CF₃-substituted carbocations: underexploited intermediates with great potential in modern synthetic chemistry

• Anthony J. Fernandes,
• Armen Panossian,
• Bastien Michelet,
• Agnès Martin-Mingot,
• Frédéric R. Leroux and
• Sébastien Thibaudeau

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2021, 17, 343–378, doi:10.3762/bjoc.17.32

• authors [55][56]. Related studies on diphenyl derivative 9c in a mixture of H2SO4 and chloroform also showed the formation of fluorene derivative 37 in 25% yield [58]. Exploiting this impact of the trifluoromethyl substituent in the cationic Nazarov electrocyclization, the synthesis of CF3-substituted

• delocalized α-(trifluoromethyl)carbenium ions 40a–c. Vasilyev et al. also investigated this Nazarov electrocyclization for the synthesis of indene derivatives. Thus, a variety of indenes 42 could be readily obtained from α-(trifluoromethyl)allyl-substituted benzyl alcohols 41a or the corresponding silyl

A sustainable strategy for the straightforward preparation of 2H-azirines and highly functionalized NH-aziridines from vinyl azides using a single solvent flow-batch approach

• Michael Andresini,
• Leonardo Degannaro and
• Renzo Luisi

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2021, 17, 203–209, doi:10.3762/bjoc.17.20

• resulted in safer procedures for the preparation of 2H-azirines, offering valuable alternatives for production purposes. In 2013, Kirschning harnessed the photoinduced electrocyclization of vinyl azides in a microfluidic photoreactor yielding 2H-azirines as precursors of 1,3-dipolarophiles (Scheme 1a) [27

Pentannulation of N-heterocycles by a tandem gold-catalyzed [3,3]-rearrangement/Nazarov reaction of propargyl ester derivatives: a computational study on the crucial role of the nitrogen atom

• Giovanna Zanella,
• Martina Petrović,
• Dina Scarpi,
• Ernesto G. Occhiato and
• Enrique Gómez-Bengoa

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2020, 16, 3059–3068, doi:10.3762/bjoc.16.255

• at C3) could stabilize the pentadienyl cationic intermediate 6, and thus relenting the 4π-electrocyclization, causing either the degradation of the starting material or the formation of unwanted side products. In fact, preliminary experimental results with 5 pointed in this direction, and we decided

A simple and easy to perform synthetic route to functionalized thienyl bicyclo[3.2.1]octadienes

• Dragana Vuk,
• Irena Škorić,
• Valentina Milašinović,
• Krešimir Molčanov and
• Željko Marinić

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2020, 16, 1092–1099, doi:10.3762/bjoc.16.96

• [3.2.1]octadiene derivatives by irradiating the toluene solution of compound's 3–7 mixture of cis- and trans-isomers in the presence of iodine (Scheme 2 and Scheme 3). The electrocyclization reactions were successfully implemented in most cases and photoproducts 8–11 were obtained in moderate yields. The

Reversible photoswitching of the DNA-binding properties of styrylquinolizinium derivatives through photochromic [2 + 2] cycloaddition and cycloreversion

• Sarah Kölsch,
• Heiko Ihmels,
• Jochen Mattay,
• Norbert Sewald and
• Brian O. Patrick

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2020, 16, 111–124, doi:10.3762/bjoc.16.13

• electrocyclization or E-to-Z isomerization reactions, whereas the well-established photochromic cycloaddition–cycloreversion equilibrium to establish photoswitchable DNA binders has so far been widely neglected. In fact, there is only one reported example for the use of the reversible photoinduced dimerization of

Unexpected one-pot formation of the 1H-6a,8a-epiminotricyclopenta[a,c,e][8]annulene system from cyclopentanone, ammonia and dimethyl fumarate. Synthesis of highly strained polycyclic nitroxide and EPR study

• Sergey A. Dobrynin,
• Igor A. Kirilyuk,
• Yuri V. Gatilov,
• Andrey A. Kuzhelev,
• Olesya A. Krumkacheva,
• Matvey V. Fedin,
• Michael K. Bowman and
• Elena G. Bagryanskaya

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2019, 15, 2664–2670, doi:10.3762/bjoc.15.259

