ARTICLES
Traditional disconnections
Non-traditional disconnection
Me
a
• Julia and Wittig-type reactions
• Cross-metathesis
• Allylic electrophile displacement
• Allyl-metal SN2 reaction
• sp3–sp3 metal-mediated cross-coupling
Et
c
a
R
c
b
• Vinyl anion SN2 reaction
• sp3–sp2 metal-mediated
cross-coupling
b
• Hydrazone-based traceless bond
construction
Me
Figure 4 | Analysis of strategic bond disconnections: new avenues for synthesis using a non-traditional disconnection. Analysis of the fictive target shown
reveals three major points of disconnection. Bond a lends itself to construction by means of a Julia- or Wittig-type olefination, or through olefin cross-
metathesis. Carbon bond b may potentially be formed by an SN2 reaction or by the more modern sp3–sp2 metal-mediated cross-coupling. In general, bonds
a and b are typical choices for synthetic chemists, whereas disconnection at bond c is not as common due to less developed or unreliable methods. The
hydrazone-based traceless bond construction enables convergent fragment assembly at bond c and thus opens avenues for alternative syntheses along
non-traditional paths. Me, methyl; Et, ethyl.
occur. Disconnection at the allylic position (c) would traditionally
be a poorer strategic choice, because formation of this bond using
either an allyl electrophile or an allyl nucleophile raises issues of
regiocontrol and product alkene geometry. Recent methods for
transition metal-mediated sp3–sp3 cross-coupling do, however,
offer a solution to this problem for many cases15–17. The reaction
we have developed also enables such a disconnection to be made
with a high level of confidence; the condensation step is straight-
forward, and the sigmatropic rearrangement is completely regio-
selective and displays good levels of stereoselectivity. Furthermore,
the concept of traceless reactions represents a powerful approach
to the design of complex molecules and provides enhanced
options for the synthetic chemist engaged in target directed syn-
thesis. Future efforts in this area will be focused on the requirement
for high temperatures and a strong acid in the reaction, enabling
a significantly enhanced substrate scope, particularly regarding
substrates bearing acid-sensitive functional groups.
References
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´
´
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The reaction we have developed is applicable to a wide range of
substrates, including aromatic and aliphatic hydrazones, and those
possessing stereogenic centres. From a synthetic standpoint, the
transformation offers a unique means for constructing a s-bond
between two unfunctionalized sp3 carbons, while simultaneously
generating a stereo-defined alkene. Moreover, because this reaction
forms products that do not contain an obvious retron, its synthetic
application has the potential to lead to novel and creative pathways
that are not immediately obvious. Continued research in this area
should unveil more such traceless bond constructions and facilitate
synthesis along non-traditional routes.
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Methods
General procedure for the traceless bond construction. Triflimide (0.25 M in
CH2Cl2, 200 ml, 0.05 mmol) was added to a flame-dried 25-ml round-bottomed
flask containing a magnetic stir bar under a N2 atmosphere. The CH2Cl2 was
removed by vigorously purging the flask with N2 until dry crystalline triflimide was
visible in the reaction flask. The N2 flow rate was decreased and diglyme (5.0 ml) was
added to the reaction flask. A solution of the requisite hydrazone (0.50 mmol) in
diglyme (2.5 ml þ 2.5 ml rinse) was then added to this, via a cannula, at room
temperature under a N2 atmosphere. The reaction flask was fitted with a reflux
condenser and purged with N2. The reaction was then stirred at 125 8C until deemed
complete by thin layer chromatography (30% EtOAc/hexanes, p-anisaldehyde
stain). After cooling to room temperature the reaction was washed into a separatory
funnel with hexanes (20 ml) and diluted with sat. NaHCO3 (15 ml) and H2O
(100 ml). The aqueous phase was removed and the organic phase was washed with
sat. NaCl (15 ml) and H2O (100 ml). The combined aqueous phases were extracted
with hexanes (10 ml) and the combined organic phases were dried over Na2SO4 and
concentrated to produce a yellow oil. Flash column chromatography on silica gel
resulted in the alkene product.
Acknowledgements
This work was supported by the National Science Foundation (CHE0845063), the donors
of the American Chemical Society Petroleum Research Fund (grant no. 46778-G) and
Northwestern University.
Author contributions
R.J.T. conceived the idea and wrote the manuscript. D.A.M. and C.T.A. performed the
experiments. All the authors analysed the data, contributed to discussions and edited
the manuscript.
Additional information
Received 17 September 2009; accepted 19 January 2010;
published online 28 February 2010
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