Computational Exploration of Anomalous Regioselectivities in Cycloadditions of Ketenes to Oxazolines

J Org Chem. 2022 Mar 4;87(5):3613-3622. doi: 10.1021/acs.joc.2c00001. Epub 2022 Jan 25.

Abstract

Thermal (2 + 2) cycloadditions of several N-carboalkoxy (R)-2-tert-butyldihydrooxazoles with ketenes have been studied experimentally by the Ghosez group. Contrary to results from Seebach and co-workers that the electrophilic addition of acylating agents occurs β to dihydrooxazole nitrogen, Ghosez found major cycloadducts resulting from an attack of ketene carbonyl carbon β to oxygen. We investigate the potential energy surface for the cycloaddition of diphenyl- and phenylchloroketenes to two (R)-2-tert-butyldihydrooxazoles with ωB97X-D and mPW1PW91 density functional theory and DLPNO-CCSD(T) wave function theory. These (2 + 2) cycloadditions are concerted but highly asynchronous, and the selectivity trends in ketene addition cases are in good agreement with the experiment. We propose a model based on the buildup of charge in oxazoline to reconcile the regiochemical differences between Ghosez and Seebach's observations.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Cycloaddition Reaction*
  • Humans
  • Indicators and Reagents
  • Stereoisomerism

Substances

  • Indicators and Reagents