• heterocycle formation [11]. Presumably, a prototropic shift in the enamine-imine intermediate 4 is followed by electrocyclization to the cyclic azomethine ylide, which then reacts with dimethyl fumarate in a 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition. The suggested mechanism accounts for the trans-position of the methyne

• hydrogens in the azepine ring: electrocyclization proceeds via a conrotatory mechanism due to the antisymmetry of the HOMO (Figure 2). The selective formation of a single diastereomer in the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction is likely a result from secondary interactions of orbitals of the π-systems of the

• : the electrocyclization proceeds via a conrotatory mechanism due to the antisymmetry of the HOMO. Selective formation of a single diastereomer in the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction. X-ray structure of compound 6 (one of the two enantiomers present in the crystal). A, B) Temperature dependence of

Click chemistry towards thermally reversible photochromic 4,5-bisthiazolyl-1,2,3-triazoles

• Chenxia Zhang,
• Kaori Morinaka,
• Mahmut Kose,
• Takashi Ubukata and
• Yasushi Yokoyama

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2019, 15, 2161–2169, doi:10.3762/bjoc.15.213

• ] or the introduction of two aromatic rings to the central aromatic ring [11]. If the construction of three contiguous aromatic-ring arrays can be easily achieved, a new and facile synthesis method for the photochromic family which undergoes 6π-electrocyclization can be realized [13]. Early in the 21st

Recent advances on the transition-metal-catalyzed synthesis of imidazopyridines: an updated coverage

• Gagandeep Kour Reen,
• Ashok Kumar and
• Pratibha Sharma

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2019, 15, 1612–1704, doi:10.3762/bjoc.15.165

Enantioselective PCCP Brønsted acid-catalyzed aza-Piancatelli rearrangement

• Gabrielle R. Hammersley,
• Meghan F. Nichol,
• Helena C. Steffens,
• Jose M. Delgado,
• Gesine K. Veits and
• Javier Read de Alaniz

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2019, 15, 1569–1574, doi:10.3762/bjoc.15.160

• a trans relationship between the C4 and C5 substituents [13][14][15]. It is believed that the 4π conrotatory electrocyclization step that converts the pentadienyl cation 5 into the corresponding cyclopentenone adduct 6 is responsible for controlling the relative diastereoselectivity in this cascade

• rearrangement (Figure 1). Analogous to the Nazarov cyclization, controlling the absolute stereochemistry can be achieved by governing the direction of the conrotatory electrocyclization, clockwise vs counterclockwise [32][33][34]. Despite the direct relationship to the asymmetric Nazarov cyclization, however

• -inducing element capable of controlling the clockwise or counterclockwise conrotation of the key 4π electrocyclization step. Although the utility of these asymmetric catalytic systems is unquestionable, the ability to identify the optimal catalyst is not straightforward. In each case, extensive

Oxidative and reductive cyclization in stiff dithienylethenes

• Michael Kleinwächter,
• Ellen Teichmann,
• Lutz Grubert,
• Martin Herder and
• Stefan Hecht

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2018, 14, 2812–2821, doi:10.3762/bjoc.14.259

• substituents (to modulate the redox potential) on the electrocyclization was examined. In the series of derivatives with 6-membered rings, both the E- and the Z-isomer convert to the closed isomer, whereas for the 7-membered rings no cyclization from the E-isomer was observed. For both stiff and normal

• dithienylethenes bearing benzonitrile substituents an additional and rare reductive electrocyclization was observed. The mechanism underlying both observed electrocyclization pathways has been elucidated. Keywords: diarylethenes; electrochromism; molecular switches; (spectro)electrochemistry; Introduction

• Diarylethenes (DAEs) are a rich family of organic photoswitches formally derived from stilbene [1][2]. Upon irradiation they are able to undergo reversible photoisomerization based on 6π-electrocyclization and -cycloreversion, respectively, between two thermally stable states, which make them interesting

Dialkyl dicyanofumarates and dicyanomaleates as versatile building blocks for synthetic organic chemistry and mechanistic studies

• Grzegorz Mlostoń and
• Heinz Heimgartner

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2017, 13, 2235–2251, doi:10.3762/bjoc.13.221

• mechanistic explanation of this cyclopropanation reaction is based on the assumption that the intermediate zwitterion 18a undergoes either a 1,3- or 1,5-electrocyclization leading to 15 or thiolanes 19a. The experiments with both isomers of 1b showed that the reactions proceeded non-stereospecifically and

