Geometrical Optimization and Natural Bond Orbital Analysis of Relevant Structures in the Diastereoselective Cuprate Conjugate Addition Reaction of α,β-Unsaturated Lactams using Density Functional Theory

Abstract

In this study, density functional theory calculations at the wB97XD/Def2TZVPP level were performed to analyze the mechanism underlying the cuprate conjugate addition reaction of α,β-unsaturated lactams. The calculation results were well-aligned with those obtained experimentally–the keto-aminal and aldo-aminal, i.e. 2 and 1a, yield the syn- and anti-products, respectively. The diastereoselectivity reversal originates from the small differences in the structure of the reactants. The pyramidalization and C7N3C2 angle between the aminal carbon, nitrogen and carbonyl carbon are large in 2. The dihedral angle of the aminal oxygen, aminal carbon, nitrogen and carbonyl carbon, O8C7N3C2, is closer to 180º in 2 than in 1a. The NBO analysis revealed string interactions between the lone pair of N3 and carbonyl π*(O1–C2) bond. These results validate the assumption—the planarity around nitrogen in molecule 2 increases the nucleophilicity of the carbonyl oxygen, thereby driving the reaction between molecule 2 and trimethylsilyl chloride (TMSCl), which yields a siloxyiminium cation 5b and this 5b propels the syn addition of dimethylcuprate, leading to the formation of complex 7. The π(C5–C6) (HOMO) and π*(C2–N3) (LUMO) interactions in the siloxyiminium cation explain the increased C5–C6 double bond electrophilicity. The aldo-aminal 1a directly reacts with dimethylcuprate under steric control and yields the anti complex 6a, whose π character is stronger than that of the syn complex 7 and this weak π characteristics of 7 increases its stability to compensate for the trimethylsilyl disturbance. The bicyclic α,β-unsaturated lactam 8 does not contain aminal oxygen and thus remains unreactive during the cuprate conjugate addition reaction. Moreover, its pyramidalization is higher than that of the keto-aminal 2 and its dihedral angle of C8C7N3C2 is closer to 180º. Finally, a thermodynamic anti product is obtained, which is more stable than the syn- product because of less torsional strain.