New tandem reactions of metal carbenoids. Intermolecular formation of azomethine ylide from methyl 2-diazo-2-phenylacetate and schiff base: Intramolecular 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition

Rhodium acetate-catalyzed decomposition of methyl 2-diazo-2-phenylacetate in the presence of substituted N-methylbenzylideneamines possessing an activated alkenyl fragment (dipolarophile) in the side chain gives products of intramolecular cycloaddition of intermediate Z,E- and E,Z-azomethine ylides. The cycloaddition is regioselective, and the products are hexahydrochromeno[4,3-b]pyrrole derivatives. The stereoselectivity of the process depends on the temperature. In the temperature range from 20 to 80°C, the major stereoisomer is that with cis junction of the tetrahydropyran and pyrrolidine rings. N-Phenylazomethine ylides generated from methyl 2-diazo-2-phenylacetate and alkyl 4-[2-(phenyliminomethyl)phenoxy]-2-butenoates at 40°C undergo cyclization to aziridines at a higher rate, as compared to the rate of cycloaddition to the internal dipolarophile. N-Phenylazomethine ylides generated by thermolysis of the corresponding aziridine or by the “deprotonation” method react with equal regio- and stereoselectivity to give intramolecular cycloaddition products, hexahydrochromeno[4,3-b]pyrrole derivatives with trans-fused tetrahydropyran and pyrrolidine rings. Analysis of the experimental and calculation data suggests preference of the endo transition state in the cycloaddition of the examined azomethine ylides.