A strategic approach to [6,6]-bicyclic lactones: application towards the CD fragment of DHβE

• Tue Heesgaard Jepsen,
• Emil Glibstrup,
• François Crestey,
• Anders A. Jensen and
• Jesper Langgaard Kristensen

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2017, 13, 988–994, doi:10.3762/bjoc.13.98

• effective synthetic protocol to access [6,6]-bicyclic lactone moieties through a regio- and stereoselective intramolecular Mizoroki–Heck cross-coupling reaction followed by a 6π-electrocyclization. This method enabled the first synthesis of the elusive CD fragment of the Erythrina alkaloid DHβE. Preliminary

• pharmacological evaluations support the notion that the key pharmacophores of DHβE are located in the A and B rings. Keywords: DhβE; Mizoroki–Heck cross-coupling reaction; 6π-electrocyclization; [6,6]-bicyclic lactone; vinyl halide; Introduction The neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) have been

• intramolecular Mizoroki–Heck cross-coupling reaction and a 6π-electrocyclization as key steps. Results and Discussion First strategy with Ts and Cbz protecting groups As depicted in Scheme 1, our first strategy featured a late stage installation of the lactonic D ring by a 6π-electrocyclization and formation of

Synthesis of 1-indanones with a broad range of biological activity

• Marika Turek,
• Dorota Szczęsna,
• Marek Koprowski and
• Piotr Bałczewski

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2017, 13, 451–494, doi:10.3762/bjoc.13.48

• -indanones and their heteroatom analogues 138–142 which may be further converted into biologically active compounds (Figure 4) [72]. Products 138–142 were obtained by electrocyclization of the substrates substituted by electron-withdrawing groups, such as CO2Me, P(O)(OEt)2, CN or NO2. This reaction was

Dimerization reactions of aryl selenophen-2-yl-substituted thiocarbonyl S-methanides as diradical processes: a computational study

• Michael L. McKee,
• Grzegorz Mlostoń,
• Katarzyna Urbaniak and
• Heinz Heimgartner

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2017, 13, 410–416, doi:10.3762/bjoc.13.44

• case of similar thiocarbonyl S-isopropanides, the intermediate zwitterions, formed in the course of the attempted [3 + 2]-cycloaddition with electron-deficient ethenes, undergo 1,3-electrocyclization yielding mixtures of stereoisomeric cyclopropanes in addition to the expected 5-membered thiolanes

• pathway via a diradical intermediate leading to the formation of the unusual macrocyclic dimer 9 by computational methods. First calculations were made for phenyl selenophen-2-yl thiocarbonyl S-methanide (8A), which can undergo a 1,3-dipolar electrocyclization (1,3-ring closure) to form the thiirane 3a

• course of the dimerization of a reactive diaryl thiocarbonyl S-methanides. Potential 1,3-dipolar electrocyclization of thiocabonyl S-methanide 8A. Computed enthalpies (free energies in parentheses) at 298 K at the SMD(tetrahydrofuran)/M06-2X/6-311+G(2df,p)//M06-2X/6-31G(d) level of theory. Stepwise

Rapid regio- and multi-coupling reactivity of 2,3-dibromobenzofurans with atom-economic triarylbismuths under palladium catalysis

• Maddali L. N. Rao,
• Jalindar B. Talode and
• Venneti N. Murty

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2016, 12, 2065–2076, doi:10.3762/bjoc.12.195

• the synthesis of 2,3-dialkenylbenzofurans and functionalized dibenzofurans with domino “twofold Heck/6π-electrocyclization” of 2,3-di- and 2,3,5-tribromobenzofuran substrates [34]. In this regard, the cross-coupling studies of triarylbismuth reagents in regioselective studies with functionalized

Synthesis of 2,1-benzisoxazole-3(1H)-ones by base-mediated photochemical N–O bond-forming cyclization of 2-azidobenzoic acids

• Daria Yu. Dzhons and
• Andrei V. Budruev

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2016, 12, 874–881, doi:10.3762/bjoc.12.86

• -benzisoxazolones; 1,5-electrocyclization; nitrenes; photochemical cyclization; Introduction Substituted 2,1-benzisoxazoles display diverse biological activity [1][2][3][4][5][6] (Figure 1) and are widely used as starting materials for the synthesis of important heterocyclic pharmacophores, such as acridines [7][8

