π-Facial selectivities in nucleophilic additions to 4-hetero-tricyclo[5.2.1.02,6]decan-10-ones and 4-hetero-tricyclo[5.2.1.02,6]dec-8-en-10-ones: An experimental and computational study

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4039(02)00320-9

Several endo-tricyclo[5.2.1.0^2,6]decan-10-ones and endo-tricyclo[5.2.1.0^2,6]dec-8-en-10-ones with hetero atom modifications at the distal C-4 position have been subjected to hydride reduction. π-Face selectivities in these systems are largely governed by the same electronic factors that were earlier identified in the case of the norbornyl system. A computational study demonstrates good predictability at the semi-empirical level.

Full text of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4039(02)00320-9

TETRAHEDRON
LETTERS
Pergamon
Tetrahedron Letters 43 (2002) 2487–2490
p-Facial selectivities in nucleophilic additions to
4-hetero-tricyclo[5.2.1.02,6]decan-10-ones and
4-hetero-tricyclo[5.2.1.02,6]dec-8-en-10-ones: an experimental and
computational study
Goverdhan Mehta,a,* Vanessa Gagliardini,a U. Deva Priyakumarb and G. Narahari Sastryb,*
aDepartment of Organic Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560 012, India
bDepartment of Chemistry, Pondicherry University, Pondicherry 605 014, India
Received 17 January 2002; revised 4 February 2002; accepted 18 February 2002
Abstract—Several endo-tricyclo[5.2.1.02,6]decan-10-ones and endo-tricyclo[5.2.1.02,6]dec-8-en-10-ones with hetero atom modifica-
tions at the distal C-4 position have been subjected to hydride reduction. p-Face selectivities in these systems are largely governed
by the same electronic factors that were earlier identified in the case of the norbornyl system. A computational study demonstrates
good predictability at the semi-empirical level. © 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Induction of face-selectivity in addition to the carbonyl
group through remote electronic perturbations is an
interesting way to achieve diastereoselectivity.1 In care-
fully crafted systems, where the carbonyl group is
placed in an isosteric environment, electronic modifica-
tion at distal positions has led to significant levels of
diastereoselectivity through face-selection during nucleo-
philic additions.1,2 While the role of such electronic
effects is now fairly well recognized, the precise nature
of the causative factors and predictability remain a
matter of debate and ongoing investigation. Explana-
tions based on geometrical and orbital distortions,3a
electrostatic effects,3b different types of specific orbital
interactions (Felkin–Anh3c and Cieplak type3d), among
others3e,3f,3g,3h have been proffered to explain the range
of experimental data. Many of these effects operate
O
O
O
O
anti
syn
R
R
R
X
R
Y
X
Y
1 a.
2 a.
3.
4.
9.
R=COOCH3
R=COOCH3
X=CH2
X=O
X=CH2
X=O
Y=H
Y=H
Y=H
Y=H
Y=H
Y=H
b. R=CH2CH3
10.
b. R =CH2CH3
c. R=CH2OCH3
c. R=CH2OCH3
5. X=S
X=S
11.
O
.
O
.
Y=H
Y=H
S
S
S
X=
12. X=
6.
.
.
S
Y=H
Y=H
7. X=
13. X=
O
O
8.
X=O
14. X=O
Y= =O
Y= =O
* Corresponding authors.
0040-4039/02/$ - see front matter © 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
PII: S0040-4039(02)00320-9

2488
G. Mehta et al. / Tetrahedron Letters 43 (2002) 2487–2490
forestall any conformational ambiguity and eliminate the
possibility of the substituents in 1 and 2 interacting
among themselves, we also studied5 the rigid, endo-tricy-
clo[5.2.1.02,6]decan-10-one derivative 3, wherein the
endo-substituents are locked together and observed that
it behaved essentially like the diethyl derivative 1b with
anti-selectivity (75:25). This observation spurred us to
explore further the endo-tricyclo[5.2.1.02,6]decan-10-one
system, particularly with heteroatom modification at the
distal C-4 position.6 This position is symmetrically posi-
tioned in the plane of the carbonyl group, bisecting the
tricyclic framework and lies directly along the trajectory
of the approaching nucleophile on the syn-face. Thus, it
should be possible to detect direct electrostatic interac-
tion, if any, between the nucleophile and the heteroatom
in addition to other electronic effects. Herein, we report
on the face selectivities exhibited by 4-hetero-endo-tricy-
clo[5.2.1.02,6]decan-10-ones 3–8 and the corresponding
endo-tricyclo[5.2.1.02,6]dec-8-en-10-ones 9–14.
