1. Introduction
The three-atom component (TAC) is an organic species that is represented by zwitterionic octet structures and undergoes [3+2]-cycloadditions with an unsaturated 2π-electron component in a one-step reaction, often in an asynchronous and symmetry-conducive fashion, via a thermal six-electron Hückel aromatic transition state. The formal charges are lost in the [3+2→5] cycloaddition
[1]. Recently, studies based on molecular electron density theory (MEDT) have suggested that the compounds involved in these reactions do not have a polar nature but a diradical, pseudoradical, or carbenoid nature. Therefore, the use of the term “1,3-dipole” is unjustified and should be replaced with “three-atom component”. It was also recommend that the designation of “dipolarophile” should be replaced with “unsaturated 2π-electron component”, and “1,3-dipolar cycloaddition” with “[3+2]-cycloaddition”
[2].
While there is a mechanistic spectrum of this reaction from a synchronous one-step process to a stepwise overall transformation (including radical pathways), to avoid mechanistic digressions that may not have chemical or stereochemical consequences, the azomethine ylide reaction will be refered to as a pericyclic cycloaddition. [3+2]-Cycloadditions of azomethine ylide with homomultiple and heteromultiple unsaturated 2π-electron components have been extensively used to produce a wide range of heterocycles
[3]. There are several methods for the formation of azomethine ylides, including the thermolysis or photolysis of readily prepared aziridines, the dehydrohalogenation of immonium salts, and proton abstraction from imine derivatives of
α-amino acids
[3]. They are often generated in situ because of their high reactivity and/or transient existence; however, in some cases, stabilized ylides have been isolated and used further
[4][5][6].
The synthesis of five-membered heterocyclic systems through azomethine ylides is one of the most adopted, efficient, and powerful approaches. Since the first report of successful the enantioselective [3+2]-cycloaddition of an azomethine ylide in 1991
[7], there has been tremendous progress in the chemistry regarding azomethine ylides. Azomethine ylides are extensively used in the synthesis of various heterocyclic systems such as pyrrolidines, pyrrolizidines, indolizidines, piperidines, oxazolidines, spiroindoles, spiropyrrolidines, and spiropiperidines, but they are also used for the total synthesis of complex natural products as well as bioactive compounds
[8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15]. In recent years, the [3+2]-cycloaddition reaction has been extensively studied for the synthesis of heterocycles using different synthetic strategies
[16][17]. In addition, the reaction is also investigated to understand the related reactivity, reaction conditions, intermediates, etc.
[18][19].
2. Intermolecular Cycloaddition Reaction of Azomethine Ylides to Acyclic Unsaturated 2π-Electron Components (Alkenes)
Unstabilized azomethine ylide
2 derived from benzyl(methoxymethyl)(trimethylsilylmethyl)amine
1 undergoes a [3+2]-cycloaddition reaction with electron-deficient alkenes
3 under continuous flow conditions in the presence of catalytic trifluoroacetic acid, thereby affording the corresponding pyrrolidines
4 (Scheme 1)
[20].
Scheme 1. Synthesis of pyrrolidines 4.
Azomethine ylides generated via the deprotonation of
α-imino-esters
5 undergo a [3+2]-cycloaddition reaction with unsaturated 2π-electron components
6 in the presence of the eco-friendly supported solid-base catalyst KF/Al
2O
3 to yield the corresponding pyrrolidines
7 with high regio- and diastereoselectivity (Scheme 2)
[21].
Scheme 2. Synthesis of pyrrolidines 7.
Belfaitah et al. reported the cycloaddition reaction of azomethine ylides
9 with alkenyl boronates
8 to obtain the 3-boronic-ester-substituted pyrrolidines
10 (Scheme 3)
[22].
Scheme 3. Synthesis of 3-boronate pyrrolidines 10.
