Mild lanthanide(III) catalyzed formation of trans-4,5-diaminocyclopent-2-enones and addition of potassium allyl- and crotyltrifluoroborates to imines

This thesis is a summary of the research conducted since September 1999 in the laboratory of Professor Robert A. Batey at the University of Toronto. This manuscript is divided into 2 chapters. Chapter one describes a mild lanthanide(III) catalyzed formation of trans-4,5-diaminocyclopent-2-enones from 2-furaldehyde and secondary amines. The chapter begins by providing a general introduction to domino reactions and pericyclic reactions. An overview of related reactions such as the reactions of Zincke salts, 2-furylcarbinols and Stenhouse salts is also described. The first practical preparation of trans-4,5-diaminocyclopent-2-enones from 2-furaldehyde and secondary amines by lanthanide(III) and scandium(III) catalysis developed within our own laboratory is then presented. This methodology allows facile one-pot synthesis of richly functionalized cyclopentenones with exclusive control of diastereochemistry and excellent yields. The highly diastereoselective nature of this transformation is believed to be a result of a conrotatory pi4a electrocyclization. Hence, efforts in the investigation of the reaction mechanism such as the computational and kinetic studies are included. Finally, the results of exploring the reactivity of the trans-4,5-diaminocyclopent-2-enones products, which are versatile synthetic equivalents, under different reaction conditions are reported.; Chapter two focuses on the addition of potassium allyl- and crotyltrifluoroborates to imines. An introduction to allyl/crotyl organometallics as well as the nature and reactivity of organotrifluoroborate salts is reviewed. An efficient protocol for the synthesis of protected homoallylic amines using potassium allyl- and crotyltrifluoroborates is then described. These reagents offer advantages over existing allylboron reagents, including high yielding additions and excellent levels of diastereocontrol in the case of crotylation reactions. Finally, recent work into the diastereoselective addition of potassium allyl- and crotyltrifluoroborates to provide a convenient approach to the enantioselective synthesis of primary homoallylic amines using an auxiliary base approach is also presented.