Ylide compounds asymmetric cycloadditions

As with any modern review of the chemical Hterature, the subject discussed in this chapter touches upon topics that are the focus of related books and articles. For example, there is a well recognized tome on the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction that is an excellent introduction to the many varieties of this transformation [1]. More specific reviews involving the use of rhodium(II) in carbonyl ylide cycloadditions [2] and intramolecular 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions have also appeared [3, 4]. The use of rhodium for the creation and reaction of carbenes as electrophilic species [5, 6], their use in intramolecular carbenoid reactions [7], and the formation of ylides via the reaction with heteroatoms have also been described [8]. Reviews of rhodium(II) ligand-based chemoselectivity [9], rhodium(11)-mediated macrocyclizations [10], and asymmetric rho-dium(II)-carbene transformations [11, 12] detail the multiple aspects of control and applications that make this such a powerful chemical transformation. In addition to these reviews, several books have appeared since around 1998 describing the catalytic reactions of diazo compounds [13], cycloaddition reactions in organic synthesis [14], and synthetic applications of the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition [15]. 

The use of chiral azomethine imines in asymmetric 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions with alkenes is limited. In the first example of this reaction, chiral azomethine imines were applied for the stereoselective synthesis of C-nucleosides (100-102). Recent work by Hus son and co-workers (103) showed the application of the chiral template 66 for the formation of a new enantiopure azomethine imine (Scheme 12.23). This template is very similar to the azomethine ylide precursor 52 described in Scheme 12.19. In the presence of benzaldehyde at elevated temperature, the azomethine imine 67 is formed. 1,3-Dipole 67 was subjected to reactions with a series of electron-deficient alkenes and alkynes and the reactions proceeded in several cases with very high selectivities. Most interestingly, it was also demonstrated that the azomethine imine underwent reaction with the electronically neutral 1-octene as shown in Scheme 12.23. Although a long reaction time was required, compound 68 was obtained as the only detectable regio- and diastereomer in 50% yield. This pioneering work demonstrates that there are several opportunities for the development of new highly selective reactions of azomethine imines (103). 

Catalytic [3 + 2]-cycloaddition of the carbonyl and azomethine ylides 129 with olefins gives the five-membered heterocycles 130 (Scheme 45). Longmire et al. reported that the catalytic asymmetric [3 + 2]-cycloaddition of the azomethine ylides 131 with dimethyl maleate in the presence of AgOAc and a bis-ferrocenyl amide ligand 133 gave the pyrrolidine triesters 132 in excellent yields with very high enantiomeric excesses (Scheme 46).122 As described in section 8, the [3 + 2]-cycloaddition reaction of diazo compounds with olefins proceeds similarly through the formation of carbonyl ylides. 

Later on, Waldmann s group described a novel highly enantioselective method for the synthesis of an iridoid-inspired compound collection by the kinetic resolution of racemic 2//-pyran-3(6//)-one derivatives by means of an asymmetric [3+2] cycloaddition with azomethine ylides using this catalytic system (Scheme 15) [27]. The desired products were formed efficiently with high stereoselectivity and led to the discovery of a new class of inhibitors of the Wnt and hedgehog signaling pathways. 

The chemistry of copper carbenoids involved in the catalytic decomposition of diazo compounds and related tosylhydrazones has been reviewed. Many aspects of these catalytic transformations are covered including not only the classical cyclopropanation and X-H insertion processes but also a range of formal cycloaddition reactions, the reactions involving ylide formation, and the various coupling reactions of diazo derivatives. An account more focused on asymmetric metal-catalysed X-H insertion has been published. Through this review, the dependence on the nature of the metal and its i ligands can be evaluated for these 0-H, N-H, S-H, and Si-H insertions of carbenoids. 

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