Pyrrolo[2,1-
a]isoquinolines
15 were obtained through a sequential one-pot, two-step tandem reaction of isoquinoline
11,
α-halogenated methylenes
12, aromatic aldehydes
13, and cyanoacetoamide
14 in the presence of triethylamine as a basic catalyst and 2,4-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-1,4-benzoquinone (DDQ) as an oxidizing agent. The transformation was assumed to take place through [3+2]-cycloaddition of
N-substituted carbonylmethyleneisoquinolinium bromide (formed via the reaction of isoquinoline
11 and
12) with arylidene cyanoacetamide (formed via the condensation of cyanoacetamide
14 with aromatic aldehyde
13)
[23]. In the case of the ethyl bromoacetate
16 derivative, the formation of pyrrolo[2,1-
a]isoquinolines
17 was observed probably due to DDQ oxidation (Scheme 4)
[23].
Scheme 4. Synthesis of pyrrolo[2,1-a]isoquinolines 15/17.
Spiro[indoline-3,2′-pyrrolidines]
21 were prepared by the [3+2]-cycloaddition reaction of benzoimidazol-2-yl-3-phenylacrylonitriles
18 with azomethine ylides, which was generated in situ from the condensation of isatin
19 and sarcosine
20 in refluxing ethanol. Similarly, spiro[indoline-3,5′-pyrrolo[1,2-
c]thiazoles]
23 were formed by using thioproline
22 as a secondary amino acid (Scheme 5)
[24].
Scheme 5. Synthesis of spiro[indoline-3,2′-pyrrolidines] 21 and spiro[indoline-3,5′-pyrrolo[1,2-c]thiazoles] 23.
The chemistry was extended further to obtain spiro[acenaphthylene-1,2′-pyrrolidines]
26 and spiro[acenaphthylene-1,2′-pyrrolizidines]
28 possessing a cyano group from the azomethine ylides (generated from acenaphthenequinone
25) with
α-amino acids (sarcosine
20 and proline
27) and Knoevenagel adducts
24 (Scheme 6)
[25].
Scheme 6. Synthesis of spiro[acenaphthylene-1,2′-pyrrolidines] 26 and spiro[acenaphthylene-1,2′-pyrrolizidines] 28.
3. Nitroalkenes
Nitroalkenes are reactive, unsaturated 2π-electron components that are intensively used in cycloaddition reactions by various researchers
[26]. 3-Nitro-4-(trichloromethyl)pyrrolidine
30 was obtained through the cycloaddition of trans-3,3,3-trichloro-1-nitroprop-1-ene
29 with azomethine ylide (obtained from the condensation of paraformaldehyde and sarcosine in refluxing benzene). Quantum chemical calculations (DFT, M062X/6-311G(d)) explained the reaction pathway
[27]. Analogously, 3-nitro-4-arylpyrrolidine-3-carbonitriles
32 were obtained through the cycloaddition of the azomethine ylide with (2
E)-3-phenyl-2-nitroprop-2-enenitriles
31 [28] (Scheme 7).
Scheme 7. Synthesis of 3-nitro-4-(trichloromethyl)pyrrolidine 30 and 3-nitro-4-arylpyrrolidine-3-carbonitriles 32.
Trans-3-nitropyrrolidine
34 was prepared by reacting
trans-1-nitro-2-phenylethylene
33 with
N-(methoxymethyl)-
N-[(trimethylsilyl)methyl]benzylamine
1, which is an azomethine ylide equivalent, in the presence of trifluoroacetic acid in dichloromethane. Some of the synthesized
34 revealed promising inhibitory properties as Na
+ channel blockers, which are useful in the treatment of ischemic stroke (Scheme 8)
[29].
Scheme 8. Synthesis of trans-3-nitropyrrolidine 34.
Another set of spiro compounds, spiro[pyrrolidine-2,3′-oxindoles]
37, were regioselectively synthesized by a multicomponent reaction of azomethine ylides, generated in situ from 3-aminoindoline-2-ones hydrochloride
35, with aldehydes
13 and (
E)-nitroalkenes
36 (Scheme 9)
[30].
Scheme 9. Synthesis of spiro[pyrrolidin-2,3′-oxindoles] 37.
It was assumed that, based on the secondary orbital interaction (SOI) of the electron-poor nitroalkenes
36 with the azomethine ylide, Path A was exclusively followed, as the
endo-transition state in the reaction sequence was more energetically favorable (Scheme 10)
[30].
Scheme 10. Proposed mechanism for the cycloaddition of azomethine ylide (via endo′-transition state).
