Novel domino cyclization of tryptophan-derived amino nitriles: scope and stereoselectivity

[reaction: see text] The scope and stereoselectivity of the acid-promoted cyclization of new tryptophan-based alpha-amino nitriles derived from either ketones or aldehydes to novel hexahydropyrrolo[1',2',3':1,9a,9]imidazo[1,2-a]indoles is described. This cyclization involves the generation of two or three stereogenic centers. The time and stereoselectivity of this reaction mostly depended on both the steric volume of the substituents at the amino nitrile and its stereochemistry. Unhindered amino nitriles gave exclusively 2-exo-isomers, while hindered amino nitriles, which required higher reaction times, provided also these isomers under kinetic control. Under thermodynamic control, the 2-endo-isomer was the main reaction product, except for the benzaldehyde-derived alpha-amino nitriles, where a favorable electronic interaction between the phenyl and methoxycarbonyl groups in a relative cis-disposition might be responsible of the formation of the 2-exo-isomer as the only cyclization product.