Stereoselective Synthesis of Tetrahydroindolizines through the Catalytic Formation of Pyridinium Ylides from Diazo Compounds.

Commercially available iron(III) and copper(I) complexes catalyzed multicomponent cycloaddition reactions between diazo compounds, pyridines, and electrophilic alkenes to give alkaloid-inspired tetrahydroindolizidines in high yield with high diastereoselectivity. Hitherto, the catalytic formation of versatile pyridinium ylides from metal carbenes has been poorly developed; the broad utility demonstrated herein sets the stage for the invention of further multicomponent reactions in future.

Alkaloid inspired spirocyclic oxindoles from 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of pyridinium ylides.

Cycloaddition reactions between pyridinium ylides and 3-alkenyl oxindoles that proceed in high yield and with very good regio- and diastereoselectivity are reported. The resulting cycloadducts have the same stereochemistry of biologically active oxindole alkaloids, such as strychnofoline.

Remarkably slow rotation about a single bond between an sp(3)-hybridised carbon atom and an aromatic ring without ortho substituents.

Look, no ortho substituents! A series of polycycles were prepared by using a three-component Joullié-Ugi reaction. The rate of rotation about the bond between a highly hindered bridgehead and a phenyl ring with no ortho substituents was measured, and was highly dependent on the substitution. Rotamer half-lives of up to 21 h at 298 K were observed (see figure). Rotamers resulting from this restricted rotation were isolated for the first time.A series of polycycles was prepared by using a three-component Joullié-Ugi reaction. The rate of rotation about the bond between a highly hindered bridgehead and a phenyl ring with no ortho substituents was measured by using, in general, variable-temperature HPLC. The rate of rotation was highly dependent on substitution and rotamer half-lives of up to 21 h at 298 K were observed. Insights into the effect of substitution on the rate of rotation were gleaned through electronic structure calculations on closely related derivatives. Rotamers resulting from restricted rotation about a bond between an sp(3)-hybridised carbon atom and a phenyl ring with no ortho substituents were isolated for the first time, and the equilibration of the separated rotamers was followed by using analytical HPLC. It was demonstrated, for the first time, that a highly hindered environment for the sp(3)-hybridised atom is sufficient for slow bond rotation about a single bond between sp(3)- and sp(2)-hybridised carbon atoms.

Catalytic aza-Wittig cyclizations for heteroaromatic synthesis.

The first examples of heterocycle synthesis by iminophosphorane formation/intramolecular aza-Wittig cyclizations that are catalytic in the organophosphorus component are reported. The reaction has been demonstrated in the synthesis of both azine (phenanthridine) and azole (benzoxazole) heterocycles. Catalyst loadings down to 1 mol % have been used with little or no loss in reaction efficiency. The intimate involvement of the phosphine oxide in the catalytic cycle has been verified by in situ infrared spectroscopy.