Synthesis of Tetrahydrofuran and Pyrrolidine Derivatives Utilising Radical Reactions : Organochalcogenides in Reductive, Carbonylative and Group-Transfer Cyclisation

This thesis describes free-radical reactions for the construction of tetrahydrofuran and pyrrolidine derivatives. The studies are concerned with (i) diastereoselectivity in radical cyclisation, (ii) construction of tetrahydrofuran-3-ones and pyrrolidin-3-ones via radical carbonylation/cyclisation and (iii) synthesis of tetrahydrofuran derivatives via group-transfer cyclisation of organochalcogen compounds. (i) Diastereoselectivity in the synthesis of tetrahydrofuran derivatives via radical cyclisation was controlled by addition of Lewis acids. In the synthesis of 2,4-disubstitued tetrahydrofurans, the trans-isomer was formed as the major product in the unperturbed reaction. Upon addition of trialkylalumiums the diastereoselectivity was reversed. In a similar fashion, exo/endo-diastereoselectivity in the synthesis of bicyclic 2,3,4-trisubstituted tetrahydrofurans could also be controlled. (ii) Procedures for construction of tetrahydrofuran-3-ones and pyrrolidin-3-ones were presented. Epoxides were ring-opened with benzeneselenolate or benzenetellurolate and the resulting β-hydroxyalkyl phenyl chalcogenides were vinylated using ethyl propiolate/NMM or E-1,2-bis(phenylsulfonyl)ethylene/NaH. The corresponding nitrogen analogues were accessed by N-vinylation of aziridines followed by benzeneselenolate ring-opening. The two types of organochalcogen radical precursors were then treated with TTMSS/AIBN under an atmosphere of carbon monoxide (80 atm) to afford tetrahydrofuran-3-ones and pyrrolidin-3-ones, respectively, in high yields. (iii) Microwaves were found to induce group-transfer cyclisation of β-allyloxyalkyl aryl chalcogenides. Short time heating (3-10 min) at 250 oC in ethylene glycol was required to obtain tetrahydrofuran derivatives in 60-91% yield