ACS Catalysis
Letter
cooperative catalysis gave the corresponding cyclohexadiene 2a
in good yield (Table S1). After extensively screening the
reaction parameters, 2a was obtained in 94% yield on using 1
mol % of 4CzIPN,11 5 mol % of CoCl2, 10 mol % of PPh3, and
25 mol % of Et3N in THF, under blue light irradiation (448
nm) (Table 1, entry 1). The reaction using CoBr2 as a
precatalyst gave 2a in 94% yield (entry 2). The amount of
catalyst could be reduced to 1 mol % when CoCl2(PPh3)2,
prepared from CoCl2 and PPh3, was used, affording 2a in 91%
yield (entry 3). The reaction with [Ir(dF(CF3)2ppy)-
(dtbbpy)]PF6 instead of 4CzIPN resulted in a slightly lower
yield of 2a (entry 4). Replacement of PPh3 with several other
phosphine ligands, including PCy3, did not improve the yield
Scheme 1. Cobalt-Mediated [2+2+2] Cycloadditions of
Enediynes
i
of 2a (entry 5; also see Table S4). When Pr2NEt was used as
the reductant, the yield of 2a was slightly reduced (entry 6).
Switching the reaction solvent from THF to MeCN provided
2a in a decreased yield (entry 7). The formation of 2a was not
detected in the absence of either CoCl2, Et3N, 4CzIPN, or
light, demonstrating the vital role for all these components
(entry 8).
Next, the [2+2+2] cycloaddition reaction using various
enediynes 1 was examined under the optimized reaction
conditions (Scheme 2). Substrates bearing aryl, heteroaryl, and
alkyl groups at the alkyne terminus gave the corresponding
products 2b−2j in high yields, while the reaction of enediyne
1k, bearing a terminal alkyne moiety, resulted in a moderate
yield of the product 2k. Enediyne 1l bearing a nonprotected
alcohol could be transformed into 2l in moderate yield,
although the isolated yield was lesser as the column
chromatography had to be repeated twice to completely
remove the impurities. As an alternative method to introduce a
hydroxy group, the TBS-protected substrate 1m was
successfully converted into cycloadduct 2m. The introduction
of a methyl group (1n) at the alkene moiety instead of the
ethoxycarbonyl group did not affect the reactivity, and 2n was
still obtained in high yield. The cycloaddition of enediyne 1o
(R2 = H) proceeded smoothly, and 2o was obtained in high
yield without the formation of any β-hydride elimination
products. Enediyne 1p, bearing a cyclopentene moiety, was
successfully converted into tetracyclic cyclohexadiene 2p.
Enediynes bearing a 1,2-disubstituted or 1,1,2-trisubstituted
alkene moiety were successfully transformed to the corre-
sponding cycloadducts (2q−2s) as single diastereomers based
on the stereochemistry of the double bond. With respect to the
tether moieties, tosylamide, malonate, amide, and ester groups
could be incorporated, affording 2t−2x in good to excellent
yields. Methyl, phenyl, and benzyloxymethyl groups, as well as
a hydrogen atom, were successfully introduced into the alkene
moiety of ester-tethered enediynes, leading to tricyclic lactones
2y−2bb in good yields. The reaction of enediyne 1cc bearing
an unsubstituted propiolate terminus resulted in the formation
of 2cc in low yield, which could be ascribed to the competing
intermolecular oligomerization reaction due to the relatively
high reactivity of the propiolate moiety. Regarding the ring size
of the cycloadducts, while 6−6−5 tricyclic cyclohexadiene
(2dd) was successfully prepared in good yield, 5−6−6 tricyclic
cyclohexadiene (2ee) was not obtained. The use of optically
active enediyne 1ff afforded the corresponding cyclohexadiene
2ff in 63% yield with 2:1 dr. Notably, the intermolecular
cycloaddition afforded bicyclic cyclohexadiene 2gg in 60%
yield.
Table 1. Selected Optimization Study
a
entry
deviation from standard conditions
yield of 2a [%]
1
2
3
none
CoBr2
1 mol % CoCl2(PPh3)2
[Ir(dF(CF3)2ppy)(dtbbpy)]PF6 instead of 4CzIPN
PCy3 instead of PPh3
iPr2NEt instead of Et3N
94
94
91
88
73
90
59
0
b
4
5
6
7
8
MeCN as solvent
without CoCl2, Et3N, 4CzIPN, or light
a
Determined by 1H NMR analysis of the crude reaction mixture.
Using purple LEDs (385 nm) instead of blue LEDs.
b
There are two possible pathways for the cycloaddition of
enediynes, viz., via a metallacyclopentadiene intermediate or a
9480
ACS Catal. 2021, 11, 9479−9484