Radical cyclization of epoxy vinyl- and allylsulfones promoted by titanocene chloride.

A titanocene-mediated intramolecular radical addition of different epoxy vinyl- and allylsulfones has been achieved. Five- and six-membered ring products were obtained in good to excellent yields in the presence of both 2.2 and 0.2 equiv of Cp2TiCl. A novel double-activation strategy allowed us to achieve small-size rings such as cyclobutanes and cyclopropanes.

Synthesis of the BCDE molecular fragment of azadiradione mediated by titanocene(III).

A practical, short, and diastereoselective synthesis of the azadiradione BCDE fragment from a readily available starting material is described. The key step was the titanocene(III)-promoted tandem cyclization of unsaturated epoxy nitrile.

Synthesis of CDE molecular fragments related to sendanin mediated by titanocene(III).

A practical, brief, and diastereoselective synthesis of limonoid CDE fragments from a readily available starting material is described. The key step was the titanocene(III)-promoted cyclization of unsaturated epoxylactones, readily prepared from α-cyclocitral. In this way, we confirm the viability of our procedure for the synthesis of a limonoid model with different functionalization patterns. We also report the antifeedant activity of epoxylactones 18 and 19, which show significant antifeedant activity against Spodoptera littoralis and Spodoptera frugiperda, two insect species with different feeding ecologies.

Titanocene-promoted intermolecular couplings of epoxides with nitriles. An easy access to beta-hydroxyketones.

Radical couplings of epoxides and nitriles mediated by Cp(2)TiCl provide a diastereoselective route to the synthesis of beta-hydroxyketones. The conditions of this "aldol-like" reaction are mild enough to avoid the dehydration of the beta-hydroxyketone. The scope of the coupling reaction with functionalized and tetrasubstituted epoxides has been studied. The radical character of the coupling reactions is demonstrated.

On the mechanism and kinetics of radical reactions of epoxyketones and epoxynitriles induced by titanocene chloride.

The reactions of a series of epoxynitriles and epoxyketones induced by titanocene chloride have been studied. The kinetics of the decyanogenation of beta,gamma-epoxynitriles with Ti(III) corresponds to a radical reaction (k25 approximately 106 s-1), as demonstrated by competition experiments with H-transfer from 1,4-cyclohexadiene (1,4-CHD) or PhSH or conjugate addition to acrylonitrile. The 5-exo cyclization onto nitrile induced by Ti(III) is a radical reaction (k25 approximately 107 s-1) as seen in competition experiments with H-transfer from PhSH or the titanocene-water complex. The iminyl or alkoxyl radicals generated by 5-exo cyclization onto nitriles or ketones only undergo a reduction with Ti(III). This reaction overwhelms any alternative process, such as tandem cyclization onto alkenes or beta-scission. Iminyl radicals generated by 4-exo cyclizations onto nitriles undergo reduction with Ti(III) and beta-scission reaction in a ratio of 96:4 when the alpha-substituent is CN. Alkoxyl radicals from 4-exo cyclizations onto ketone carbonyls undergo reduction with Ti(III) and beta-scission in a ratio of 60:40 when the alpha-substituent is COOR. In nearly all the reactions studied, the role of Ti(III) is triple: a radical initiator (homolytic cleavage of oxirane), a Lewis acid (coordination to CN or C=O), and a terminator (reduction of iminyl or alkoxyl radicals).

Synthesis of CDE and BCDE molecular fragments of the limonoids havanensin and azadiradione.

A new approach to the synthesis of CDE and BCDE molecular fragments of the limonoids havanensin and azadiradione has been achieved from cyclocitral and drimenal in seven steps in overall yields of 20 and 9%, respectively.