Synthesis of functionalized pyrazole derivatives by regioselective [3+2] cycloadditions of N-Boc-α-amino acid-derived ynones

Abstract

Abstract [3+2] cycloadditions of ynones derived from glycine and (S)-alanine and some other dipolarophiles with azomethine imines, nitrile oxides, diazoacetate, and azidoacetate were studied. The dipolarophiles were obtained from α-amino acids, either by the reduction of the carboxy function with ethynylmagnesium bromide or by propiolation of the amino function. Cu-catalyzed cycloadditions of ynones to azomethine imines were regioselective and gave the expected cycloadducts as inseparable mixtures of diastereomers. In some instances, further oxidative hydrolytic ring-opening took place to afford 3,3-dimethyl-3-(1H-pyrazol-1-yl)propanoic acids. Acid-catalyzed cycloadditions of 3-butenone were also regioselective and provided mixtures of diastereomeric cycloadducts, which were separated by chromatography. In the reactions of title ynones with alkyl diazoacetates, in situ-formed benzonitrile oxides, and tert-butyl azidoacetate, all cycloadducts were obtained as single regioisomers. The structures of all novel compounds were established by nuclear magnetic resonance and X-ray diffraction.