Experimental and Theoretical Investigation of the Synchronicity of Ambident Silyloxypyrone-Based (5 + 2) Cycloadditions.

The reaction pathway of silyloxypyrone-based (5 + 2) cycloadditions was determined to be extremely dependent on the nature of the dipolarophile. Neutral alkenes were the least reactive, whereas both electron-deficient and electron-rich dipolarophiles were more reactive, thus providing evidence for ambident oxidopyrylium intermediates. Qualitative rate studies, Hammett linear free energy relationships, and theoretical calculations combined to provide evidence for a spectrum of reactivity that passes through the borderlands of concerted and stepwise.

Synthesis of Polycyclic Ether-Benzopyrans and In Vitro Inhibitory Activity against Leishmania tarentolae.

Construction of a focused library of polycyclic ether-benzopyrans was undertaken in order to discover new therapeutic compounds that affect Leishmania growth and infectivity. This is especially of interest since there are few drug therapies for leishmaniasis that do not have serious drawbacks such high cost, side effects, and emerging drug resistance. The construction of these polycyclic ether-benzopyrans utilized an acetoxypyranone-alkene [5+2] cycloaddition and the Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling. The multi-gram quantity of the requisite aryl bromide was obtained followed by effective Pd-catalyzed coupling with boronic acid derivatives. Compounds were tested in vitro using the parasitic protozoan, Leishmania tarentolae. Effects of concentration, time, and exposure to light were evaluated. In addition, the effects on secreted acid phosphatase activity and nitric oxide production were investigated, since both have been implicated in parasite infectivity. The data presented herein are indicative of disruption of the Leishmania tarentolae and thus provide impetus for the development and testing of a more extensive library.

Investigation of Transfer Group, Tether Proximity, and Alkene Substitution for Intramolecular Silyloxypyrone-Based [5 + 2] Cycloadditions.

Systematic investigation of intramolecular silyloxypyrone-based [5 + 2] cycloadditions revealed three significant factors impacting conversion to cycloadduct: (1) the silyl transfer group has a substantial influence on the rate of reaction, and the robust t-butyldiphenylsilyl group was found to be more effective overall than the conventional t-butyldimethylsilyl group; (2) α,ß-unsaturated esters were generally more reactive than terminal olefins and afforded appreciable quantity of cycloadduct even at room temperature; and (3) the proximity of the tether to the silyl transfer group revealed a critical alignment trend between the pyrone and the alkene. Taken together, these investigations provided insight regarding the steric and electronic parameters that impact the scope and limitation of these reactions.

Oxidopyrylium-Alkene [5 + 2] Cycloaddition Conjugate Addition Cascade (C3) Sequences: Scope, Limitation, and Computational Investigations.

Oxidopyrylium-alkene [5 + 2] cycloaddition conjugate addition cascade (C3) sequences are described. Intramolecular cycloadditions involving terminal alkenes, enals, and enones were investigated. Substrates with tethers of varying lengths delivered five- and six-membered carbocycles and heterocycles thus demonstrating the scope and limitation of the cycloaddition-conjugate addition cascade. Several experiments and theoretical calculations provide evidence for the proposed mechanistic pathway.

Net Intermolecular Silyloxypyrone-Based (5+2) Cycloadditions Utilizing Amides as Enabling and Cleavable Tethers.

Silyloxypyrone-based (5+2) cycloadditions were facilitated by amides that allowed for increased reactivity and a pathway for cleaving the tether to afford net intermolecular cycloadducts. Various amides underwent facile cycloaddition, and several experiments revealed steric and electronic factors that accelerate the reaction. tert-Butyl amides reacted faster than less hindered variants in multiple cases. In the case of dearomative oxidopyrylium-indole (5+2) cycloadditions, an amine-based tether was ineffective, whereas amides enabled this powerful transformation. Theoretical calculations evidenced a concerted asynchronous reaction in which the amide facilitates a conformational driving force enabling cycloaddition. Finally, a one-pot acylation/(5+2) cycloaddition/nucleophilic lactam opening and other examples of tosyl lactam opening of a modified cycloadduct were demonstrated.

Mechanistic investigations of the ZnCl2-mediated tandem Mukaiyama aldol lactonization: evidence for asynchronous, concerted transition states and discovery of 2-oxopyridyl ketene acetal variants.

The ZnCl(2)-mediated tandem Mukaiyama aldol lactonization (TMAL) reaction of aldehydes and thiopyridyl ketene acetals provides a versatile, highly diastereoselective approach to trans-1,2-disubstituted ß-lactones. Mechanistic and theoretical studies described herein demonstrate that both the efficiency of this process and the high diastereoselectivity are highly dependent upon the type of ketene acetal employed but independent of ketene acetal geometry. Significantly, we propose a novel and distinct mechanistic pathway for the ZnCl(2)-mediated TMAL process versus other Mukaiyama aldol reactions based on our experimental evidence to date and further supported by calculations (B3LYP/BSI). Contrary to the commonly invoked mechanistic extremes of [2+2] cycloaddition and aldol lactonization mechanisms, investigations of the TMAL process suggest a concerted but asynchronous transition state between aldehydes and thiopyridyl ketene acetals. These calculations support a boat-like transition state that differs from commonly invoked Mukaiyama "open" or Zimmerman-Traxler "chair-like" transition-state models. Furthermore, experimental studies support the beneficial effect of pre-coordination between ZnCl(2) and thiopyridyl ketene acetals prior to aldehyde addition for optimal reaction rates. Our previously proposed, silylated ß-lactone intermediate that led to successful TMAL-based cascade sequences is also supported by the described calculations and ancillary experiments. These findings suggested that a similar TMAL process leading to ß-lactones would be possible with an oxopyridyl ketene acetal, and this was confirmed experimentally, leading to a novel TMAL process that proceeds with efficiency comparable to that of the thiopyridyl system.

