Conjugate halo- and mercuroazidation of 1-phenyltricyclo-[4.1.0.02.7]heptane. Synthesis of a conformationally rigid α-amino acid with a bicyclo[3.1.1]heptane skeleton

Abstract

1-Phenyltricyclo[4.1.0.0^2.7]heptane reacted with N-bromo-, N-chloro-, and N-iodosuccinimides and with mercury(II) acetate in the presence of sodium azide as external nucleophile to give conjugate addition products to the central C¹–C⁷ bicyclobutane bond with a norpinane structure, where the azido group and the phenyl were attached to the same carbon atom (C⁶). The bromo- and chloroazidation showed anti-stereo-selectivity, and the iodoazidation, moderate syn-stereoselectivity; the mercuroazidation afforded exclusively the corresponding syn-addition product. Hydro-, bromo- and chlorodemercuration of the mercury adduct with sodium tetrahydridoborate and elemental bromine and chlorine, respectively, did not involve the azido group, and the original configuration was retained. The reduction of the hydrodemercuration product with LiAlH₄ gave 6-exo-phenylbicyclo[3.1.1]heptan-6-amine which was transformed in three steps into conformationally rigid 6-endo-(acetamido)bicyclo[3.1.1]heptane-6-carboxylic acid.