Diazo Carbon Research Articles

Brønsted acid-promoted synthesis of highly functionalized tetrahydrocarbazoles from diethyl (E)-5-diazo-4-oxohex-2-enedioate.

Brønsted acid-promoted synthesis of highly functionalized tetrahydrocarbazoles from indoles and easily accessible diethyl (E)-5-diazo-4-oxohex-2-enedioate has been achieved. Diethyl (E)-5-diazo-4-oxohex-2-enedioate acts as a 1,4-diacceptor and undergoes tandem Michael addition followed by nucleophilic substitution at the diazo carbon with indole in the presence of a strong Brønsted acid.

Synthetic and Computational Studies on RhIII-Catalyzed Redox-Neutral Cascade of Carbenoid Functionalization and Dephosphonylative Annulation.

A Rh(III)-catalyzed regioselective redox-neutral cascade process of carbenoid functionalization followed by dephosphonylative annulation of benzoic acids with α-diazo-β-keto phosphonate has been realized, which led to the direct synthesis of a privileged 3-substituted isocoumarin scaffold. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of a complete redox neutral method to synthesize isocoumarins using C-H functionalization strategy. In the catalytic cycle of this reaction, there are two possible pathways for the C-C coupling between ortho-positioned carbon atom of benzoic acid and the diazo carbon atom: (i) concerted 1,2-aryl shift and (ii) stepwise metal-carbene formation followed by migratory insertion. DFT study has predicted that the concerted pathway has lower activation energy as compared to the stepwise pathway by 1.5 kcal/mol.

External Photocatalyst-Free Visible Light-Promoted 1,3-Addition of Perfluoroalkyl Iodides to Vinyldiazoacetates

External Photocatalyst-Free Visible Light-Promoted 1,3-Addition of Perfluoroalkyl Iodides to Vinyldiazoacetates

Recent Advances in Denitrogenative Reactions of Pyridotriazoles

AbstractDiazo compounds display versatile reactivity and therefore are widely used in organic synthesis. Diazo compounds bearing a 2-pyridyl or a related azine moiety on the diazo carbon exist in the form of fused 1,2,3-triazoles. In this short review, we summarize the recent advances in denitrogenative reactions of [1,2,3]triazolo[1,5-a]pyridines (‘pyridotriazoles’) and related fused 1,2,3-triazoles. Over the past decade, there has been a surge of activity in this field, with novel denitrogenative reactions of pyridotriazoles induced by metal compounds, light, and Brønsted and Lewis acids having been devised. As a result, heterocyclic compounds and functionalized α-picolines as well as bio­active molecules have been synthesized. In the review, emphasis is also placed on the mechanisms of the new reactions.1 Introduction2 Ring-Chain Isomerization of Pyridotriazoles3 Metal-Catalyzed Reactions3.1 Rh(II) Catalysis3.2 Rh(III) Catalysis3.3 Cu Catalysis3.4 Pd Catalysis3.5 Catalysis by Other Metals4 Metal-Free Reactions5 Conclusion

The Mechanism of Action of (-)-Lomaiviticin A.

