Novel synthesis of 3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hexanes by unusual palladium(0)-catalyzed cyclopropanation of allenenes

Novel stereoselective synthesis of 3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hexanes from allenenes is presented. Treatment of N-protected 4-alkyl-4-(N-allyl)amino allenes with allyl carbonate and a catalytic amount of Pd(2)(dba)(3).CHCl(3) in MeCN leads to stereoselective formation of the 3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hexane framework in moderate to good yields. [reaction: see text]     

GaCl3-catalyzed allenyne cycloisomerizations to allenenes

Cycloisomerizations of allenynes to allenenes have been studied in the presence of catalytic amounts of [Au(PPh3)]SbF6 in dichloromethane or GaCl3 in toluene. Both catalytic systems are quite effective for terminal 1,6-allenynes. However, they showed different reactivities toward allenynes with di-substituents at the allenic terminal carbon. For the GaCl3-catalyzed reactions, allenenes were obtained in reasonable to high yields. However, for a Au(I)-catalyzed reaction, a triene was obtained in a poor yield. Thus, GaCl3 serves as an effective catalyst for the cycloisomerization of allenynes bearing a terminal alkyne to give cyclic allenenes in reasonable to high yields.     

Mercury(II) triflate-catalyzed cycloisomerization of allenynes to allenenes

Cycloisomerizations of allenynes to allenenes have been studied in the presence of catalytic amounts of [Hg(OTf)2] in acetonitrile. The catalytic system is quite effective for terminal 1,6-allenynes: allenenes were obtained in reasonable to high yields. However, treatment of allenynes with disubstituents at the allenic terminal carbon yielded a triene and/or allenene as a major product(s) depending upon the substituents.     

Palladium(0)-catalyzed tandem cyclization of allenenes: direct construction of tricyclic heterocycles through aromatic C--H activation

Palladium(0)-catalyzed tandem cyclization of allenenes is described. Treatment of allenenes with an aryl halide, potassium carbonate, and catalytic [Pd(PPh(3))(4)] in dioxane afforded tri- or tetracyclic heterocycles in moderate to good yields through insertion of arylpalladium(II) halide into the allenic moiety, intramolecular carbopalladation, and aromatic C--H bond activation. The substituent on the olefin terminus has proven to be essential for the success of the tandem cyclization. The reaction with heterocyclic aryl halides such as iodopyrazine or 4-bromo-1-methylindole afforded tri- or tetracyclic heteroaromatic products in good yields.     

Rhodium-catalyzed cycloisomerization of allenenes via metalacycle intermediates

In the presence of a catalytic amount of the rhodium complex, allenenes undergo cycloisomerization reactions to result in the selective formation of five and seven membered exo-alkylidenecarbocycles and heterocycles via novel exo-alkylidenerhodacyclopentane intermediates.     

Highly regio- and stereoselective acylboration, acylsilation, and acylstannation of allenes catalyzed by phosphine-free palladium complexes: an efficient route to a new class of 2-acylallylmetal reagents

A new method for the synthesis of substituted 2-acylallylmetal reagents in a highly regio- and stereoselective fashion involving a three-component assembly of allenes, acyl chlorides, and bimetallic reagents (B-B, Si-Si, and Sn-Sn) catalyzed by phosphine-free palladium complexes is described. Treatment of various allenes (CR(2)R(3)=C=CH(2)) with acyl chlorides (R(1)COCl) and bispinacolatodiboron in the presence of PdCl(2)(CH(3)CN)(2) in toluene at 80 degrees C gave 2-acylallylboronates in moderate to good yields. The acylsilation of allenes with acid chlorides and hexamethyldisilane (5) proceeded successfully in the presence of Pd(dba)(2) in CH(3)CN affording the corresponding allylsilanes (CR(2)R(3)=C(COR(1))CH(2)SiMe(3)) in good to moderate yields. Several chloroformates (R(4)OCOCl) also react with 1,1-dimethylallene (2a) and 5 to afford allylsilanes (CR(2)R(3)=C(COOR(4))CH(2)SiMe(3)) in 66-70% yields. Acylstannation of allenes could also be achieved by slow addition of hexabutylditin (10) to the reaction mixture of acyl chloride (or chloroformate) and allene 2a in CH(3)CN in the presence of Pd(dba)(2) at 60 degrees C; the corresponding 2-substituted allylstannanes were isolated in moderate to good yields. The above catalytic reactions are completely regioselective and highly stereoselective. A mechanism is proposed to account for the catalytic reactions and the stereochemistry.     

