Cyclopropenone

Abstract: Although strain-promoted alkyne-azide cycloadditions (SPAAC) have found wide utility in biological and material sciences, the low polarity and limited water solubility of commonly used cyclooctynes represent a serious shortcoming. To address this problem, an efficient synthetic route has been developed for highly polar sulfated dibenzocyclooctynylamides (S-DIBO) by a Friedel-Crafts alkylation of 1,2-bis(3-methoxyphenyl)ethylamides with trichlorocyclopropenium cation followed by a controlled hydrolysis of the resulting dichlorocyclopropenes to give bis(3-methoxyphenyl)cyclooctacyclopropenones, which were subjected to methoxy group removal of the phenols, O-sulfation, and photochemical unmasking of the cyclopropenone moiety. Accurate rate measurements of the reaction of benzyl azide with various dibenzylcyclooctyne derivatives demonstrated that aromatic substitution and the presence of the amide function had only a marginal impact on the rate constants. Biotinylated S-DIBO 8 was successfully used for labeling azido-containing glycoconjugates of living cells. Furthermore, it was found that the substitution pattern of the dibenzylcyclooctynes influences subcellular location, and in particular it has been shown that DIBO derivative 4 can enter cells, thereby labeling intra- and extracellular azido-modified glycoconjugates, whereas S-DIBO 8 cannot pass the cell membrane and therefore is ideally suited for selective labeling of cell surface molecules. The ability to selectively label cell surface molecules will yield unique opportunities for glycomic analysis and the study of glycoprotein trafficking.

Abstract: A summary of the investigation and applications of the inverse electron demand Diels-Alder reaction is provided that have been conducted in our laboratory over a period that now spans more than 35 years. The work, which continues to provide solutions to complex synthetic challenges, is presented in the context of more than 70 natural product total syntheses in which the reactions served as a key strategic step in the approach. The studies include the development and use of the cycloaddition reactions of heterocyclic azadienes (1,2,4,5-tetrazines; 1,2,4-, 1,3,5-, and 1,2,3-triazines; 1,2-diazines; and 1,3,4-oxadiazoles), 1-aza-1,3-butadienes, α-pyrones, and cyclopropenone ketals. Their applications illustrate the power of the methodology, often provided concise and nonobvious total syntheses of the targeted natural products, typically were extended to the synthesis of analogues that contain deep-seated structural changes in more comprehensive studies to explore or optimize their biological properties, and highlight a wealth of opportunities not yet tapped.

Abstract: A series of novel cyclobutenodehydro(n)annulenes (n = 18, 24, 30) have been prepared as precursors in an organic approach to the cyclocarbons C{sub 18}, C{sub 24}, and C{sub 30}. On the way to these macrocycles, synthetic entries to three new classes of enediynes have been developed. Bis(1-propynyl)cyclopropenone was prepared in the reaction of 1-(trimethylsilyl)-1-propyne with trichlorocyclopropenylium tetrachloroaluminate. The 3,4-dialkynyl-3-cyclobutene-1,2-dionines were prepared by the reaction of 3,4-dichloro-3-cyclobutene-1,2-dione either with (tri-n-butylstannyl)alkynes in the presence of catalytic amounts of Pd(PPh{sub 3}){sub 4} or with the soluble copper (I) acetylides of (trialkylsilyl)acetylenes. The peculiar downfield resonances of the terminal acetylenic carbon atoms in the {sup 13}C NMR spectra of the 3,4-dialkynyl-3-cyclobutene-1,2-diones are discussed. The oxidative Hay coupling of the acetonide of 3,4-diethynyl-3-cyclobutene-1,2-diol or of the bis(ethylene ketal) of 3,4-diethynyl-3-cyclobutene-1,2-dione gave two series of cyclobutenodehydroannulenes with 18{pi}-, 24{pi}-, and 30{pi}-electron perimeters.