Cobalt/rhodium heterobimetallic nanoparticle-catalyzed carbonylative [2+2+1] cycloaddition of allenes and bisallenes to Pauson-Khand-type reaction products

The first catalytic intra- and intermolecular [2+2+1] cocyclization reactions of allenes and carbon monoxide have been developed. In the Co(2)Rh(2) heterobimetallic nanoparticle-catalyzed carbonylative [2+2+1] cycloaddition of allenes and carbon monoxide, the allenes formally serve both as an excellent alkene- and alkyne-like moiety within a Pauson-Khand-type process.     

Direct and stereospecific synthesis of allenes via reduction of propargylic alcohols with Cp2Zr(H)Cl

Allenes can be synthesized via the direct SN2' addition of hydride to propargylic alcohols. Previous examples of this approach, however, have involved harsh reaction conditions and have suffered from incomplete transfer of central chirality to axial chirality. Here we show that Cp2Zr(H)Cl can react with the zinc or magnesium alkoxides of propargylic alcohols to generate allenes in good yield and in high optical purity. Dialkyl-, alkyl-aryl-, and diaryl-allenes are accessible by this method. Furthermore, the reaction can provide silyl-substituted allenes, trisubstituted allenes, and terminal allenes.     

Conversion of Alkyl- and Arylallenes into 1-Alkynes Through Metallated Intermediates

Abstract: A number of acetylenes RCH₂C=CH have been obtained by metallation of the allenes RCH=C=CH₂ or mixtures of acetylenes and allenes with n-BuLi in THF-hexane and hydrolysis after allowing the metallated allenes to rearrange at room temperature or by heating under reflux.     

Gold-catalyzed isomerization of unactivated allenes into 1,3-dienes under ambient conditions

We have developed a gold-catalyzed isomerization of unactivated allenes into 1,3-dienes with nitrosobenzene as an additive. This reaction proceeded almost exclusively at room temperature for highly substituted allenes. The utility of this reaction is manifested by the development of one-pot [4+2]-cycloaddition of allenes and reactive alkenes.     

Hydrocarboxylation of allenes with CO2 catalyzed by silyl pincer-type palladium complex

Tridentate PSiP pincer-type palladium complex-catalyzed hydrocarboxylation of allenes under carbon dioxide to give synthetically useful beta,gamma-unsaturated carboxylic acids was developed. This novel CO2-fixation reaction is thought to proceed through the catalytic generation of sigma-allyl palladium species via hydropalladation of allenes, followed by its regioselective nucleophilic addition to CO2 in the presence of an appropriate reducing agent. The reaction is successfully applied to various allenes bearing functional groups such as ester, carbamate, ketone, and alkene, showing high synthetic utility of this protocol.     

Palladium-Catalyzed Annulation of Allenes with Indole-2-carboxylic Acid Derivatives: Synthesis of Indolo[2,3-c]pyrane-1-ones via Ar-I Reactivity or C-H Functionalization

Two methodologies, one involving Ar-I reactivity and the other through C-H functionalization, for the formation of indolo[2,3-c]pyrane-1-ones via the corresponding allenes, are presented. A highly efficient approach to indolo[2,3-c]pyrane-1-one derivatives through the Pd-catalyzed regioselective annulation of allenes with 3-iodo-1-alkylindole-2-carboxylic acids is described. This method is fairly general for a wide range of allenes affording the respective indolo[2,3-c]pyrane-1-ones in good to excellent yields. In addition, a Pd(II)-catalyzed oxidative coupling of indole-2-caboxylic acid derivatives with allenes via direct C-H functionalization to afford the corresponding indolo[2,3-c]pyrane-1-ones in moderate to good yields has been developed.     

Substituent effects on rates of rhodium-catalyzed allene cyclopropanation

Rates of cyclopropanation for mono- and disubstituted allenes have been measured relative to standard substrates in reaction with aryldiazoacetate esters catalyzed by Rh₂(S-DOSP)₄. Phenylallene derivatives exhibited a linear correlation of rate with σ⁺ coefficients, indicating a resonance-based effect, though the magnitude of the effect for allenes is less than that reported for other cyclopropanations. Relative reaction rates for aliphatic allenes were found to be similar to those for aryl-substituted allenes, but silicon substitution was found to give a 5- to 14-fold rate increase. The rate enhancement effect for 1-silyl allenes can partially make up for loss of rate and regioselectivity, with 1-trimethylsilyl-1,2-butadiene exhibiting high levels of enantioselectivity and diastereoselectivity in reaction with the chiral catalyst.     

Nickel-catalyzed highly chemoselective cocyclotrimerization of arynes with allenes: a novel method for 10-methylene-9,10-dihydrophenanthrenes

The NiBr(2)(dppe)-Zn system effectively catalyzes the [2+2+2] cocyclotrimerization of arynes with allenes, leading to 10-methylene-9,10-dihydrophenanthrenes in moderate to good yields. The cocyclotrimerization is highly selective with only the internal double bond of the allenes being involved in the reaction.     