Spirooxindolo-nitropyrrolizines
38 (major product) and
39 (minor product) were obtained from the cycloaddition reaction of azomethine ylides, generated in situ from isatin
19, with proline
27 and (
E)-
ß-nitrostyrene
32 (Scheme 11)
[31]. A significant inversion in the regioselectivity was observed when the polar [3+2]-cycloaddition of the azomethine ylides was attempted with trans-β-nitrostyrene instead of (
E)-1-phenyl-2-nitropropene.
Scheme 11. Synthesis of spirooxindolo-nitropyrrolizines 38 and 39.
It was assumed that the reaction proceeds through
S-shaped ylide with a cycloaddition via the endo-transition state (pathway B), yielding cycloadducts
38, and not the exo-transition state (pathway A). Computational studies (Gaussian 03) of the transition states (Density Functional Theory (DFT), B3LYP, and 6-31G(d,p) basis set) confirmed these assumptions (Scheme 12)
[31].
Scheme 12. Proposed mechanism for the cycloaddition of the azomethine ylides with nitrostyrene.
A series of spiro[indoline-3,3′-pyrrolizin]-2-ones
40 with potential anti-amyloidogenic properties useful against Alzheimer’s disease were obtained by the microwave-assisted cycloaddition of nitroalkenes
36 and azomethine ylides (generated from isatin
19 and
L-proline
27)
[32]. Analogously, spirooxindole-pyrrolidines
42 were obtained by the reaction of tyrosine
41 in an ionic liquid [bmim]Br at 100 °C. Promising antiproliferation properties were observed for some of the synthesized compounds (
42) against human A549 (adenocarcinoma basal epithelial) and Jurkat (
T-cell lymphoma) cell lines (MTT assay) using Camptothecin as a positive control; the compounds exhibited a safe response against the non-cancer cell lines MCF-10 (normal breast) and PCS-130-010 (lung smooth muscle). Caspase-dependent apoptosis (especially caspase-3) was mentioned as the mode of action for the observed antiproliferative activity (Scheme 13)
[33].
Scheme 13. Synthesis of spiro-indolines 40, 42.
Ionic liquid chemistry was utilized to prepare 4′-nitrospiro[indeno[1,2-
b]quinoxaline-11,2′-pyrrolidines]
47 by the cycloaddition reaction of nitroalkenes
36 with azomethine ylide (generated from indenoquinoxalinone
45 and
L-phenylalanine
46) in an ionic liquid [bmim]Br. Some of the synthesized agents revealed antimycobacterial properties (
Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv) with an efficacy comparable to that of ethambutol (reference standard)
[34]. Similarly, spiro compounds
49 were obtained by using
L-histidine
48 instead of
L-phenylalanine
46 in this reaction. Some of the synthesized compounds revealed cholinesterase (acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase)-inhibitory properties with considerable efficiencies relative to Galantamine (Scheme 14)
[35].
Scheme 14. Synthesis of 4′-nitrospiro[indeno[1,2-b]quinoxaline-11,2′-pyrrolidines] 47, 49.
Pyrrolidinyl
ß-lactams
52 were prepared as single diastereomers by the reaction of azomethine ylides
51, generated from β-lactam imines of α-amino ester
50, with nitrostyrenes
36 in the presence of silver acetate and triethylamine (Scheme 15). This reaction is an example of [3+2]-cycloaddition reaction via
N-metallo azomethine ylide
[36].
Scheme 15. Synthesis of pyrrolidinyl β-lactams 52.
3,4-Dihydropyrrolo[2,1-
a]isoquinolines
54 were obtained by the [3+2]-cycloaddition reaction of nitroalkenes
36 with an azomethine ylide that was efficiently generated via the dirhodium(II)caprolactamate [Rh
2(cap)
4] catalyzed oxidation of tetrahydroisoquinoline
53 (Scheme 16). Doyle’s oxidative protocol was used to generate azomethine ylides, which were further trapped in situ via [3+2]-cycloaddition
[37].
Scheme 16. Synthesis of pyrrolo[2,1-a]isoquinolines 54.
