(4+3) Cycloaddition Reactions of N-Alkyl Oxidopyridinium Ions.

N-Methylation of methyl 5-hydroxynicotinate followed by reaction with a diene in the presence of triethylamine afforded (4+3) cycloadducts in good to excellent yields. High regioselectivity was observed with 1-substituted and 1,2-disubstituted butadienes. Density functional theory calculations indicate that the cycloaddition involves concerted addition of the diene onto the oxidopyridinium ion.

Stereospecific synthesis of dienones via a torquoselective retro-Nazarov reaction.

[reaction: see text] Enol ethers are cleaved via a three-step sequence involving cycloaddition with dichloroketene, ring expansion with diazomethane, and a base-mediated retro-Nazarov reaction. The latter conrotatory process proceeds torquoselectively and stereospecifically in accord with theoretical predictions.

New synthesis of benzothiazines and benzoisothiazoles containing a sulfoximine functional group.

The reaction of S-2-bromophenyl-S-methylsulfoximine with terminal alkynes in the presence of a palladium catalyst resulted in the formation of both 1,2-benzothiazines and 1,2-benzoisothiazoles. A preference for the former was seen with alkylalkynes, while the latter were preferentially formed with alkynylarenes.

Combined computational and experimental studies of the mechanism and scope of the retro-Nazarov reaction.

Density functional theory calculations (B3LYP/6-31+G) demonstrate that conjugating and electron-donating substituents at carbons three and four of a cyclopentenyl oxyallylic cation should have a rate-accelerating effect on the retro-Nazarov reactions of these species. The retro-Nazarov reaction of these intermediates is predicted to exhibit significant torquoselectivity when carbon three is substituted with a methoxy and a methyl group. Experimental studies show that oxyallylic cations can undergo effective retro-Nazarov reactions when two alkyl and one aryl/vinyl groups are on carbons three and four.

The retro-Nazarov reaction.

Treatment of 2-bromo-4-t-butoxy-2-cyclopentenone with an amine base in refluxing trifluoroethanol afforded a ring-opened product in moderate yield. The mechanism of the reaction has been formulated as a retro-Nazarov reaction in which an oxyallylic cation undergoes ring-opening to a dienone. Several other examples of the reaction have been established through a protocol involving the conjugate addition of an organocuprate to 2-bromo-4-t-butoxy-2-cyclopentenone followed by treatment of the adducts with base in refluxing trifluoroethanol.