Jacob
Werth
and
Christopher
Uyeda
*
Department of Chemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA. E-mail: cuyeda@purdue.edu
First published on 2nd January 2018
A [i−PrPDI]CoBr2 complex (PDI = pyridine-diimine) catalyzes Simmons–Smith-type reductive cyclopropanation reactions using CH2Br2 in combination with Zn. In contrast to its non-catalytic variant, the cobalt-catalyzed cyclopropanation is capable of discriminating between alkenes of similar electronic properties based on their substitution patterns: monosubstituted > 1,1-disubstituted > (Z)-1,2-disubstituted > (E)-1,2-disubstituted > trisubstituted. This property enables synthetically useful yields to be achieved for the monocyclopropanation of polyalkene substrates, including terpene derivatives and conjugated 1,3-dienes. Mechanistic studies implicate a carbenoid species containing both Co and Zn as the catalytically relevant methylene transfer agent.
Despite the many notable contributions in Zn carbenoid chemistry, a persistent limitation of Simmons–Smith-type cyclopropanations is their poor selectivity when attempting to discriminate between multiple alkenes of similar electronic properties. For example, the terpene natural product limonene possesses a 1,1-disubstituted and a trisubstituted alkene. Friedrich reported that, under a variety of Zn carbenoid conditions, the two alkenes are cyclopropanated with similar rates, resulting in mixtures of monocyclopropanated (up to a 5:1 ratio of regioisomers) and dicyclopropanated products.8 This issue is exacerbated by the challenge associated with separating the two monocyclopropane regioisomers, which only differ in the position of a non-polar CH2 group. In general, synthetically useful regioselectivities in Simmons–Smith reactions are only observed for substrates containing directing groups.9
In principle, catalysis may provide an avenue to address selectivity challenges in Simmons–Smith-type cyclopropanations; however, unlike diazoalkane transfer reactions, which are catalyzed by a broad range of transition metal complexes,9b,10 there has been comparatively little progress toward the development of robust catalytic strategies for reductive cyclopropanations.11 Lewis acids in substoichiometric loadings have been observed to accelerate the Simmons–Smith reaction, but in many cases, this rate effect is restricted to allylic alcohol substrates.12,13
Recently, our group described an alternative approach to catalyzing reductive cyclopropanation reactions using a transition metal complex that is capable of activating the dihaloalkane reagent by C–X oxidative addition. A dinickel catalyst was shown to promote methylene14 and vinylidene15 transfer using CH2Cl2 and 1,1-dichloroalkenes in combination with Zn as a stoichiometric reductant. Here, we describe a mononuclear [PDI]Co (PDI = pyridine-diimine) catalyst16 that imparts a high degree of steric selectivity in the cyclopropanation of polyalkene substrates. Mechanistic studies suggest that the key intermediate responsible for methylene transfer is a heterobimetallic conjugate of Co and Zn.
Entry | Reaction conditions | Yield (3 + 4) | rr (3:4) | Yield 5 |
---|---|---|---|---|
a Reaction conditions: 4-vinylcyclohexene (0.14 mmol), CH2Cl2 (1.0 mL), 24 h, 22 °C. Yields and ratios of regioisomers were determined by GC analysis against an internal standard. | ||||
1 | CH2I2 (1.0 equiv.), Et2Zn (0.5 equiv.) | 28% | 1:6.7 | 3% |
2 | CH2I2 (1.0 equiv.), Et2Zn (1.0 equiv.) | 33% | 1:4.6 | 5% |
3 | CH2I2 (2.0 equiv.), Et2Zn (2.0 equiv.) | 53% | 1:6.5 | 16% |
4 | CH2I2 (1.0 equiv.), Et2Zn (1.0 equiv.), 3,5-difluorobenzoic acid (2.0 equiv.) | 28% | 1:3.5 | 19% |
5 | CH2I2 (2.0 equiv.), Et2Zn (2.0 equiv.), TiCl4 (0.2 equiv.) | 13% | 1:4.6 | 1% |
6 | CH2I2 (1.2 equiv.), AlEt3 (1.2 equiv.) | 38% | 1:3.1 | 9% |
In a survey of transition metal catalysts, the [i−PrPDI]CoBr2 complex 1 was identified as a highly regioselective catalyst for the cyclopropanation of 4-vinyl-1-cyclohexene, targeting the less hindered terminal alkene (Table 2). CH2Br2 and Zn alone do not afford any background levels of cyclopropanation (entry 1); however, the addition of 6 mol% [i−PrPDI]CoBr2 (1) provided monocyclopropane 3 (81% yield) with a >50:1 rr and <1% of the dicyclopropane product (entry 5). The steric profile of the catalyst appears to be critically important for yield. For example, the mesityl- (entry 6) and phenyl-substituted variants (entry 7) of the ligand provided only 58% and 4% yield respectively under the same reaction conditions. Related N-donor ligands similarly afforded low levels of conversion (entries 8–12) as did the use of other first-row transition metals, including Fe (entry 14) and Ni (entry 15), in the place of Co.
