All-Carbon Quaternary Center-Containing Tetrahydro-5H-benzo[c]fluorenes via Highly Stereoselective Transannular Carbocation Cyclization.

Abstract

Transannular carbocation cyclization of the achiral benzannulated cyclononene tertiary alcohols under acid catalysis furnished the [5/6]-fused tetracycles with three contiguous stereogenic centers, one of which is an all-carbon C11b quaternary center, in good to excellent yields and diastereoselectivity. Hydride, water, azide, allyl, and electron-rich (hetero)arenes could be employed as nucleophiles. The reaction is under both substrate- and condition-control. Further functionalization of some selected substrates was also demonstrated. Computational chemistry delineated different competing reaction pathways such as direct substitution at the bisbenzylic position for other related systems-the benzannulated cyclooctene/cyclononene secondary alcohols and provided further evidence for the observed stereoselectivity.