Unexpected Syntheses of seco-Cyclopropyltetrahydroquinolines From a Radical 5-Exo-Trig Cyclization Reaction: Analogs of CC-1065 and the Duocarmycins

摘要

Analogs of the seco-cyclopyrroloindoline (seco-CPI), the DNA alkylation pharmacophore of CC-1065 and the duocarmycins, can be prepared through a 5-exo-trig radical cyclization of a free radical and a 3-chloro-2-allylic moiety. This manuscript reports an unexpected discovery that, depending on the structure and stability of the free radical, the cyclization process leads to the production of an appreciable amount of seco-cyclopropyltetrahydroquinolines >7a-d along with the seco-cyclopropoyltetra-hydroindoline products (>6a-e). For instance, free radical reaction of the bromoallylic chloride >5a produced an equal amount of 6-benzyloxy-N-t-butoxycarbonyl-3-(chloromethyl)furano[e]indoline (>6a), and 7-benzyloxy-N-t-butoxycarbonyl-3-chloro-1,2,3,4-tetrahydrofurano[f]quinoline (>7a). Three other examples that produced mixtures of indoline and quinoline products are provided. In only one of the examples reported in this manuscript, the 6-benzyloxy-N-t-butoxycarbonyl-3-(chloromethyl)benzo[e]indoline, was a seco-CBI precursor >6e formed exclusively, consistent with literature precedents.