Complementary Iron(II)‐Catalyzed Oxidative Transformations of Allenes with Different Oxidants

Substituent‐ and oxidant‐dependent transformations of allenes are described. Given the profound influence of the substituent on the reactivity of allenes, the subtle differences in allene structures are manifested in the formation of diverse products when reacted with different electrophiles/oxidants. In general, reactions of nonsilylated allenes involve an allylic cation intermediate by forming a C?O bond, at the sp‐hybridized C2, with either DDQ (2,3‐dichloro‐5,6‐dicyano‐p‐benzoquinone) or TBHP (tert‐butyl hydroperoxide), along with FeCl₂?4 H₂O (10 mol %). In contrast, silylated allenes favor the formation of propargylic cation intermediates by transferring the allenic hydride to the oxidant, thus generating 1,3‐enynes (E1 product) or propargylic THBP ethers (S_N1 product). The formation of these different putative cationic intermediates from nonsilylated and silylated allenes is strongly supported by DFT calculations.     

Highly regioselective and stereoselective allylation of aldehydes via palladium-catalyzed in situ hydrostannylation of allenes

[reaction: see text] Highly regio- and stereoselective allylation of aldehydes by allenes proceeds smoothly in aqueous/organic media in the presence of PdCl(2)(PPh(3))(2), HCl, and SnCl(2). The reaction likely occurs via hydrostannylation of allenes and allylation of aldehydes by the in situ generated allyltrichlorotins to afford the final products.     

Enantioselective Synthesis of Multisubstituted Allenes by Cooperative Cu/Pd-Catalyzed 1,4-Arylboration of 1,3-Enynes

A cooperative Cu/Pd-catalyzed enantioselective synthesis of multisubstituted allenes is established. By employing chiral sulfoxide phosphine (SOP)/Cu and PdCl₂(dppf) complexes as catalysts, the 1,4-arylboration of 1,3-enynes provides an efficient approach to trisubstituted chiral allenes with up to 92 % yield and 97:3 er. Furthermore, by using 2-substituted 1,3-enynes as substrates, the tetrasubstituted chiral allenes were successfully generated using this strategy. Finally, theoretical calculations indicate that the transmetallation of the allenylcopper species is the rate-limiting step of this transformation.     

Synthesis of allenes via palladium-catalyzed hydrogen-transfer reactions: propargylic amines as an allenyl anion equivalent

Synthesis of allenes has been achieved by using palladium-catalyzed hydrogen-transfer reactions. Various propargylic amines, which were readily prepapred from iodobenzenes and propargylic amines by Sonogashira coupling reaction, underwent the hydrogen-transfer reaction in the presence of Pd2dba3.CHCl3/(C6F5)3P catalyst at 100 degrees C in dioxane for 24 h, giving the corresponding allenes in 43-99% yields. Various propargylic alcohols containing a propargylic aminomethyl group, synthesized by the addition of lithium acetylides of N,N-diisopropylprop-2-ynylamine to aldehydes and a ketone, also underwent the hydrogen-transfer reaction in the presence of Pd2dba3.CHCl3 catalyst and (C6F5)3P at 80 degrees C in dioxane, giving the corresponding allenes in 56-92% yields. In the current transformation, propargylic amines can be handled as an allenyl anion equivalent and introduced into various electrophiles to be transformed into allenes under palladium-catalyzed conditions.     

Direct transformation of silyl enol ethers into functionalized allenes

The first elimination reactions of silyl enol ethers to lithiated allenes are reported. These reactions allow a direct transformation of readily available silyl enol ethers into functionalized allenes. The action of three to four equivalents of lithium diisopropylamide (LDA) on silyl enol ethers results in the formation of lithiated allenes by initial allylic lithiation, subsequent elimination of a lithium silanolate, and finally, lithiation of the allene thus formed. Starting with amide-derived silyl imino ethers, lithiated ketenimines are obtained. A variety of reactions of the lithiated allenes with electrophiles (chlorosilanes, trimethylchlorostannane, dimethyl sulfate and ethanol) were carried out. Elimination of silanolate is observed only for substrates that contain the hindered SiMe2tBu or Si(iPr)3 moiety, but not for the SiMe3 group. The reaction of 1,1-dilithio-3,3-diphenylallene with ketones provides a convenient access to novel 1,1-di(hydroxymethyl)allenes which undergo a domino Nazarov-Friedel-Crafts reaction upon treatment with p-toluenesulfonic acid.     

