[4 + 2] cycloadditions of iminoacetonitriles : synthesis of highly substituted tetrahydropyridines and indolizidine alkaloids

Abstract

Iminoacetonitriles participate as activated imino dienophiles in intermolecular and intramolecular aza Diels-Alder reactions affording tetrahydropyridines and indolizidines. The [alpha]-amino nitrile cycloadducts are versatile synthetic intermediates that participate in a variety of stereoselective transformations to further elaborate the six-membered ring. This thesis describes the scope of the intermolecular [4 + 2] cycloaddition of N-benzyliminoacetonitrile with unactivated and activated dienes, as well as, the synthetic elaboration of the cycloadducts. This thesis also describes the worked performed to complete the total syntheses of indolizidines (-)- 235B', (-)-235B", and (+)-235B" using the aza Diels-Alder reaction of an iminoacetonitrile as the key step.