No abstract

Transition structures of the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of substituted nitrile oxides with chiral homoallylic alcohols were explored with density functional theory (B3LYP/6-311+G(d,p)+CPCM(dichloromethane)//B3LYP/6-31+G(d)). The diastereoselectivity observed in these reactions was explained. The anti product is favored in both the thermal and magnesium-mediated reactions. Selectivity is predicted to increase in the presence of magnesium, in agreement with experimental results. The energetics of the magnesium-mediated reaction are similar to those previously found for allylic alcohols. [structure: see text].

A 5-step total synthesis of microfungal alkaloid (+/-)-lapatin B has been accomplished via a key 2-aza-Diels-Alder reaction. Brønsted acids catalyze the cycloaddition step and provide improved exo selectivity. This synthetic route has been applied to the construction of related spiro-quinazoline structures.

The rearrangement of a substituted cyclohexyl radical to a cyclopentylmethyl radical on the skeleton of Avermectin B 1 has been investigated using density functional (UB3LYP/6-31G(d)) and G3MP2B3 computational methods. The rearrangement is preferred when highly radical stabilizing groups are present at the 2-and 3-positions of the cyclohexyl radical. A substituent on the 3-position of the cyclohexyl radical enables ring-cleavage of the cyclohexyl radical, while a radical stabilizing substituent on the 2-position of the cyclohexyl radical stabilizes the final cyclopentylmethyl radical, enabling the overall rearrangement and reversing the normal thermodynamic preference for the hexenyl radical ring-closure.