Polar-Radical Cyclization Cascades with Magnesiated Nitriles

Org Lett. 2023 May 19;25(19):3512-3516. doi: 10.1021/acs.orglett.3c01094. Epub 2023 May 4.

Abstract

Naphthalene converts magnesiated ω-alkenylnitriles into bi- and tricyclic ketones via a polar-radical addition-cyclization cascade. One-electron oxidation of magnesiated nitriles generates nitrile-stabilized radicals that cyclize onto a pendant olefin and then rebound onto the nitrile through a reduction-cyclization sequence; subsequent hydrolysis affords a diverse array of bicyclo[3.2.0]heptan-6-ones. Combining the polar-radical cascade with a 1,2:1,4-carbonyl-conjugate addition generates complex cyclobutanones containing four new carbon-carbon bonds and four chiral centers in one synthetic operation.