Developing a Diastereoselective Intramolecular [4 + 3] Cycloaddition of Nitrogen-Stabilized Oxyallyl Cations Derived from N-Sulfonyl-Substituted Allenamides

Efforts toward achieving a practical and diastereoselective intramolecular [4 + 3] cycloaddition of nitrogen-stabilized oxyallyl cations with tethered dienes are described. Epoxidation of N-sulfonyl substituted allenamides with dimethyldioxirane (DMDO) generates nitrogen-stabilized oxyallyl cations that readily undergo stereoselective [4 + 3] cycloaddition with dienes. Selectivity is found to depend on the tethering length as well as the stability of the oxyallyl cation intermediate, whether generated from N-carbamoyl- or N-sulfonyl-substituted allenamides. The use of chiral N-sulfonyl-substituted allenamides provided minimal diastereoselectivity in the cycloaddition, while high diastereoselectivity can be achieved with a stereocenter present on the tether. These studies provide further support for the synthetic utility of allenamides.