Delineating the possibilities for intramolecular interception of the squarate ester cascade through the use of metalated enecarbamates

Highly functionalized and annulated 2,4-cyclooctadienones are formed in a stereoselective manner by sequential treatment of squarate esters with a lithiated enecarbamate (six-membered ring or larger) and a cycloalkenyl-or 1-alkenyllithium reagent. The mechanistic details of this multistep process are presented. Particular attention is drawn to the step that involves intramolecular nucleophilic attack by a proximal oxido anion at the carbamate carbonyl and results in redirection of the cascade. This step is thwarted when five-membered cyclic enecarbamates are employed because of the excessive buildup of ring strain in the associated transition state.