Radical versus Non-Radical Reactivity in - and -Quinonedimethides and Implications for Cycloaddition Mechanisms.

The latent singlet diradical character of the parent -quinonedimethide (-QDM), as revealed by valence bond calculations, is demonstrated experimentally by trapping with the kinetically stable free radical TEMPO at room temperature. In the absence of TEMPO, the main pathway for decomposition at ambient temperature is not (as previously proposed in the literature) a radical reaction but instead a concerted Diels-Alder dimerization, which through ωB97X-D/aug-cc-pVTZ/SMD//M06-2X-D3/6-31+G(d,p)/SMD calculations is shown to proceed through an ambimodal bispericyclic transition state. The predominantly non-radical reactivity of -QDM at room temperature differs from that of its isomeric -quinonedimethide (-QDM) congener, which self-reacts through radical pathways.

Reductive Metallation of Dendralenes and Myrcene Using Dimagnesium(I) Compounds: A Facile Route to Unsaturated Organomagnesium Compounds.

The two-electron reduction of 2,3-dimethylbuta-1,3-diene (DMB) with β-diketiminate and guanidinate substituted dimagnesium(I) compounds has given complexes in which two bidentate amido-magnesium fragments are bridged through the π-system of the DMB dianion, viz. [(LMg) (μ-DMB)] (L= Nacnac, [HC(MeCNXyl) ] , Xyl=2,6-xylyl; or Priso=[(DipN) CNPr ] , Dip=2,6-diisopropylphenyl). Similar double reductions of [4]dendralene (4dend) have afforded the complexes, [(LMg) (μ-4dend)] (L= Nacnac, Ar=Xyl or mesityl (Mes); or Priso) in which the 4dend dianion is π-coordinated to the bidentate amido-magnesium fragments.

Air Tolerant Cadiot-Chodkiewicz and Sonogashira Cross-Couplings.

Cadiot-Chodkiewicz cross-couplings generate an unsymmetric buta-1,3-diyne by way of a Cu(I)-catalyzed coupling between a terminal alkyne and a 1-haloalkyne. Despite their widespread use, Cadiot-Chodkiewicz reactions are plagued by the generation of symmetric buta-1,3-diyne side products, formed through competing: (a) formal reductive homo-coupling of the 1-haloalkyne and (b) oxidative (Glaser-Hay/Eglinton) homo-coupling of the terminal alkyne. To overcome this issue, a large excess of one of the two reacting alkynes is commonly deployed, and difficult separations of cross- and homo-coupled products are often encountered.

Computational and Experimental Confirmation of the Diradical Character of -Quinonedimethide.

The ground-state structure of the parent -quinonedimethide (-QDM) molecule is generally represented in its closed shell form, i.e., as a cyclic, nonaromatic, through-conjugated/cross-conjugated hybrid comprising four C═C bonds.

A General Stereoselective Synthesis of [4]Dendralenes.

The first general synthesis of branched tetraenes ([4]dendralenes) involves two or three steps from inexpensive, commodity chemicals. It involves an unprecedented variation on Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling, generating two new C-C bonds in a one-flask operation with control of diastereoselectivity. The broad scope of the method is established through the synthesis of more than 60 diversely substituted [4]dendralene molecules, along with substituted buta-1,3-dienes and other []dendralenes.

Total Synthesis of Matrine Alkaloids.

The total synthesis of three diastereomeric matrine natural products is reported. The 8-step synthesis commences with simple acyclic precursors, forms all 4 rings of the tetracyclic natural product framework, and forges 10 of the 20 covalent bonds of the target structure. A cross-conjugated triene is positioned at the core of an acyclic branched structure.

Enantioselective oxa-Diels-Alder Sequences of Dendralenes.

Diene-transmissive hetero-Diels-Alder sequences involving carbonyl dienophiles are reported for the first time. High enantioselectivities are achieved in the reaction of phenylglyoxal with a broad range of dendralene structures, through the optimization of a Pd catalyst system. The initial catalyst-controlled enantioselective oxa-Diels-Alder (ODA) cycloaddition to a [3]dendralene generates a dihydropyran carrying a semicyclic diene.

Tuning Photoenolization-Driven Cycloadditions Using Theory and Spectroscopy.