Rhodium complex-catalyzed cycloisomerization of allenenes: exo and endo cyclization depending on the auxiliary ligands

In the presence of a catalytic amount of a rhodium(I) complex, allenenes undergo cycloisomerization reactions resulting in the selective formation of exo-alkylidenecarbocycles and heterocycles. In the catalytic system of rhodium complexes with triaryl phosphites, cyclic 1,4- or 1,5-dienes are formed in good to excellent yields in the formal exo-cyclization mode via the metallacycle intermediate having an exo-alkylidene moiety. In this cycloisomerization, (E)- and (Z)-allenenes are transformed stereospecifically to the corresponding cyclic (E)- and (Z)-1,4-dienes, respectively. On the other hand, the reactions under carbon monoxide atmosphere exclusively afford seven-membered-ring products through an endo-mode cyclization. The unusual cyclization involves an allylic C-H activation process. The allenene bearing a silicon substituent at the olefinic terminus incorporates carbon monoxide to give the corresponding [2+2+1] cycloaddition product. This result apparently indicates that the catalysis of the rhodium complex is explained in terms of the oxidative cyclization of an allenene to furnish the key exo-alkylidene metallacycle intermediate at the first stage of the catalysis.     

Autocatalytic oxidative addition of PhBr to Pd(PtBu3)2 via Pd(PtBu3)2(H)(Br)

We report that oxidative addition of bromobenzene to Pd(PtBu3)2 occurs by an unusual autocatalytic mechanism. Studies on the effect of various additives showed that the degree of rate acceleration followed the trend: (PtBu3)Pd(Ph)(Br) approximately (HPtBu3)Br < [(PtBu3)Pd(mu-Br)]2 < (PtBu3)2Pd(H)(Br). Studies on the reactions of Pd(PtBu3)2 in the presence of (PtBu3)2Pd(H)(Br) showed that the concentration of (PtBu3)2Pd(H)(Br) decreased only after the Pd(0) complex had been consumed. These data indicated that the catalyst in this process is (PtBu3)2Pd(H)(Br). Thermal decomposition of the three-coordinate oxidative addition product (PtBu3)Pd(Ar)(Br) during the reaction of Pd(PtBu3)2 and bromoarenes ultimately leads to formation of (PtBu3)2Pd(H)(Br). Parallel reactions of bromobenzene with (PtBu3)2Pd(H)(Br) and Pd(PtBu3)2 showed that the bromoarenes reacted considerably faster with the Pd(II) species than with the Pd(0) species. We therefore propose a catalytic cycle for oxidative addition in which PBut3.HBr reacts with the Pd(0) species to form (PtBu3)2Pd(H)(Br), and (PtBu3)2Pd(H)(Br) reacts with the bromoarene, possibly though the anionic species [HPtBu3+][(PtBu3)Pd(Br)-], to form [Pd(PtBu3)(Ar)(Br)].     

Rhodium(I)-catalyzed intramolecular pauson-khand-type [2 + 2 + 1] cycloaddition of allenenes

[reaction: see text] The novel [RhCl(CO)(2)](2)-catalyzed [2 + 2 + 1] cycloaddition of allenenes leading to the bicyclo[4.3.0]non-1(9)-en-8-one as well as the bicyclo[5.3.0]dec-1(10)-en-9-one skeletons has been developed. This method also provides a new procedure for the construction of the bicyclo[4.3.0]non-1(9)-en-8-one skeleton having an alkyl appendage at the ring juncture, which was hardly attained in a satisfactory yield by the Pauson-Khand reaction of the corresponding enynes.     

Grubbs catalyst-mediated cycloisomerization of allenenes

The novel ruthenium benzylidene catalyst-mediated cycloisomerization of allenenes, having an alkyl appendage at the allenic terminus, resulting in the construction of cyclohexene, tetrahydropyran, and tetrahydropyridine skeletons was developed.     

