Conjugate systems in the construction of heterocycles and quaternary stereocenters*
Carlos González-Romero, Pablo Bernal, Fabiola Jiménez, María del Carmen Cruz, Aydeé Fuentes-Benites, Adriana Benavides, Rafael Bautista, and Joaquín Tamariz
Departamento de Química Orgánica, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Prol. Carpio y Plan de Ayala, 11340 México, D.F. Mexico
Abstract: The synthetic application of 4,5-bis-alkylidene-1,3-oxazolidin-2-ones led to the efficient and regioselective synthesis of 2-(3H)-benzoxazolones and diarylamines with a short methodology. They were also valuable synthons in a total synthesis of naturally occurring carbazoles. New enantiopure 4-oxazoline-2-one and 4-methylene-2-oxazolidinone were prepared via a one-pot microwave (MW)-promoted condensation of α-ketols and an enantiopure isocyanate. These enamides were efficient nucleophiles when added to Michael acceptors to give a series of compounds with quaternary stereocenters in fairly good stereoisomeric ratios. The novel approach for the synthesis of benzofurans and indoles by intramolecular cyclization of enaminones has been applied in the preparation of furobenzofurans starting from benzo-bis-enaminones.
Keywords: 4,5-dimethylene-2-oxazolidinone dienes; carbazoles; 4-oxazolin-2-ones; enaminones; furobenzofurans.
*Paper based on a presentation at the 16th International Conference on Organic Synthesis (ICOS-16), 11-15 June 2006, Mérida, Yucatán, México. Other presentations are published in this issue, pp. 153-291.