Cycloaddition Reactions of Cobalt-Complexed Macrocyclic Alkynes: The Transannular Pauson-Khand Reaction.

The Pauson-Khand reaction is a powerful tool for the synthesis of cyclopentenones through the efficient [2 + 2 + 1] cycloaddition of dicobalt alkyne complexes with alkenes. While intermolecular and intramolecular variants are widely known, transannular versions of this reaction are unknown and the basis of this study. Macrocyclic enyne and dienyne complexes were readily synthesized by palladium(II)-catalyzed oxidative macrocyclizations of bis(vinyl boronate esters) or ring-closing metathesis reactions followed by complexation with dicobalt octacarbonyl. Several reaction modalities of these macrocyclic complexes were uncovered. In addition to the first successful transannular Pauson-Khand reactions, other intermolecular and transannular cycloaddition reactions included intermolecular Pauson-Khand reactions, transannular [4 + 2] cycloaddition reactions, intermolecular [2 + 2 + 2] cycloaddition reactions, and intermolecular [2 + 2 + 1 + 1] cycloaddition reactions. The structural and reaction requirements for each process are presented.

Using Ring Strain to Control 4π-Electrocyclization Reactions: Torquoselectivity in Ring Closing of Medium-Ring Dienes and Ring Opening of Bicyclic Cyclobutenes.

Syntheses of strained cyclic dienes were accomplished via palladium(II)-catalyzed oxidative cyclizations of terminal bis(vinylboronate esters). The reactions generate strained (E,E)-1,3-dienes that undergo spontaneous 4π-electrocyclizations to form bicyclic cyclobutenes. Formation of the cyclobutenes is driven by the strain in the medium-ring (E,E)-1,3-diene intermediate. Thermal ring openings of the cyclobutenes give (Z,Z)-1,3-diene products, again for thermodynamic reasons. DFT calculations verified the thermodynamic versus kinetic control of the reactions, and kinetic studies are in excellent agreement with the calculated energy changes. An extension of the tandem coupling/4π-electrocyclization pathway was demonstrated by a palladium(II)-catalyzed oxidative homocoupling/8π-electrocyclization cascade.

Distortion, Tether, and Entropy Effects on Transannular Diels-Alder Cycloaddition Reactions of 10-18-Membered Rings.

Density functional theory calculations were performed on a set of 13 transannular Diels-Alder (TADA) reactions with 10-18-membered rings. The results were compared with those for bimolecular and intramolecular Diels-Alder reactions in order to investigate the controlling factors of the high TADA reactivities. The effects of tether length, heteroatoms, and alkynyl dienophiles on reactivity were analyzed. We found a correlation between tether length and reactivity, specifically with 12-membered macrocycles undergoing cycloaddition most readily. Furthermore, modifying 12-membered macrocycles by heteroatom substitution and utilizing alkynyl dienophiles enhances the reaction rates up to 10(5)-fold.

Distortion/Interaction analysis reveals the origins of selectivities in iridium-catalyzed C-H borylation of substituted arenes and 5-membered heterocycles.

The iridium-catalyzed borylation of mono- and disubstituted arenes and heteroarenes has been studied with density functional theory. The distortion/interaction model was employed to understand the origins of selectivities in these reactions. Computations revealed that the transition states for C-H oxidative addition are very late, resembling the aryl iridium hydride intermediate with a fully formed Ir-C bond. Consequently, the regioselectivity is mainly controlled by differences in the interaction energies between the iridium catalyst and arene carbon.

Copper-promoted coupling of vinyl boronates and alcohols: a mild synthesis of allyl vinyl ethers.

A copper-promoted coupling of vinyl pinacol boronate esters and alcohols for the synthesis of enol ethers is reported. The reaction occurs in 50-99% yield and is compatible with a variety of functional groups. Cupric acetate is the copper source, and triethylamine buffer is used to prevent protodeboration; the reaction occurs at room temperature. In addition to excellent chemoselectivity, the reaction is stereospecific.

Theoretical bond dissociation energies of halo-heterocycles: trends and relationships to regioselectivity in palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions.

Selectivity of the palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions of heterocycles bearing multiple identical halogens is mainly determined by the relative ease of oxidative addition. This is related to both the energy to distort the carbon halogen bond to the transition-state geometry (related to the CX bond-dissociation energy) and to the interaction between the heterocycle pi* (LUMO) and PdL(2) HOMO (J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2007, 129, 12664). The computed bond dissociation energies of a larger series of halo-heterocycles have been explored with B3LYP and higher accuracy G3B3 calculations. Quantitative trends in bond dissociation energies have been identified for five- and six-membered chloro and bromo substituted heterocycles with N, O, and S heteroatoms.

Transannular [4 + 2] Cycloaddition Reactions of Cobalt-Complexed Macrocyclic Dienynes.