Palladium-catalyzed formylation of aryl bromides: elucidation of the catalytic cycle of an industrially applied coupling reaction

The first comprehensive study of the catalytic cycle of the palladium-catalyzed formylation of aryl bromides with synthesis gas (CO/H2, 1:1) is presented. The formylation in the presence of efficient (Pd/PR2(n)Bu, R = 1-Ad, (t)Bu) and nonefficient (Pd/P(t)Bu3) catalysts was investigated. The main organometallic complexes involved in the catalytic cycle were synthesized and characterized, and their solution chemistry was studied in detail. Comparison of stoichiometric and catalytic reactions using P(1-Ad)2(n)Bu, the most efficient ligand known for the formylation of aryl halides, led to two pivotal results: (1) The corresponding carbonylpalladium(0) complex [Pd(n)(CO)(m)L(n)] and the respective hydrobromide complex [Pd(Br)(H)L2] are resting states of the active catalyst, and they are not directly involved in the catalytic cycle. These complexes maintain the concentration of most active [PdL] species at a low level throughout the reaction, making oxidative addition the rate-determining step, and provide high catalyst longevity. (2) The product-forming step proceeds via base-mediated hydrogenolysis of the corresponding acyl complex, e.g., [Pd(Br)(p-CF3C6H4CO){P(1-Ad)2(n)Bu}]2 (8), under mild conditions (25-50 degrees C, 5 bar). Stoichiometric studies using the less efficient Pd/P(t)Bu3 catalyst resulted in the isolation and characterization of the first stable three-coordinated neutral acylpalladium complex, [Pd(Br)(p-CF3C6H4CO)(P(t)Bu3)] (10). Hydrogenolysis of 10 needed significantly more drastic conditions compared to that of dimeric 8. In the presence of amine base, complex 10 gave a catalytically inactive diamino acyl complex, which explains the low activity of the Pd/P(t)Bu3 catalyst formylation of aryl bromides.     

Palladium acetate-catalyzed cyclization reaction of 2,3-allenoic acids in the presence of simple allenes: an efficient synthesis of 4-(1'-bromoalk-2'(Z)-en-2'-yl)furan-2(5H)-one derivatives and the synthetic application

We have realized a cyclization reaction of 2,3-allenoic acids 1 in the presence of simple alkyl- or aryl-substituted allenes 3. In this reaction, the cyclic oxypalladation of 2,3-allenoic acid with Pd(II) would afford the furanonyl palladium intermediate 2, which could be trapped by the simple allene to afford a pi-allylic intermediate anti-9. This intermediate anti-9 could be nucleophilically attacked by Br- to yield 4-(1'-bromoalk-2'(Z)-en-2'-yl)furan-2(5H)-one derivatives Z-5 and Pd(0). The in-situ formed Pd(0) was efficiently converted to the catalytically active Pd(II) species by benzoquinone in HOAc. The functional groups, such as malonate, acetoxyl, and phthalic amide in allene 3, are tolerable under the current conditions. High efficiency of chirality transfer was observed when optically active 2,3-allenoic acids were used, which reveals that the formation of the intermediates 2 was a highly stereoselective anti-oxypalladation process. The highly selective formation of Z-isomer may be explained by face-selective coordination of allene 3 with the palladium atom in intermediate 2: the palladium atom coordinates to the terminal C=C double bond of allene 3 from the face opposite to the substituent group to avoid the steric congestion. The products Z-5 could be further elaborated via the S(N)2 nucleophilic substitution with amine or sodium benzenesulfinate, the reduction of the C-Br bond by NaBH(4), and the CuBr.SMe(2)-catalyzed S(N)2'-substitution with CH(3)MgBr.     

Iminophosphine-palladium(0) complexes as catalysts in the alkoxycarbonylation of terminal alkynes

In the presence of methanesulfonic acid, the palladium(0)-olefin complexes: [Pd(η²-ol)(P---N)] [ol=dimethyl fumarate or fumaronitrile, P---N=1-(Ph₂P)C₆H₄-2-CH=NR (R=CMe₃ or C₆H₄OMe-4)] catalyse the alkoxycarbonylation of terminal alkynes. Moderately good rates are obtained when the catalysts are promoted with two equivalents of the free P---N ligand and a large excess of acid at 120°C. The catalytic data suggest that derivatives of the type [Pd(alkyne)(P---N)_n] (n=2–3) are the active catalytic species.     

Cationic palladium(II)-catalyzed stereoselective glycosylation with glycosyl trichloroacetimidates

The development of a new method for stereoselective glycosylation with glycosyl trichloroacetimidate donors employing cationic palladium(II), Pd(CH(3)CN)(4)(BF(4))(2), is described. This process employs Pd(CH(3)CN)(4)(BF(4))(2) as an efficient activator, providing access to a variety of disaccharides and glycopeptides. This reaction is highly stereoselective and proceeds under mild conditions with low catalyst loading. Interestingly, this palladium catalysis directs beta-glucosylations in the absence of classical neighboring group participation.     

