Jingxun
Yu‡
a,
Haichen
Ma‡
a,
Hongliang
Yao
a,
Hang
Cheng
a and
Rongbiao
Tong
*ab
aDepartment of Chemistry, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clearwater Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China. E-mail: rtong@ust.hk
bHKUST Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen, 518057, China
First published on 25th March 2016
Development of two new protocols for oxa-[3 + 2] cycloaddition reactions of Achmatowicz products with 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds for rapid and highly efficient assembly of polycyclic furopyranones is described. Plausible mechanisms were proposed to involve either Pd-catalyzed Tsuji–Trost allylation and concomitant oxa-Michael cyclization or quinine-promoted cascade Michael addition and SN2-type cycloacetalization.
The cyclization via path a11 might conceptually involve cascade Tsuji–Trost allylation13 and oxa-Michael14 cyclization while intermolecular Michael addition15 followed by acetalization might operate via path b.12 This mechanistic postulate guided us to examine the first step of the hypothetic cyclization via palladium catalysis (Tsuji–Trost allylation) or base/acid catalysis (Michael addition) since the second step was expected to occur concomitantly through a favourable 5-exo-trig or 5-exo-tet cyclization.16 Therefore, we first investigated the palladium-catalyzed reaction of readily available acetoxy pyranone trans-1a (or cis-1a) and 2-pyrone 2a (Table 1). To our delight, 1 mol% Pd(PPh3)4 was found to be effective for oxa-[3 + 2] cycloaddition, providing the desired cis-fused furopyranone trans-3a as the single diastereomer (dr > 30:1) with 83% yield (entry 1). Surprisingly, the cascade cyclization of the corresponding cis-1a and 2a delivered an inseparable mixture of trans-3a and cis-3a (trans/cis 7:10) under the identical reaction conditions (entry 2). Since it is well known that Tsuji–Trost allylation with soft nucleophiles (such as 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds) typically proceeds with a net retention of stereochemistry,17 we speculated that the poor diastereoselectivity for cis-1a might have arisen from the facile epimerization of the α chiral center of the carbonyl group in the presence of base via enol–keto tautomerization (Scheme 2). To suppress this potential epimerization and gain mechanistic insights into this unusual stereochemistry-dependent diastereoselectivity, we carried out the oxa-[3 + 2] cycloaddition reaction at variable temperature and time (entries 3–6). Apparently, at a lower reaction temperature (0 °C or −20 °C) and within a shorter reaction time (quenching the reaction within 2 minutes) the reaction of cis-1a or trans-1a with 2a proceeded with the expected retention of configuration and provided the corresponding products cis-3a and trans-3a, respectively, with excellent diastereoselectivity but low conversion. When cis-3a was subjected to heating conditions (entry 6), trans-3a was obtained exclusively (dr > 30:1) with 91% yield, which suggested that trans-3a was the thermodynamically more stable product. This finding prompted us to search for mild conditions that could exclusively produce trans-3a from both cis-1a and trans-1a. Preliminary screening of solvents (entries 7–9: DMF, THF and toluene), bases (entries 12–14: DBU, quinine and Et3N) and palladium catalysts [entries 9–12: Pd(PPh3)4, PdCl2, Pd2(dba)3 and Pd(OAc)2] led us to identify the optimal conditions for both substrates (entries 9 and 15): triethyl amine (1 eq.) as the base, Pd(PPh3)4 (1 mol%) as the catalyst and toluene as the solvent at room temperature for 30 min, which afforded trans-3a with an excellent yield (90% from cis-1a, 92% from trans-1a) and diastereoselectivity (trans-3a, dr > 30:1). The structures of cis-3a and trans-3a were confirmed by careful analysis of the spectral data (cis-fused furopyranone with a distinctive high value of J = 8 Hz and the nOe observed at H2 and H6).
