aza-Prins Cyclization Research Articles

Stereoselective synthesis of gem-dihalopiperidines via the halo-aza-Prins cyclization reaction: access to piperidin-4-ones and pyridines.

An efficient methodology for the synthesis of 4,4-dihalopiperidine derivatives in excellent yields has been developed using N-(3-halobut-3-en-1-yl)-4-methylbenzenesulfonamide and an aldehyde catalyzed by In(OTf)3. The reaction involves an initial formation of a six-membered carbocation via the aza-Prins cyclization reaction followed by a nucleophilic attack by a halide ion to give 4,4-dihalopiperidine. The dihalopiperidine is converted to tetrahydropiperidinone using Ac2O/Et3N in DCM/H2O (1 : 1). It is also utilized for the synthesis of pyridine scaffolds by treatment with DBU. Furthermore, the dihalopiperidine is transformed to its enol ether derivatives using KOH in alcohol.

BiBr3 -Mediated Intramolecular Aza-Prins Cyclization of Aza-Achmatowicz Rearrangement Products: Asymmetric Total Synthesis of Suaveoline and Sarpagine Alkaloids.

An intramolecular aza-Prins cyclization of aza-Achmatowicz rearrangement products was developed in which bismuth tribromide (BiBr3 ) plays a dual role as an efficient Lewis acid and source of the bromide nucleophile. This approach enables the facile construction of highly functionalized 9-azabicyclo[3.3.1]nonanes (9-ABNs), which are valuable synthetic building blocks and a powerful platform for the synthesis of a variety of alkaloid natural products and drug molecules. Suitable substrates for the aza-Prins cyclization include 1,1-disubstituted alkenes, 1,2-disubstituted alkenes, alkynes, and allenes, with good to excellent yields observed. Finally, we showcase the application of this new approach to the enantioselective total synthesis of six indole alkaloids: (-)-suaveoline (1), (-)-norsuaveoline (2), (-)-macrophylline (3), (+)-normacusine B (4), (+)-Na -methyl-16-epipericyclivine (5) and (+)-affinisine (6) in a total of 9-14 steps. This study significantly expands the synthetic utility of the aza-Achmatowicz rearrangement, and the strategy (aza-Achmatowicz/aza-Prins) is expected to be applicable to the total synthesis of other members of the big family of macroline and sarpagine indole alkaloids.

Synthesis of Tetrahydroazepines through Silyl Aza-Prins Cyclization Mediated by Iron(III) Salts

A new methodology for the synthesis of seven-membered unsaturated azacycles (tetrahydroazepines) was developed. It is based on the powerful aza-Prins cyclization in combination with the Peterson-type elimination reaction. In a single reaction step, a C–N, C–C bond and an endocyclic double bond are formed. Under mild reaction conditions and using iron(III) salts as sustainable catalysts, tetrahydroazepines with different degrees of substitution are obtained directly and efficiently. DFT calculations supported the proposed mechanism.

Iron(III)-Catalyzed Synthesis of 2-Alkyl Homoallyl Sulfonyl Amides: Antiproliferative Study and Reactivity Scope of Aza-Prins Cyclization.

A direct, catalytic, and complementary method to obtain 2-substituted homoallyl sulfonyl amides is described, starting from sulfonyl amides, aldehydes, and allyltrimethylsilane using iron(III) chloride as a sustainable catalyst. The scope of the process and the reactivity in aza-Prins cyclization is evaluated and supported by density functional theory (DFT) studies. Finally, an evaluation of the antiproliferative activity for this family of sulfonyl amides is also included.

Synthesis of Highly Functionalized Pyridines: A Metal-Free Cascade Process

Herein, we report a new process for the synthesis of highly functionalized pyridines based on a tandem Pummerer-type rearrangement, aza-Prins cyclization, and elimination-induced aromatization. This formal [5+1] cyclization provides pyridines in good yields with easily accessible starting materials. The synthetic potential of our new method is further demonstrated in the modification of the frameworks of BINOL and some natural products.