subtly and concurrently, within a narrow energy range,
either in concordance or discordance and their cumula-
tive effect determines the final outcome. Thus, prediction
of face-selectivity is a difficult task and more experimen-
tal probes with subtle distal electronic modulation and
convenient, useful models are needed to aid understand-
ing and prediction of face selectivities.
Sometime ago, we had introduced the endo,endo-disub-
stituted 7-norbornanone system as an incisive probe to
explore face-selectivity and observed that while electron
withdrawing substituents as in 1a favor syn-face addition
(84:16), alkyl groups as in diethyl derivative 1b direct
addition from the anti-face (80:20). In the case of the
methoxymethyl derivative 1c, there is a small preference
for the anti-face addition (60:40).2a,2b
Similar, substituent effects on face selectivity were
observed for the 7-norbornenone derivatives 2a–c.4 To
O
H
OH
HO
H
NaBH4
+
:
MeOH, 0-5oC
X
Y
X
X
Y
Y
3.
4.
X=CH2
X=O
Z-
Y=H
Y=H
Y=H
E- 15
(25
75)
53)
56)
21
22
16
17
(47
(44
:
:
5. X=S
23
24
O
.
:
S
Y=H
X=
18
19
20
(42
(53
(84
58)
47)
16)
6.
.
S
Y=H
7. X=
25
26
:
:
O
8.
X=O
Y= =O
Scheme 1.
O
H
OH
HO
H
NaBH4
+
MeOH, 0-5oC
X
Y
X
X
Y
Y
:
9.
Z-
X=CH2
X=O
E- 27
28
( 6
94)
85)
90)
33
34
Y=H
10.
11.
Y=H
Y=H
(15
(10
:
:
35
36
X=S
29
O
.
:
Y=H
30
31
32
(10
(17
(42
90)
83)
58)
S
S
12. X=
13. X=
.
37
38
Y=H
:
:
O
14. X=O
Y= =O
Scheme 2.

G. Mehta et al. / Tetrahedron Letters 43 (2002) 2487–2490
2489
Substrates 4–14 being new, were routinely synthesized
following unambiguous, non-trivial routes.7 Saturated
tricyclic ketones 3–8 on reduction with sodium borohy-
dride furnished (E)-15–20 and (Z)-21–26 alcohols in
near quantitative yields (Scheme 1).8 Similarly, the
unsaturated counterparts 9–14 led to (E)-27–32 and
(Z)-33–38 alcohols on hydride reduction (Scheme 2).8
The observed diastereoselectivities (E:Z ratio) are dis-
model calculations were done by placing a point charge
and hydride ion, respectively, 1.4 A away from the
,
carbonyl carbon on both sides along the trajectory
perpendicular to the carbonyl face.3b The LiH transi-
tion states are located on the potential energy surface
and characterized as saddle points by the frequency
calculations. This model has been found to be fairly
reliable in reproducing the observed face selectivities in
the norbornyl system and has some predictive value.
The experimental data presented here for 3–8 provided
an opportunity to test further this simple model and the
computational results are presented in Table 1. The
observed selectivities are correctly reproduced by the
hydride model in all cases including the two
diastereomeric sulfoxides 6 and 7 where there is a subtle
reversal in face selectivity. The LiH transition state
model is also in good agreement with the experimental
observations. However, the charge model is found to be
less consistent (see Table 1) and this to an extent
reflects the ascendency of the orbital effects of the kind
proposed earlier by us in determining the face selectivi-
ties in the norbornyl systems.