Entry | Substrate | Pd cat. (1 mol%) | Base (1 eq.)/solvent | Temp (°C)/time (min) | Yieldc (%) (trans:cis)b |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
a The reaction was run with 0.1 mmol of 1a. b Ratio was determined by NMR analysis of the crude reaction mixture. c Combined yield after flash column chromatography on silica gel. DMF: N,N-dimethylformamide; THF, tetrahydrofuran; DCM: dichloromethane; Tol: toluene; DBU: 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene. | |||||
1 | trans-1a | Pd(PPh3)4 | Et3N/DCM | rt/30 | 83 (>30:1) |
2 | cis-1a | Pd(PPh3)4 | Et3N/DCM | rt/30 | 86 (7:10) |
3 | cis-1a | Pd(PPh3)4 | Et3N/DCM | 0/30 | 80 (1:10) |
4 | cis-1a | Pd(PPh3)4 | Et3N/DCM | −20 °C/2 | 10 (1:25) |
5 | trans-1a | Pd(PPh3)4 | Et3N/DCM | −20 °C/2 | 12 (>30:1) |
6 | cis-3a | Pd(PPh3)4 | Et3N/DCM | Reflux/300 | 91 (>30:1) |
7 | cis-1a | Pd(PPh3)4 | Et3N/DMF | rt/30 | 85 (8:1) |
8 | cis-1a | Pd(PPh3)4 | Et3N/THF | rt/30 | 60 (1:1) |
9 | cis- 1a | Pd(PPh 3 ) 4 | Et 3 N/Tol | rt/30 | 90 (>30:1) |
10 | cis-1a | Pd(OAc)2 | Et3N/Tol | rt/30 | 59 (>30:1) |
11 | cis-1a | PdCl2 | Et3N/Tol | rt/30 | 8 (>30:1) |
12 | cis-1a | Pd2(dba)3 | Et3N/Tol | rt/30 | 35 (>30:1) |
13 | cis-1a | Pd(PPh3)4 | DBU/Tol | rt/30 | 85 (>30:1) |
14 | cis-1a | Pd(PPh3)4 | Quinine/Tol | rt/30 | 89 (>30:1) |
15 | trans- 1a | Pd(PPh 3 ) 4 | Et 3 N/Tol | rt/30 | 92 (>30:1) |
On the basis of these results (Table 1), we proposed plausible mechanistic pathways for the oxa-[3 + 2] cycloaddition reaction (Scheme 2). The reaction of trans-1a and 2a (Nu−) was initiated by oxidative addition of palladium followed by a SN2-type nucleophilic substitution and subsequent intramolecular oxa-Michael cyclization (Scheme 2a). The oxa-[3 + 2] cycloaddition reaction of cis-1a with 2a involved similar oxidative addition of palladium and oxa-Michael cyclization, but it might operate differently in the course of substitution through path (I), probably due to the unfavourable steric interaction of the isopropyl group with the incoming nucleophile (2a). In path (I) the nucleophilic substitution occurs at the palladium followed by reductive elimination (III → IV → II), which resulted in a net inversion of stereochemistry.17 However, the reaction temperature and solvent (e.g., THF) might make path (II) a competitive pathway as shown in Table 1. It is less likely that epimerization of cis-3a to trans-3a occurred through enol–keto tautomerization under the mild reaction conditions within a short time because subjection of a mixture of cis-3a and trans-3a (cis/trans = 5/4) to the standard reaction conditions resulted in a small increase of the ratio of trans-3a (cis/trans 3/7).
Next, we turned our attention to explore the possibility of an oxa-[3 + 2] cycloaddition reaction via path b involving intermolecular Michael addition and concomitant acetalization under non-aqueous conditions (different from Ramasastry's conditions). We first investigated the reaction of trans-1a and 2a (Table 2). Fortunately, treatment of trans-1a and 2a with triethyl amine in DCM at reflux for 12 h provided the expected cis-fused furopyranone cis-4a in 60% yield with excellent diastereoselectivity (dr = 15:1). Encouraged by this result, we began to examine different bases (entries 1–7, 14 and 15) and solvents (entries 16–18) in order to identify the optimal reaction conditions (Table 2). It was found that in the presence of one equivalent of quinine18 (entry 8) the reaction proceeded cleanly and gave the best yield and stereoselectivity, which was in contrast to the inorganic base (entries 14 and 15) that could not promote the cycloaddition reaction. Interestingly, the extended reaction time and/or increased reaction temperature resulted in isomerization of cis-4a to trans-4a (entries 8–10). However, similar isomerization was not observed in the oxa-[3 + 2] cycloaddition reaction of cis-1a and 2a under the identical conditions via path b, which led to the exclusive formation of trans-4a (entries 11–13). These seemingly contradictory results might be attributed to the formation of the thermodynamically more stable trans-4a through the enol–keto tautomerization in the presence of a base at reflux (Scheme 3). The structures of cis-4a and trans-4a were unambiguously substantiated by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis (Fig. 1). Notably, the reaction of trans-1a and 2a under previously reported conditions12 (entry 19) was very sluggish (25% conversion at rt for 12 h) with poor diastereoselectivity (dr 3:1), which was in sharp contrast to the reported observation (NaHCO3, H2O, rt, 1 h, 88%).12
Entry | Substrate | Base (1 eq.) | Solvent | Temp (°C)/time (h) | Yieldc (%) (trans:cis)b |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
