Asymmetric azo-ene reactions using the chiral azo-enophile di-(-)-(1R,2S)-2-phenyl-1-cyclohexyl diazenedicarboxylate

The preparation of di-(-)-( 1R,2S)-2-phenyl-1-cyclohexyl diazenedicarboxylate 4 is described. Reaction of (1R,2S)-2-phenyl-1-cyclohexanol 1 with excess phosgene in the presence of quinoline afforded chloroformate 2 which was treated directly with hydrazine monohydrate (0.5 equiv.) to afford di-(-)-( 1R,2S)-2-phenyl-1-cyclohexyl diazanedicarboxylate 3. Oxidization of 3 to the azo-enophile 4 was then readily effected in high yield using N-bromosuccinimide and pyridine. The azo-ene reactions of 4 with the alkenes cyclohexene 5, cyclopentene 6, trans-3-hexene 7 and trans-4-octene 8 were carried out using the Lewis acid tin(IV) chloride. Use of cyclohexene 5 afforded the ene adduct 9 in 80% yield with a diastereomeric excess of >97:3 whilst the use of cyclopentene 6, trans-3-hexene 7 and trans-4-octene 8 afforded the ene adducts 10 (77%), 11 (71%) and 12 (92%) with a diastereomeric excess of 86:14 in each case. Use of the conjugated aromatic acyclic alkene 13 afforded the product of an ionic addition, namely, chloride 14 in 57% yield. Cleavage of the N-N bond of the ene adduct 9 was effected using lithium in liquid ammonia affording the carbamate 16 in moderate yield. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.