Computational Insights into Different Mechanisms for Ag-, Cu-, and Pd-Catalyzed Cyclopropanation of Alkenes and Sulfonyl Hydrazones

The [2+1] cycloaddition reaction of a metal carbene with an alkene can produce important cyclopropane products for synthetic intermediates, materials, and pharmaceutical applications. However, this reaction is often accompanied by side reactions, such as coupling and self-coupling, so that the yield of the cyclopropanation product of non-silver transition-metal carbenes and hindered alkenes is generally lower than 50 %. To solve this problem, the addition of a low concentration of diazo compound (decomposition of sulfonyl hydrazones) to alkenes catalyzed by either CuOAc or PdCl₂ was studied, but side reactions could still not be avoided. Interestingly, however, the yield of cyclopropanation products for such hindered alkenes were as high as 99 % with AgOTf as a catalyst. To explain this unexpected phenomenon, reaction pathways have been computed for four different catalysts by using DFT. By combining the results of these calculations with those obtained experimentally, it can be concluded that the efficiency of the silver catalyst is due to the barrierless concerted cycloaddition step and the kinetic inhibition of side reactions by a high concentration of alkene.     

Transition metal-catalyzed cyclocarbonylation in organic synthesis

Cyclocarbonylation reactions proceed mainly by the coupling reactions of carbonylation components with cyclization components having an unsaturated π-electron bond, in the presence of transition metal compounds. The representative reactions are cyclocarbonylation of alkynes by carbon monoxide such as Pauson–Khand reactions, hetero Pauson–Khand reactions, cyclocarbonylation of alkynyl alcohols, cyclocarbonylation of alkynyl amines, cyclocarbonylative alkyne–alkyne coupling reactions, and reductive cyclocarbonylation of alkynes. The other reactions are cyclocarbonylation of alkenes by carbon monoxide such as alkene–alkene coupling reactions, cyclocarbonylation with aldehydes, ketones, amines or imines, cyclocarbonylation of alkenyl alcohols. Carbonylation via cyclometalation, carbonylative ring expansion reactions, cyclocarbonylation by aldehydes, carboxylic acids or carboxylic acid esters are also cyclocarbonylation reactions. These reactions are conveniently used for organic syntheses, especially, for the syntheses of pharmaceutical intermediates.     

Transformations of Peroxide Products of Alkene Ozonolysis

Russian Journal of Organic Chemistry - The review summarizes the data published over the past decade on the transformations of peroxide products of alkene ozonolysis, such as cleavage reactions and...     

Alkene-directed, nickel-catalyzed alkyne coupling reactions

In alkene-directed, nickel-catalyzed coupling reactions of 1,3-enynes with aldehydes and epoxides, the conjugated alkene dramatically enhances reactivity and uniformly directs regioselectivity, independent of the nature of the other alkyne substituent (aryl, alkyl (1 degrees , 2 degrees , 3 degrees )) or the degree of alkene substitution (mono-, di-, tri-, and tetrasubstituted). These observations are best explained by a temporary interaction between the alkene and the transition metal center during the regioselectivity-determining step. The highly substituted 1,3-diene products are useful in organic synthesis and, in conjunction with a Rh-catalyzed, site-selective hydrogenation, afford allylic and homoallylic alcohols that previously could not be prepared in high regioselectivity (or at all) with related Ni-catalyzed alkyne coupling reactions.     

A Pauson-Khand-type reaction between alkynes and olefinic aldehydes catalyzed by rhodium/cobalt heterobimetallic nanoparticles: an olefinic aldehyde as an olefin and CO source

Co/Rh (Co:Rh = 2:2) heterobimetallic nanoparticles derived from Co(2)Rh(2)(CO)(12) react with alkynes and alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes such as acrolein, crotonaldehyde, and cinnamic aldehyde and release products resulting from [2 + 2 + 1]cycloaddition of alkyne, carbon monoxide, and alkene. alpha,beta-Unsaturated aldehydes act as a CO and alkene source. These reactions produce 2-substituted cyclopentenones.     

Mild conditions for Pd-catalyzed carboamination of N-protected hex-4-enylamines and 1-, 3-, and 4-substituted pent-4-enylamines. Scope, limitations, and mechanism of pyrrolidine formation

The use of the weak base Cs2CO3 in Pd-catalyzed carboamination reactions of N-protected gamma-aminoalkenes with aryl bromides leads to greatly increased tolerance of functional groups and alkene substitution. Substrates derived from (E)- or (Z)-hex-4-enylamines are stereospecifically converted to 2,1'-disubstituted pyrrolidine products that result from suprafacial addition of the nitrogen atom and the aryl group across the alkene. Transformations of 4-substituted pent-4-enylamine derivatives proceed in high yield to afford 2,2-disubstituted products, and cis-2,5- or trans-2,3-disubstituted pyrrolidines are generated in good yield with excellent diastereoselectivity from N-protected pent-4-enylamines bearing substituents at C1 or C3. The reactions tolerate a broad array of functional groups, including esters, nitro groups, and enolizable ketones. The scope and limitations of these transformations are described in detail, along with models that account for the observed product stereochemistry. In addition, deuterium labeling experiments, which indicate these reactions proceed via syn-aminopalladation of intermediate palladium(aryl)(amido)complexes regardless of degree of alkene substitution or reaction conditions, are also discussed.     