Understanding the 1,3-Dipolar Cycloadditions of Allenes

We have quantum chemically studied the reactivity, site-, and regioselectivity of the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition between methyl azide and various allenes, including the archetypal allene propadiene, heteroallenes, and cyclic allenes, by using density functional theory (DFT). The 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactivity of linear (hetero)allenes decreases as the number of heteroatoms in the allene increases, and formation of the 1,5-adduct is, in all cases, favored over the 1,4-adduct. Both effects find their origin in the strength of the primary orbital interactions. The cycloaddition reactivity of cyclic allenes was also investigated, and the increased predistortion of allenes, that results upon cyclization, leads to systematically lower activation barriers not due to the expected variations in the strain energy, but instead from the differences in the interaction energy. The geometric predistortion of cyclic allenes enhances the reactivity compared to linear allenes through a unique mechanism that involves a smaller HOMO–LUMO gap, which manifests as more stabilizing orbital interactions.     

A Highly diastereoselective synthesis of (1R)-(+)-camphor-based chiral allenes and their asymmetric hydroboration-oxidation reactions

Synthesis of camphor derived chiral allenes and their hydroboration-oxidation reactions are described. Reaction of (1R)-(+)-camphor with alkynyllithium followed by the reduction of the resulted propargyl alcohol derivatives using AlH3 furnished chiral allenes 2a-g in excellent yields with high diastereoselectivity. Reduction of the propargyl alcohols with aluminum hydride proceeded through selective intermolecular anti-addition of hydride ion. The stereochemistry of the chiral allenes 2 was assigned based on lanthanide shift studies and chemical correlations. Diastereoselectivity was observed in the hydroboration-oxidation of 2 which produced a mixture of (E,R) and (E,S) stereoisomers in a ratio of 6:1 to 18:1.     

Enantioselective Synthesis of Multisubstituted Allenes by Cooperative Cu/Pd‐Catalyzed 1,4‐Arylboration of 1,3‐Enynes

A cooperative Cu/Pd‐catalyzed enantioselective synthesis of multisubstituted allenes is established. By employing chiral sulfoxide phosphine (SOP)/Cu and PdCl₂(dppf) complexes as catalysts, the 1,4‐arylboration of 1,3‐enynes provides an efficient approach to trisubstituted chiral allenes with up to 92 % yield and 97:3 er. Furthermore, by using 2‐substituted 1,3‐enynes as substrates, the tetrasubstituted chiral allenes were successfully generated using this strategy. Finally, theoretical calculations indicate that the transmetallation of the allenylcopper species is the rate‐limiting step of this transformation.     

Reaction of alpha-(N-carbamoyl)alkylcuprates with propargyl substrates: synthetic route to alpha-amino allenes and delta3-pyrrolines

[reaction: see text] Carbamate deprotonation followed by treatment with CuCN.2LiCl affords alpha-(N-carbamoyl)alkylcuprates which react with propargyl halides, mesylates, tosylates, phosphates, acetates, and epoxides to give alpha-(N-carbamoyl) allenes via an anti-S(N)2' substitution process. Propargyl halides, sulfonates, and phosphates give good yields of carbamoyl allenes, while the acetates afford low yields. Propargyl substrates undergo regiospecific S(N)2' substitution in the absence of severe steric hindrance. The alpha-(N-carbamoyl) allenes can be cyclized to 2-oxazolidinones or deprotected to afford the free amines which can be cyclized to Delta(3)-pyrrolines with either AgNO(3) or Ru(3)(CO)(12).     

Palladium(0)-catalyzed synthesis of chiral ene-allenes using alkenyl trifluoroborates

Enantioenriched allenes serve as chiral transfer reagents, making them attractive synthetic targets. Herein, the synthesis of enantioenriched allenes utilizing a Pd(0)-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction of propargylic carbonates and phosphates with alkenyl trifluoroborates is reported. Di-, tri-, and tetrasubstituted allenes were synthesized in moderate to high optical yields. Several racemic allenes possessing various functional groups were also synthesized.     

An unexpected phosphine-catalyzed [3 + 2] annulation. Synthesis of highly functionalized cyclopentenes

An unexpected phosphine-catalyzed [3 + 2] annulation from electron-deficient allenes and substituted alkylidenemalononitriles was realized in which the allylic moiety of the substituted alkylidenemalononitriles served as the three carbon unit of the cyclopentenes instead of the electron-deficient allenes.     

Highly enantioselective and regioselective nickel-catalyzed coupling of allenes, aldehydes, and silanes

A complex derived from Ni(cod)2 and NHC-IPr catalyzes a three-component coupling reaction involving allenes, aldehydes, and organosilanes and transfers the axial chirality of the allene to a stereogenic center in the product with very high fidelity. An unexpected regioselectivity is observed; favored are allylic rather than homoallylic alcohol derivatives, corresponding to the unusual process of coupling two electrophilic atoms: the allene sp and aldehyde carbon atoms. In all cases, high enantioselectivity, high Z/E selectivity, and, with differentially substituted allenes, high site selectivity are observed. This transformation represents the first enantioselective multicomponent coupling process of allenes.