Direct synthesis of benzofuro[2,3-b]pyrroles through a radical addition/[3,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement/cyclization/lactamization cascade.

A straightforward synthetic method for the construction of benzofuro[2,3-b]pyrrol-2-ones by a novel domino reaction through a radical addition/[3,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement/cyclization/lactamization cascade has been developed. The domino reaction of O-phenyl-conjugated oxime ether with an alkyl radical allows the construction of two heterocycles with three stereogenic centers as a result of the formation of two C-C bonds, a C-O bond, and a C-N bond in a single operation, leading to pyrrolidine-fused dihydrobenzofurans, which are not easily accessible by existing synthetic methods. Furthermore, asymmetric synthesis of benzofuro[2,3-b]pyrrol-2-one derivatives through a diastereoselective radical addition reaction to a chiral oxime ether was also developed.

Benzyl radical addition reaction through the homolytic cleavage of a benzylic C-H bond.

Direct generation of a benzyl radical by C-H bond activation of toluenes and the addition reaction of the resulting radical to an electron deficient olefin were developed. The reaction of dimethyl fumarate with toluene in the presence of Et(3)B as a radical initiator at reflux afforded 2-benzylsuccinic acid dimethyl ester in good yield.