• through a 1,5-electrocyclization reaction [56][57]. Nonreacted singlet nitrenes A may undergo intersystem crossing (ISC) into the less reactive triplet state (Scheme 1, intermediate D). Although a multiplicity change is a spin-forbidden transition, it can be partially allowed in some cases. According to

• . Finally, the electron pair of the carboxylic group (Scheme 2, intermediate A) was joined by 1,5-electrocyclization to the electron-deficient singlet nitrene A with formation of 2-anion (see Scheme 2), which was neutralized by water (path I). Thus, the first path of cyclization of 1 was realized. Meanwhile

Diradical reaction mechanisms in [3 + 2]-cycloadditions of hetaryl thioketones with alkyl- or trimethylsilyl-substituted diazomethanes

• Grzegorz Mlostoń,
• Paulina Pipiak and
• Heinz Heimgartner

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2016, 12, 716–724, doi:10.3762/bjoc.12.71

• . Only after warming up above −45/40 °C compounds 2 are expected to decompose yielding the reactive thiocarbonyl ylide 3. Under these conditions, the latter intermediates can undergo either 1,3-dipolar electrocyclization to give thiiranes 8 or dimerization leading to 1,4-dithianes 4 [20][26]. This

Cupreines and cupreidines: an established class of bifunctional cinchona organocatalysts

• Laura A. Bryant,
• Rossana Fanelli and
• Alexander J. A. Cobb

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2016, 12, 429–443, doi:10.3762/bjoc.12.46

• set up a 4π-electrocyclization, generating second intermediate 27. Elimination of the tertiary amine then gives γ-methylene cyclopentenone 28. 1,2-Addition reactions Henry reaction The use of cupreine and cupreidine derivatives in the addition of nitroalkanes to carbonyl compounds was first

Tandem processes promoted by a hydrogen shift in 6-arylfulvenes bearing acetalic units at ortho position: a combined experimental and computational study

• Mateo Alajarin,
• Marta Marin-Luna,
• Pilar Sanchez-Andrada and
• Angel Vidal

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2016, 12, 260–270, doi:10.3762/bjoc.12.28

• into the isomeric spirotricycle 12a. The computed energy barriers for these processes are relatively small, 13.9 and 17.0 kcal·mol−1 respectively. Again the differences in the extent of the electronic conjugation in these electrocyclization transition states can give account of the relative stabilities

• geometry of transition structures TS1-A, TS1-B, and TS1-C computed at the B3LYP/6-31+G** theoretical level. Distances in Ångstroms, bond angles in degrees. Lewis acid-catalyzed [1,4]-H transfer/1,5-electrocyclization tandem processes of benzylidenemalonates 1 leading to indan-1-ones 2. Preparation of benz

Copper-mediated synthesis of N-alkenyl-α,β-unsaturated nitrones and their conversion to tri- and tetrasubstituted pyridines

• Dimitra Kontokosta,
• Daniel S. Mueller,
• Dong-Liang Mo,
• Wiktoria H. Pace,
• Rachel A. Simpson and
• Laura L. Anderson

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2015, 11, 2097–2104, doi:10.3762/bjoc.11.226

• modularity of the Chan–Lam coupling process, and proceeds through a pathway that is distinct from the Liebeskind copper-catalyzed C–N bond coupling and electrocyclization (Scheme 2). Results and Discussion A Chan–Lam coupling between chalcone oxime 6a and cyclohexenylboronic acid (7a) was initially tested

• enamine to the ketone. This pathway may explain the solvent dependence that was observed for the transformation (Scheme 3). The lack of any observation of dihydropyridine N-oxide intermediate 17ae suggests that the reaction is not proceeding through an electrocyclization and elimination process. A second

On the strong difference in reactivity of acyclic and cyclic diazodiketones with thioketones: experimental results and quantum-chemical interpretation

• Andrey S. Mereshchenko,
• Alexey V. Ivanov,
• Viktor I. Baranovskii,
• Grzegorz Mloston,
• Ludmila L. Rodina and
• Valerij A. Nikolaev

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2015, 11, 504–513, doi:10.3762/bjoc.11.57