Synthesis of Six-Membered Spiro Azacyclic Oxindole Derivatives via a One-Pot Process of Umpolung Allylation/Aza-Prins Cyclization.

An unprecedented synthetic approach involving umpolung allylation/aza-Prins cyclization of N-2,2,2-trifluoroethylisatin ketimines is described. The reactions proceed smoothly with allyl bromide in the presence of 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene, H2O, and trimethylsilyl bromide; this one-pot protocol allows access to six-membered spiro azacyclic oxindole derivatives in good to excellent yields. Notably, while the general aza-Prins cyclization involves amines and aldehydes, the present synthetic strategy represents the first aza-Prins cyclization that utilizes the umpolung property of N-2,2,2-trifluoroethylisatin ketimines.

One-Pot Oxidative C-H Activation/Aza-Prins-Type Reaction of Tertiary Alkynylamines: A Counter Ion-Induced Iminium Ion-Alkyne Cyclization.

Herein, the design and development of a new one-pot and metal-free oxidative C-H activation/aza-Prins type cyclization of alkynylamines is reported. The scope of this method was demonstrated by the preparation of ten new pyrido[2,1-a]isoquinolines in moderate to high yields (38-92%). Furthermore, a mechanistic proposal for the alkyne aza-Prins cyclization is described based on DFT calculations.

Total Synthesis of Talatisamine: Exploration of Convergent Synthetic Strategies

Abstract Talatisamine (1) is a highly oxygenated C19-diterpenoid alkaloid with K+ channel inhibitory, antiarrhythmic, and neuroprotective activities. Its intricately fused 6/7/5/6/6/5-membered hexacyclic structure (ABCDEF-ring) possesses one nitrogen functionality, five oxygen functionalities, and 12 contiguously aligned stereocenters. This account describes the development of convergent strategies to efficiently assemble this synthetically challenging natural product. First, we explored two radical-based strategies. Treatment of the AE-ring with Et3B and O2 generated a highly reactive C11-bridgehead radical, which sequentially added to the C-ring and the aldehyde via a radical-polar crossover mechanism to afford ACE-ring substructure 6 in a single step. Alternatively, after coupling of the AE-ring and C-ring, the C11-bridgehead radical was utilized to cyclize the central 7-membered B-ring. The 6-membered D-ring was then forged by selenium-induced 6-endo cyclization to furnish ABCDE-ring 3. Second, we pursued a skeletal rearrangement strategy, which culminated in the total synthesis of 1. The D-ring was coupled with the AE-ring as the aromatic ring. Oxidative dearomatization, followed by Diels-Alder reaction, led to the 6/6-membered ring system, which was transformed into the 7/5-membered BC-ring through a stereospecific Wagner-Meerwein rearrangement. Finally, Hg(OAc)2 induced an oxidative aza-Prins cyclization to form the remaining 5-membered F-ring, thereby completing the chemical construction of 1.

Synthesis of α-(aminoethyl)-α,β-enones via alkyne aza-Prins cyclization and their synthetic application to pyrrolidines.

We developed a synthetic method for α-(aminoethyl)-α,β-enones from aryl-substituted homopropargyl sulfonamides and aldehydes, representing the first synthesis of conjugated enones via alkyne aza-Prins cyclization. These products could be converted into pyrrolidines by a formal 5-endo-trig cyclization.

Short Synthesis of Alkaloid (-)-205B.

The alkaloid (-)-205B has in the past served as a testing ground for novel approaches in nitrogen heterocycle synthesis. We herein report a highly straightforward synthesis of (-)-205B in just six synthetic steps, making it the shortest route currently known. The central steps of our approach are a vinylogous Mukaiyama-Mannich reaction to establish the first two stereogenic centers with excellent diastereo- and enantiocontrol followed by zinc-mediated Barbier allylation to set the third chiral center with high substrate control. Upon cyclization of the Barbier product to lactam and enolate methylation, the third ring is annulated by a one-pot sequence of lactam reduction and aza-Prins cyclization to directly set the final stereogenic center with complete cis-stereoselectivity. As the iminium ion undergoing the aza-Prins cyclization rapidly isomerized to a planar enamine intermediate, the alkaloid was eventually obtained as a 1:1 mixture of C6 diastereomers, which were readily separated by chromatography. Yet, the target natural product was obtained isomerically pure in an overall yield of 12%, which compares favorably with all previous syntheses.