Expanded substrate scope and improved reactivity of ether-forming cross-coupling reactions of organotrifluoroborates and acetals.

Mixed acetals and organotrifluoroborates undergo BF(3)·OEt(2)-promoted cross-couplings to give dialkyl ethers under simple, mild conditions. A survey of reaction partners identified a hydroxamate leaving group that improves the regioselectivity and product yield in the BF(3)·OEt(2)-promoted coupling reaction of mixed acetals and potassium alkynyl-, alkenyl-, aryl- and heteroaryltrifluoroborates to access substituted dialkyl ethers. This leaving group enables the reaction to proceed rapidly under mild conditions (0 °C, 5-60 min) and permits reactions with electron-deficient potassium aryltrifluoroborates that are less reactive with other acetal substrates. A study of the reaction mechanism and characterization of key intermediates by NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography identified a role for the hydroxamate moiety as a reversible leaving group that serves to stabilize the key oxocarbenium intermediate and the need for a slight excess of organodifluoroborane to serve as a catalyst. A secondary role for the boron nucleophile as an activating ligand was also considered. These studies provide the basis for a general class of reagents that lead to dialkyl ethers by a simple, predictable cross-coupling reaction.

Synthesis of dialkyl ethers from organotrifluoroborates and acetals.

The formation of ethers by C-O bond formation under harsh basic or acidic conditions is an entrenched synthetic disconnection in organic chemistry. We report a strategic alternative that involves the BF(3).OEt(2)-promoted coupling of stable, easily prepared acetals with widely available potassium aryl-, alkenyl-, and alkynyltrifluoroborates. This fast, operationally simple process offers straightforward access to dialkyl ethers, many of which would be difficult to prepare using classical methods. The use of MOM-protected alcohols and acetal-protected aldehydes enables ether formation without recourse to protecting-group manipulations or strong bases.

Diastereoselective, three-component cascade synthesis of tetrahydrofurans and tetrahydropyrans employing the tandem Mukaiyama aldol-lactonization process.

A full account of studies leading to the development of a cascade sequence that generates as many as two C-C bonds, one C-O bond, and three new stereocenters providing substituted tetrahydrofurans (THFs) from simple gamma-ketoaldehydes and thiopyridyl ketene acetals is described. The process involves a tandem Mukaiyama aldol-lactonization (TMAL) and accumulated evidence suggests the intermediacy of a silylated beta-lactone that is intercepted by the pendant ketone. Formation of a cyclic oxocarbenium is followed by reduction with silicon-based nucleophiles leading to a highly diastereoselective synthesis of tetrahydrofurans. This cascade process has now been extended to the synthesis of tetrahydropyrans from simple delta-ketoaldehydes. The stereochemical outcome of the cascade processes described was determined by NOE correlations, coupling constant analysis, and X-ray crystallography of the derived oxygen heterocycles and is in accord with established and recently proposed models for nucleophilic additions to cyclic 5- and 6-membered oxocarbenium ions. The utility of this process was demonstrated by the synthesis of the tetrahydrofuran fragment of colopsinol B.

Investigation of oxidopyrylium-alkene [5+2] cycloaddition conjugate addition cascade (C3) sequences.

Novel oxidopyrylium-alkene [5+2] cycloaddition conjugate addition cascade (C(3)) sequences are described. Various acetoxypyranone-alkenes with pendant nucleophiles undergo [5+2] cycloaddition followed by conjugate addition from the concave face of the intermediate pyranone toward bridged, tetracyclic ethers. In several cases, 3 new rings, 4 new bonds, and 6 new contiguous stereocenters are constructed with excellent diastereoselectivity. Finally, an asynchronous concerted reaction pathway is proposed to explain the high diastereoselectivity of the oxidopyrylium-alkene [5+2] C(3).

Unique reactivity of anti- and syn-acetoxypyranones en route to oxidopyrylium intermediates leading to a cascade process.

Unique reactivity of anti- and syn-acetoxypyranones was observed in oxidopyrylium-alkene [5 + 2] cycloadditions. The subtle interplay between the corresponding acetoxypyranone conformation and steric bulk of tertiary amine bases causes syn-acetoxypyranones to undergo [5 + 2] cycloaddition appreciably faster than anti-acetoxypyranones. Additionally, the efficiency of a cascade process that afforded a novel tetracyclic lactol was determined to be dependent on the relative stereochemistry of each diastereomer, the amine base utilized, and the addition of water.

Diastereoselective synthesis of tetrahydrofurans via mead reductive cyclization of keto-beta-lactones derived from the tandem Mukaiyama aldol lactonization (TMAL) process.

The development of a diastereoselective, three-step strategy for the construction of substituted tetrahydrofurans from alkenyl aldehydes based on the tandem Mukaiyama aldol-lactonization process and Mead reductive cyclization of keto beta-lactones is reported. Stereochemical outcomes of the TMAL process are consistent with models established for Lewis acid-mediated additions to alpha-benzyloxy and beta-silyloxy aldehydes while reductions of the five-membered oxocarbenium ions are consistent with Woerpel's models. Further rationalization for observed high diastereoselectivity in reductions of alpha-silyloxy 5-membered oxocarbenium ions based on stereoelectronic effects are posited. A diagnostic trend for coupling constants of gamma-benzyloxy beta-lactones was observed that should enable assignment of the relative configuration of these systems.