A radical version of the bromine cyclization of alkenols

The scope of an alkoxyl radical version of the classical bromine cyclization was explored. Oxygen-centered radicals were generated in photochemically initiated radical chain reactions from N-alkenoxy-4-(p-chlorophenyl)thiazole-2(3H)-thiones 5a–c, N-alkenoxy-4-methylthiazole-2(3H)-thiones 13, 14, 21, rac-23, and N-alkenoxypyridine-2(1H)-thiones 6d–f, 16, rac-25. Thus, 2-(2-bromopropyl)-substituted tetrahydrofurans 4a–c, which are minor compounds (< 10 %) in NBS-mediated bromine cyclizations of corresponding alkenols 1a–c, were prepared in 87–90 % yield and with good to excellent diastereoselectivities. Further, photochemical conversions of O-alkyl thiohydroxamates 14, 16 and 21 in benzene and BrCCl₃ afforded β-oxy-functionalized bromomethyl substituted tetrahydrofurans 29, 34, and 36. The results of this study indicate, that efficient 5-exo-trig cyclizations of β-oxy-substituted 4-penten-1-oxyl radical require an electronwithdrawing substituent at the β-heteroatom substituent. In the third part of the study a synthetically useful new access to oxabicyclo〚4.3.0〛nonanes rac-38 and rac-40 is reported which takes profit from highly diastereoselective 5-exo-trig-ring closures and, in case of the formation of rac-40, stereoselective bromine atom transfer.