Borrowing hydrogen: iridium-catalysed reactions for the formation of C-C bonds from alcohols

Alcohols have been employed as substrates for C-C bond-forming reactions which involve initial activation by the temporary removal of hydrogen to form an aldehyde. The intermediate aldehyde is converted into an alkene via a Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons reaction, nitroaldol and aldol reactions. The 'borrowed hydrogen' is then returned to the alkene to form a C-C bond.     

合成气制低碳烯烃K－Fe－MnO／MgO催化剂的研究Ⅰ．MnO助剂的作用

采用ＣＯ加氢反应、ＣＯ－ＴＰＤ、ＣＯ／Ｈ＿２－ＴＰＳＲ及Ｃ＿２Ｈ＿４／Ｈ＿２－ＴＰＳＲ等手段，研究合成气制低碳烯烃反应Ｋ－Ｆｅ－ＭｎＯ／ＭｇＯ催化剂中ＭｎＯ的助剂作用。结果表明ＭｎＯ能大幅度提高低碳烯烃的选择性，尤其是乙烯的选择性；ＭｎＯ能抑制催化剂表面的乙烯加氢，因而有利于提高低碳烯烃的选择性及烯／烷的比值。     

Unusual effects in the pd-catalyzed asymmetric allylic alkylations: synthesis of chiral chromans

An examination of earlier reports of poor-to-modest results using Pd-catalyzed asymmetric allylic alkylations (AAA) to effect cyclization to form tetrasubstituted carbons reveals several novel factors that can influence this class of reactions. Thus, carboxylate has a major effect on such cyclizations wherein the ee increases from 14% ee favoring the S with no carboxylate to 84% ee favoring the R enantiomer in the presence of 1 equiv of carboxylate. Changing the double bond geometry from E to Z further increases the ee to 97%. Furthermore, the chiral catalyst that forms the R enantiomer with the E-alkene forms the S enantiomer with the Z alkene. In contrast to trisubstituted alkene substrates, disubstituted ones show a decrease in ee in going from the E to Z alkenes. The role of carboxylate appears to be a ligand to Pd during the catalytic cycle, a previously unsuspected phenomenon since such reactions are generally believed to involve pi-allylpalladium cationic complexes. The dependence upon alkene geometry helps define the nature of the chiral pocket which better accommodates a Z alkene compared to an E alkene. The results are compatible with the enantiodiscriminating step being ionization which occurs by coordination of the palladium to one of the two prochiral faces of the double bond. A synthesis of (+)-clusifoliol, a constituent of a folk medicine for treatment of malignant tumors, which also assigns the absolute configuration, illustrates the utility of the method.     

Palladium(II)-catalyzed intramolecular diamination of unfunctionalized alkenes

Intramolecular diamination reactions are described which yield cyclic ureas as direct products of an oxidative alkene transformation in the presence of palladium acetate and iodosobenzene diacetate as terminal oxidant. The reaction is truly catalytic in metal catalyst and represents the proof of principle for this elusive type of alkene oxidation.     

Enantioconvergent synthesis by sequential asymmetric Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons and palladium-catalyzed allylic substitution reactions

A new method for enantioconvergent synthesis has been developed. The strategy relies on the combination of an asymmetric Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons (HWE) reaction and a palladium-catalyzed allylic substitution. Different alpha-oxygen-substituted, racemic aldehydes were initially transformed by asymmetric HWE reactions into mixtures of two major alpha,beta-unsaturated esters, possessing opposite configurations at their allylic stereocenters as well as opposite alkene geometry. Subsequently, these isomeric mixtures of alkenes could be subjected to palladium-catalyzed allylic substitution reactions with carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen nucleophiles. In this latter step, the respective (E) and (Z) alkene substrate isomers were observed to react with opposite stereospecificity: the (E) alkene reacted with retention and the (Z) alkene with inversion of stereochemistry with respect to both the allylic stereocenter and the alkene geometry. Thus, a single gamma-substituted ester was obtained as the overall product, in high isomeric purity. The method was applied to a synthesis of a subunit of the iejimalides, a group of cytotoxic macrolides.     

Stereocontrolled synthesis of bicyclic ureas and sulfamides via Pd-catalyzed alkene carboamination reactions

The synthesis of bicyclic ureas and sulfamides via palladium-catalyzed alkene carboamination reactions between aryl/alkenyl halides/triflates and alkenes bearing pendant cyclic sulfamides and ureas is described. The substrates for these reactions are generated in 3–5 steps from commercially available materials, and products are obtained in good yield with up to >20:1 diastereoselectivity. The stereochemical outcome of the sulfamide alkene addition is consistent with a mechanism involving anti-aminopalladation of the alkene, whereas the stereochemical outcome of the urea alkene addition is consistent with a syn-aminopalladation mechanism.     

