Diastereoselective Synthesis of Highly Substituted Tetrahydrofurans by Pd-Catalyzed Tandem Oxidative Cyclization-Redox Relay Reactions Controlled by Intramolecular Hydrogen Bonding

J Org Chem. 2017 Jan 6;82(1):57-75. doi: 10.1021/acs.joc.6b02053. Epub 2016 Dec 22.

Abstract

Palladium-catalyzed oxidative cyclization of alkenols provides a convenient entry into cyclic ethers but typically proceeds with little or no diastereoselectivity for cyclization of trisubstituted olefins to form tetrahydrofurans due to the similar energies of competing 5-membered transition-state conformations. Herein, a new variant of this reaction has been developed in which a PdCl2/1,4-benzoquinone catalyst system coupled with introduction of a hydrogen-bond acceptor in the substrate enhances both diastereoselectivity and reactivity. Cyclization occurs with 5-exo Markovnikov regioselectivity. Mechanistic and computational studies support an anti-oxypalladation pathway in which intramolecular hydrogen bonding increases the nucleophilicity of the alcohol and enforces conformational constraints that enhance diastereoselectivity. The cyclization is followed by a tandem redox-relay process that provides versatile side-chain functionalities for further derivatization.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Catalysis
  • Cyclization
  • Furans / chemical synthesis*
  • Furans / chemistry
  • Hydrogen Bonding
  • Molecular Conformation
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • Palladium / chemistry*
  • Stereoisomerism

Substances

  • Furans
  • Palladium
  • palladium chloride