Radical-Mediated C-H Functionalization: A Strategy for Access to Modified Cyclodextrins

Abstract

A simple and efficient radical C-H functionalization to access modified cyclodextrins (CDs) has been developed. The well-defined conformation of glycosidic and aglyconic bonds in α-, β-, and γ-CDs favors the intramolecular 1,8-hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) promoted by the 6^I-O-yl radical, which abstracts regioselectively the hydrogen at C5^II of the contiguous pyranose. The C5^II-radical evolves by a polar crossover mechanism to a stable 1,3,5-trioxocane ring between two adjacent glucoses or alternatively triggers the inversion of one α-d-glucose into a 5-C-acetoxy-β-l-idose unit possessing a ¹C₄ conformation. The 6^I,IV- and 6^I,III-diols of α- and β-CDs behave similarly to the monoalcohols, forming mostly compounds originating from two 1,8-HAT consecutive processes. In the case of 6^I,II-diols the proximity of the two 6-O-yl radicals in adjacent sugar units allows the formation of unique lactone rings within the CD framework via a 1,8-HAT-β-scission tandem mechanism. X-ray diffraction carried out on the crystalline 1,4-bis(trioxocane)-α-CD derivative shows a severe distortion toward a narrower elliptical shape for the primary face.