Electroreductive intramolecular cyclization of bromoalkoxylated derivatives catalyzed by nickel(I) tetramethylcyclam in "green" media

Abstract

The (1,4,8,11-tetramethyl-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetra-decane)nickel(I), [Ni(tmc)]+, electrogenerated at glassy carbon cathodes is shown to be an effective catalyst for the intramolecular radical-type cyclisation of bromoalkoxylated derivatives 1 in alcohol and / or alcohol/water mixtures as well as in microemulsions made with cationic and anionic surfactants. The results obtained indicate that the reaction proceeds via cleavage of the carbon–bromine bond to form a radicaltype intermediate that undergoes cyclisation on the unsaturated C-C bond to afford substituted tetrahydrofurans. The reactions are more selective and take place at higher current density than when carried out in conventional aprotic solvents.