Stilbenes cycloaddition

Other isocyanates undergo [2 + 2] cycloaddition, but only with very electron rich alkenes. Thus phenyl isocyanate gives /3-lactams with ketene acetals and tetramethoxyethylene. With enamines, unstable /3-lactams are formed if the enamine has a /3-H atom, ring opened amides are produced 2 1 adducts are also found. Photochemical addition of cis- and traH5-stilbene to phenyl isocyanate has also been reported (72CC362). 

Reactions of 1 with epoxides involve some cycloaddition products, and thus will be treated here. Such reactions are quite complicated and have been studied in some depth.84,92 With cyclohexene oxide, 1 yields the disilaoxirane 48, cyclohexene, and the silyl enol ether 56 (Eq. 29). With ( )- and (Z)-stilbene oxides (Eq. 30) the products include 48, ( > and (Z)-stilbenes, the E- and Z-isomers of silyl enol ether 57, and only one (trans) stereoisomer of the five-membered ring compound 58. The products have been rationalized in terms of the mechanism detailed in Scheme 14, involving a ring-opened zwitterionic intermediate, allowing for carbon-carbon bond rotation and the observed stereochemistry. 

The quantum yield for the formation of the cycloaddition product has been found to be temperature dependent, increasing by a factor of approximately three as the temperature is lowered from 65 ( = 0.24) to 5°C ( = 0.69). Photolysis of mixtures of the olefin and f/my-stilbene in the presence of sensitizers yielded no cycloaddition product (42) but rather only m-stilbene. This suggests that the cycloadduct is produced via a singlet reaction. This conclusion is supported by the fact that tetramethylethylene quenches fluorescence from the /rans-stilbene singlet. A plot of l/ (42) vs. 1/[TME] (TME = tetramethylethylene) is linear. The slope of this plot yields rate constants for cycloadduct formation which show a negative temperature dependence. To account for this fact, a reversibly formed exciplex leading to (42) was proposed in the following mechanism<82) ... 

The substitution of the exo-methylene hydrogen atoms of MCP with halogens seems to favor the [2 + 2] cycloaddition reaction by stabilizing the intermediate diradical. Indeed, chloromethylenecyclopropane (96) reacts with acrylonitrile (519) to give a diastereomeric mixture of spirohexanes in good yield (Table 41, entry 2) [27], but was unreactive towards styrene and ds-stilbene. Anyway, it reacted with dienes (2,3-dimethylbutadiene, cyclopentadiene, cyc-lohexadiene, furan) exclusively in a [4 + 2] fashion (see Sect. 2.1.1) [27], while its... 

The scope of the Patemo-Buchi cycloaddition has been widely expanded for the oxetane synthesis from enone and quinone acceptors with a variety of olefins, stilbenes, acetylenes, etc. For example, an intense dark-red solution is obtained from an equimolar solution of tetrachlorobenzoquinone (CA) and stilbene owing to the spontaneous formation of 1 1 electron donor/acceptor complexes.55 A selective photoirradiation of either the charge-transfer absorption band of the [D, A] complex or the specific irradiation of the carbonyl acceptor (i.e., CA) leads to the formation of the same oxetane regioisomers in identical molar ratios56 (equation 27). 

We emphasize that the critical ion pair stilbene+, CA in the two photoactivation methodologies (i.e., charge-transfer activation as well as chloranil activation) is the same, and the different multiplicities of the ion pairs control only the timescale of reaction sequences.14 Moreover, based on the detailed kinetic analysis of the time-resolved absorption spectra and the effect of solvent polarity (and added salt) on photochemical efficiencies for the oxetane formation, it is readily concluded that the initially formed ion pair undergoes a slow coupling (kc - 108 s-1). Thus competition to form solvent-separated ion pairs as well as back electron transfer limits the quantum yields of oxetane production. Such ion-pair dynamics are readily modulated by choosing a solvent of low polarity for the efficient production of oxetane. Also note that a similar electron-transfer mechanism was demonstrated for the cycloaddition of a variety of diarylacetylenes with a quinone via the [D, A] complex56 (Scheme 12). 

Reactions.—Nucleophilic Attack at Carbon. (/) Carbonyls. Methyl arylglyoxylates react with trisdimethylaminophosphine (TDAP) to form m-a/S-dimethoxycarbonyl-stilbene oxides.63 The initially formed zwitterion (61) reacts with a second molecule of the ester to form a fra/ -diphenyl-1,4,2-dioxaphospholan intermediate, which undergoes a concerted symmetry-allowed retrograde n2s + 4 cycloaddition to give a carbonyl ylide, conrotatory cyclization of which leads to the cw-oxirans (62) (Scheme 3). 

