Phosphine/Palladium-Catalyzed Syntheses of Alkylidene Phthalans, 3-Deoxyisoochracinic Acid, Isoochracinic Acid, and Isoochracinol

Abstract

In this study we used sequential-catalysis—PPh₃-catalyzed nucleophilic addition followed by Pd(0)-catalyzed Heck cyclization—to construct complex functionalized alkylidene phthalans rapidly, in high yields, and with good stereoselectivities (E:Z ratios of up to 1:22). The scope of this Michael–Heck reaction includes substrates bearing various substituents around the alkylidene phthalan backbone. Applying this efficient sequential-catalysis, we accomplished concise total syntheses of 3-deoxyisoochacinic acid, isoochracinic acid, and isoochracinol.

The rapid and efficient transformation of simple chemical building blocks into complex molecular structures remains one of the greatest challenges in synthetic organic chemistry. Traditional one-pot/one-transformation chemical processes are less than ideal for many reasons, including time, materials, and cost. Chemists are fascinated by tandem, cascade, and sequential-catalysis processes because they eliminate the need to isolate and purify intermediates.¹ Accordingly, many groups have developed multi-catalyst systems that promote two or more chemical transformations in a single flask.² These multi-step/single-flask operations minimize the time and cost of delivering complex molecular architectures from simple starting materials in a facile and efficient manner.

As part of a program aimed at advancing the scope of nucleophilic phosphine catalysis³ and realizing its potential for efficient multi-step/single-flask transformations, our group has developed a sequential-catalytic process, namely a tandem nucleophilic phosphine/palladium-catalyzed reaction sequence, for the construction of complex heterocycles from readily obtainable starting materials.

At present there are few routes available for the synthesis of highly functionalized phthalans, with most of them requiring reactions of elaborate disubstituted alkynes through iodocyclization,⁴ intramolecular Michael addition,⁵ or Wacker-type oxypalladation involving the use of palladium.⁶ One-pot transformations, while rare,⁷ are restricted in substrate scope and provide low yields and low stereoselectivity. Therefore, the challenge remains to develop concise one-pot procedures for the production of highly functionalized alkylidene phthalans with high efficiency and stereoselectivity.

In this regard, we became interested in the tertiary phosphine–assisted nucleophilic Michael addition of alcohols onto activated acetylenes to give functionalized β-benzyloxy acrylates.^8,9 With the goal of using these highly versatile β-benzyloxy acrylate intermediates for further generation of molecular complexity, we envisioned a subsequent cross-coupling event to take advantage of the compatibility of phosphines and palladium. Initially, in the presence of a phosphine, Michael addition of o-iodobenzyl alcohol to a propiolate generates a β-(o-iodobenzyloxy)acrylate. Then, employing the pre-existing phosphine as a ligand to promote the reduction of Pd(II) to Pd(0),¹⁰ the β-(o-iodobenzyloxy)acrylate undergoes intramolecular Heck cyclization.¹¹ Joining these two transformations into a one-pot Michael–Heck procedure allows the synthesis of highly functionalized alkylidene phthalans.

We suspected that a tandem Michael–Heck approach would offer rapid access to a group of rare fungal metabolites—isoochracinol (1), isoochracinic acid (2), and 3-deoxyisoochracinic acid (3)—from the genus Cladosporium.¹² Among these compounds, 3-deoxyisoochracinic acid (3) exhibits antibacterial activity, inhibiting the growth of B. subtilis, a known cause of food poisoning (Figure 1).¹³

Figure 1.

Rare fungal metabolites

Before proceeding to the one-pot transformation, we investigated the efficiency of each reaction step. Slowly adding methyl propiolate into a solution of o-iodobenzyl alcohol and PPh₃ in MeCN under reflux under Ar provided methyl β-(o-iodobenzyloxy)acrylate in 99% isolated yield after purification (Scheme 1). This Michael reaction produced a 10:1 mixture of E and Z isomers, which we separated and characterized unambigiously.¹⁴ We then subjected the mixture of β-(o-iodobenzyloxy)acrylates to Heck conditions, cleanly affording the target annulation product 7a, isolated as the major (Z) isomer.¹⁵

Scheme 1.

Stepwise Formation of an Alkylidene Phthalan

To incorporate this nucleophilic phosphine-catalyzed Michael addition into a sequential-catalysis process, we explored the possibility of executing the Pd(0)-catalyzed Heck cyclization without isolation of the β-(o-iodobenzyloxy)acrylate intermediate. First, using PPh₃ to catalyze the Michael addition, we formed the desired Michael adduct rapidly. Next, were introduced Pd(OAc)₂, tetrabutylammonium chloride (TBACl), and K₂CO₃ to the same flask. After 8 h, we isolated the major cyclic alkylidene phthalan 7a in 76% yield as the Z isomer, with complete consumption of the β-(o-iodobenzyloxy)acrylate intermediate 6 (Scheme 2). The one-pot procedure was operationally simpler and more efficient (76% yield) than the two-pot process (61%).