(-)-Lomaiviticin A (4) is a complex C2-symmetric bacterial metabolite that contains two diazofluorene functional groups. The diazofluorene consists of naphthoquinone, cyclopentadiene, and diazo substituents fused through a σ- and π-bonding network. Additionally, (-)-lomaiviticin A (4) is a potent cytotoxin, with half-maximal inhibitory potency (IC50) values in the low nanomolar range against many cancer cell lines. Because of limitations in supply, its mechanism of action had remained a "black box" since its isolation in the early 2000s. In this Account, I describe how studies directed toward the total synthesis of (-)-lomaiviticin A (4) provided a platform to elucidate the emergent properties of this metabolite and thereby connect chemical reactivity with cellular phenotype. We first developed a convergent strategy to prepare the diazofluorene (9 + 10 → 13). We then adapted this chemistry to the synthesis of lomaiviticin aglycon (21/22) and the natural monomeric diazofluorene (-)-kinamycin F (3). The key step in the lomaiviticin aglycon (21/22) synthesis involved the stereoselective oxidative coupling of two monomeric diazofluorenes (2 × 18 → 20) to establish the cojoining carbon-carbon bond of the target. As the absolute stereochemistry of the aglycon and carbohydrate residues of (-)-lomaiviticin A (4) were unknown, we developed a semisynthetic route to the metabolite that proceeds in one step and 42% yield by diazo transfer to the more abundant isolate (-)-lomaiviticin C (6). This allowed us to complete the stereochemical assignment of (-)-lomaiviticin A (4) and provided a renewable source of material. Using this material, we established that the remarkable cytotoxic effects of (-)-lomaiviticin A (4) derive from the induction of highly toxic double-strand breaks (DSBs) in DNA. At the molecular level, 1,7-nucleophilic additions to each electrophilic diazofluorene trigger homolytic decomposition pathways that produce sp2 radicals at the carbon atoms of each diazo group. These radicals abstract hydrogen atoms from the deoxyribose of DNA, a process known to initiate strand cleavage. NMR spectroscopy and molecular mechanics simulations were used to elucidate the mode of DNA binding. These studies showed that both diazofluorenes of (-)-lomaiviticin A (4) penetrate into the duplex. This mode of non-covalent binding places each diazo carbon atom in close proximity to each DNA strand. Throughout these studies, isolates containing one diazofluorene, such as (-)-lomaiviticin C (6) and (-)-kinamycin C (2), were used as controls. Consistent with our mechanistic model, these compounds do not induce DSBs in DNA and are several orders of magnitude less potent. Reactivity studies suggest that (-)-lomaiviticin A (4) is more electrophilic than simple monomeric diazofluorenes. We attribute this to through-space delocalization of the developing negative charge in the transition state for 1,7-addition. Consistent with this mechanism of action, (-)-lomaiviticin A (4) displays selective low-picomolar potencies toward DNA DSB repair-deficient cell types. The emergent properties of (-)-lomaiviticin A (4) derive from the specific arrangement of diazo, naphthoquinone, cyclopentadiene, and ketone functional groups. These functional groups work together to yield, essentially, a masked vinyl radical that can be exposed under biological conditions. Furthermore, the rotational symmetry of the metabolite, deriving from dimerization, allows it to interact with the antiparallel symmetry of DNA and affect cleavage of the duplex.

Cyclization of α‐Diazo Esters Triggered by Oxidation: A Facile Preparation of 5‐Aryl‐2,3‐dihydrofuran‐4‐carboxylates

AbstractA method for the preparation of 5‐aryl‐2,3‐dihydrofuran‐4‐carboxylates has been developed. Exposure of 4‐(arylmethyl)oxy‐2‐diazobutyrates to 2,3‐dichloro‐5,6‐dicyano‐1,4‐benzoquinone (DDQ) effected oxidative generation of oxocarbenium intermediates, which underwent intramolecular attack of the diazo carbon atom and subsequent β‐elimination to give 5‐aryl‐2,3‐dihydrofurancarboxylates in modest to good yields. In particular, tertiary arylmethyl ethers offer the advantages of enhanced reactivity toward DDQ and higher product yields due to a Thorpe−Ingold effect. To demonstrate the synthetic utility of the cyclization reaction, selective transformations of an aromatization‐prone dihydrofuran product are also described.

Diverse Pathways in Catalytic Reactions of Propargyl Aryldiazoacetates: Selectivity between Three Reaction Sites.

Three catalyst-dependent divergent reaction pathways for reactions of propargyl aryldiazoacetates are disclosed. Transition metal catalysts including those of rhodium(II), palladium(0 and II), silver(I), mercury(II), copper(I and II), platinum(II), and cationic gold(I) are effective for reactions that proceed through dinitrogen extrusion, carbene/alkyne metathesis, and aromatic substitution to form fused indeno-furanones, and use of tetrakis(acetonitrile)copper(I) provides indeno-furanones in the highest product yields. A Lewis acid catalyzed pathway that forms furan-2-ones is uncovered with FeCl3, ZnBr2, and BF3·Et2O as catalysts that proceed through activation of the aryldiazoacetate ester for arylpropargyl cation dissociation followed by recombination through cation addition to the diazo carbon. Neutral gold catalysts selectively activate the triple bond of propargyl aryldiazoacetates, resulting in the formation of allenic aryldiazoesters that further undergo uncatalyzed rearrangement.

ChemInform Abstract: Divergent Pathways of β,γ‐Unsaturated α‐Diazocarbonyl Compounds Catalyzed by Dirhodium and Lewis Acids Catalysts Separately or in Combination

AbstractReview: [34 refs.