Anthronylidene 64 forms no cycloaddition products with cis- or trans-4-methyl-2-pentene, but [1 -f-2]-cycloaddition is observed with stilbene derivatives. This is also attributed to the reacting triplet state I02,i30-i32) ... 

For instance, Kochi and co-workers [89,90] reported the photochemical coupling of various stilbenes and chloranil by specific charge-transfer activation of the precursor donor-acceptor complex (EDA) to form rrans-oxetanes selectively. The primary reaction intermediate is the singlet radical ion pair as revealed by time-resolved spectroscopy and thus establishing the electron-transfer pathway for this typical Paterno-Biichi reaction. This radical ion pair either collapses to a 1,4-biradical species or yields the original EDA complex after back-electron transfer. Because the alternative cycloaddition via specific activation of the carbonyl compound yields the same oxetane regioisomers in identical molar ratios, it can be concluded that a common electron-transfer mechanism is applicable (Scheme 53) [89,90]. 

Electrochemical reduction of a,a -dibromoketones affords the unstable cyclo-propanone, which is in equlibrium with the dipolar intermediate 22. The cyclopro-panone hemiacetal is isolated in yields of 40 - 85 % from reaction in acetonitrile and methanol at -20 °C [99], The dipolar form can be trapped in a cycloaddition process with furan [100], Reaction with acetic acid leads to the a-acetoxy-ketone.[101]. Unstable three membered heterocyclic rings are intermediate in the reduction of sulphur and phosphorus linked dibromo compounds 23. In these reactions, the heteroatom is extruded leaving ci - and trans-stilbenes as the isolated products [102,103],... 

Phosphoryl-stabilized anions, 25, 2 Photochemical cycloadditions, 44, 2 Photocyclization of stilbenes, 30, 1 Photooxygenation of olefins, 20, 2 Photosensitizers, 20, 2 Pictet-Spengler reaction, 6, 3 Pig liver esterase, 37, 1 Polonovski reaction, 39, 2... 

Addition of electron-poor alkenes such as /ran -stilbene, diethyl fumarate and maleate, and fumaronitrile to (50) do not cause nitrogen evolution. Even on heating cycloaddition products were not isolated, although decomposition was induced. Addition of bases such as benzylamine had no influence on the decomposition rate <78JCS(P1)1440>. 

An unusual reductive cycloaddition leading to a bridged bicyclic 1,3-dioxane was reported by Taylor and coworkers <20030L4441, 20050BC756>. They found that 2-acyl-2 -benzyloxy-substituted (Z)-stilbenes cyclize upon treatment with tin dichloride at room temperature to give the bicyclic product 220 in 94% yield (Equation 85). 

The cycloaddition of substituted acrylates has been investigated with cyclic nitronate 24 (Table 2.49) (14). The cycloaddition of a 1,1-disubstituted dipolar-ophile (entry 2), proceeds in good yield, but both 1,2-disubstituted alkenes fail to react. The effect of substitution pattern on the dipolarophile was investigated with a slightly more reactive nitronate (Table 2.50) (228). Less sterically demanding alkenes such as cyclohexene, cyclopentene, and methyl substituted styrenes react, albeit at elevated temperature. The only exception is the 1,1-disubstituted alkene (entry 4), which reacts at room temperature. Both stilbene and dimethyl fumarate fail to provide the desired cycloadduct. In a rare example of the dipolar cycloaddition of tetra-substituted alkenes, tetramethylethylene reacts at 50 °C over 3 days to give a small amount of the cycloadduct (entry 7). 

A special case involves the thermal decomposition of 3,4-dinitrofuroxan (104). The cycloreversion is already observed at room temperature and the nitroformo-nitrile oxide could be trapped with electron-deficient nitriles. The cycloadditions with styrene, phenylacetylene, frani-stilbene, and cyclohexene, however, led to complex mixtures of products that could not be separated (104). In the related case of a furoxan with an a-hydrogen adjacent to the sulfonyl group, the reaction was proposed to proceed according to course (b) (Scheme 6.7). 

