La. Paquette et al., Direct synthesis of previously inaccessible bridgehead azabicyclics by intramolecular cyclization of alpha-sulfonamido and alpha-sulfonimido radicals, J ORG CHEM, 66(10), 2001, pp. 3564-3573
Syntheses of the first bridgehead sultams and the only known bridgehead dis
ulfonimide are described. Both approaches capitalize on the electrophilicit
y of alpha -sulfonyl radicals and their propensity to undergo intramolecula
r ring closure. Where double bonds are concerned, 5-exo and B-exo pathways
operate preferentially as long as structural strain is not excessive. When
the reaction center is a carbon-carbon triple bond, the first cyclization g
ives rise to vinyl radicals that hold sufficient reactivity to capture solv
ent benzene. In the case of 45, this sequential reaction leads importantly
to the introduction of a styrene functionality sufficiently activated to al
low a second ring closure to be kinetically feasible. The solid-state struc
tural features of 12 and 17 have been elucidated by X-ray crystallographic
methods. Despite key differences from the norm in the alignment of the nitr
ogen lone pair relative to the adjacent sulfonyl groups, these compounds ex
hibit good hydrolytic stability. For 13, generation of the alpha -sulfonami
de carbanion is possible and regiospecific oxidation with chromyl acetate h
as been achieved.