1
played in the schemes and were determined through H
NMR analyses. All the diastereomers (E)-15–20, (E)-
27–32 and (Z)-21–26, (Z)-33–38 were fully character-
ized and their stereostructures were unambiguously
determined on the basis of NMR analyses, particularly
through the relative deshielding of the protons under-
neath the hydroxyl group.
The stereoselectivities observed during hydride reduc-
tion of tricyclic ketones 3–14 are generally consistent
with the trend observed earlier with the related nor-
bornyl systems.2a,2b,4 In the saturated series 3–8, while 3
(anti-face) and 8 (syn-face) exhibit high and opposite
stereoselectivity, simple hetero modification at C-4 as in
4–7 has only a marginal effect on the face selectivity.
Even in the case of diastereomeric sulfoxides 6 and 7
which were specifically crafted to gauge the effect of
directionality of the lone pair and oxygen on sulfur, the
face selectivity variation is small. The same trend in the
effect of distal substituent modification on face selectiv-
ities is observed in the case of the unsaturated series
9–14 (Scheme 2). While 9 exhibits highest anti-face
selectivity, it is substantially diminished in the case of
14 and the rest of the substrates 10–13 show small
We have carried out NBO10 analysis at B3LYP/6-31G*
and HF/6-31G* levels to obtain interaction energies
between the antiperiplanar sCꢀC and p* from the syn
CꢁO
and anti sides in 3–8, and we have also probed the
orientation of the carbonyl group after metal ion
complexation3g at B3LYP/6-31G*. However, both these
computational results are substantially less satisfactory
than the MNDO model in predicting the observed face
selectivities.11
reduction in anti-face preference compared to
9
In summary, we have shown that distal hetero atom
modifications at C-4 in endo-tricyclo[5.2.1.02,6]decan-
10-ones and endo-tricyclo[5.2.1.02,6]dec-8-en-10-ones do
not have a significant bearing on face selectivities dur-
ing hydride addition. The simple hydride model (as well
as the LiH transition state model) at the semi-empirical
level constitutes a consistently reliable predictive tool
for facial selectivities in these substrates and reinforces
our earlier3b proposals vis-a-vis the norbornyl system.
(Scheme 2). Once again, these results closely parallel the
observations in the saturated analogues (vide supra)
and earlier findings with the norbornenone system.4
Thus, C-4 heteroatom modification has only a modula-
tory role and is not the main determinant of face-selec-
tivity in these tricyclic systems; its contribution is
perhaps submerged among other dominant effects.
We have earlier proposed2b the economically attractive
semi-empirical MNDO9 method to discern the role of
orbital and electrostatic effects in determining p-face
selectivity using the hydride and charge models as well
as the LiH transition states. The charge and hydride
Acknowledgements
U.D.P. and V.G. thank UGC and JNCASR, respec-
tively, for research fellowships. We would like to thank
Dr. M. Praveen for some of the preliminary studies
reported in this paper.
Table 1. The relative energies for syn and anti face addi-
tions calculated using the charge, hydride and LiH transi-
tion state models at the MNDO level a
Charge model
Hydride model
Transition state
References
Syn
Anti
Syn
Anti
Syn
Anti
3
4
5
6
7
8
6.41
4.58
4.05
3.65
1.30
0.76
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
1.20
0.25
0.26
0.18
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
1.02
1.35
0.47
0.10
0.07
0.19
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.49
0.47
1. For recent reviews on diastereoselection, see a thematic
issue: (a) le Noble, W. J.; Gung, B. E. Chem. Rev. 1999,
99, 1069–1480; (b) Mehta, G.; Chandrasekhar, J. Chem.
Rev. 1999, 99, 1437.
2. (a) Mehta, G.; Khan, F. A. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1990, 112,
6140; (b) Ganguly, B.; Chandrasekhar, J.; Khan, F. A.;
Mehta, G. J. Org. Chem. 1993, 58, 1734; (c) Mehta, G.;
Khan, F. A.; Ganguly, B.; Chandrasekhar, J. J. Chem.