Divergent pathways of β,γ-unsaturated α-diazocarbonyl compounds catalyzed by dirhodium and Lewis acids catalysts separately or in combination

Abstract β,γ-Unsaturated α-diazocarbonyl compounds possess two reactive sites for electrophilic addition – one at the diazo carbon and the other at the vinylogous γ-position. Controlled by catalyst, divergent transformations are achieved starting from the same starting materials, either by Lewis acid-catalyzed addition or by dirhodium-catalyzed metal carbene reactions. In select cases two catalysts working in combination or in sequence provide a relay for cascade transformations. In this review, we summarize advances in catalyst-dependent divergent transformations of β,γ-unsaturated α-diazocarbonyl compounds and highlight the potential of this exciting research area and the many challenges that remain.

Matrix-IR Spectroscopic Investigations of the Thermolysis and Photolysis of Diazoamides

Matrix photolysis of N,N-dialkyldiazoacetamides 1a-d at 7-10 K results in either the formation of C-H insertion products (in case of N,N-dimethyl and N,N-diethyl diazoamides) or almost exclusive Wolff rearrangement to ketenes (in the case of the cyclic diazoamides N-(diazoacetyl)azetidine and N-(diazoacetyl)pyrrolidine). This can be ascribed to higher activation barriers for the approach of the singlet carbene p orbital in 5 (or of the diazo carbon in an excited state of 1) to the stronger and "tied back" nature of the C-H bonds in the cyclic substituents. In contrast, flash vacuum thermolysis (FVT) of diazoamides 1a-d, in which reactions of excited states are excluded, gives rise to clean C-H insertion with only minor Wolff rearrangement to ketenes.

Catalyst‐Free Intramolecular Formal Carbon Insertion into σ‐CC Bonds: A New Approach toward Phenanthrols and Naphthols

The different reactivity of two kinds of carbonyl groups in keto aldehyde substrates has been exploited for the synthesis of phenanthrols, naphthols, and their heteroatom-containing analogues. Key to this highly efficient and robust methodology is the catalyst-free intramolecular formal diazo carbon insertion of N-tosylhydrazones into keto C-C bonds.

Bent CNN bond of diazo compounds, RR′(C[dbnd]N+[dbnd]N−)

The reaction of ninhydrin with benzophenone hydrazone afforded 2-diazo-3-diphenylmethylenehydrazono-1-indanone 1 and 2-diazo-1,3-bis(diphenylmethylenehydrazono)indan 2. X-ray crystal structure analyses of these products showed that the diazo functional group CN+N− of 1 is bent by 172.9°, while that of 2 has a linear geometry. The crystal structure data of diazo compounds have been retrieved from the Cambridge Structural Database (CSD), which hit 177 entries to indicate that the angle of 172.9° in 1 lies in one of the most bent structures. The CSD search also indicated that diazo compounds consisting of a distorted diazo carbon tend to bend the CN+N− bond. On the basis of DFT calculations (B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p)) of model compounds, it was revealed that the bending of the CNN bond is principally induced by steric factors and that the neighboring carbonyl group also plays a role in bending toward the carbonyl side owing to an electrostatic attractive interaction. The potential surface along the path of CN+N− bending in 2-diazopropane shows a significantly shallow profile with only 4kcal/mol needed to bend the CN+N− bond from 180° to 160°. Thus, the bending of the diazo group in 1 is reasonable as it is provided with all of the factors for facile bending disclosed in this investigation.

Conformational, steric and electronic effects on the site- and chemoselectivity of the metal-catalyzed reaction of N-bis(trimethylsilyl)methyl, N-(2-indolyl)methyl α-diazoamides