• =S ylides bearing at least one acyl group is identified as the 1,5-electrocyclization into 1,3-oxathioles. However, in the case of diazomalonates, the dominating process is 1,3-cyclization into thiiranes followed by their spontaneous desulfurization yielding the corresponding alkenes. Finally

• bond (step 1), followed by decomposition of thiadiazoline 6 formed (step 2) and competitive electrocyclization of the intermediate thiocarbonyl ylide 7 either into 1,3-oxathiole 3 or thiirane 4 (step 3) (Scheme 2). According to the latest molecular orbital (MO) theory, reactions of diazodicarbonyl

• diazodiketones 1e,f. Transformations of thiocarbonyl ylides 7 and 7' In order to evaluate the correlation between the structure of thiocarbonyl ylides 7, 7' and the direction of their electrocyclizations (1,5- or 1,3-dipolar electrocyclization), the relative energies of the stationary points on the potential

Photochemical approach to functionalized benzobicyclo[3.2.1]octene structures via fused oxazoline derivatives from 4- and 5-(o-vinylstyryl)oxazoles

• Ivana Šagud,
• Simona Božić,
• Željko Marinić and
• Marija Šindler-Kulyk

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2014, 10, 2222–2229, doi:10.3762/bjoc.10.230

• )oxazole small quantities of electrocyclization product, 4-(1,2-dihydronaphthalen-2-yl)oxazole, are isolated and spectroscopically characterized. Keywords: bicyclo[3.2.1]octane; intramolecular photocycloaddition; oxazole; styryl; vinyl; Introduction The bicyclo[3.2.1]octane skeleton is the basic

• electrocyclization of the benzodivinyl moiety to intermediate C followed by 1,5-H shift and rearomatization of the benzene ring. Analogue electrocyclization was not detected in phenyl or furyl-substituted o-divinylbenzenes but instead stilbene-like 6π electrocyclization and formation of 1-vinylphenanthrene [42] or 6

Isoxazolium N-ylides and 1-oxa-5-azahexa-1,3,5-trienes on the way from isoxazoles to 2H-1,3-oxazines

• Alexander F. Khlebnikov,
• Mikhail S. Novikov,
• Yelizaveta G. Gorbunova,
• Ekaterina E. Galenko,
• Kirill I. Mikhailov,
• Viktoriia V. Pakalnis and
• Margarita S. Avdontceva

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2014, 10, 1896–1905, doi:10.3762/bjoc.10.197

• -electrocyclization to give oxazine E (Scheme 1). At the same time, the third mechanism of the reaction, involving a one-step formation of 1-oxa-5-azahexa-1,3,5-triene D, cannot be excluded. The reaction of a carbenoid with isoxazoles is the only known one-step intermolecular reaction which can in principle produce

• synthetic approach to derivatives of 2H-1,3-oxazines via a Rh2(OAc)4-catalyzed reaction of diazo esters with 2-acyl-2H-azirines F. This reaction involves the intermediate formation of azirinium ylides G, their transformation into 1-oxa-5-azahexa-1,3,5-triene D, and finally the 6π-electrocyclization of the

Aza-Diels–Alder reaction between N-aryl-1-oxo-1H-isoindolium ions and tert-enamides: Steric effects on reaction outcome

• Amitabh Jha,
• Ting-Yi Chou,
• Zainab ALJaroudi,
• Bobby D. Ellis and
• T. Stanley Cameron

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2014, 10, 848–857, doi:10.3762/bjoc.10.81

• reported reaction conditions for imino [4 + 2] Diels–Alder reactions [13][14] were employed here for the electrocyclization of N-acyliminium ions from N-aryl-3-hydroxyisoindolinones and tert-enamide analogues namely N-vinylpyrrolidone and N-vinylcaprolactam as the electron-rich dienophiles. Sixteen

Recent applications of the divinylcyclopropane–cycloheptadiene rearrangement in organic synthesis

• Sebastian Krüger and
• Tanja Gaich

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2014, 10, 163–193, doi:10.3762/bjoc.10.14

• rearrangement in great detail. Electrocycloreversion of initialy formed nitrene 321 leads to intermediate 322, which can undergo electrocyclization to give the required trans-vinylisocyanatocyclopropane 323, which underwent the desired rearrangement to give tricycle 324. The group of Boeckman pioneered the