Beilstein J. Org. Chem.2007,3, No. 39, doi:10.1186/1860-5397-3-39
, such as tetrahydrofurans and pyrrolidines, makes these motifs attractive targets for synthesis. Over the last decade we have developed a powerful general strategy for the preparation of such compounds based upon the multi-faceted reactivity of the sulfone group and the formally disfavoured 5-endo-trig
mode of cyclisation. [1][2][3][4][5][6] The methodology allows the conversion of epoxides (X = O) or aziridines (X = N-PG) (2) into the desired trisubstituted tetrahydrofurans or pyrrolidines (5) via a series of sulfone-mediated transformations (Scheme 1). Ring-opening 2 with the sulfone-stabilised
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Graphical Abstract
Scheme 1:
General strategy for the synthesis of heterocycles via 5-endo-trig cyclisation
Beilstein J. Org. Chem.2007,3, No. 2, doi:10.1186/1860-5397-3-2
trioxolane derivatives [32][33][34] or by dipolarophiles to form various tetrahydrofurans and dihydrofurans. [41] In the absence of appropriate dipolarophiles, cis/trans isomerization of the epoxide ring has been observed. [42] The cleavage of Cα-O or Cβ-O bonds has been confirmed either by rearrangement to
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Graphical Abstract
Scheme 1:
Ultrasound-assisted photocatalytic ring opening of α-epoxyketones.