a The reaction was run with 0.1 mmol of 1a. b Ratio was determined by NMR analysis of the crude reaction mixture. c Combined yield after flash column chromatography on silica gel. d The reaction was performed in tube sealing at 70 °C for 36 h in DCM. TFA: trifluoroacetic acid. DABCO: triethylenediamine; DMAP: 4-dimethylaminopyridine. | |||||
1 | trans-1a | Et3N | DCM | Reflux/12 | 60 (1:15) |
2 | trans-1a | DBU | DCM | Reflux/12 | 53 (1:15) |
3 | trans-1a | (iPr)2NEt | DCM | Reflux/12 | 75 (1:1) |
4 | trans-1a | DABCO | DCM | Reflux/12 | 70 (1:10) |
5 | trans-1a | Pyridine | DCM | Reflux/12 | NR |
6 | trans-1a | Pyrrolidine | DCM | Reflux/12 | NR |
7 | trans-1a | DMAP | DCM | Reflux/12 | 75 (1:1) |
8 | trans- 1a | Quinine | DCM | Reflux/12 | 90 (1:15) |
9 | trans-1a | Quinine | DCM | Reflux/24 | 88 (1:10) |
10 | trans-1a | Quinine | DCM | Reflux/36d | 85 (>30:1) |
11 | cis-1a | Quinine | DCM | rt/5 | 21 (>30:1) |
12 | cis-1a | Quinine | DCM | rt/12 | 49 (>30:1) |
13 | cis- 1a | Quinine | DCM | Reflux/12 | 91 (>30:1) |
14 | trans-1a | NaHCO3 | DCM | Reflux/12 | NR |
15 | trans-1a | NaOH | DCM | Reflux/12 | NR |
16 | trans-1a | Quinine | Tol | 50 °C/12 | 80 (3:1) |
17 | trans-1a | Quinine | THF | 50 °C/12 | 75 (1:3) |
18 | trans-1a | Quinine | MeOH | rt/12 | trace |
19 | trans-1a | NaHCO3 (2 eq.) | H2O | rt/1 | 25 (3:1) |
Mechanistically, we speculated that the oxa-[3 + 2] cycloaddition reaction started with Michael addition,19 in which diastereoselectivity was controlled by the acetoxy group to avoid the otherwise steric interaction developed between the acetoxy group and the incoming nucleophile. The second step of the cascade sequence might involve transacetalization20 through an intramolecular SN2 substitution, which under basic conditions using CH2Cl2 as the aprotic solvent was promoted by dual activation21 through double hydrogen bonding interactions with quinine.22 Although transacetalization via the SN1 substitution (via oxonium ions)23 could not be ruled out and more experimental work is needed to further elucidate the detailed mechanism, we choose at this stage to further expand the substrate scope of these two novel oxa-[3 + 2] cycloaddition reactions.
With the optimized conditions in hand, the scope and limitations of both oxa-[3 + 2] cycloaddition reactions (path a versus path b) were examined with a small set of acetoxy-2-pyranones 1a–d and a series of 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds (2a–h) (Table 3). In general, both oxa-[3 + 2] cycloaddition reactions of acetoxy-2-pyranones with different substitutions at C6 (1a–d) and most six-membered cyclic 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds (2a–d)24 could proceed smoothly under our optimized conditions to provide the desired furopyranones (3b–l and 4b–p) in good to excellent yields (72–98%) with excellent diastereoselectivity (dr ≥ 10:1). Unexpectedly, 1,3-cyclopentanedione (2e), acyclic 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds (e.g., 2f and 2g) and triethyl phosphonoacetate (2h) did not react with any acetoxy-2-pyranones (2a–d) under various conditions, which could not be well rationalized at this point. It is noteworthy that a mixture of diastereomeric acetoxypyranones 1d could be employed for both the oxa-[3 + 2] cycloaddition reactions to provide the corresponding cyclization products as the single diastereomer with excellent yields (3d, 3h, 3l, 4d, 4h, 4l, 4p). Interestingly, the reaction of acetoxy-2-pyranones with Meldrum's acid25 (2d) under our quinine-mediated reaction conditions delivered the unexpected decarboxylation products (4m–n) in excellent yields, while Meldrum's acid was not reactive towards acetoxy-2-pyranones with palladium catalysis. Further exploration of this finding is ongoing and will be reported in due course.
a The reaction was run with 0.1 mmol of 1a–d. b Ratio was determined by NMR analysis of the crude reaction mixture. c Combined yield after flash column chromatography on silica gel. d All cascade reactions of 1d and 2a–d were carried out in tube sealing at 70 °C for 36 h in DCM. e The allylic substrate is a mixture of diastereomers (trans:cis = 3:2). |
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Footnotes |
† Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Detailed experimental procedures, characterization methods and copies of the 1H- and 13C-NMR spectra of new compounds. CCDC 1444735 (trans-4a) and 1444736 (cis-4a). For ESI and crystallographic data in CIF or other electronic format see DOI: 10.1039/c6qo00034g |
‡ These authors contributed equally to this work. |
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