Scope of alkoxymethyl radical cyclizations

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/jo00079a016

We have explored different aspects of the cyclization capability of alkoxymethyl radicals and report here a full account of our investigations. The required radicals were generated from (phenylseleno)-methyl ethers (e.g., 6), which were prepared from homoallylic or bis-homoallylic alcohols by a two-step process. The alcohols were alkylated with (iodomethyl)tributylstannane. The stannanes were reacted with n-BuLi, and the resulting α-alkoxyanions were trapped with diphenyldiselenide to give the (phenylseleno)methyl ethers, which were stable to chromatography. When treated with tributyltin hydride, in the presence of a radical initiator, these precursors undergo a smooth cyclization to substituted tetrahydrofurans and tetrahydropyrans. Formation of the cyclization product was found to be the primary pathway even at relatively high tin hydride concentration. The diastereoselectivity of this cyclization was comparable to that observed in other radical cyclizations. The cis selectivity in cyclization of 6 increased gradually (up to 11:1) as the reaction temperature was lowered. The cyclization can be used for the synthesis of bicyclic and tricyclic compounds and can be incorporated in systems capable of tandem cyclizations.