Scheme 2.

Preliminary Investigation of Sequential-Catalysis

Based on the yields of our two-pot synthesis, we targeted the Heck reaction to optimize the overall reaction efficiency (Scheme 1). The reaction rate decreased dramatically, providing only a trace of product, in the absence of TBACl (Table 1, entries 1 and 2), which is known to improve the yields of Heck reactions.¹⁶ From a screening of palladium catalysts, Pd(OAc)₂ appeared to be the optimal Heck cyclization catalyst in the presence of PPh₃, TBACl, and K₂CO₃ in MeCN under Ar (entry 6). To further improve the product yield, we screened several bases, with NaHCO₃ emerging to give the highest efficiency, providing the Heck reaction product in 80% yield (entry 8). In the subsequent one-pot procedure, we obtained the phthalan 7a in 74% yield (Table 2, entry 1).

Table 1.

Optimization of Conditions for Heck Annulation^a

entry	palladium	additive	base	temp (°C)	yield (%)b
1c	Pd(OAc)2	–	Ag2CO3	66	<5
2	Pd(OAc)2	–	Et3N	82	<5
3	Pd(Ph3P)4	nBu4NCl	K2CO3	82	0
4	Pd2(dba)3	nBu4NCl	K2CO3	82	0
5	Pd2(dba)3·CHCl3	nBu4NCl	K2CO3	82	54
6	Pd(OAc)2	nBu4NCl	K2CO3	82	62
7	Pd(OAc)2	nBu4NCl	Ag2CO3	82	0
8	Pd(OAc)2	nBu4NCl	NaHCO3	82	80
9	Pd(OAc)2	nBu4NCl	Et3N	82	74
10	Pd(OAc)2	nBu4NCl	PMPd	82	59

^aReaction conditions: 6 (0.5 mmol), Pd(OAc)₂ (10 mol %), PPh₃ (20 mol %), nBu₄NCl (0.5 mmol), base (1 mmol), CH₃CN (10 mL), under Ar.

^bIsolated yield.

^cReaction in THF.

^d1,2,2,6,6-Pentamethyl piperidine.

Table 2.

Reactions of 5a with Various o-Iodobenzyl Alcohols

entry	Nu	R1	R2	R3	R4	E:Za,b	yield (%)c
1	4a	H	H	H	H	1:3	7a, 74
2	4b	F	H	H	H	1:4	7b, 70
3	4c	H	OBn	H	H	1:3	7c, 65
4	4d	H	OMe	OBn	H	1:4	7d, 52
5	4e	H	OMe	OMe	H	1:3	7e, 72
6d	4f	H	OTBS	H	H	1:6	7f, 73
7	4g	H	CF3	H	H	1:3	7g, 60
8	4h	H	NO2	H	H	1:3	7h, 45
9	4i	H	Me	H	H	1:4	7i, 71
10	4j	H	H	Me	H	1:4	7j, 76
11	4k	H	H	H	Me	1:16	7k, 94
12	4l	H	H	H	OMe	1:22	7l, 91

^aRatio determined from the ¹H NMR spectrum of the crude product.

^bThe E isomers were difficult to purify and characterize, due to the presence of other byproducts.

^cIsolated yield of the major (Z) phthalan.

^dThe phthalan 7f was isolated as a phenol (i.e., without the protecting group).

These conditions were also viable for reactions of the alcohol component with various substituents on the benzene ring (Table 2). Accordingly, we isolated highly functionalized alkylidene phthalans as Z isomers in good to excellent yields. Both electron-donating and -withdrawing substituents were compatible with the optimized conditions, although reactions with strongly withdrawing trifluoromethyl and nitro functionalities provided lower yields of the desired alkylidene phthalans (entries 7 and 8). o-Iodobenzyl alcohols bearing substituents ortho to the iodine atom produced the corresponding alkylidene phthalans in excellent yields and high levels of stereoselectivity (entries 11 and 12).

Next, we evaluated the effects of various substituents at the benzylic position of the pronucleophile 4 (Table 3). Monosubstituted pronucleophiles afforded the corresponding alkylidene phthalans in good yields (entries 1–4). Notably, the α-(trifluoromethyl)benzyl alcohol 4p underwent this sequential-catalysis smoothly (entry 4). The gem-dimethyl–substituted benzyl alcohol 4q did not provide its desired product, presumably because of the steric bulk of the tertiary alcohol nucleophile (entry 5).

Table 3.

