Mn-Mediated Radical-Ionic Annulations of Chiral N-Acylhydrazones

Sequencing a free radical addition and nucleophilic substitution enables 3 + 2 and 4 + 2 annulations of N-acylhydrazones to afford substituted pyrrolidines and piperidines. Photolysis of alkyl iodides in the presence of Mn2(CO)10 leads to chemoselective iodine atom abstraction and radical addition to N-acylhydrazones without affecting alkyl chloride functionality. Using radical precursors or acceptors bearing a suitably positioned alkyl chloride, the radical addition is followed by further bond construction enabled by radical–polar crossover. After the alkyl radical adds to the imine bond, the resulting N-nucleophile displaces the alkyl chloride leaving group via 5-exo-tet or 6-exo-tet cyclizations, furnishing either pyrrolidine or piperidine, respectively. When both 5-exo-tet and 6-exo-tet pathways are available, the 5-exo-tet cyclization is preferred. Isolation of the intermediate radical adduct, still bearing the alkyl chloride functionality, confirms the order of events in this radical–polar crossover annulation. A chiral oxazolidinone stereocontrol element in the N-acylhydrazones provides excellent stereocontrol in these reactions.