Mechanisms of DABCO‐ and DMAP‐catalyzed [2 + 4] cycloaddition reactions of methylallenoate with methyleneindolonone: A DFT study

Abstract

The mechanisms and stereoselectivities of the [2 + 4] cycloaddition reaction of methylallenoate R1 with methyleneindolonone R2 catalyzed by DABCO (Equation 1) and DMAP (Equation 2) organocatalysts have been examined with density functional theory (M06‐2X) calculations. Several possible reaction pathways (paths 1a, 1b, and 1c for Equation 1 and paths 2a and 2b for Equation 2) were located and compared. The results of our study reveal that for both reactions, three reaction stages have been characterized: nucleophilic addition of the catalyst (DABCO or DMAP) to R1 (Stage I), addition of the other reactant R2 (Stage II), intramolecular cycloaddition and liberation of the catalyst (DABCO or DMAP) afforded the final product (Stage III). For the DABCO‐catalyzed cycloaddition, we predict that path 1a leading to P(E) is the most energy favorable pathway among the three possible pathways. The carbon–carbon bond formation step is the rate‐determining step (ΔG‡=23.6 kcal/mol). With DMAP catalyst, the same reaction gave P(Z) as the major product. The barrier for the rate‐determining step (addition of R1 to DMAP) is 25.8 kcal/mol. The calculated results are in agreement with the experimental findings. Moreover, for both reactions, the analysis of global reactivity indexes has been carried out to examine the role of catalyst. The present study should provide a general mechanistic framework for the rational design of this kind of reactions.