The use of lithium amides to metalate the a-position of the N-substituent of imines generates 2-azaallyl anions, typically stabilized by two or three aryl groups (Scheme 11.2) (48-62), a process pioneered by Kauffmann in 1970 (49). Although these reactive anionic species may be regarded as N-lithiated azomethine ylides if the lithium metal is covalently bonded to the imine nitrogen, they have consistently been discussed as 2-azaallyl anions. Their cyclization reactions are characterized by their enhanced reactivity toward relatively unactivated alkenes such as ethene, styrenes, stilbenes, acenaphtylene, 1,3-butadienes, diphenylacetylene, and related derivatives. Accordingly, these cycloaddition reactions are called anionic [3+2] cycloadditions. Reactions with the electron-poor alkenes are rare (54,57). Such reactivity makes a striking contrast with that of N-metalated azomethine ylides, which will be discussed below (Section 11.1.4). 

Benzil undergoes a cycloaddition reaction with stilbene and 1,1-diphenyl-ethylene to form adducts containing the 2,3-dihydro-[l,4]-dioxin ring system and with visnagin to form an oxetane. These reactions and the cycloaddition reactions of the analogous o-quinones are reviewed by Schonberg.87... 

Cyclobutane formation via light-induced [2 + 2] cycloaddition is probably one of the best studied photochemical reactions and has been reviewed thoroughly up to 1972 (Houben-Weyl, Vols. 4/5 a and 4/5 b). The most important types of C —C double-bond chromophores undergoing such reactions arc alkenes, 1,3-dienes, styrenes, stilbenes, arenes, hetarenes, cycloalk-2-enones, cyclohexa-2,4(and 2,5)-dienones, 1,4-benzoquinones, and heteroanalogs of these cyclic unsaturated carbonyl compounds. For p notocyciodimerizations see Houben-Weyl, Vol. 4/5 a, p 278 and for mixed [2 + 2] photocycloadditions of these same chromophores to alkenes see Section 1.3.2.3. 

In a different type of procedure, 2 + 3 cycloadditions are performed with ally lie anions. Such reactions are called 1,3-anionic cycloadditions.915 For example, a-methylstyrene adds to stilbene on treatment with the strong base lithium diisopropylamide.916... 

Dihydro-4//-1,2-oxazines are prepared by the cycloaddition of nitrosoalkenes and alkenes CH2 = C(NO)COMe with trans-stilbene gives (101) (78CC847). 

Dihydro-4if- 1,2-oxazines are conveniently prepared by the cycloaddition of nitrosoalkenes and alkenes. Thus, 3-nitrosobut-3-en-2-one (142) reacts with trans-stilbene to give (143) (78CC847). Similarly, a-nitrosostyrene combines with cyclopentadiene to yield the oxazine (144) <79JCS(Pi)249). Chloronitrones (145) and alkenes in liquid sulfur dioxide containing silver tetrafluoroborate afford oxazinium salts (146) (77JOC4213). 

It is now well established that the cation radicals of unsaturated and strained hydrocarbons undergo a variety of isomerization (e.g., Scheme 18) and cycloaddition reactions with much faster rates than those of the corresponding neutral molecules [162-165]. A cation radical chain mechanism analogous to Scheme 17 was reported for one-way photoisomerization of cis-stilbene (c-S) to truws-stilbene (f-S) via photoinduced electron transfer, as shown in Scheme 18 [166], Once c-S + is formed, it is known to isomerize to t-S + [167,168]. The free energy change of electron transfer... 

According to the model for [2+2] cycloaddition shown in Fig. 2, it should be possible to reach the pericyclic intermediate upon irradiation of the cycloadduct. If a common intermediate is attained from the cycloaddition and cycloreversion processes, then the sum of the quantum yields for the two processes should equal unity. This has, in fact, been observed to be the case for several exciplex and anthracene excimer systems (49b,52). Stereospecific cycloreversion of stilbene dimers 11 and 12 to t-1 has been observed to occur upon 254 nm... 

The reaction of t-1 with dimethyl fumarate is proposed to occur via the weakly fluorescent singlet exciplex intermediate (76). Increasing the solvent polarity results in a decrease in both the exciplex fluorescence intensity and the cycloaddition quantum yield, presumably due to radical-ion pair formation. The low efficiency of cycloaddition from c and the absence of triplet cycloaddition indicate that a planar stilbene chromophore is necessary for exciplex formation (see also Sections V-B and C). 

The initial example of a photochemical cross [2+2] cycloaddition reaction of a stilbene was the reaction of t-1 and 2,3-dimethyl-2-butene to yield the cyclobutane AO reported in... 