X-ray structure characterization of palladium(II) ternary complexes of pyridinedicarboxylic and phthalic acid with phenanthroline and bipyridine

The crystal structures of the series of four ternary complexes, [Pd(phen)(2,6-PDCA)].4H(2)O (1) (phen=1,10-phenanthroline; 2,6-PDCA=2,6-pyridinedicarboxylic acid), [Pd(bpy)(2,3-PDCA)].3H(2)O (2) (bpy=2,2'-bipyridineand; 2,3-PDCA=2,3-pyridinedicarboxylic acid) and [Pd(phen)(PHT)].2.5H(2)O (3) (PHT=o-phthalic acid ) and [Pd(bpy)(PHT)].1.5H(2)O (4), are determined and the coordination modes of palladium(II) ternary complexes are characterized. All complexes take the mononuclear Pd(II) complexes, in which central Pd(II) atom of each complex has a similar distorted square-planar four coordination geometry. In all complexes, the aromatic heterocyclic compounds, phen and bpy, behave as a bidentate N, N' ligand. In the complex 1 and 2, 2,6-PDCA and 2,3-PDCA behave as a bidentate N, O ligand, and in complex 3 and 4, PHT behaves as a bidentate O, O' ligand.     

Stereoselective borylative ketone-diene coupling

In the presence of catalytic Ni(cod)(2) and P(t-Bu)(3), ketones, dienes, and B(2)(pin)(2) undergo a stereoselective multicomponent coupling reaction. Upon oxidation, the reaction furnishes 1,3-diols as the major reaction product.     

Catalytic regioselectivity control in ring-opening cycloisomerization of methylene- or alkylidenecyclopropyl ketones

2-Methylene- or alkylidenecyclopropanyl ketones were easily prepared by the regioselective cyclopropanation of allenes or the reaction of methylene-/alkylidenecyclopropanyllithium with N,N-dimethyl carboxylic acid amides. Due to the presence of the exo-cyclic C=C bond and the strained cyclopropane, their highly selective ring-opening cycloisomerization using PdCl(2)(CH(3)CN)(2), NaI (or PdCl(2)(CH(3)CN)(2) + NaI), and Pd(PPh(3))(4) as catalysts provided five different products, i.e., 4H-pyrans, 2,3,4-trisubstituted furans (or 4,5-disubstituted-3-alkylidene-2,3-dihydrofurans), and 2,3,4,5-tetrasubtituted furans (or 2,4,5-trisubstituted-3-alkylidene-2,3-dihydrofurans) in good yields, respectively, depending on the nature of the catalyst and reaction conditions. The less-substituted C=C bonds in these products can be highly selectively hydrogenated or hydroborated to afford new heterocyclic products stereoselectively. These three types of different reactions may proceed through a highly regioselective cleavage of a carbon-carbon single bond in the cyclopropane ring triggered by regioselective halometalation of the C=C bond and beta-decarbopalladation, halogen anion attack on the nonsubstituted carbon atom of the cyclopropane ring, or the direct oxidative addition of the distal carbon-carbon single bond of the cyclopropane ring with Pd(0). In some cases substituent effects were successfully applied to synthesize 2H-pyrans 8 and 3-alkylidene-2,3-dihydrofurans 5, which also provided some mechanistic information.     

Exploiting noninnocent (E,E)-dibenzylideneacetone (dba) effects in palladium(0)-mediated cross-coupling reactions: modulation of the electronic properties of dba affects catalyst activity and stability in ligand and ligand-free reaction systems

