Organocatalytic sigmatropic reactions: Development of a [2,3] Wittig rearrangement through secondary amine catalysis

Article abstract of DOI:10.1002/anie.200504301

(Chemical Equation Presented) Simple secondary amine organocatalysts induce a general [2,3] Wittig rearrangement via an enamine under extremely mild conditions. The organocatalytic rearrangement gives good diastereoselectivities over a range of substrates and generates the syn isomer, which is contrary to what would be expected from the conventional [2,3]-reaction.

Full text of DOI:10.1002/anie.200504301

Communications
[
3]
lective [3,3] Claisen type transformations; however, there
are few general catalytic methods for the corresponding
[
4]
[
2,3] Wittig rearrangement. Our efforts towards the devel-
opment of novel organocatalytic reactions that exploit
catalyst-induced new reactivity in bifunctional a-substituted
[
5]
carbonyl compounds [Eqs. (1)–(3)] led us to envision that
Organocatalysis
DOI: 10.1002/anie.200504301
Organocatalytic Sigmatropic Reactions:
Development of a [2,3] Wittig Rearrangement
through Secondary Amine Catalysis**
sigmatropic rearrangements could be developed through such
a strategy. Herein, we describe a new organocatalytic
[
2,3] Wittig rearrangement by secondary amine catalysis
Andrew McNally, Brian Evans, and Matthew J. Gaunt*
through the intermediacy of an enamine [Eqs. (2) and (3)].
The new process operates under ambient and operationally
simple conditions and also precludes the use of strong bases
often required in conventional [2,3] Wittig rearrangements.
Furthermore, this organocatalytic transformation provides an
important platform for the development of a catalytic
Sigmatropic rearrangements represent a fundamental method
for the installation of molecular complexity in organic
[
1]
molecules. Both the [2,3] and [3,3] variations have found
widespread use in the chemical synthesis of natural products
and medicinal agents. Because of the importance of these
reactions, the development of asymmetric methods for
sigmatropic rearrangements has attracted significant interest
[
6,7]
enantioselective [2,3] rearrangement.
At the outset of this study, the catalytic rearrangement
strategy was tested on ketone 1a using 20 mol% pyrrolidine
(2a) as the catalyst. We found that the rearrangement was
effected in a range of solvents, although these reactions
resulted in varying conversions as an equal mixture of syn and
anti diastereomers (Table 1, entries 1–9). The reaction in
methanol, however, showed complete conversion after
[
1,2]
from the synthetic community. Over recent years, there has
been a number of new advances in catalytic and enantiose-
[*] A. McNally, Dr. M. J. Gaunt
Department of Chemistry
University of Cambridge
Lensfield Road, Cambridge, CB21EW (UK)
Fax: (+44)122-333-6362
E-mail: mjg32@cam.ac.uk
3
0 minutes and favored the formation of the syn isomer 3a
[
8a]
(d.r. = 3:1; Table 1, entry 10). This is notable as it displayed
the opposite selectivity to reactions in all solvents tested, and
the formation of the syn isomer is contrary to the conven-
tional [2,3] Wittig rearrangement in which E alkenes gener-
Dr. B. Evans
GSK Medicines Research Centre
Gunnels Wood Road
[8b]
ally form the anti isomer [Eq. (2)].
The influence of temperature was investigated next, and
higher diastereoselectivities were achieved at lower temper-
atures (Table 1, entries 10–14). Complete conversion was
observed at À58C, with a d.r. of 6.5:1 (3a/4a); however, the
selectivity can be increased to 10:1 at À258C though the
reaction was slower but still reached complete conversion
after reaction for 90 h. The concentration of the reaction did
Stevenage, Herts, SG1 2NY (UK)
[
**] We gratefully acknowledge GSK and EPSRC for studentships (A.M.)
and the Royal Society for a University Research Fellowship(M.J.G.).
We also thank Professor Willie Motherwell for useful discussions
and Professor Steven Ley for support and useful discussions.
Supporting information for this article is available on the WWW
under http://www.angewandte.org or from the author.
2
116
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Angewandte
Chemie
Table 1: Effect of solvent and temperature on the reaction.
diastereoselectivity suggests that the protic solvent influences
the rearrangement through a hydrogen-bonding interaction
with the ether oxygen atom, thus stabilizing the developing
negative charge and thereby accelerating the rearrangement.
