Intramolecular Nicholas Reaction Enables the Stereoselective Synthesis of Strained Cyclooctynes

Cyclic products can be obtained through the intramolecular version of the Nicholas reaction, which requires having the nucleophile connected to the alkyne unit. Here, we report the synthesis of 1-oxa-3-cyclooctynes starting from commercially available (1R,3S)-camphoric acid. The strategy is based on the initial preparation of propargylic alcohols, complexation of the triple bond with Co2(CO)8, and treatment with BF3·Et2O to induce an intramolecular Nicholas reaction with the free hydroxyl group as nucleophile. Finally, oxidative deprotection of the alkyne afforded the cyclooctynes in good yields. Notably, large-sized R substituents at the chiral center connected to the O atom were oriented in such a way that steric interactions were minimized in the cyclization, allowing the formation of cyclooctynes exclusively with (R) configuration, in good agreement with theoretical predictions. Moreover, preliminary studies demonstrated that these cyclooctynes were reactive in the presence of azides yielding substituted triazoles.

Efficient Synthesis of O-tert-Propargylic Oximes via Nicholas Reaction

A synthetic protocol to access O-tert-propargylic oximes derived from tertiary propargylic alcohols was established via Nicholas reaction. Thus, BF3·OEt2-mediated reaction between the dicobalt hexacarbonyl complex of tert-propargylic alcohols and p-nitrobenzaldoxime followed by decomplexation with cerium(IV) ammonium nitrate afforded the corresponding O-tert-propargylic oximes in good to high yields. The obtained O-tert-propargylic oximes were effectively converted into heterocycles, such as four-membered cyclic nitrones, oxazepines, and isoxazolines, by using π-Lewis acidic catalysts.

Extension of the 5-alkynyluridine side chain via C–C-bond formation in modified organometallic nucleosides using the Nicholas reaction

Dicobalt hexacarbonyl nucleoside complexes of propargyl ether or esters of 5-substituted uridines react with diverse C-nucleophiles. Synthetic outcomes confirmed that the Nicholas reaction can be carried out in a nucleoside presence, leading to a divergent synthesis of novel metallo-nucleosides enriched with alkene, arene, arylketo, and heterocyclic functions, in the deoxy and ribo series.

Gold(i)-catalyzed Nicholas reaction with aromatic molecules utilizing a bifunctional propargyl dicobalt hexacarbonyl complex

A benchtop-stable reagent for the catalytic Nicholas reaction with aromatic molecules was developed.