Entry | Metal source | Ligand | Yield (3 + 4) | rr (3:4) | Yield 5 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
a Reaction conditions: 4-vinylcyclohexene (0.14 mmol), THF (1.0 mL), 24 h, 22 °C. Yields and ratios of regioisomers were determined by GC analysis against an internal standard. | |||||
1 | — | — | <1% | — | <1% |
2 | CoBr2 | — | <1% | — | <1% |
3 | Co(DME)Br2 | — | <1% | — | <1% |
4 | — | i−PrPDI | <1% | — | <1% |
5 | CoBr2 | i−PrPDI | 81% | >50:1 | <1% |
6 | CoBr2 | MePDI | 58% | >50:1 | <1% |
7 | CoBr2 | PhPDI | 4% | — | <1% |
8 | CoBr2 | i−PrDAD | <1% | — | <1% |
9 | CoBr2 | i−PrIP | 2% | — | <1% |
10 | CoBr2 | Terpy | 4% | — | <1% |
11 | CoBr2 | t−BuPyBOX | <1% | — | <1% |
12 | CoBr2 | PhPyBOX | <1% | — | <1% |
13 | CoBr2 | PPh3 (12 mol%) | <1% | — | 0% |
14 | FeBr2 | i−PrPDI | 3% | — | <1% |
15 | NiBr2 | i−PrPDI | <1% | — | <1% |
In order to define the selectivity properties of catalyst 1, we next conducted competition experiments using alkenes bearing different patterns of substitution (Fig. 2). Reactions were carried out using an equimolar amount of each alkene and run to full conversion of the limiting CH2Br2 reagent (1.0 equiv.). Monosubstituted alkenes are the most reactive class of substrates using 1 but are not adequately differentiated from 1,1-disubstituted alkenes (3:1). By contrast, terminal alkenes are significantly more reactive than internal alkenes, providing synthetically useful selectivities (≥31:1). Furthermore, a model Z-alkene was cyclopropanated in preference to its E-alkene congener in a 33:1 ratio. Using catalyst 1, trisubstituted alkenes are poorly reactive, and no conversion is observed for tetrasubstituted alkenes.
The synthetic applications of the catalytic regioselective cyclopropanation were examined using the terpene natural products and derivatives shown in Fig. 3. In all cases, the selectivity properties follow the trends established in the competition experiments. Substrates containing ether or free alcohol functionalities (e.g., 7, 10, and 11) exhibit a strong directing group effect under classical Simmons–Smith conditions; however, catalyst 1 overrides this preference and targets the less hindered alkene. Additionally, the presence of electron-deficient α,β-unsaturated carbonyl systems (e.g., 9, 13, and 14) do not perturb the expected steric selectivity.
Fig. 3 Catalytic regioselective monocyclopropanations of terpene natural products and derivatives. Isolated yields following purification are averaged over two runs. |
Vinylcyclopropanes are a valuable class of synthetic intermediates that engage in catalytic strain-induced ring-opening reactions.20 The monocyclopropanation of a diene represents an attractive approach to their synthesis but would require a catalyst that is capable of imparting a high degree of regioselectivity and avoiding secondary additions to form dicyclopropane products.21 These challenges are addressed for a variety of diene classes using catalyst 1 (Fig. 4). Over the substrates that we have examined, the selectivities for cyclopropanation of the terminal over the internal double bond of the diene system are uniformly high. Additionally, the catalyst is tolerant of vinyl bromide (15) and vinyl boronate (23) functional groups, which are commonly used in cross-coupling reactions.
