Synthesis of (Het)aryl 2-(2-hydroxyaryl)cyclopropyl Ketones.

A simple general method for the synthesis of 1-acyl-2-(ortho-hydroxyaryl)cyclopropanes, which belong to the donor-acceptor cyclopropane family, has been developed. This method, based on the Corey-Chaykovsky cyclopropanation of 2-hydroxychalcones, allows for the preparation of a large diversity of hydroxy-substituted cyclopropanes, which can serve as promising building blocks for the synthesis of various bioactive compounds.

Ring Opening of Donor-Acceptor Cyclopropanes with Cyanide Ion and Its Surrogates.

A straightforward method for ring opening of donor-acceptor cyclopropanes with trimethylsilyl cyanide as a surrogate of cyanide ion in the presence of B(C6F5)3 or trifluoromethanesulfonic acid as a catalyst has been developed. The methodology provides a short route to γ-cyanoesters that can be useful synthetic intermediates for the synthesis of diverse bioactive molecules such as glutaric and δ-aminovaleric acid derivatives, 3-arylpiperidines, or other substituted phenethylamines. Oppositely, the attempts to synthesize these γ-cyanoesters by direct reaction of cyclopropanes with sodium cyanide under typical SN2 conditions led to the formation of 2-arylsuccinonitriles.

Convenient Synthesis of Functionalized Cyclopropa[c]coumarin-1a-carboxylates.

A simple method has been developed for the synthesis of cyclopropa[c]coumarins, which belong to the donor-acceptor cyclopropane family and, therefore, are promising substrates for the preparation of chromene-based fine chemicals. The method, based on the acetic acid-induced intramolecular transesterification of 2-arylcyclopropane-1,1-dicarboxylates, was found to be efficient for substrates containing hydroxy group directly attached to the aromatic ring.

(3+3)-Annulation of Donor-Acceptor Cyclopropanes with Diaziridines.

The first example of (3+3)-annulation of two different three-membered rings is reported herein. Donor-acceptor cyclopropanes in reaction with diaziridines were found to afford perhydropyridazine derivatives in high yields and diastereoselectivity under mild Lewis acid catalysis. The disclosed reaction is applicable for the broad substrate scope and exhibits an excellent functional group tolerance.

Lewis Acid Triggered Vinylcyclopropane-Cyclopentene Rearrangement.

We report a mild Lewis acid induced isomerization of donor-acceptor cyclopropanes, containing an alkenyl moiety and diverse electron-withdrawing group(s) at the adjacent positions, into substituted cyclopentenes. We have found that 1,1,2-trisubstituted cyclopent-3-enes were exclusively obtained in yield of 51-99% when cyclopropanes with a 2-substituted alkenyl group as a donor underwent isomerization. For cyclopropanes bearing a trisubstituted alkenyl group either the corresponding cyclopent-3-enes or isomeric cyclopent-2-enes having two acceptor groups at the C(1) atom were formed, with the reaction selectivity being determined by the applied Lewis acid. We have shown that the reactivity of the donor-acceptor cyclopropane increases with the increase of the electron-donating character of (hetero)aromatic group attached to the alkenyl moiety. The synthetic utility of the developed methodology was also demonstrated through the synthesis of polysubstituted cyclopentane and piperidine derivatives.

Domino Staudinger/aza-Wittig/Mannich Reaction: An Approach to Diversity of Di- and Tetrahydropyrrole Scaffolds.

A highly efficient and selective domino reaction producing valuable di- and tetrahydropyrrole-based skeletons from azidoethyl-substituted CH-acids and (thio)carbonyl compounds has been developed. By involving the additional functional groups in starting compounds into the domino reaction or postmodification of the primary reaction products, the simple construction of the pharmaceutically relevant three- and polycyclic azaheterocyclic scaffolds was demonstrated.

From Umpolung to Alternation: Modified Reactivity of Donor-Acceptor Cyclopropanes Towards Nucleophiles in Reaction with Nitroalkanes.

