Masked 3-Aminoindan-1-ones
Once the iminium ion is formed on a vinylated substrate
the ring closure is very fast.18 With the methoxy group
located in the para position to the formyl group (1c) the
vinylated aldehyde is stabilized by resonance. The ring
closure to the desired product 4i via the iminium ion of
type 5 is therefore a cleaner process, compared to that of
the corresponding reaction with triflate 1b where a
substantial amount of 3-hydroxyindan-1-one acetal is
generated after attack on the more activated aldehyde
function (entries 8 and 9, Table 2). The cyclization of the
charged intermediate 5 is believed to occur after initial
activation of the vinyl ether by an intramolecular acetal-
ization. Thus, the hydroxy function acts as a nucleophilic
neighboring group in the annulation process.
primary amine 9 employing microwave-assisted hydro-
genolysis (eq 4).
As in the case of the previously reported one-pot
synthesis of blocked 3-hydroxyindanones,13 no mono-
cyclized 2-aryl-2-methyl-1,3-dioxolane was detected even
though the ethylene glycol vinyl ether has been success-
fully used previously for preparation of ketals of aceto-
phenones from aryl triflates lacking an electrophilic
group in the ortho position.19-21
To examine whether benzylamines could serve as
equivalents for primary amines and ammonia, pure
compounds 4f,g were treated with Pd/C and ammonium-
formiate to remove the benzyl groups. After 10 min of
controlled microwave heating, compound 4f was selec-
tively cleaved into the desired secondary amine 6 (eq 2).
Indeed, the benzylic C-N bond was cleaved rather than
the benzylic indan C-N bond.
Conclusions
In conclusion, we have developed a novel one-pot
method for the preparation of protected 3-aminoindan-
1-ones from salicylic aldehyde triflates, ethylene glycol
vinyl ether, and nucleophilic amines. Both primary,
secondary, and tertiary amino products were produced
and isolated in useful yields. The reaction sequence
reported denotes a new type of palladium-catalyzed
three-component annulation, which relies on a regio-
selective Heck arylation and subsequent intramolecular
nucleophilic attack by the ethylene glycol vinyl ether. The
protocol is expected to be useful in high-throughput
synthesis of a range of 3-aminoindan derivatives.
Experimental Section
General Methods. The aryl triflates were prepared ac-
cording to a fast microwave procedure.23 All other chemicals
used were commercially available.
General Procedure for the Synthesis of N,N-Disub-
stituted 3-Amino-1,1-(ethylenedioxy)indans (Table 2).
The aryl triflate (2.0 mmol) was dissolved in MeCN (14 mL)
in a reaction tube. Ethylene glycol vinyl ether (6.0 mmol, 540
µL), PMP (6.0 mmol, 1100 µL), Pd(OAc)2 (40 µmol, 400 µL of
1 M stock solution in MeCN), DPPP (80 µmol, 400 µL of 1 M
stock solution in MeCN), and the secondary amine (1.5 mmol)
were added. The tube was flushed with N2 and sealed with a
screw cap. The reaction mixture was stirred at 80 °C for 18 h.
After evaporation of the solvent the crude product was purified
on basic Al2O3. The sample was applied to the column with a
small volume of EtOAc and eluted with EtOAc, isohexane (1:
4). The remaining PMP was removed in a vacuum (10 mbar,
70 °C).
3-(N,N-Dibutylamino)-1,1-(ethylenedioxy)indan (4a).
The title compound was obtained in 64% yield (296 mg) as dark
red, thick oil: 1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3) δ 0.87 (t, J ) 7.3,
6H), 1.20-1.30 (m, 2H), 1.30-1.39 (m, 2H), 1.40-1.49 (m, 4H),
2.19 (dd, J ) 7.6, 13.4, 1H), 2.27-2.33 (m, 2H), 2.34 (dd, J )
7.1, 13.4, 1H), 2.37-2.44 (m, 2H), (4.02-4.24 (m, 4H), 4.56
(dd, J ) 7.1, 7.6, 1H), 7.29-7.31 (m, 1H), 7.34-7.38 (m, 2H),
7.40-7.42 (m, 1H); 13C NMR (100 MHz, CDCl3) δ 14.3, 20.6,
31.1, 37.0, 50.5, 62.1, 64.8, 65.9, 115.1, 122.9, 125.1, 128.0,
129.8, 141.7, 145.7. Anal. Calcd for C19H29NO2: C, 75.2; H,
9.6; N, 4.6. Found: C, 75.0; H, 9.4; N, 4.6.
On the contrary, with the tertiary amine 4g, carrying
two benzyl groups, the indan C-N bond was cleaved
preferentially, releasing dibenzylamine and carbonyl
protected 1-indanon. Therefore, in the search for a more
suitable ammonia equivalent we decided to revisit the
use of primary amines. The sterically hindered and
electron-poor R-phenylbenzylamine (7) was identified as
a potential ammonia synthon. This compound was thought
to coordinate weaker to palladium(II) than the previously
studied aliphatic primary amines, at the same time as
the corresponding imine should act as a reactive electro-
phile in the subsequent annulation.22 Keeping the reac-
tion conditions identical to those used for the secondary
amines except for raising the temperature to 90 °C
(sealed vessel), the desired N-protected product 8 was
obtained in fair yield (eq 3). The diphenylmethyl protect-
ing group could then be selectively cleaved into the
(18) In case of sluggish amines, the intermediate vinyl-substituted
salicylic aldehyde triflate was detected by LC/MS.
(19) McClelland, R. A.; Watada, B.; Lew, C. S. Q. J. Chem. Soc.,
Perkin Trans. 2 1993, 1723-1727.
(20) Larhed, M.; Hallberg, A. J. Org. Chem. 1997, 62, 7858-7862.
(21) Vallin, K. S. A.; Larhed, M.; Johansson, K.; Hallberg, A. J. Org.
Chem. 2000, 65, 4537-4542.
(22) Primary amines coordinate harder to palladium(II) than sec-
ondary amines, thereby retarding the catalytic cycle in the Heck
reaction; see ref 12.
3-(N-Ethylamino)-1,1-(ethylenedioxy)indan (6). Com-
pound 4f (124 mg, 0.40 mmol), Pd/C (10%) (43 mg, 40 µmol),
ammonium formiate (250 mg, 4.0 mmol), and 4 mL of MeOH
(23) Bengtson, A.; Hallberg, A.; Larhed, M. Org. Lett. 2002, 4, 1231-
1233.
J. Org. Chem, Vol. 70, No. 3, 2005 941