl or ten-butyl radicals to l-(tra w-2,5-dimcthylpyrrolidinyl)-2-pentenc-1,4-dione employing either the tin or the mercury method13, yields four products. The stereoisomers derived from addition to the end of the alkene substituted by the ketone are formed in approximately a 1 1 ratio, whereas the products derived from the reaction at the amide end are obtained in ratios as high as 98 214-1S. 

Chiral l,3-dioxin-4-ones photochemically react intermolecular with (cyclic) ethers, acetals, and secondary alcohols to give the addition products in reasonable yields. The radical addition was completely stereoselective at C-6 of the heterocycle <1999EJO1057>. The exocyclic diastereoselectivity, where relevant, was about 2 1 (Equation 30). In analogy, an intramolecular cascade reaction of a 1,3-dioxin -one derived from menthone was used to get a terpenoid or a steroid framework in optically active form <1997JA1129, 1999JA4894>. 

As stated above, intermolecular coupling reactions between carbon atoms are of limited use. In the classical Wurtz reaction two identical primary alkyl iodide molecules are reduced by sodium. n-Hectane (C100H202), for example, has been made by this method in 60% yield (G. Stallberg, 1956). The unsymmetrical coupling of two alkyl halides can be achieved via dialkylcuprates. The first halide, which may have a branched carbon chain, is lithiated and allowed to react with copper(I) salts. The resulting dialkylcuprate can then be coupled with alkyl or aryl iodides or bromides. Although the reaction probably involves radicals it is quite stereoselective and leads to inversion of chiral halides. For example, lithium diphenyl-cuprate reacts with (R)-2-bromobutane with 90% stereoselectivity to form (S)-2-phenylbutane (G.M. Whitesides, 1969). 

B. Giese, The Stereoselectivity of Intermolecular Free Radical Reactions, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. Engl. 1989, 28, 969-980. 

Korshin et al. reported an outstanding double stereoselective alkenyla-tion through a 1,5 sulfur-to-carbon translocation on a proline-derived scaffold [169]. 5-Exo-trig cyclization of the radical derived from 181 led to bi-cyclic adduct 182, which collapsed to the open thiyl radical (Scheme 59). The sole stereocontrol exerted by the cyclization step allows for the resulting vinyl translocation to occur entirely stereoselectively. Since the reaction was carried out in the presence of a styryltin derivative, consecutive intermolecular vinylation occurred, leading to bisvinyl compoimd 183 in very high yield (86%). The styrylsulfonyl moiety could be converted to a formyl group. 

Stereoselectivity of intermolecular free radical reactions of heterocycles 89AG(E)969. 

Sc(OTf)3 also catalyzes acetalization reactions [47a,b], acylal formation [47c], /9-selective glycosilation reactions with thioglycosides [48], and acylation reactions of alcohols [49]. Guanidium formation reactions of carbodiimide with benzylamine [50], intermolecular stereoselective radical additions to A/-enoyloxazolidinones [51], and rearrangement of... 

Both intermolecular and intramolecular additions of carbon radicals to alkenes and alkynes continue to be a widely investigated method for carbon-carbon bond formation and has been the subject of a number of review articles. In particular, the inter- and intra-molecular additions of vinyl, heteroatomic and metal-centred radicals to alkynes have been reported and also the factors which influence the addition reactions of carbon radicals to unsaturated carbon-carbon bonds. The stereochemical outcome of such additions continues to attract interest. The generation and use of alkoxy radicals in both asymmetric cyclizations and skeletal rearrangements has been reviewed and the use of fi ee radical reactions in the stereoselective synthesis of a-amino acid derivatives has appeared in two reports." The stereochemical features and synthetic potential of the [1,2]-Wittig rearrangement has also been reviewed. In addition, a review of some recent applications of free radical chain reactions in organic and polymer synthesis has appeared. The effect of solvent upon the reactions of neutral fi ee radicals has also recently been reviewed. ... 

Annulated ring systems have as /1,7-substituents, when compared to annulated cyclopentyl radical systems, a stronger effect on the stereoselectivity than the corresponding combination of acyclic substituents. In all cases, attack tram to the /J.y-m-annulated ring is preferred. The stereoselectivity depends, furthermore, on additional substituents at the radical and the alkene, but it appears that the reactions of cyclohexyl radicals proceed less selectively than their cyclopentyl analogs. One frequently used route to these systems is sequential cyclization/ addi-tion reactions, in which the primary radical cyclizes to form the bicyclic ring system, followed by intermolecular addition to an alkene45,47 74. 

Intermolecular radical bond formations with companally high yields and stereoselectivities are still very rare in the total synthesis of bioactive compounds. One exception is Curran s camptothecin synthesis. However, progress in acyclic stereoselection of radical reactions [11] should soon help to formulate new solutions for these synthetic challenges. 

Danishefsky also investigated the development of a trans Diels-Alder reaction in seeming violation of the inherent stereoselectivity of the reaction mechanism. The key to this process was the use of 1-nitrocyclohexene (80) as the dienophile. After a standard intermolecular Diels-Alder reaction with diene 79, cis cycloadduct 81 could be transformed preferentially into trans-fused product 82 upon radical denitration and enol ether hydrolysis. ... 

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