4. α,β-Unsaturated Polarophiles
Spiro[3
H-indole-3,3′-[3
H]pyrrolizin]-2-ones
56 were synthesized by the cycloaddition reaction of (
E)-3-aryl-1-(thiophen-2-yl)-prop-2-en-1-ones
55 with azomethine ylide generated in situ from the condensation of isatin
19 with
L-proline
27 (Scheme 17). Some of the synthesized spiroindoles
56 showed potential antibacterial activity against
Staphylococcus aureus and
Salmonella typhi (relative to Streptomycin) and antifungal activity against
Candida albicans (relative to Amphotericin B)
[38].
Scheme 17. Synthesis of spiro[3H-indole-3,3′-[3H]pyrrolizin]-2-ones 56.
Spiro[pyrrolidine-2,3′-indolin]-2′-ones
59 were synthesized by the multi-component cycloaddition reaction of chalcones
58 and an azomethine ylide formed from the condensation of isatin
19 and benzylaminemine
57. Few of the synthesized spiro-analogs
59 revealed potent inhibitory advanced glycation end (AGE) product formation in a bovine serum albumin (BSA)-glucose assay that was higher than that of aminoguanidine (standard reference). The occurrence of AGE is related to hyperglycemia observed as a complication of diabetes (Scheme 18)
[39].
Scheme 18. Synthesis of spiro[pyrrolidine-2,3′-indolin]-2′-ones 59.
Taghizadeh et al. reported an efficient and greener multicomponent protocol for the synthesis of regio-, diastereo-, and enantioselective spiro-oxindolopyrrolizidines
61 from optically active cinnamoyl oxazolidinone
60 and azomethine ylides that were formed from the condensation reaction of isatin
19 and
S-proline
27 (Scheme 19)
[40].
Scheme 19. Synthesis of the spiro-oxindolopyrrolizidines 61.
Spiro[indoline-3,2′-pyrrolidines]
63 were prepared by the reaction of compound
62 containing an
α,
β-unsaturated ketone function with azomethine ylides obtained from isatin
19 and sarcosine
20, while spiro[indoline-3,5′-pyrrolo[1,2-
c]thiazoles]
64 was obtained from a similar reaction that involved thioproline
22 instead of sarcosine
20 (Scheme 20). Some of the synthesized spiro-compounds,
63 and
64, revealed anticancer properties against the A549 lung cancer cell line (MTT assay)
[41][42] and spiro-compound
63 also showed antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive (
Micrococcus luteus,
Enterobacter aerogenes,
Staphylococcus aureus and
Staphylococcus aureus “MRSA-methicillin resistant”) and Gram-negative (
Salmonella typhimurium,
Klebsiella pneumoniae,
Proteus vulgaris, and
Shigella flexneri) bacterial strains and fungi (
Malassesia pachydermatis,
Candida albicans) relative to Streptomycin and Ketoconazole (used as antibacterial and antifungal standard references, respectively)
[42].
Scheme 20. Synthesis of spiro[indoline-3,2′-pyrrolidines] 63 and spiro[indoline-3,5′-pyrrolo[1,2-c]thiazoles] 64.
Spiropyrrolidine-oxindoles
66 were prepared in appreciable yields by the cycloaddition reaction of the unsaturated 2π-electron component (
E)-2-(1
H-indole-3-carbonyl)-3-phenylacrylonitrile
65 and azomethine ylides obtained from the condensation of isatin
19 and sarcosine
20 (Scheme 21)
[43].
Scheme 21. Synthesis of spiropyrrolidine-oxindoles 66.
Similarly, spiropyrrolidine–oxindoles
68–
70 were obtained from the reaction of enone
67 with azomethine ylides derived from isatin
19 and
α-amino acids (sarcosine
20, proline
27 or thioproline
22). Among all the synthesized compounds, some showed antimicrobial properties against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial as well as fungal strains using Streptomycin and Ketconazole as standard references (Scheme 22)
[44].
Scheme 22. Synthesis of spiropyrrolidine-oxindoles 68–70.
The unsaturated 2π-electron component, 2-[hydroxyl(4-oxo-4
H-chromen-3-yl)methyl]acrylonitrile
71, was synthesized by the Baylis–Hillman reaction of chromene-3-aldehyde, treated with the azomethine ylides (from isatin
19 and sarcosine
20), which afforded the corresponding regioselective spiro[pyrrolidine-oxindoles]
72 and
73 as major and minor products, respectively (Scheme 23)
[45].