Interestingly, however, the reaction seems to have a narrow
tolerance to the acidity of the solvent. In the presence of
trifluoroethanol or using the HCl salt of 2a, the reaction is
severely retarded or nonexistent in the respective cases. The
assistance of Brønsted acids as additives in catalytic reactions
[
a]
Entry Solvent Catalyst Conc. [m] T [8C] Conv. [%] t [h] d.r.
loading (3a:4a)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
PhMe 20
Et O 20
MeCN 20
THF 20
EtOAc 20
CHCl3 20
DMSO 20
0.5
0.5
0.5
0.5
0.5
0.5
0.5
0.5
0.5
0.5
0.5
0.5
0.5
0.125
0.5
0.5
23
23
23
23
23
23
23
23
40
90
60
75
50
90
30
50
24
24
24
24
24
24
24
24
1:1.5
1:1
1:1
1:1.5
1:1.5
1:1
1:1
1:1
3:1
4:1
2
[
12]
has been well documented, and they have recently been
successfully employed as cocatalysts in organocatalytic pro-
[
9]
cesses. We are currently investigating whether such addi-
tives can further influence the rearrangement.
DMF
20
The scope of the organocatalytic [2,3] Wittig rearrange-
ment was evaluated first by studying the effect of the
substituent at the ketone carbonyl group in 1. Table 2 shows
the results of reactions that were optimized to reach
completion within 24 hours at the given temperature. The
diastereoselectivity of the rearrangement can be improved at
lower temperatures, although with increased reaction times.
The new reaction worked for a range of simple ketones and
gave rearranged products in excellent yields of the isolated
products and good diastereoselectivity (Table 2, entries 1–6).
The alkene substituents were also varied (Table 2, entries 7–
MeOH 20
MeOH 20
MeOH 20
MeOH 20
MeOH 20
MeOH 20
23 100
100
0.5
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
5
12
24
24
24
24
96
96
À5 100
6.5:1
À10
90
70
7:1
10:1
6.5:1
8:1
[
b]
À25
À5 100
MeOH
MeOH
5
0
À5 100
23
0
nr
1
[
a] Determined by H NMR spectroscopic analysis. [b] Conversion=
00% at 90 h. nr=no reaction. DMF=dimethylformamide, DMSO=
1
dimethyl sulfoxide.
1
4), and electron-rich or -deficient aromatic groups could be
not significantly affect the rearrangement (Table 1, entry 14).
However, the catalyst loading could be decreased, and with
used to good effect (Table 2, entries 7–9). Substrates contain-
ing trisubstituted alkenes, 1,3-dienes, and enynes readily
reacted to form rearranged products in good yield (Table 2,
entries 10–12). Products with a quaternary center were also
formed in good diastereoselectivity from the corresponding
trisubstituted alkene, thus expanding the scope and utility of
the organocatalytic [2,3] rearrangement strategy (Table 2,
entry 13). Finally, as a surrogate to the crotyl group, an
allylsilane substrate (Table 2, entry 14) rearranged smoothly,
and the resulting product could be readily converted into the
5
mol% of 2a the reaction reached completion in 96 h with a
[
9,10]
slightly improved d.r. of 8:1 at À58C (Table 1, entry 7).
No
reaction is observed in the absence of 2a (Table 1, entry 16).
1
The H NMR spectra of the crude reaction mixtures showed
only the rearranged product, and in contrast to many other
[
[
2,3] sigmatropic reactions there was no sign of the competing
[
1b]
1,2] rearrangement product.
These results demonstrate
that the new organocatalytic [2,3] rearrangement was readily
effected under mild and operationally simple conditions, and
we believe this represents the first example of such a process.
A proposed mechanism for the reaction is shown in
Scheme 1. Formation of an iminium ion is followed by
tautomerization to the corresponding enamine, and the
rearrangement possibly proceeds via the syn transition state
[
13]
desired propionate motif through desilylation. In all cases,
the syn isomer 3 was observed as the major product and the
assignment was based on analogy to the proven stereochem-
[
8a]
istry of 3a.
With an effective diastereoselective catalytic reaction in
hand, we investigated a chirality transfer process in the
organocatalytic [2,3] rearrangement. Methyl ketone 1m
[
11]
(syn TS) to form 3a after hydrolytic release of the catalyst.
[
14]
The requirement of methanol as the solvent to attain good
(94% ee) rearranged to 3m and maintained the enantio-
meric excess of the starting ketone [Eq. (4)]. This result
strongly suggests that the rearrangement proceeds through
the conventional concerted mechanism as opposed to a
stepwise ionic pathway. Moreover, an effective chirality
transfer process represents an useful extension to this new
catalytic methodology.