Fig. 4 Catalytic regioselective monocyclopropanations of 1,3-dienes. Isolated yields following purification are averaged over two runs. |
Like the non-catalytic Simmons–Smith reaction,2c the cyclopropanation using 1 is stereospecific within the limit of detection, implying a mechanism in which the two C–C σ-bonds are either formed in a concerted fashion or by a stepwise process that does not allow for single bond rotation. For example, cyclopropanation of the Z-alkene 24 affords the cis-disubstituted cyclopropane 25 in 95% yield as a single diastereomer (Fig. 5a). Furthermore, the vinylcyclopropane substrates 26 and 28, commonly used as tests for cyclopropylcarbinyl radical intermediates, react without ring-opening to afford products 27 and 29 (Fig. 5b).
Under standard catalytic conditions, the reaction mixtures using 1 adopt a deep violet color, which persists until complete consumption of the alkene. The UV-vis spectrum of the catalytic mixture at partial conversion is consistent with a Co(I) resting state (Fig. 6a). The authentic [i−PrPDI]CoBr complex (30) can be prepared by stirring the [i−PrPDI]CoBr2 complex 1 over excess Zn metal.22 Cyclic voltammetry data (Fig. 6b) indicates an E1/2 for the Co(II)/Co(I) redox couple of −1.00 V vs. Fc/Fc+. The large peak-to-peak separation (0.96 V in 0.3 M [n-Bu4N][PF6]/THF) is characteristic of a slow bromide dissociation step following electron transfer. The second Co(I)/Co(0) reduction event is significantly more cathodic at −1.93 V and is inaccessible using Zn.
In order to decouple the cyclopropanation steps of the mechanism from catalyst turnover, we conducted stoichiometric reactions with the isolated [i−PrPDI]CoBr complex in the absence of Zn (Fig. 6c). The reaction of 30 with 4-vinylcyclohexene and CH2Br2 generates the [i−PrPDI]CoBr2 complex 1 within 24 h at room temperature but forms cyclopropanated products in a relatively low combined yield of 26%, which is not commensurate with the efficiency of the catalytic process. Furthermore, the regioselectivity is only 3:1, whereas the catalytic cyclopropanation achieves a >50:1 selectivity for this substrate. When the same stoichiometric reaction is conducted in the presence of ZnBr2, the yield and selectivity of the catalytic process is fully restored.
The Co-containing product (31) of the stoichiometric reaction in the presence of ZnBr2 is green, which is notably distinct from the tan color of the [i−PrPDI]CoBr2 complex 1. This green species is NMR silent but may be crystallized from saturated solutions in Et2O to afford 31 (Fig. 6f). The solid-state structure reveals the expected [i−PrPDI]CoBr2 fragment in a distorted square pyramidal geometry (τ5 = 0.36) with a Zn(THF/Et2O)Br2 Lewis acid coordinated to one of the Br ligands. This interaction induces an asymmetry in the structure, causing the Co–Br1 distance (2.557(1) Å) to be elongated relative to the Co–Br2 distance (2.358(2) Å).
Collectively, these studies suggest that both Co and Zn are present in the reactive carbenoid intermediate, and that ZnBr2 may interact with the [i−PrPDI]Co complex through Lewis acid–base interactions. There is a notable similarity between the observed Co/Zn effect and previous studies of Lewis acid acceleration in the Simmons–Smith cyclopropanation. For example, Zn carbenoid reactions are known to be accelerated by the presence of ZnX2,12c which is generated as a byproduct of the reaction. DFT calculations conducted by Nakamura have suggested that the origin of this rate acceleration may be due to the accessibility of a five-membered ring transition state, which requires the presence of an additional Zn equivalent to function as a halide shuttle.23
Footnote |
† Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Experimental procedures and characterization data. CCDC 1584851. For ESI and crystallographic data in CIF or other electronic format see DOI: 10.1039/c7sc04861k |
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