Total Synthesis of Talatisamine.

Talatisamine (1) is a member of the C19 -diterpenoid alkaloid family, and exhibits K+ channel inhibitory and antiarrhythmic activities. The formidable synthetic challenge that 1 presents is due to its highly oxidized and intricately fused hexacyclic 6/7/5/6/6/5-membered-ring structure (ABCDEF-ring) with 12 contiguous stereocenters. Here we report an efficient synthetic route to 1 by the assembly of two structurally simple fragments, chiral 6/6-membered AE-ring 7 and aromatic 6-membered D-ring 6. AE-ring 7 was constructed from 2-cyclohexenone (8) through fusing an N-ethylpiperidine ring by a double Mannich reaction. After coupling 6 with 7, an oxidative dearomatization/Diels-Alder reaction sequence generated fused pentacycle 4 b. The newly formed 6/6-membered ring system was then stereospecifically reorganized into the 7/5-membered BC-ring of 3 via a Wagner-Meerwein rearrangement. Finally, Hg(OAc)2 induced an oxidative aza-Prins cyclization of 2, thereby forging the remaining 5-membered F-ring. The total synthesis of 1 was thus accomplished by optimizing and orchestrating 33 transformations from 8.

Alkyne aza-Prins cyclization of N-(hexa-3,5-diynyl)tosylamides with aldehydes using triflic acid and a binuclear aluminum complex.

The alkyne aza-Prins cyclization of 3,5-diynyl amides and various aldehydes was developed using TfOH with/without (Me2AlO)2SO2. This method, which could be applied to homopropargyl amides, provides TfO-substituted pyrrolidines with E-selectivities and exclusive regioselectivities. This work represents a first example of the aza-Prins cyclization with the introduction of TfO groups.

Stereoselective Synthesis of Pyrroloisoindolone and Pyridoisoindolone via aza-Prins Cyclization of Endocyclic N-Acyliminium Ions.

A simple methodology has been developed for the synthesis of substituted pyrroloisoindolone and pyridoisoindolone via aza-Prins cyclization of endocyclic N-acyliminium ions, which are derived from the triflic acid treatment of regioselectively reduced N-homopropargyl imides in excellent yields. The reaction is highly diastereoselective, and only one diastereoisomer is formed during the reaction. The methodology can be utilized for the synthesis of pyrimidoisoindole.

Expedient Entry to 1-Aminoadamantane Derivatives via Aza-Prins Cyclization of 7-Methylenebicyclo[3.3.1]nonan-3-one Oximes

An efficient synthesis of 1-aminoadamantane (amantadine) derivatives is described. This synthesis features acid-promoted aza-Prins cyclization of 7-methylenebicyclo[3.3.1]nonan-3-one oximes, which are readily prepared from 1,3-adamantanediol via a Grob fragmentation and the subsequent oximation, to give various 3-substituted 1-(alkoxyamino)adamantanes. After the reduction of alkoxyamines, not only 3-substituted 1-aminoadamantanes, but also chiral 2,5-disubstituted derivatives were obtained in good yields.

Total Synthesis of the Caged Indole Alkaloid Arboridinine Enabled by aza-Prins and Metal-Mediated Cyclizations.