The first broad spectrum investigation into the photoenolization/Diels-Alder (PEDA) sequence was carried out using M06-2X/6-31+G(d,p) in conjunction with SMD solvation and supported by experimental UV-vis spectroscopy. A test set of 20 prodienes was chosen to examine the role of the H atom acceptor group (substituted and unsubstituted carbonyl, thiocarbonyl, and imine), the H atom donor group, and bystander ring substituents. As reaction partners for the photogenerated dienes, a diverse test set of 20 dienophiles was examined, comprising electron rich, electron poor, neutral, strain activated, hydrocarbon, and heteroatom-containing molecules including CO and CO.

Substituted Tetraethynylethylene-Tetravinylethylene Hybrids.

A general synthetic approach to molecular structures that are hybrids of tetraethynylethylene (TEE) and tetravinylethylene (TVE) is reported. The synthesis permits the controlled preparation of many previously inaccessible structures, including examples with different substituents on each of the four branching arms. Most substituted TVE-TEE hybrids are found to be significantly more robust compounds than their unsubstituted counterparts, enhancing the prospects of their deployment in conducting materials and devices.

Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization-Inspired Room Temperature (sp)C-N Coupling.

A simple nonphotochemical procedure is reported for Cu(I)-catalyzed C-N coupling of aliphatic halides with amines and amides. The process is loosely based on the Goldberg reaction but takes place readily at room temperature. It uses Cu(I)Br, a commonly used and inexpensive atom transfer radical polymerization precatalyst, along with the cheap ligand -pentamethyldiethylenetriamine, to activate the R-X bond of the substrate via inner-sphere electron transfer.

Five Step Total Synthesis of Lythranidine.

A concise synthesis of the alkaloid lythranidine is reported. The strategy exploits the target's local C symmetry by adopting a two directional synthetic approach, first in an acyclic environment, then in a cyclic system and finally in a bridged macrocyclic domain. The latter phase of the synthesis, which installs all four stereocenters, involves a thermodynamically controlled, twofold intermolecular/transannular aza-Michael addition and a twofold hydride reduction.

A general synthesis of dendralenes.

The first general synthetic approach to substituted [3]- and higher dendralenes is reported. Fifty-one mono- through to penta-substituted dendralenes carrying alkyl-, cycloalkyl-, alkenyl-, alkynyl-, aryl- and heteroaryl-substitutents are accessed, and the first ()/()-stereoselective syntheses of dendralenes are reported (twenty-eight examples). The approach involves twofold Pd(0)-catalyzed Negishi couplings of 1,1-dibromoalkenes with alkenylzinc reagents, and exploits both substrate- and catalyst-controlled aspects of chemo-, regio- and stereoselectivity in the two C(sp)-C(sp) bond forming steps.

Synthesis and Properties of 2,3-Diethynyl-1,3-Butadienes.

The first general preparative access to compounds of the 2,3-diethynyl-1,3-butadiene (DEBD) class is reported. The synthesis involves a one-pot, twofold Sonogashira-type, Pd -catalyzed coupling of two terminal alkynes and a carbonate derivative of a 2-butyne-1,4-diol. The synthesis is broad in scope and members of this structural family are kinetically stable enough to be handled using standard laboratory techniques at ambient temperature.

Unlocking Acyclic π-Bond Rich Structure Space with Tetraethynylethylene-Tetravinylethylene Hybrids.

Literature reports describe tetraethynylethylene (TEE) as unstable but tetravinylethylene (TVE) as stable. The stabilities of these two known compounds are reinvestigated, along with those of five unprecedented TEE-TVE hybrid compounds. The five new C hydrocarbons possess a core, tetrasubstituted C═C bond carrying all possible combinations of vinyl and ethynyl groups.

Diene-Transmissive Enantioselective Diels-Alder Reactions and Sequences Involving Substituted Dendralenes.

