Synthesis 2006(6): 893-913  
DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-926363
REVIEW
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Cyclic Oxonitriles: Synergistic Juxtaposition of Ketone and Nitrile Functionalities

Fraser F. Fleming*, Pravin S. Iyer
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA 15282-1530, USA
Fax: +1(412)3965683; e-Mail: flemingf@duq.edu;
Further Information

Publication History

Received 17 October 2005
Publication Date:
27 February 2006 (online)

Abstract

Cyclic oxonitriles exhibit unusual regio- and chemoselectivities, reflecting the juxtaposition of electron-withdrawing ketone and nitrile functionalities. In this review, synthetic access to β- and γ-oxonitriles is surveyed, as are the reactions of these two classes of oxonitriles. Collectively, the synopsis aims to highlight the synergistic properties of the nitrile and ketone groups by emphasizing synthetic applications which are otherwise difficult or impossible to perform.

  • 1 Introduction

  • 2 Physical Properties

  • 2.1 β-Oxonitrile Syntheses

  • 2.2 γ-Oxonitrile Syntheses

  • 2.3 β-Oxoalkenenitrile Syntheses

  • 2.4 γ-Oxoalkenenitrile Syntheses

  • 3 Reactions of Oxonitriles

  • 3.1 Alkylations of β-Oxonitriles

  • 3.2 Alkylations of γ-Oxonitriles

  • 3.3 Michael Additions of β-Oxonitriles

  • 3.4 Michael Additions of γ-Oxonitriles

  • 3.5 Reduction and Nucleophilic Additions to β-Oxonitriles

  • 3.6 Reduction and Nucleophilic Additions to γ-Oxoalkene­nitriles

  • 3.7 Conjugate Additions to β-Oxoalkenenitriles

  • 3.8 Ring Contraction, Cleavage, and Expansion of β-Oxo­nitriles

  • 3.9 Ring Cleavage of γ-Oxonitriles

  • 3.10 Cycloadditions with β-Oxoalkenenitriles

  • 3.11 Cycloadditions with γ-Oxoalkenenitriles

  • 3.12 Miscellaneous Reactions

  • 4 Future Directions

67

A SciFinder search failed to locate any examples of additions to cyclobutenones.

137

Direct attempts at generating 138 by conjugate addition of various metal enolates with different Michael acceptors were not successful, leading to a multistep sequence in which the angular nitrile was introduced by cyanide addition to an appropriately substituted enone: Girard M.; Studies directed towards the total synthesis of pentacyclic triterpenes, Ph.D. dissertation; Carleton University, Canada; 1985

152

Nitriles are powerful inductive stabilizing groups with weak delocalizing effects. [3a] [c] [d]