Although alkaloid natural products possess incredible diversity when considered broadly, certain domains are sometimes shared by several members, even from different sub-collections. Such homology can point to potential synthetic strategies. Herein, we highlight how such an analysis of the natural product arboridinine pinpointed two key elements of structural similarity that suggested the value of a metal-mediated 6-endo-dig cyclization to fashion its tetracyclic indolenine core, as well as the need to develop what could be considered a reversed polarity aza-Prins cyclization to deliver its tertiary allylic alcohol and final cage structure. The power of the latter design element is highlighted by several failures in achieving similar functional group patterning through more traditional aza-Prins and Mannich cyclization strategies. Overall, these operations fueled an inaugural 13-step racemic synthesis of the target; exploration of varied solutions for the enantioselective preparation of a key 7-membered indole-containing piece afforded a 16-step formal asymmetric solution.

Diastereoselective Construction of the 6-Oxa-2-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octane Scaffold from Chiral α-Hydroxyaldehyde Derivatives by the Aza-Prins Reaction.

(R)-2,3-Di-O-benzylglyceraldehyde and N-tosyl homoallylamine undergo aza-Prins cyclization to afford (1R,5S,7S)-7-[(benzyloxy)methyl]-2-tosyl-6-oxa-2-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octane in a highly diastereoselective manner through an unexpected intramolecular nucleophilic attack. Our work has opened a new route toward the asymmetric synthesis of 7-(alkyl or aryl)-6-oxa-2-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octane derivatives from chiral α-hydroxyaldehyde derivatives in one step.

Indole alkaloid biosynthetic pathways unraveled

Indole-based alkaloid natural products such as fischerindoles and hapalindoles have promising antimicrobial and antitumor activities, but they are difficult to make synthetically. New findings on how cyanobacteria biosynthesize them could help guide future synthetic efforts. Xinyu Liu and Qin Zhu at the University of Pittsburgh have discovered that U-protein enzymes catalyze cascade reactions that structurally diversify a common precursor into different indole alkaloids (Chem. Commun. 2017, DOI: 10.1039/c7cc00782e). For example, three of the enzymes—WelU1, WelU3, and AmbU4—convert a single indolenine into a tetracyclic fischerindole, a tricyclic hapalindole, and a tetracyclic hapalindole, respectively. Each enzyme’s cascade reaction includes a Cope rearrangement, an aza-Prins cyclization, and a carbocation-deposition step. The indolenine precursor and its derivatives are structural isomers, so the cascades in effect are multistep rearrangements. With U-protein enzymes now in hand—they can be isolated from...

Synthesis of Atisine, Ajaconine, Denudatine, and Hetidine Diterpenoid Alkaloids by a Bioinspired Approach.

A unified approach to four different (atisine, ajaconine, denudatine, and hetidine) diterpenoid alkaloid skeletons was developed and applied to the total synthesis of the natural products dihydroajaconine (2, atisine type) and gymnandine (4, denudatine type). The synthesis features a biogenetically inspired strategy that relies on C-H oxidation, aza-pinacol coupling, and aza-Prins cyclization as key steps.

A Domino Aza-Prins/Friedel–Crafts Reaction for the Synthesis of Benzomorphans

A new domino sequence involving an aza-Prins cyclization and a Friedel–Crafts reaction is reported. The starting materials are N-tosylimines prepared in situ from N-tosylated homoallylamines and derivatives of phenylacetaldehyde. The domino reactions are mediated by Bronsted and Lewis acids and give benzoannelated azabicyclononanes. Many derivatives thereof contain the benzomorphan scaffold and are thus of pharmaceutical interest as analgesics. The method provides a one-step access to substituted benzomorphans from readily available starting materials. The yields are generally good and various substituents are tolerated.

Protecting-Group-Free Total Synthesis of (-)-Lycopodine via Phosphoric Acid Promoted Alkyne Aza-Prins Cyclization.

A protecting-group-free route for the total synthesis of (-)-lycopodine was demonstrated in only 8 steps from Wade's fawcettimine enone (12 steps from commercial availiable (R)-(+)-pulegone). The key core of this alkaloid was constructed through a phosphoric acid promoted and highly stereocontrolled alkyne aza-Prins cyclization reaction, synchronously establishing the bridged B-ring and the C13 quaternary stereocenter. Importantly, the synthesis further features a new efficient approach for the preparation of other lycopodine-type alkaloids.