Readily available and stable substituted [3]dendralenes undergo highly chemo-, regio-, diastereo-, and enantioselective organocatalyzed Diels-Alder reactions with acrolein to form enantiomerically enriched cycloadducts. These monocycloadducts carry semicyclic dienes that undergo a second, substrate-controlled diastereoselective Diels-Alder reaction with a different dienophile to form 2-fold cycloadducts. Overall, annulated, functional group rich, chiral Δ-octalin building blocks are accessed in one-pot operations that significantly extend the preparative value of diene-transmissive Diels-Alder sequences since they offer products of regio- and stereochemistry complementary to those generated from the parent, unsubstituted [3]dendralene.

Diene-Transmissive Diels-Alder Sequences with Benzynes.

Diene-transmissive Diels-Alder (DTDA) sequences are extraordinarily powerful processes for the generation of fused bicyclic systems. Nonetheless, only stable dienophiles have previously been deployed. Herein we report DTDA sequences with a variety of substituted [3]dendralenes in the first study to deploy arynes as dienophiles.

Tetravinylallene.

The first chemical synthesis of tetravinylallene (3,5-divinylhepta-1,3,4,6-tetraene) is reported. The final, key step of the synthesis involves a palladium-catalyzed, Negishi-type cross-coupling involving 1,5-transposition of a penta-2-en-4-yn-1-ol methanesulfonate. The unprecedented fundamental hydrocarbon is sufficiently stable to be purified by flash chromatography.

A Broad-Spectrum Synthesis of Tetravinylethylenes.

The first general synthesis of compounds of the tetravinylethylene (TVE) family is reported. Ramirez-type dibromo-olefination of readily accessible penta-1,4-dien-3-ones generates 3,3-dibromo[3]dendralenes, which undergo twofold Negishi, Suzuki-Miyaura or Mizoroki-Heck reactions with a wide variety of olefinic coupling partners. This route delivers a broad range of unsymmetrically substituted tetravinylethylenes with up to three different alkenyl substituents attached to the central C=C bond.

Four-Step Total Synthesis of Selaginpulvilin D.

An extremely concise total synthesis of a potent phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitory natural product, selaginpulvilin D, is reported. The synthesis features a one-pot, 3-fold electrophilic aromatic substitution sequence to assemble a 9,9-diarylfluorene core. The approach allows access to useful quantities of a selaginpulvilin natural product for the first time.

Preparation of an ion with the highest calculated proton affinity: -diethynylbenzene dianion.

Owing to the increased proton affinity that results from additional negative charges, multiply-charged anions have been proposed as one route to prepare and access a range of new and powerful "superbases". Paradoxically, while the additional electrons in polyanions increase basicity they serve to diminish the electron binding energy and thus, it had been thought, hinder experimental synthesis. We report the synthesis and isolation of the -diethynylbenzene dianion (-DEB) and present observations of this novel species undergoing gas-phase proton-abstraction reactions.

Direct Cross-Couplings of Propargylic Diols.

[Pd(PPh3 )4 ] catalyzes a Suzuki-Miyaura-like twofold cross-coupling sequence between underivatized propargylic diols and either aryl or alkenyl boronic acids to furnish highly substituted 1,3-dienes. Thus, 2,3-diaryl-1,3-butadienes and their dialkenic congeners ([4]dendralenes) are delivered in a (pseudo)halogen-free, single-step synthesis which supersedes existing methods. Allenols are also readily formed.

Multicomponent Diene-Transmissive Diels-Alder Sequences Featuring Aminodendralenes.

1-Aminodecalins were prepared from acyclic precursors by combining the powerful twofold diene-transmissive Diels-Alder chemistry of [3]dendralenes with the simplicity of enamine formation. On mixing at ambient temperature, a simple dienal condenses with a primary or secondary amine to generate the enamine, a 1-amino-[3]dendralene in situ, and this participates as a double diene in a sequence of two Diels-Alder events with separate dienophiles. Overall, four C-C bonds and one C-N bond are formed.

Synthesis and Diels-Alder Reactivity of Substituted [4]Dendralenes.

The first synthesis of all five possible monomethylated [4]dendralenes has been achieved via two distinct synthetic strategies. The Diels-Alder chemistry of these new dendralenes (as multidienes) with an electron poor dienophile, N-methylmaleimide (NMM), has been studied. Thus, simply upon mixing the dendralene and an excess of dienophile at ambient temperature in a common solvent, sequences of cycloadditions result in the rapid generation of complex multicyclic products.