To investigate the potential of a catalytic asymmetric
process, we tested the reaction with a chiral secondary amine
Scheme 1. Proposed mechanism of the rearrangement.
Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2006, 45, 2116 –2119
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2117

Communications
[
c]
Table 2: Scope of the organocatalytic [2,3] Wittig rearrangement.
In summary, we have developed a new
organocatalytic [2,3] Wittig rearrangement
through secondary amine catalysis. This
process displays a broad substrate scope
and proceeds with good diastereoselectivity.
The reaction conditions are remarkably
mild, and the transformation is operation-
ally simple to perform. We have also
identified that allylic transposition of chir-
ality can be achieved with an existing chiral
centre and most importantly that a chiral
pyrrolidine effects an organocatalytic enan-
tioselective sigmatropic rearrangement.
This process provides a platform for the
further development of this reaction and
related catalytic enantioselective rearrange-
ment processes; these studies will be
reported in due course.
1
3
[b]
Entry
1
R
R
Product
t [h] T [8C] Yield [%]
d.r. (3:4)
Me
Me
Ph
Ph
3a 24
3a 24
À5
À8
84
96
6.5:1
2
4:1
3
4
Et
Ph
Ph
3b 72
3c 24
À15
À10
92
86
6:1
3:1
À(CH ) Ph
2
2
5
Ph
3d 24
À8
90
4:1
6
7
Ph
3d 72
3e 24
À15
À8
86
91
5:1
7:1
Et
4-OMePh
8
9
Me
4-OMePh
3 f 24
3g 24
3h 24
À8
À12
À8
88
90
73
5:1
4.5:1
2:1
Experimental Section
General Procedure: A precooled solution of
pyrrolidine (20 mol%) in methanol (2 mL) was
added to 1 (1 mmol), and the reaction mixture
was stirred at the described temperature for the
time stated. The reaction was quenched after
completion with aqueous solution of hydrochloric
acid (0.1m, 2 mL), and the aqueous layer was
extracted with diethyl ether (3 ” 10 mL). The
combined organic extracts were washed with an
aqueous saturated solution of sodium bicarbonate
Me
Me
4-CF Ph
3
2
1
0
1
R =Ph
1
Me
3i 24
5
82
84
3.5:1
1:1
(
(
10 mL), an aqueous saturated solution of brine
10 mL), dried over MgSO , and filtered. The
4
resulting filtrate was concentrated in vacuo, and
the crude product was purified by flash column
chromatography on silica gel.
1
2
Me
Me
3j 24
23
1
1
3
4
Me, Ph
3k 72
3l 24
23
23
55
85
4:1
4:1
Received: December 3, 2005
Published online: February 22, 2006
À(CH ) Ph
ÀCH SiMe3
Keywords: asymmetric synthesis ·
2
2
2
.
enantioselectivity · organocatalysis ·
sigmatropic rearrangements
2
2
[
a] R =H for all entries, except entry 10, in which R =Me. [b] Yield of the isolated product after
chromatography.
[
1] For the [3,3] rearrangement, see: a) A. M.
catalyst. Diamine 2b catalyzed the reaction and afforded the
rearranged product 3 in 60% ee for the syn isomer 3g
Martin Castro, Chem. Rev. 2004, 104, 2939;
[2,3] rearrangement: b) T. Nakai, K. Mikami, Org. React. 1994,
6, 105; c) “Rearrangements of Organolithium Compounds”: K.
Tomooka in The Chemistry of Organolithium Compounds (Eds.:
Z. Rappaport, I. Marek), Wiley, New York, 2004.
[
15]
4
[
Eq. (5)]. To the best of our knowledge, this reaction is
the first organocatalytic enantioselective [2,3] Wittig rear-
rangement and represents an exciting lead towards the
development of a catalytic enantioselective process. Towards
this end, we are currently designing catalysts that will control
both the enantio- and diastereoselectivity of this reaction.
[
2] For a review of asymmetric methods for [3,3] Claisen type
rearrangements, see: H. Ito, T. Taguchi, Chem. Soc. Rev. 1999,
8, 43; see also ref. [1a].
[3] a) T. P. Yoon, D. W. C. MacMillan, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2001, 123,
911; b) L. Abraham, R. Czerwonka, M. Hiersemann, Angew.
2
2
Chem. 2001, 113, 4835; Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2001, 40, 4700;
c) L. Abraham, M. Körner, P. Schwab, M. Hiersemann, Adv.
