José M. Aurrecoechea

A Pd‐catalyzed 5‐exo‐selective oxycyclization/oxidative Heck coupling cascade is described, starting from readily available ortho‐alkynylbenzamides and functionalized olefins. The key to a high regioselectivity in the cyclization step is the choice of catalyst and/or additives. Thus, Pd(OAc)₂ provides the desired 5‐exo products predominantly, whereas with PdCl₂ or Pd(TFA)₂, the corresponding 6‐endo products prevail. The subsequent oxidative Heck‐type coupling takes place stereoselectively with the very predominant formation of E isomers, leading to an effective preparation of structurally diverse carbonyl‐substituted allylideneisobenzofuranimines.

Carbonyl-tethered propargylic benzoates undergo intramolecular carbonylpropargylation upon treatment with Et₂Zn in the presence of a catalytic amount of Pd⁰ with the formation of 2-alkynylcyclopentanol products. A ligand/solvent effect on the cis/trans selectivity (referring to the relative positions of alkynyl and OH groups) of ring-closure has been found. In a non-coordinating solvent (benzene), increasing the electron-donating ability of the phosphine ligand (while decreasing its dissociation ability) leads to an increased tendency towards the trans product. On the other hand, the combination of a coordinating solvent (THF) and PPh₃, an easily dissociated phosphine, results in the exclusive formation of cis products. Experimental and computational results are compatible with a divergent behavior of an allenylethylpalladium intermediate that partitions between competitive carbonyl-addition and transmetalation pathways, each leading to a different diastereoisomer. These results also suggest that the dissociating ability of the phosphine regulates that behavior.

A three-component, one-pot, stepwise Sonogashira–­heterocyclization–Heck-coupling process was developed starting from either haloarenecarboxamides, halophenols or haloanilines, terminal alkynes and electron-deficient alkenes. Cyclic imidate-, benzofuran-, or indole-type products are obtained, respectively, in useful yields, being typically better than those obtained with isolation of the intermediate Sonogashira adducts. Very high 6-endo selectivity is maintained with imidate-type coupling products despite the presence of copper salts carried over from the Sonogashira coupling.

Structurally diverse C3‐alkenylbenzofurans, C3‐alkenylindoles, and C4‐alkenylisoquinolones are efficiently prepared by using consecutive Sonogashira and cascade Pd‐catalyzed heterocyclization/oxidative Heck couplings from readily available ortho‐iodosubstituted phenol, aniline, and benzamide substrates, alkynes, and functionalized olefins. The cyclization of O‐ and N‐heteronucleophiles follows regioselective 5‐endo‐dig‐ or 6‐endo‐dig‐cyclization modes, whereas the subsequent Heck‐type coupling with both mono‐ and disubstituted olefins takes place stereoselectively with exclusive formation of the E isomers in most cases.

Tetrahydropyridines carrying pendant halide functionality at the enamine β-carbon have been prepared by condensation between appropriately functionalized aldehydes and a vinylogous Mannich adduct. Those enamines display divergent behavior in radical and Heck reactions. Thus, radical addition takes place in a 5-exo-trig fashion whereas Heck couplings follow a 6-endo-trig pathway. The resulting polycyclic products are obtained with high regio- and stereoselectivity.

Palladium-catalyzed heterocyclization-coupling sequences have been developed starting from buta-1,2,3-trienyl carbinols and electron-deficient alkenes. Polysubstituted furans are formed where the heterocyclic ring originates from the elements of the butatrienyl carbinol while the electron-deficient olefin is incorporated as a C-3 substituent. In most cases, the reaction proceeds via a Heck-type pathway leading to the efficient formation of 3-vinylfurans. However, couplings with methyl vinyl ketone display a divergent behavior to afford selectively either Heck- or hydroarylation-type products depending on reaction conditions.

Condensation between aldehydes and the secondary amino function of 5-(aminoalkyl)furan-2(5H)-ones, obtained by the silyloxyfuran dienolate addition to imine-type derivatives, produces either aminoalkylbenzotriazoles or 1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyridines. The former can be reduced with SmI2 to generate alpha-aminoalkyl radicals that are trapped by the alpha,beta-unsaturated lactone moiety yielding substituted pyrrolidines diastereoselectively, while catalytic hydrogenation of the latter affords isomeric piperidine analogues. Alternatively, SmI2-promoted reduction of tetrahydropyridines in the presence of acid also leads to intermediate alpha-aminoalkyl radicals that participate in inter- or intramolecular olefin addition reactions. Further manipulation of the lactone functionality in various ways gives access to a number of interesting derivatives based upon either a pyrrolidine or a piperidine structural motif. As a result, a high degree of structural diversity is obtained in a few steps starting from a common set of simple materials.

Condensation of a readily available 5-amino-2-alkenoate ester with α-unsubstituted aliphatic aldehydes leads to substituted 1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyridines. Subsequent manipulation of the ester and enamine functions gives a quick access to 2-azabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane-containing compounds.