A conceptually new type of donor-acceptor cyclopropane reactivity towards nucleophiles has been disclosed. An essential characteristic of the process is an unusual nucleophilic attack on the C(3)-position of a cyclopropane, combined with typical small ring-opening by cleavage of the C(1)-C(2) bond between the acceptor and the donor. Based on this new reaction between cyclopropane-1,1-diesters and nitroalkanes, we developed a convenient approach to γ-nitroesters that can be efficiently transformed to the substituted pyrrolidones, structural analogues of racetame family drugs (rolipram, phenylpiracetam, etc.).

Simple assembly of polysubstituted pyrazoles and isoxazoles via ring closure-ring opening domino reaction of 3-acyl-4,5-dihydrofurans with hydrazines and hydroxylamine.

A convenient general approach to 2-(pyrazol-4-yl)- and 2-(isoxazol-4-yl)ethanols based on the Brønsted acid-initiated reaction of 3-acyl-4,5-dihydrofurans with hydrazines or hydroxylamine was developed. Further transformation of the alcohol moiety in 2-(pyrazolyl)ethanols affording 2-(pyrazolyl)ethylamine as potent bioactive compounds as well as pyrazole-substituted derivatives of antitumor alkaloid crispine A was elaborated.

Formal [3 + 2]-Cycloaddition of Donor-Acceptor Cyclopropanes to 1,3-Dienes: Cyclopentane Assembly.

We report a new simple method to access highly substituted cyclopentanes via Lewis acid-initiated formal [3 + 2]-cycloaddition of donor-acceptor cyclopropanes to 1,3-dienes. This process displays exceptional chemo- and regioselectivity as well as high diastereoselectivity, allowing for the synthesis of functionalized cyclopentanes and bicyclic cyclopentane-based structures in moderate to high yields. Moreover, one-pot synthesis of biologically relevant cyclopentafuranones, based on reaction of donor-acceptor cyclopropanes with dienes, has been developed.

Lewis and Brønsted acid induced (3 + 2)-annulation of donor-acceptor cyclopropanes to alkynes: indene assembly.

(3 + 2)-Annulation of donor-acceptor cyclopropanes to alkynes induced by both Lewis and Brønsted acids has been developed. The reaction provides a rapid approach to functionalized indenes displaying intense visible emission (λmax = 430 nm, Φ = 0.28-0.34).

A bioinspired route to indanes and cyclopentannulated hetarenes via (3+2)-cyclodimerization of donor-acceptor cyclopropanes.

A novel Lewis acid-catalyzed domino (3+2)-cyclodimerization of 2-arylcyclopropane-1,1-diesters and related stepwise cross-reaction of two different cyclopropanes were developed. These processes provide efficient and highly stereoselective access to polyoxygenated indanes and cyclopentannulated heteroarene derivatives, which display significant cytotoxicity against several lines of cancer cells (IC50 of 10(-6)-10(-5) M) while being non-toxic for normal cells.

Duality of donor-acceptor cyclopropane reactivity as a three-carbon component in five-membered ring construction: [3+2] annulation versus [3+2] cycloaddition.

Quo vadis? The Lewis acid catalyzed reaction of (hetero)aryl-derived donor-acceptor cyclopropanes with alkenes can be selectively directed along a [3+2] annulation pathway (see scheme). This new process provides convenient and efficient access to indanes and other cyclopentannulated (hetero)arenes, among which polyoxygenated 1-arylindanes exhibit significant cytotoxicity against several cancer cell lines with an IC50 of 10(-6)-10(-5) M.

(3 + 3)-Cyclodimerization of donor-acceptor cyclopropanes. Three routes to six-membered rings.

The ability of donor-acceptor cyclopropanes to (3 + 3)-cyclodimerize is disclosed. It has been found that Lewis acid-induced transformations of 2-(hetero)arylcyclopropane-1,1-dicarboxylates containing electron-abundant aromatic substituents led to the construction of six-membered cyclic systems. Depending on the substrate properties and the Lewis acid applied, three types of products can be obtained: (1) 1,4-diarylcyclohexanes, (2) 1-aryl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalenes, and (3) 9,10-dihydroanthracenes.