Dienolates of Cycloalkenones and α,β-Unsaturated Esters Form Diels–Alder Adducts by a Michael/Michael-Tandem Reaction Rather Than in One Step

Abstract

α,β-Unsaturated esters and lithium 1,3-dien-2-olates are known to furnish bicyclic lithium enolates by anionic Diels–Alder reactions. However, in principle, the respective products might form not only in a single step but also in two consecutive – or “tandem” – Michael additions, the first of which occurs intermolecularly, the second intramolecularly. Three cyclic lithium dienolates and four esters with a stereogenic Cα=Cβ bond reacted to give Diels–Alder adducts (10 times) or failed to react (2 times). Seven of the reactive combinations furnished adducts wherein the configuration of the former ester moiety had in part inverted. This precludes concerted pathways as their origins. This was a surprise since donors at C-2 of the 1,3-diene accelerate normal electron-demand Diels–Alder reactions in the order alkyl < aryl < alkoxy ≈ trialkylsiloxy < acylamino. With Li⊕O⊖ being a far better donor still, it is not obvious why the mechanism is non-concerted rather than concerted (and still more asynchronous).