Synthesis and isomer distribution of 2-alkyltropinones and 2-alkylgranatanones

Tropinone (8-methyl-8-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octan-3-one) metal (Li, Na, K, Mg) enolates were used to achieve α-alkylation. The reactions, regardless of the metal or conditions used, were low-yielding. N,N-Dimethylhydrazones of tropinone and granatanone (pseudopelletierine, 9-methyl-9-azabicyclo[3.3.1]nonan-3-one) were prepared and α-alkylated using n-butyllithium as the lithiating reagent. Lithium amides, including a polymer-supported lithium amide, were less effective. The reactions were modelled using DFT calculations at the B3LYP 6-31G(d) level and the CPCM solvent model, revealing that the face-selective alkylations of tropinone and granatanone hydrazones favoured the exo-isomers. Granatanone and α-isopropyl tropinone derivatives resisted typical mild hydrolytic hydrazone cleavage (aqueous trifluoroacetic acid) and required more forceful conditions (p-TsOH, boiling dioxane). Using the hydrazone alkylation strategy, 16 α-alkyl derivatives (benzyl, methyl, propyl, isopropyl, allyl, pentyl, heptyl, p-methoxybenzyl) were prepared in 52–90% yields overall. For the α-alkylated tropinones and granatanones (10 examples), the DFT calculations and experimental thermodynamic distributions in base catalysed equilibrations showed that except for the α-isopropyl derivatives, the endo-isomers were more stable than the exo-isomers and were the major products. For 2-isopropyltropinone, the bulky substituent favoured the exo (axial) position in the bicyclic skeleton. The thermodynamic distribution for the α,α′-dibenzyl tropinone isomers was also evaluated.