Reactions of 5a with Various Benzylic Alcohols

entry	Nu	R1	R2	E:Za,b	yield (%)c
1	4m	Me	H	1:3	8a, 60
2	4n	Cyclopropyl	H	1:3	8b, 72
3	4o	Ph	H	1:5	8c, 60
4	4p	CF3	H	1:4	8d, 67
5	4q	Me	Me	—	8e, 0

^aRatio determined from the ¹H NMR spectrum of the crude product.

^bThe E isomers were difficult to purify and characterize, due to the presence of other byproducts.

^cIsolated yield of the major (Z) phthalan.

We also subjected an array of electron-deficient acetylenes to the optimized Michael–Heck reaction conditions (Table 4). In addition to benzyl propiolate (5b, entries 1–5), acetylenes with electron-withdrawing acyl and sulfonyl groups afforded their corresponding alkylidene phthalans in good yields (entries 6–10). The ethynyl phosphonate 5f was also a suitable substrate under the reaction conditions, albeit providing the phthalan 9k in low yield (entry 11).

Table 4.

Reactions with Various Electron-Deficient Acetylenes

entry	Nu	R1	R2	R3	R4	E:Za,b	yield (%)c
1	4a	H	H	H	CO2Bn, 5b	1:5	9a, 78
2	4c	H	OBn	H	CO2Bn, 5b	1:3	9b, 51
3	4d	H	OMe	OBn	CO2Bn, 5b	1:3	9c, 43
4	4e	H	OMe	OMe	CO2Bn, 5b	1:4	9d, 67
5	4r	OBn	H	H	CO2Bn, 5b	1:5	9e, 62
6	4a	H	H	H	COMe, 5c	1:11	9f, 75
7	4c	H	OBn	H	COMe, 5c	1:7	9g, 56
8	4e	H	OMe	OMe	COMe, 5c	1:3	9h, 69
9	4a	H	H	H	COPh, 5d	1:5	9i, 68
10	4a	H	H	H	Ts, 5e	1:3	9j, 51
11	4a	H	H	H	PO(OPh)2, 5f	1:5	9k, 16

^aRatio determined from the ¹H NMR spectrum of the crude product.

^bThe E isomers were difficult to purify and characterize, due to the presence of other byproducts.

^cIsolated yield of the major (Z) phthalan.

Scheme 3 presents a plausible mechanism for the Michael–Heck reaction, which commences with nucleophilic addition of PPh₃ onto the electron-deficient acetylene 5a. The resulting phosphonium vinyl anion 10 deprotonates the pronucleophile 4a to provide the anion 11, which undergoes conjugate addition to another molecule of the acetylene 5a to give the intermediate 12,^17,18 protonation of which gives the β-(o-iodobenzyloxy)acrylate 6. This final protonation step produces the alkoxide 11 and propagates the reaction. The Michael adduct 6 can also be generated through an addition/elimination pathway involving 11 and 13 via 14.

Scheme 3.

Proposed Reaction Mechanism

With the introduction of Pd(OAc)₂, the pre-existing PPh₃ becomes a ligand for Pd(II), reducing it to Pd(0). The active Pd(0) oxidatively inserts into the aryl iodide of the Michael adduct 6, generating the arylpalladium(II) complex 15, which undergoes carbopalladation in a 5-exo-trig manner to form 16. After rotation around the C–C single bond, 17 undergoes stereospecific syn β-hydride elimination to generate the alkylidene phthalan 7a and the palladium(II) halide 18, which, after reductive elimination of HI, regenerates the active Pd(0) species.

Applying the concept of Michael–Heck sequential-catalysis, we realized brief syntheses (Scheme 4) of isoochracinol (1), isoochracinic acid (2), and 3-deoxyisoochracinic acid (3).^12,13 Starting from the alkylidene phthalan 9e, global debenzylation and hydrogenation of the olefin generated the natural fungal metabolite 3-deoxyisoochracinic acid (3) in quantitative yield. Furthermore, benzylic oxidation¹⁹ of 3-deoxyisoochracinic acid (3) with CrO₃ and AcOH afforded isoochracinic acid (2). BH₃·THF-mediated chemoselective reduction of the carboxylic acid moiety of isoochracinic acid (2) delivered isoochracinol (1).

Scheme 4.

Syntheses of the Natural Products 3-Deoxyisoochracinic Acid, Isoochracinic Acid, and Isoochracinol

In conclusion, we have developed Michael–Heck sequential-catalysis into an efficient and facile route toward highly functionalized (Z)-alkylidene phthalans from readily accessible o-iodobenzyl alcohols and electron-deficient acetylenes. The Michael–Heck technology provided the alkylidene phthalan intermediate 9e, which allowed rapid and efficient syntheses of the natural fungal metabolites isoochracinol (1), isoochracinic acid (2), and 3-deoxyisoochracinic acid (3). This method provides an economical (time, materials, cost) gateway to functionalized (Z)-alkylidene phthalans that are amenable to the synthesis of more-complex systems, including natural products.