All values are given in kcal/mol.
a 0.00 value denotes the preference of face addition.

2490
G. Mehta et al. / Tetrahedron Letters 43 (2002) 2487–2490
Soc., Chem. Commun. 1992, 1711; (d) Mehta, G.; Ravikr-
tilted away from the olefinic side4b and the sulfoxide
bearing 5-membered ring projects outwards.
ishna, C.; Ganguly, B.; Chandrasekhar, J. J. Chem. Soc.,
Chem. Commun. 1997, 75; (e) Mehta, G.; Ravikrishna,
C.; Kalyanaraman, P.; Chandrasekhar, J. J. Chem. Soc.,
Perkin Trans. 1 1998, 1895; (f) Halterman, R. L.;
McEvoy, M. A. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1990, 112, 6690; (g)
Wipf, P.; Kim, Y. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1994, 116, 11678;
(h) Fraser, R. R.; Faibish, N. C.; Kong, F.; Bednarski, F.
J. Org. Chem. 1997, 62, 6164; (i) Li, H.; le Noble, W. J.
Recl. Trav. Chim. Pays-Bas 1992, 111, 199; (j) Mehta, G.;
Singh, S. R.; Gagliardini, V.; Priyakumar, U. D.; Sastry,
G. N. Tetrahedron Lett. 2001, 42, 8527.
8. All new compounds reported here were fully character-
1
ized on the basis of complementary spectroscopic (IR, H
&
13C NMR and MS) and analytical data. 13C NMR l
(75 MHz, CDCl3); 15: 81.7 (CH), 45.6 (CH), 41.5 (CH),
28.6 (CH2), 27.0 (CH2), 19.9 (CH2). 16: 81.1 (CH), 68.9
(CH2), 44.7 (CH), 41.7 (CH), 20.1 (CH2). 17: 81.7 (CH),
45.9 (CH), 45.8 (CH), 33.4 (CH2), 19.4 (CH2). 18:
(CD3OD): 53.0 (CH2), 45.2 (CH), 43.1 (CH), 20.5 (CH2).
19: (CD3OD): 81.7 (CH), 53.6 (CH2), 45.6 (CH), 39.8
(CH), 20.8 (CH2). 20: 178.1 (CO), 80.0 (CH), 68.4 (CH2),
44.5 (CH), 43.2 (CH), 43.1 (CH), 37.2 (CH), 22.2 (CH2),
19.0 (CH2). 21: 84.9 (CH), 44.8 (CH), 42.2 (CH), 29.6
(CH2), 26.3 (CH2), 20.4 (CH2). 22: 84.5 (CH), 68.4 (CH2),
44.4 (CH), 42.1 (CH), 20.4 (CH2). 23: 84.9 (CH), 46.6
(CH), 45.4 (CH), 32.7 (CH2), 19.8 (CH2). 24 (CD3OD):
85.6 (CH), 52.7 (CH2), 44.4 (CH), 44.2 (CH), 21.0 (CH2).
25: 82.8 (CH), 52.2 (CH2), 43.7 (CH), 37.5 (CH), 19.8
(CH2). 26: 179.2 (CO), 83.1 (CH), 67.8 (CH2), 45.1 (CH),
44.3 (CH), 44.2 (CH), 39.1 (CH), 22.5 (CH2), 19.3 (CH2).