The reactivity of palladium(0) complexes, [Pd(0) (2)(dba-n,n'-Z)(3)] (n,n'-Z=4,4'-F; 4,4'-CF(3); 4,4'-H; 4,4'-MeO) and [Pd(0)(dba-n,n'-Z)(2)] (n,n'-Z=4,4'-CF(3); 4,4'-H; 3,3',5,5'-OMe), used as precursor catalysts with suitable donor ligands (e.g. phosphines, N-heterocyclic carbenes), has been correlated in several palladium(0)-mediated cross-coupling processes. Increasing the electron density on the aryl moiety of the dba-n,n'-Z ligand increases the overall catalytic activity in the majority of these processes. This effect primarily derives from destabilization of the L(n)Pd(0)-eta(2)-dba interaction (in dpi-pi* synergic bonding, n=1 or 2), which ultimately increases the global concentration of catalytically active L(n)Pd(0) available for reaction with aryl halide in the first committed step in the general catalytic cycle(s) (oxidative addition). Decreasing electron density on the aryl moiety of the dba-n,n'-Z ligand stabilizes the Pd(0)-eta(2)-dba interaction, reducing catalytic activity. The specific type of dba-n,n'-Z ligand appears to also play a stabilizing role in the catalytic cycle, preventing Pd agglomeration, and increasing catalyst longevity. A subtle balance therefore exists between the L(n)Pd(0) concentration (and the associated catalytic activity) and catalyst longevity. Changing the type of dba-n,n'-Z ligand controls the concentration of L(n)Pd(0) and the rate of the oxidative addition step, and not other intimate steps within the catalytic cycle(s), for example, transmetallation (or carbopalladation) and reductive elimination. The role of dba-n,n'-Z ligands in Heck arylation is more convoluted and dependent on the alkene substrate employed, although trends have emerged. Changes in the structure of dba-n,n'-Z had a minimal affect on Buchwald-Hartwig aryl amination processes. A secondary Michael reaction of dba-n,n'-Z with amine and/or base effectively lessens its interference in the catalytic cycle.     

Unusual palladium-catalyzed silaboration of allenes using organic iodides as initiators: mechanism and application

A highly regio- and stereoselective method for the synthesis of various 2-silylallylboronates 7 from allenes 1 and 2-(dimethylphenylsilanyl)-4,4,5,5-tetramethyl[1,3,2]dioxaborolane (5) catalyzed by palladium complexes and initiated by organic iodides is described. Treatment of monosubstituted aryl and alkylallenes RCH=C=CH(2) (1a-m) and 1,1-dimethylallene (1n) with borylsilane 5 in the presence of Pd(dba)(2) (5 mol %) and organic iodide 3a (10 mol %) afforded the corresponding silaboration products 7a-n in moderate to excellent yields. This catalytic silaboration is totally regioselective with the silyl group of 5adding to the central carbon and the boryl group to the unsubstituted terminal carbon of allene. Furthermore, the reactions show very high E stereoselectivity with the Z/E ratios lying in the range from 1/99 to 7/93. In the absence of an organic iodide, silaboration of 1 with 5 still proceeds, but gives products having completely different regiochemistry as that of 7. The silaboration chemistry can be applied to the synthesis of homoallylic alcohols. Treatment of allenes (1) with borylsilane 5 and aldehydes 14 in the presence of Pd(dba)(2) (5 mol %) and 3a (10 mol %) at 80 degrees C in ethyl acetate for 5 h afforded homoallylic alcohols 15a-p in one pot in good to excellent yields, with exceedingly high syn selectivity (>93%). Mechanistic pathways involving an unusual palladium-catalyzed three-component assembling reaction of dimethylphenylsilyl iodide, allene 1, and borylsilane 5 were proposed to account for these catalytic reactions.     

Palladium complex catalyzed acylation of allylic esters with acylsilanes.

Acylation of allylic esters (2) with acylsilanes (1) in the presence of a catalytic amount (5 mol %) of a palladium complex is reported. The reaction proceeds selectively to afford beta,gamma-unsaturated ketones (3) in high yields. [Pd(eta3-C6H5CH=CHCH2)(CF3COO)]2 (4a) showed the best catalytic activity. After the reaction, formation of CF3COOSiMe3 (5a) was confirmed by 29Si NMR measurement of the resulting reaction mixture, indicating the trimethylsilyl moiety effectively traps the CF3COO leaving group from 2. The leaving group of the allylic esters affects the reaction considerably: allylic trifluoroacetate gave the best result, while the corresponding acetates and trichloroacetates did not afford any acylation products at all. Stoichiometric reaction of 4a with 1 gave acylation product 3 with a formation of 5a and Pd(0), whereas no acylation reaction took place with the corresponding acetate complex [Pd(eta3-C6H5CH=CHCH2)(CH3COO)]2 (4b). A DFT calculation suggests that interaction of high-lying HOMO of 1 and low-lying LUMO of eta3-allylpalladium trifluoroacetate intermediate 4 would be indispensable in the catalytic cycle.