Synthesis 2004(10): 1671-1679  
DOI: 10.1055/s-2004-829115
PAPER
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

[4+2] Cyclohexane Ring Formation by a Tandem of a Free Radical Alkylation of a Non-Activated δ-Carbon Atom and Intramolecular Carbanion Cyclo­alkylation

Goran Petrović, Živorad Čeković*
Faculty of Chemistry, University of Belgrade, Studentski trg 16, PO Box 158, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia and Montenegro
e-Mail: zcekovich@chem.bg.ac.yu;
Further Information

Publication History

Received 2 February 2004
Publication Date:
23 June 2004 (online)

Abstract

A [4+2] cyclohexane ring formation was achieved by the combination of free radical and ionic reaction sequences. Free radical alkylation of the remote non-activated δ-carbon atom involves addition of δ-carbon radicals, generated by 1,5-hydrogen transfer in alkoxyl radical intermediates, to the radicophilic olefins, while the polar sequence involves the enolate anions as intermediates which undergo a cycloalkylation reaction. The cyclohexane rings were constructed using diverse acyclic compounds 15 and 18 as well as cyclic alkyl arenesulfenates (e.g., 5, 24, 27) as the precursors of alkoxyl radicals (four-carbon atom fragment) and methyl vinyl ketone or other activated olefins as two-carbon atom fragments. Annulation of the cyclohexane ring was applied for the synthesis of a variety of cyclic systems including monocyclic (17 and 20), fused-rings (e.g. 23, 26, 29) and spirocyclic systems (7).