A Cascade Reaction of Cinnamyl Azides with Acrylates Directly Generates Tetrahydro-Pyrrolo-Pyrazole Heterocycles

J Org Chem. 2020 May 1;85(9):6044-6059. doi: 10.1021/acs.joc.0c00535. Epub 2020 Apr 20.

Abstract

Developing reactions to generate complex and modular building blocks in a concise and direct fashion remains a contemporary synthetic challenge. This work describes a stereoselective cascade reaction between allylic azides and acrylates that directly generates tetrahydro-pyrrolo-pyrazole ring systems. These products contain up to four contiguous stereocenters, two of which may be tetrasubstituted carbon atoms attached to a nitrogen atom. Over 30 examples are provided with an average isolated yield of 71% (ranging from 40% to 94%). The reaction was easily scaled to use more than one gram of starting material, and the products can be readily diversified.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Acrylates*
  • Azides*
  • Molecular Structure
  • Pyrazoles

Substances

  • Acrylates
  • Azides
  • Pyrazoles