Scheme 23. Synthesis of spiro[pyrrolidine-oxindoles] 73, 74.
A convenient method for the selective construction of spiroindane-1,3-diones
77 relies upon the generation of unstabilized azomethine ylides from the initial condensation between ninhydrin
44 and 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline
74. Subsequent azomethine ylide cycloaddition onto the conjugated double bond of chalcone
76 was exploited, giving target cycloadducts with good yields (77–94%) and diastereoselectivity (Scheme 24)
[46].
Scheme 24. Synthesis of spiroindane-1,3-diones 77.
The reaction of azomethine ylide generated from 5-choloroisatin
19 and
L-proline
27 as well as 1-acryloyl-4-piperidinones
78 yielded the corresponding spirooxindole-pyrrolizines
79 (yield 62–84%). Some of the synthesized cycloadducts
79 displayed cholinesterase-inhibitory properties (acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinestrase) with potency relative to Galantamine
[47]. When the reaction was conducted in a 1:2:2 molar ratio of 1-acryloyl-4-piperidinones
78, isatin
19, and
L-proline
27, respectively, the bisspiropyrrolizines
80 were formed instead (yield 53–74%). It was found that most of the mono-spiropyrrolizines
79 (obtained using a 1:1:1 molar ratio of the reactants in yields of 73–84%) revealed higher cholinesterase enzyme (acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinestrase)-inhibitory activity than the bisspiropyrrolizine derivatives
80 (Scheme 25)
[48].
Scheme 25. Synthesis of mono-spiropyrrolizines 79 and bisspiropyrrolizines 80.
The reaction of 3-(3-phenylazetidin-2-yl) acrylates
81 with azomethine ylide formed by the condensation of ninhydrin
44 and amino acids (sarcosine
20/
L-proline
27) afforded the corresponding spiroindanopyrrolidines
82 and spiroindanopyrrolizines
83 (Scheme 26). The synthesized cycloadducts
82 and
83 showed antibacterial properties against
Proteus mirabilis,
Proteus vulgaris,
Salmonella typhi, and
Staphylococcusi aureus relative to Tetracycline (standard reference drug)
[49].
Scheme 26. Synthesis of spiroindanopyrrolidines 82 and spiroindanopyrrolizines 83.
Cycloaddition of cinnamaldehydes
84 with azomethine ylides, generated from another cinnamaldehyde molecule
84 and
L-proline
27, afforded hexahydro-1
H-pyrrolizines
85 and
86 in different ratios depending on the heating method (conventional heating, 25–80 °C vs. with microwave technique) and the solvent used (MeCN, DMF, toluene, CH
2Cl
2, DMSO) (Scheme 27)
[50].
Scheme 27. Synthesis of hexahydro-1H-pyrrolizines 85 and 86.
Pyrrolizidines of type
88 were obtained by reacting
β,
γ-unsaturated
α-keto esters of type
87 with proline
27 in a 2:1 molar ratio. The reaction was assumed to proceed via the formation of azomethine ylides by the condensation of the starting unsaturated esters of type
87 with amino acid
27, which, in turn, interacted with another molecule of
87 to ultimately yield pyrrolizidines of type
88 (Scheme 28)
[51].
Scheme 28. Synthesis of pyrrolizidines 88.
5. Acrylates
The reaction of
O-acryloylacridinediones
89 with azomethine ylides, generated from isatin
19 and secondary amino acids (sarcosine
20/proline
27), afforded the corresponding spiro-pyrrolidines
90 and spiro-pyrrolizidines
91 (Scheme 29)
[52].
Scheme 29. Synthesis of spiro-pyrrolidines/pyrrolizidines 90/91.
Spiropyrrolidines
94–
97 were obtained via the reaction of methyl 2-(1
H-inden-2-yl)acrylate
92 with azomethine ylides generated in situ by reacting ketones (isatin
19, acenaphthenequinone
25, ninhydrin
44, or 11
H-indeno[1,2-
b]quinoxaline-11-one
93) with sarcosine
20 (Scheme 30)
[53].
Scheme 30. Synthesis of spiropyrrolidines 94–97.