The observation of triplet sensitized cycloaddition reactions of 10 but not t-1 with vinyl ethers reflects the requirement of a planar stilbene excited state for effective interaction with ground state electron-rich or electron-poor alkenes. While triplet sensitized reactions of other cyclic stilbene analogues (e.g., 5-9) have not been reported, it appears quite likely that they should occur. 

Cycloaddition is a singlet state reaction, triplet quenching yielding only stilbene isomerization. In the limit of high t-1 concentration, the quantum yield for the formation of 89 and 90 is 0.66 and no c-1 is formed. Nonradiative exciplex decay is proposed to occur by partitioning at the pericyclic minimum (Fig. 2) between products and reactants. In the limit of high c-1 concentration, 91 is formed with a quantum yield of 0.05 and the predominant exciplex decay pathway is dissociation to yield f-c, which decays to a mixture of t-1 and c-1. 

All of the photochemical cycloaddition reactions of the stilbenes are presumed to occur via excited state ir-ir type complexes (excimers, exciplexes, or excited charge-transfer complexes). Both the ground state and excited state complexes of t-1 are more stable than expected on the basis of redox potentials and singlet energy. Exciplex formation helps overcome the entropic problems associated with a bimolecular cycloaddition process and predetermines the adduct stereochemistry. Formation of an excited state complex is a necessary, but not a sufficient condition for cycloaddition. In fact, increased exciplex stability can result in decreased quantum yields for cycloaddition, due to an increased barrier for covalent bond formation (Fig. 2). The cycloaddition reactions of t-1 proceed with complete retention of stilbene and alkene photochemistry, indicative of either a concerted or short-lived singlet biradical mechanism. The observation of acyclic adduct formation in the reactions of It with nonconjugated dienes supports the biradical mechanism. 

It is hardly surprising that different chemical reactivity might be expected from the exciplex and the radical ion pair formed by complete electron exchange. Lewis observation (50) that in the excited state interaction of trans-stilbene with either electron-rich or electron-poor alkenes cycloaddition is more efficient from the relatively less polar exciplex than from radical ion pairs is typical for many such cycloadditions. 

In parallel to this example, Lewis and coworkers have also observed inverse reactivity for electron transfer and cycloaddition efficiency in the interaction of trans-stilbene with unsaturated esters (52). This result is understandable if the exciplex, rather than the radical ion pair, arranges the olefins in the correct geometry for cycloaddition. Analogous results have also been reported in the (2+2) cross photoreaction of cyano-substituted stilbenes with dienes, where all possible regioisomers were formed, eq. 16 (53a) ... 

That the cycloaddition occurs via the less highly polar exciplex is also supported by Kaupp s studies of photocycloaddition between trans-stilbene and cyclic unsaturated ethers (57). 

Addition to six-membered oxygen heterocycles is also common. The photocycloaddition of 5,7-dimethoxycoumarin to tetramethylethylene has been described,269 and 4-hydroxycoumarin (326) undergoes facile addition to cyclohexene on direct irradiation to give the cyclobutane (327)270 analogous additions to a variety of other alkenes have been reported, and the cycloaddition of 4-methoxycoumarin to 2-methylpropene has been employed in a synthesis of l,2-dihydrocyclobuta[c]coumarin.271 Photoaddition of the 1,2-bisenol lactone (328) to tran.s-stilbene yields propellane (329),272 and [ 2 + 2] cycloaddition is observed along with other competing photoreactions on irradiation of chromone in the presence of alkenes.273... 

All the other cycloadditions, such as the [4+2] cycloadditions of allyl cations and anions, and the [8+2] and [6+4] cycloadditions of longer conjugated systems, have also been found to be suprafacial on both components, wherever it has been possible to test them. Thus the trans phenyl groups on the cyclopentene 2.65 show that the two new bonds were formed suprafacially on the rrans-stilbene. The tricyclic adducts 2.61, 2.77, 2.79, and 2.83, and the tetracyclic adduct 2.82, show that both components in each case have reacted suprafacially, although only suprafacial reactions are possible in cases like these, since the products from antarafacial attack on either component would have been prohibitively strained. Nevertheless, the fact that they have undergone cycloaddition is important, for it is the failure of thermal [2+2], [4+4] and [6+6], and photochemical [4+2], [8+2] and [6+4] pericyclic cycloadditions to take place, even when all-suprafacial options are open to them, that is significant. 

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