The Rh(II)- and Cu(II)-catalyzed reactions of N-bis(trimethylsilyl)methyl, N-(2-indolyl)methyl α-diazoamides are investigated to delineate how conformational, steric and electronic factors influence the site- and chemoselectivity of the metallocarbenoid reaction. The N-bis(trimethylsilyl)methyl (N-BTMSM) group is found to be essential in promoting the metallocarbenoid reaction at the N-(2-indolyl)methyl moiety as well as providing subtle but effective conformational influence about the amide N-C(α) sigma bond in diazoamides carrying an N-C(α) alkoxymethyl side-chain, to afford excellent site- and chemoselectivity. In general, the metal-catalyzed reactions are found to favor metallocarbenoid addition to the indole C(2)-C(3) double bond over C-H insertion to give cyclopropanated products (tetracyclic γ-lactams); however, chemoselectivity is also affected by steric effects, as revealed in the N-[2-(3-methylindolyl)]methyl diazoamides, and to some extent by the nature of the catalyst employed, as seen in the N-C(α)-alkoxymethyl diazoamides. The tetracyclic γ-lactams are found to rearrange to give good to high yields of the tricyclic indole derivatives under the metallocarbenoid reaction conditions or under acidic conditions. The propensity of the tetracyclic γ-lactams to undergo rearrangement is found to be dependent on the nature of the α-substituent on the original diazo carbon and the indole N-substituent.

Catalytic Asymmetric Synthesis of Trisubstituted Aziridines

A method is described which provides for the direct asymmetric catalytic synthesis of trisubstituted aziridines from imines and diazo compounds. While unactivated imines were not reactive to α-diazo carbonyl compounds in which the diazo carbon was disubstituted, N-Boc imines react with both α-diazo esters and α-diazo-N-acyloxazolidinones to give trisubstituted aziridines with excellent diastereo- and enantioselectivities.

Kinetics and mechanism of acid-catalyzed hydrolysis of the diazo functional groups of 1-diazo-2-indanone and 2-diazo-1-indanone in aqueous solution

Rates of hydrolysis of 1-diazo-2-indanone and 2-diazo-1-indanone were measured in dilute aqueous perchloric acid solutions using both H2O and D2O as the solvent, and rates of hydrolysis of the latter substrate were measured in dilute aqueous (H2O only) formic acid buffer solutions as well. The data for 1-diazo-2-indanone gave the hydronium ion catalytic coefficient kH+ = 5.7 × 10–3 (mol/L)–1 s–1 and the isotope effect kH+/kD+ = 2.9. The normal direction (kH/kD > 1) of this isotope effect was taken as evidence for a reaction mechanism involving rate-determining hydron transfer from the hydronium ion to the substrate's diazo carbon atom; followed by rapid displacement of diazo nitrogen by a water molecule, giving the observed 1-hydroxy-2-indanone product. The data for 2-diazo-1-indanone, on the other hand, gave a hydronium ion catalytic coefficient two orders of magnitude greater than the value for 1-diazo-2-indanone (kH+ = 5.9 × 10–1 (mol/L)–1 s–1), and an isotope effect near unity (kH+/kD+ = 1.2). It is argued that this isotope effect represents a situation in which diazo carbon hydronation and displacement of diazo nitrogen are each partly rate determining, a conclusion supported by incipient saturation of buffer catalysis in the formic acid buffer solutions. The 100-fold difference in hydronium ion catalytic coefficients for the two substrates is rationalized in terms of differing electron densities on the diazo carbon atoms.Key words: diazo compound hydrolysis, solution kinetics, acid catalysis, solvent isotope effects, buffer catalysis saturation.

Imines and Their N‐Substituted Derivatives: Hydrazones and Other N,N‐Derivatives Including Diazo Compounds

AbstractFor Abstract see ChemInform Abstract in Full Text.

X‐ray Crystal Structure Study of Sterically Congested Diphenyldiazomethanes

AbstractX‐ray crystallographic structures were determined for five diphenyldiazomethanes (DDMs) with various ortho substituents, namely, bis(2,4,6‐trichlorophenyl)diazomethane, bis(2,4,6‐tribromophenyl)diazomethane, bis(4‐tert‐butyl‐2,6‐dibromophenyl)diazomethane, (4‐tert‐butyl‐2,6‐dimethylphenyl)(2,4,6‐tribromophenyl)diazomethane, and [4‐tert‐butyl‐2,6‐bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl](4‐tert‐butyl‐2,6‐dibromophenyl)diazomethane, and for bis(4‐bromophenyl)diazomethane, a DDM with no ortho substituents. The correlation between the structural parameters, the ESR zero‐field splitting (ZFS) parameters and the lifetimes of the triplet diphenylcarbenes (DPCs) generated from these diazo compounds was examined. It is noted that as ortho substituents are introduced onto the phenyl rings of the DDMs, the interplanar angle between the two phenyl rings increases, while the angle of the diazo carbon changes very little. DDM 6‐N2, from which the longest‐lived triplet carbene is generated, is shown to have the largest interplanar angle of the DDMs examined. The bond distances between the aromatic carbons and the ortho substituents as well as the van der Waals radii of the substituents were also examined. These studies do not provide a quantitative correlation between the structural parameters of the precursor DDMs and the ZFS parameters and lifetimes of their photoproducts, triplet DPCs, but show how steric shielding of the ortho substituents affects the structures and stabilities of triplet DPCs. (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2004)

