Intermolecular Diels-Alder reactions of brominated masked o-benzoquinones with electron-deficient dienophiles. A detour method to synthesize bicyclo[2.2.2]octenones from 2-methoxyphenols.

Intermolecular Diels-Alder reactions of masked o-benzoquinones, i.e., 6,6-dimethoxy-2,4-cyclohexadienones 5-7 and 21-24 generated from 2-methoxyphenols 1-3 and 17-20, respectively, with electron-deficient dienophiles leading to highly functionalized bicyclo[2.2.2]octenones are described. The masked o-benzoquinones (MOBs) 5-7 underwent Diels-Alder cycloadditions with methyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate, and methyl vinyl ketone to provide bicyclo[2.2.2]octenones 13a-c to 15a-c (direct method) in low to moderate yields with the concomitant formation of considerable amounts of dimers 9-11. To retard dimerization and to improve the yields of the requisite bicyclo[2.2.2]octenones, a detour method comprised of sequential bromination of 2-methoxyphenols 1-4, oxidation and Diels-Alder reaction, and debromination has been developed. The oxidation of bromophenols 17-20 produced MOBs 21-24 which are stable enough to be isolated. The MOBs 21-24 underwent cycloaddition with electron-deficient dienophiles in a very efficient manner to afford the corresponding cycloadducts 25a-c to 28a-c in good to high yields without self-dimerization. When the cycloadducts 25a-c to 28a-c were treated with either Bu(3)SnH/AIBN or tributylammonium formate-palladium reagent, the corresponding debrominated products 13a-cto 16a-c were obtained in high to excellent yields. In general, the cycloadducts 13a-c to 15a-c were obtained in 20-40% higher yields via the detour method than those via the direct method. In both routes, the Diels-Alder reactions proceeded in a highly regio- and stereoselective manner to furnish a single cycloadduct in each case.