Regioselective access to polycyclic N-heterocycles via homogeneous copper-catalyzed cascade cyclization of allenynes

Abstract Polycyclic N-heterocycles are important structural motifs commonly found in bioactive compounds, however, their selective construction via the cyclization of allenynes remains challenging yet highly desirable. Here we show a homogeneous copper-catalyzed hetero Diels−Alder (HDA) reaction of...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Kua-Fei Wei, Qing Liu, Guang Ma, Xiao-Lei Jiang, Xiu-Hong Zhu, Guang-Xin Ru, Wen-Bo Shen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2023-05-01
Series:Communications Chemistry
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s42004-023-00910-9
Description
Summary:Abstract Polycyclic N-heterocycles are important structural motifs commonly found in bioactive compounds, however, their selective construction via the cyclization of allenynes remains challenging yet highly desirable. Here we show a homogeneous copper-catalyzed hetero Diels−Alder (HDA) reaction of allenynes with cis-diazenes (PTAD, 4-phenyl-1,2,4-triazoline-3,5-dione), allowing the practical and efficient synthesis of a diverse array of valuable polycyclic N-heterocycles. A temperature-controlled and stereocontrolled chemoselectivity of the reaction was observed, leading to the chemodivergent synthesis of tetracyclic pyrrolidines, pentacyclic triazepanes and tricyclic pyrrolidines. Compared with related Au-catalyzed cyclization of allenynes, this copper catalysis achieves cyclization of allenynes terminating in C–N bond formation via the HDA reaction.
ISSN:2399-3669