27: 133.6 (CH), 89.8 (CH), 52.4 (CH), 44.6 (CH), 43.2
(CH), 28.7 (CH2), 28.6 (CH2). 28: 132.4 (CH), 89.0 (CH),
69.8 (CH2), 51.8 (CH), 43.9 (CH). 29: 134.4 (CH), 90.7
(CH), 52.3 (CH), 49.5 (CH), 34.9 (CH2). 30: 133.6 (CH),
90.4 (CH), 54.7 (CH2), 51.5 (CH), 43.6 (CH). 31: 134.7
(CH), 89.1 (CH), 54.5 (CH2), 52.3 (CH), 36.4 (CH). 32:
177.0 (CO), 134.0 (CH), 131.7 (CH), 88.1 (CH), 70.0
(CH2), 51.8 (CH), 50.4 (CH), 43.7 (CH), 36.0 (CH). 33:
135.0 (CH), 88.8 (CH), 50.0 (CH), 44.1 (CH), 30.7 (CH2),
28.0 (CH2). 34: 133.4 (CH), 87.8 (CH), 69.3 (CH2), 49.9
(CH), 45.1 (CH). 35: 135.6 (CH), 90.3 (CH), 51.0 (CH),
49.6 (CH), 33.6 (CH2). 36: 135.2 (CH), 89.2 (CH), 54.3
(CH2), 49.4 (CH), 45.3 (CH). 37: 137.2 (CH), 87.9 (CH),
54.8 (CH2), 51.8 (CH), 38.4 (CH). 38: 179.0 (CO), 134.9
(CH), 133.3 (CH), 86.7 (CH), 69.5 (CH2), 50.2 (CH), 49.9
(CH), 45.5 (CH), 37.8 (CH).
3. (a) Klein, J. Tetrahedron Lett. 1973, 4307; (b) Paddow-
Row, M. N.; Wu, Y.-D.; Houk, K. N. J. Am. Chem. Soc.
1992, 114, 10638; (c) Cherest, M.; Felkin, H.; Prudent, N.
Tetrahedron Lett. 1968, 2199; (d) Cieplak, A. S. J. Am.
Chem. Soc. 1981, 103, 4540; (e) Frenking, G.; Kohler, K.
F.; Reetz, M. T. Angew. Chem., Int. Ed. Engl. 1991, 30,
1146; (f) Ohwada, T. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1992, 114, 8818;
(g) Jeyaraj, D.; Yadav, A. A.; Yadav, V. K. Tetrahedron
Lett. 1997, 38, 4483; (h) Tomoda, S.; Senju, T. Tetra-
hedron 1997, 53, 9057.
4. (a) Mehta, G.; Khan, F. A. Tetrahedron Lett. 1992, 33,
3065; (b) Kumar, V. A.; Venkatesan, K.; Ganguly, B.;
Chandrasekhar, J.; Khan, F. A.; Mehta, G. Tetrahedron
Lett. 1992, 33, 3069.
5. (a) Mehta, G.; Praveen, M. Tetrahedron Lett. 1992, 33,
1759; (b) Praveen, M. Ph.D. Thesis, University of Hyder-
abad, India, 1995.
6. For distal heteroatom effect on face selectivity during
hydride addition, see, (a) Hahn, J.; le Noble, W. J. Am.
Chem. Soc. 1992, 114, 1916; (b) Mehta, G.; Khan, F. A.;
Ganguly, B.; Chandrasekhar, J. J. Chem. Soc., Perkin
Trans. 2 1994, 2275; (c) Dimitroff, M.; Fallis, A. G.
Tetrahedron Lett. 1998, 39, 2527 and 2531; (d) Chao, I.;
Shih, J. H.; Wu, H. -J. J. Org. Chem. 2000, 22, 7523.
7. Substrates 3–14 were prepared from the Diels–Alder
adducts of 5,5-dimethoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrachlorocyclopent-
adiene with either maleic anhydride or cyclopentadiene
through routine but non-trivial functional group transfor-
mations. The stereostructures of sulfoxides 6, 7, 12, and
13 were secured through X-ray crystal structure determi-
nation of 13 and its correlation with 7. In the solid state,
the C1ꢀC10ꢀC7 bridge of the norbornyl portion of 13 is
9. Dewar, M. J. S.; Theil, W. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1977, 99,
4899.
10. Glendening, E. D.; Reed, A.; Carpenter, E. J. E.; Wein-
hold, F. NBO, Version 3.1.
11. Details of these calculations and additional computa-
tional studies will be reported in a full paper.