The first transannular [4 + 2] cycloaddition reactions of macrocyclic dicobalt hexacarbonyl-dienyne complexes were demonstrated. Complexes were conveniently prepared through palladium(II)-catalyzed intramolecular oxidative cyclization of bis(vinylboronate esters) followed by complexation with dicobalt octacarbonyl. Transannular [4 + 2] cycloaddition reactions of the complexes occurred at lower temperatures and shorter times than transannular Diels-Alder reactions of metal-free dienynes. Intermolecular control reactions confirmed the effect of cobalt complexation on [4 + 2] cycloaddition reactions of unactivated alkynes and dienes.

Ring-Closing Metathesis with Vicinal Dibromoalkenes as Protected Alkynes: A Synthetic Approach to Macrocyclic Enynes.

A new strategy to access macrocyclic enynes was developed. To block undesired ene-yne cyclization pathways, alkynes were protected via bromination and the resultant acyclic vic-(E)-dibromotrienes participated in selective ene-ene ring closing metathesis reactions. Zinc-promoted deprotection of (E)-dibromodienes provided macrocyclic enynes in high yields.

Influence of nitric oxide donors and peroxynitrite on the contractile effect and concentration of norepinephrine.

Nitric oxide (NO) and peroxynitrite (ONOO) are said to destroy norepinephrine (NE). We studied the role of NE decomposition by NO donors and ONOO as they affect the contractile activity of NE in rat denuded thoracic aorta. First, we determined the relaxing effect of NO donors (SNAP, PROLI/NO, Sodium nitrite, SIN-1) and ONOO after precontraction by NE (1 microM). SNAP and SIN-1 (EC(50) 50-110 nM) were more active than PROLI/NO, Sodium nitrite or ONOO (EC(50) 19-30 microM). The relaxing effect of NO donors and ONOO were decreased by ODQ (10 microM), a guanylate cyclase inhibitor. Second, we compared the contractile activity of NE before and after preincubation with NO donors or ONOO in presence of ODQ. NE (1 microM) was incubated with NO donors or ONOO at the concentrations of 0.1 mM in both Krebs solution or phosphate buffer (pH 7.4; 0.1 M) for 10 minutes at 37 degrees C. NE evoked the aorta contraction in the same concentrations before and after preincubation with NO donors. In contrast, ONOO decreased effect of NE, EC(50) was measured at 4.3+/-0.3 nM and 13.4+/-1.6 nM, before and after preincubation of NE with ONOO respectively. Third, we measured the NE concentration using the HPLC method. We revealed that the concentration of NE after preincubation with NO donors was unaltered. However HPLC measurement revealed that NE concentration after preincubation with ONOO was reduced 2-3-fold. Therefore, under these experimental conditions ONOO, but not NO donors, was capable of destroying NE.

Increasing the efficiency of the transannular Diels-Alder strategy via palladium(II)-catalyzed macrocyclizations.

Palladium(II)-catalyzed macrocyclizations of bis(vinylboronate ester) compounds are demonstrated to provide a strategically efficient approach to transannular Diels-Alder reaction substrates. In several systems reported, the macrocycle is preorganized such that cycloaddition at room temperature occurs concomitantly with cyclization. Numerous advantages over palladium(0)-catalyzed cross-coupling approaches are demonstrated.

Cyclization strategies to polyenes using Pd(II)-catalyzed couplings of pinacol vinylboronates.

As a complement to Pd(0)-catalyzed cyclizations, seven Pd(II)-catalyzed cyclization strategies are reported. α,ω-Diynes are selectively hydroborated to bis(boronate esters), which cyclize under Pd(II)-catalysis producing a diverse array of small, medium, and macrocyclic polyenes with controlled E,E, Z,Z, or E,Z stereochemistry. Various functional groups are tolerated including aryl bromides, and applications are illustrated.

Enol silyl ethers via copper(II)-catalyzed C-O bond formation.

Copper(II) acetate catalyzes the coupling of pinacol vinylboronates with silanols producing enol silyl ethers. This represents a novel enol silyl ether synthesis via formation of the C-O bond instead of the conventional Si-O bond. This also constitutes the first transition-metal-catalyzed oxidative cross-coupling with silanols.

Alkoxydienes via copper-promoted couplings: utilizing an alkyne effect.

Simple alkenes and alkynes, with 3-hexyne in particular, are found to be important pi ligands for oxidative copper-based coupling (modern Ullmann) reactions. This enabled syntheses of various alkoxydienes with removable protecting groups that are valuable substrates for Diels-Alder reactions from alcohols and vinyl boronate esters. In addition to demonstrating that 3-hexyne is a ligand for copper in both stoichiometric and catalytic reactions, the reaction atmosphere was found to play a critical role.

Amine-catalyzed coupling of aldehydes and ketenes derived from Fischer carbene complexes: formation of beta-lactones and enol ethers.

Aldehydes react with ketenes generated from photolysis of Fischer chromium carbene complexes to generate either beta-lactones or enol ethers resulting from decarboxylation of beta-lactones. The reaction is catalyzed by tertiary amines and can occur with diastereoselectivity greater than 20:1 with DMAP as the catalyst.