Kinetics and mechanism of acid‐catalyzed hydrolysis of the diazo functional group of diazophenylacetamide

AbstractThe acid‐catalyzed hydrolysis of diazophenylacetamide giving mandelamide as product was found to occur with a normal (kH/kD>1) hydronium ion isotope effect and to be subject to general acid rather than specific hydronium ion catalysis. This shows that the reaction occurs by rate‐determining hydron transfer from the catalyzing acid to the diazo carbon atom of the substrate, followed by rapid displacement of the diazo group by water. Comparison of the rate of this reaction with those of the same process for other diazophenylacetic acid functional derivatives, PhCN2COX, reveals that the reactivity of these substrates is controlled by the electron‐releasing resonance ability of the group X. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Metallacarbenes from diazoalkanes: an experimental and computational study of the reaction mechanism.

PCP ligand (1,3-bis-[(diisopropyl-phosphanyl)-methyl]-benzene), and PCN ligand ([3-[(di-tert-butyl-phosphanyl)-methyl]-benzyl]-diethyl-amine) based rhodium dinitrogen complexes (1 and 2, respectively) react with phenyl diazomethane at room temperature to give PCP and PCN-Rh carbene complexes (3 and 5, respectively). At low temperature (-70 degrees C), PCP and PCN phenyl diazomethane complexes (4 and 6, respectively) are formed upon addition of phenyl diazomethane to 1 and 2. In these complexes, the diazo moiety is eta(1) coordinated through the terminal nitrogen atom. Decomposition of complexes 4 and 6 at low temperatures leads only to a relatively small amount of the corresponding carbene complexes, the major products of decomposition being the dinitrogen complexes 1 and 2 and stilbene. This and competition experiments (decomposition of 6 in the presence of 1) suggests that phenyl diazomethane can dissociate under the reaction conditions and attack the metal center through the diazo carbon producing a eta(1)-C bound diazo complex. Computational studies based on a two-layer ONIOM model, using the mPW1K exchange-correlation functional and a variety of basis sets for PCP based systems, provide mechanistic insight. In the case of less bulky PCP ligand bearing H-substituents on the phosphines, a variety of mechanisms are possible, including both dissociative and nondissociative pathways. On the other hand, in the case of i-Pr substituents, the eta(1)-C bound diazo complex appears to be a critical intermediate for carbene complex formation, in good agreement with the experimental results. Our results and the analysis of reported data suggest that the outcome of the reaction between a diazoalkane and a late transition metal complex can be anticipated considering steric requirements relevant to eta(1)-C diazo complex formation.

Three- to six-carbon ring-enlargement reaction of cyclic ortho esters bearing a diazocarbonyl side chain. Use of the intramolecular formation of tricyclooxonium ylides

Two types of bicyclic ortho esters 14 and 18, which are tethered to a diazocarbonyl group by polymethylene linkages--(CH2)n--of different lengths (n = 1-3 for 14 and 1-4 for 18), were prepared and catalytically decomposed by treatment with Rh2(OAc)4 either in the presence or absence of a protic nucleophile (MeOH, PhOH, AcOH) to give ring-enlargement product lactones 25 and 30 of different sizes. With 14, the enlargement took place when n = 1 or 2, but not when n = 3. With 18, in which the diazo carbon is substituted with a methoxycarbonyl group, the length of the chain can be extended further to n = 4 to obtain ring-enlargement products or their derivatives. All of these reactions could be explained in terms of the intermediacy of tricyclooxonium ylides 22 and 28. The ylides form an equilibrium with the corresponding ring-opened zwitterions 22' and 28', respectively, which, after protonation by a protic nucleophile, undergo mainly ring-enlargement to form medium-sized or large oxalactones rather than 1,2-rearrangement.