2,3‐Epoxyamide‐alcohols in Domino Reactions: En Route to Molecular Diversity

Abstract

Abstract The synthesis of polycyclic γ‐ and δ‐lactams bearing up to four contiguous fully controlled stereocenters is presented. For that purpose, we developed an original approach based on the use of 2,3‐epoxyamides in domino reactions by taking advantage of the nucleophilic nitrogen atom and electrophilic epoxide. In reaction with enol ethers bearing gem bis‐electrophiles on the double bond as Michael acceptors, four different reaction pathways were observed. They all started with a domino oxa‐Michael/aza‐Michael/epoxide opening sequence and depending on substrates engaged could be followed either by a lactonization or a hemiketalization/retro‐aldol cascade. Thus, four original fully‐substituted piperidine‐ or pyrrolidine‐2‐one scaffolds were selectively synthesized in good to high yields. Moreover, these polycyclic lactams were obtained in high stereo‐ and chemo‐selectively highlighting the efficiency and molecular diversity offered by this new methodology that should offer various synthetic opportunities in the future.

Keywords

• 2,3-epoxyamido-alcohols
• domino reaction
• polycyclic lactams
• epoxide opening
• molecular diversity