Synth. Catal. 2004, 346, 1281.
[
4] For catalytic [2,3] rearrangements, see: a) D. M. Hodgson,
F. Y. T. M. Pierard, P. A. Stupple, Chem. Soc. Rev. 2001, 30, 50,
and references therein; for
a catalytic enantioselective
[
2,3] propargylic rearrangement, see: b) G. A. Moniz, J. L.
2
118
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Angewandte
Chemie
Wood, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2001, 123, 5095; for an auxiliary
controlled asymmetric example of the aza-Wittig rearrange-
ment, see: c) J. A. Workman, N. P. Garrido, J. Sancon, E.
Roberts, H. P. Wessel, J. B. Sweeney, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2005,
1
27, 1066; and for a reagent-controlled asymmetric example,
see: d) J. Blid, O. Panknin, P. Somfai, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2005,
27, 9352.
1
[
5] a) C. D. Papageorgiou, M. A. Cubillos de Dios, S. V. Ley, M. J.
Gaunt, Angew. Chem. 2004, 116, 4741; Angew. Chem. Int. Ed.
2
004, 43, 4641; b) N. Bremyer, S. C. Smith, S. V. Ley, M. J. Gaunt,
Angew. Chem. 2004, 116, 2735; Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2004, 43,
681.
2
[
[
6] For organocatalysis reviews, see: a) P. Dalko, L. Moisan, Angew.
Chem. 2004, 116, 5248; Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2004, 43, 5138;
b) J. Seayad, B. List, Org. Biomol. Chem. 2005, 3, 719.
7] For examples of secondary amine catalysis via enamines, see:
a) A. B. Northrup, D. W. C. MacMillan, Science 2004, 305, 1752,
and references therein; b) B. List Acc. Chem. Res. 2004, 37, 548;
c) W. Notz, F. Tanaka, C. A. Barbas III, Acc. Chem. Res. 2004,
37, 580; d) K. Juhl, K. A. Jørgensen J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2002, 124,
2420; e) A. Cordova, H. Sunden, M. Engqvist, I. Ibrahem, J. J.
Casas, Am. Chem. Soc. 2004, 126, 8914; f) T. Ishii, S. Fujioka, Y.
Sekiguchi, H. Kotsuki, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2004, 126, 9558; g) Y.
Yamamoto, N. Momiyama, H. Yamamoto, J. Am. Chem. Soc.
2004, 126, 5962.
[
8] a) The major diastereoisomer was confirmed to be the syn
isomer by conversion into a six-membered cyclic derivative and
analysis of NOE interaction enhancements (see the Supporting
Information for details); b) an exception to this finding is: D.
Enders, D. Backhaus, J. Runsink, Tetrahedron 1996, 52, 1503.
9] Interestingly, we see a slightly improved diastereoselectivity in
the rearrangements with a lower catalyst loading, and we also
observed slight changes in diastereoselectivity as the reactions
approached completion. We propose that as the reaction
approaches completion with higher catalyst loadings partial
epimerization takes place at the a-position because of increased
change of reformation of the iminium adduct of 3. This behavior
has been observed in enamine-based conjugate-addition pro-
cesses; see: T. J. Peelan, Y. Chi, S. H. Gellman, J. Am. Chem.
Soc. 2005, 127, 11598.
[
[
10] There was no reaction: in the absence of catalyst 2a; when the
homologous secondary amine piperidine was used as the
catalyst; when one equivalent of triethylamine was used in
place of pyrrolidine (2a), thus suggesting that the process was
not base mediated.
[
11] For a recent discussion on iminium ion geometry and enamine
formation, see: I. K. Mannigan, A. B. Northrup, D. W. C.
MacMillan, Angew. Chem. 2004, 116, 6890; Angew. Chem. Int.
Ed. 2004, 43, 6722.
[
12] For an account of Brønsted acid catalysis, see: P. M. Pihko,
Angew. Chem. 2004, 116, 2110; Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2004, 43,
2062.
[
[
13] B. M. Trost, L. T. Phan, Tetrahedron Lett. 1993, 34, 4735.
14] The chiral center was installed by reduction of the corresponding
enone with N-cyclohexyl-2-benzothiazolesulfenamide (CBS),
see: E. J. Corey, C. J. Helal, Angew. Chem. 1998, 110, 2092;
Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 1998, 37, 1986.
[
15] The isomer of 3n shown was chosen arbitrarily; we do not know
the absolute configuration of the product at this stage.
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2119