The reaction of methyl lactate acrylates of type
98 with azomethine ylides, generated from imino-esters
5 in the presence of silver acetate and KOH, gave chiral proline derivatives of type
99 (Scheme 31)
[54].
Scheme 31. Synthesis of chiral prolines 99.
The reaction of
trans arylacrylates
100 with the azomethine ylide, formed from benzyl-(methoxymethyl)[(trimethylsilyl)methyl]amine
1 in the presence of a catalytic amount of trifluoroacetic acid, afforded the corresponding
trans pyrrolidine derivatives
101 (Scheme 32)
[55].
Scheme 32. Synthesis of trans pyrrolidines 101.
6. Intramolecular Cycloaddition Reaction of Azomethine Ylides with Acyclic Unsaturated 2π-Electron Components
6.1. Acyclicunsaturated 2π-Electron Components Containing Olefinic and Aldehyde Groups
Azomethine ylides (formed via the reaction of
α-amino esters
103 with
O-allyl-5-phenyldiazenylsalicylaldehyde
102) underwent intramolecular [3+2]-cycloaddition under microwave conditions, affording the 8-phenyldiazenylchromeno[4,3-
b]pyrrolidines
104 (Scheme 33). The synthesized compounds showed antibacterial activity against Gram-positive (
Streptococcus pneumoniae,
Clostridium tetani, and
Bacillus subtilis) and Gram-negative bacteria (
Salmonella typhi,
Vibrio cholerae, and
Escherichia coli), fungi (
Aspergillus fumigatus and
Candida albicans), and mycobacteria (
M. Tuberculosis H37RV) relative to the antibacterial (Ampicillin, Norfloxacin, Chloramphenicol, Ciprofloxacin), antifungal (Griseofulvin, Nystatin), and antimycobacterial (Metronidazole) standard references used
[56].
Scheme 33. Synthesis of 8-phenyldiazenylchromeno[4,3-b]pyrrolidines 104.
The intramolecular cycloaddition reaction of azomethine ylides, formed from alkenyl aldehyde
105 and secondary amino acids (sarcosine
20,
L-proline
27, thioproline
22, and tetrahydroisoquinoline-3-carboxylic acid
106), afforded the corresponding chromenopyrrole derivatives
107–
109 (Scheme 34). The synthesized compounds showed promising antibacterial (against
S. aureus,
B. subtilis “Gram-positive”;
S. pneumoniae,
E. coli, and
Shigella sp.,
S. typhi “Gram-negative”) and antifungal (against
Trichoderma sp.,
Aspergillus sp. and
C. albicans) activities against the references Tetracycline and Carbendazim (antibacterial and antifungal standard references, respectively)
[57].
Scheme 34. Synthesis of chromenopyrrole-containing compounds 107–109.
The intramolecular cycloaddition of
O-allyl salicylaldehydes
110 and sarcosine
20 under ultrasonic irradiation in methanol at room temperature yielded the corresponding chromeno[4,3-
b]pyrroles
111 (Scheme 35)
[58].
Scheme 35. Synthesis of chromeno[4,3-b]pyrroles 111.
Chromeno[4,3-
b]pyrrolidines
113 were obtained in a highly regio- and stereoselective manner by the intramolecular cycloaddition of
O-allylic salicylaldehydes
112 and sarcosine
20 (Scheme 36)
[59].
Scheme 36. Synthesis of chromeno[4,3-b]pyrrolidines 113.
Similarly, hexahydrochromeno[4,3-
b]pyrroles
116 were obtained via intramolecular [3+2}-cycloaddition of
O-allylic salicylaldehyde
114 and amines
115 under microwave conditions (Scheme 37)
[60].
Scheme 37. Synthesis of hexahydrochromeno[4,3-b]pyrroles 116.
Bicyclic pyrrolo[3,4-
b]pyrroles
118 were obtained by the intramolecular cyclization of the generated azomethine ylides from aldehydes
117 and sarcosine
20 under refluxing conditions in toluene (Scheme 38)
[61].
Scheme 38. Synthesis of pyrrolo[3,4-b]pyrroles 118.
Octahydropyrrolo[3,4-
b]pyrroles
121 with various substituents in their aromatic rings were synthesized by the intramolecular cycloaddition of azomethine ylides, which was formed from the reaction of alkenyl aldehyde
119 with
N-aryl glycines
120 (Scheme 39)
[62].
Scheme 39. Synthesis of octahydropyrrolo[3,4-b]pyrroles 121.
The condensation of
N-alkenyl aldehydes
122 with
α-amino acids (sarcosine
20, thioproline
22 and proline
27) generated azomethine ylides, which underwent an intramolecular cycloaddition reaction yielding the corresponding polycyclic compounds
123 and
124 (Scheme 40)
[63].
Scheme 40. Synthesis of polycyclic compounds 123 and 124.
Similarly, the intramolecular reaction of azomethine ylide obtained from 2-butenylindole-3-carboxaldehyde
125 with
N-methyl glycine ethyl ester hydrochloride
126 gave the indole-containing alkaloid
127. Whereas its reaction with
N-methyl glycine
20 or
N-allyl glycine
128 gave the corresponding indole heterocycles of type
129 (Scheme 41)
[64].
Scheme 41. Synthesis of indole-containing heterocycles 127 and 129.
Another example of intramolecular cycloaddition was the reaction of (
E)-2-{[allyl(benzyl)amino]methyl}cinnamaldehydes
130 with proline methyl ester hydrochloride
131 under microwave conditions, which afforded the pyrido[3,4-
b]pyrrolizines
132 (Scheme 42)
[65].
Scheme 42. Synthesis of pyrido[3,4-b]pyrrolizines 132.
By using 1,2-
O-cyclohexylidine-3-
O-allyl-
α-
D-xylopentadialdo-1,4-furanose
133 (sugar-derived aldehyde) in a reaction with sarcosine
20, furopyranopyrrolidine of type
134 was formed with high diastereoselectivity (Scheme 43)
[66].
Scheme 43. Synthesis of furopyranopyrrolidine 134.
The intramolecular [3+2]-cycloaddition of azomethine ylides, generated from 2-formylphenyl-(
E)-2-phenylethenesulfonates
135 and sarcosine
20, afforded the corresponding [1,2]oxathiino[4,3-
b]pyrroles
136. However, the reaction of derivative
135 with
L-proline
27 gave the corresponding [1,2]oxathiino[3,4-
b]pyrrolizines
137 as
trans–
trans (major) and
cis–
trans (minor) isomers (Scheme 44)
[67].
Scheme 44. Synthesis of benzo[e][1,2]oxathiino[4,3-b]pyrrole-4,4-dioxides 136 and benzo[e][1,2]oxathiino[3,4-b]pyrrolizine-6,6-dioxides 137.
Scheme 45 shows an interesting example of a macrocycle of type
139 formation via the intramolecular cycloaddition of an azomethine ylide generated from a triazole-linked glycol-nitroalkenyl aldehyde derivative
138 and sarcosine
20 [68].
Scheme 45. Synthesis of macrocycle 139.
Polycyclic naphtho[2,1-
b]pyrano-pyrrolizidine and indolizidine derivatives
141 and
143 were synthesized by the intramolecular [3+2]-cycloaddition of azomethine ylides generated from naphtho-
O-alkenyl aldehydes
140 and
α-amino acids (
L-proline
27 or
DL-pipecolinic acid
142) (Scheme 46)
[69].
Scheme 46. Synthesis of naptho-pyrano-pyrrolizidines/indolizidines 141 and 143.
6.2. Acyclic Unsaturated 2π-Electron Components Containing Olefinic Linkage and Azirdine
Scheme 47 shows the thermolysis of aziridines
144 that led to the in situ formation of azomethine ylides, which underwent intramolecular cycloaddition, thus affording
N-phthalimidopyrrolidine derivatives
145 as a mixture of two diastereoisomers
[70].
Scheme 47. Synthesis of N-phthalimidopyrrolidines 145.
Another bicyclic system of
γ-lactone
147 was created by the intramolecular [3+2]-cycloaddition of azomethine ylide generated via the thermolysis of aziridine derivative
146 in refluxing toluene (Scheme 48)
[71].
Scheme 48. Synthesis of bicyclic γ-lactone 147.
This entry is adapted from the peer-reviewed paper 10.3390/molecules28020668