Diastereoselective multicomponent cyclizations of Fischer carbene complexes, lithium enolates, and allylmagnesium bromide leading to highly substituted five- and six-membered carbocycles

The one-pot sequential reaction of a chromium alkoxycarbene complex, a ketone or ester lithium enolate, and allylmagnesium bromide enabled the selective synthesis of novel diastereomerically pure pentasubstituted cyclopentanols or tetrasubstituted 1,4-cyclohexanediols, depending on the degree of substitution at the Cbeta position of the enolate anion. A few exceptions have been encountered in which tetrasubstituted cyclopentanols or pentasubstituted 1,4-cyclohexanediols were selectively formed. The use of 2-iodoethoxycarbene complexes gave access to 1,2,4-cyclohexanetriols. These multicomponent-coupling reactions involved the formation of lithium alkylpentacarbonylchromates as key intermediates, which further evolved through intramolecular processes, such as insertion of an alkene, CO insertion or addition to a carbonyl group, and, moreover, could be trapped in intermolecular reactions with different electrophiles and styrene. The substitution pattern of the alkylchromate carbon chain has been proposed to control the nature of the annulation process.     

Toward a mechanistic understanding of exciton-mediated hydrosilylation on nanocrystalline silicon

White-light initiated hydrosilylation of nanocrystalline porous silicon was found to be far more efficient (in terms of both kinetics and yield) in the presence of electron-accepting molecules with suitably high reduction potentials, particularly halocarbons. It is known that absorption of visible light by nanocrystalline silicon results in the formation of excitons (electron/hole pairs) and that this exciton can be harnessed to drive a hydrosilylation reaction with an alkene; the Si-C bond forms as a result of attack of the π-electrons of the alkene on the positively charged holes. In order to better understand the white-light initiated mechanism through which this reaction takes place, and to compare with UV-mediated photoemission on Si(111)-H, a series of electron acceptors were screened for their effect on surface alkene hydrosilylation. A very strong correlation between reduction potentials (E(red)) of the oxidant and reaction efficiency was observed, with a minimum "turn-on" E(red) required for an increase to take place. The oxidant appears to accept, or remove, the electron from the nanocrystallite-bound exciton, favoring attack by the alkene on the positively charged Si nanocrystallite, leading to Si-C bond formation. Radical reactions were discounted for a number of reasons, including lack of effect of radical traps, no apparent Si-Cl bond formation, lack of oxidation of the surfaces, and others. Unlike with other oxidants such as nitro-aromatics, halocarbons do not cause additional surface reactions and promote very clean, fast, and selective hydrosilylation chemistry.     

Ring-rearrangement metathesis of nitroso Diels-Alder cycloadducts

Strained nitroso Diels–Alder bicyclo[2.2.1] or [2.2.2] adducts functionalized with alkene side chains of diverse length undergo a ring‐rearrangement metathesis process with external alkenes and Grubbs II or Hoveyda–Grubbs II ruthenium catalysts, under microwave irradiation or classical heating, to deliver cis‐fused bicycles of various ring sizes, which contain a N? O bond. These scaffolds are of synthetic relevance for the generation of molecular diversity and to the total synthesis of alkaloids. The observation of unexpected reactions, such as epimerization or one‐carbon homologation of the alkene side chain, is also reported.     

苹果蠹蛾性信息素的合成研究进展

综述了用Wittig反应构建烯烃、炔化物还原、烯烃硼氢化、山梨酸衍生物格氏偶联、油脂的氧化-还原等方法,合成苹果蠹蛾性信息素(8E,10E-十二碳二烯-l-醇)的研究进展。并介绍了其部分类似物的合成方法。参考文献21篇。     

Exhaustive glycosylation, PEGylation, and glutathionylation of a [G4]-ene(48) dendrimer via photoinduced thiol-ene coupling

We report in this paper the use of free-radical thiol-ene coupling (TEC) for the introduction of carbohydrate, poly(ethylene glycol), and peptide fragments at the periphery of an alkene functional dendrimer. Four different sugar thiols including glucose, mannose, lactose and sialic acid, two PEGylated thiols and the natural tripeptide glutathione were reacted with a fourth generation alkene functional dendrimer [G4]-ene(48) upon irradiation at λ(max) 365 nm. In all cases, the (1)H NMR spectra of the crude reaction mixture revealed the complete disappearance of alkene proton signals indicating the quantitative conversion of all 48 alkene groups of the dendrimer. With one exception only, all dendrimer conjugates were isolated in high yields (70-94%), validating the high efficiency of multiple TEC reactions on a single substrate. All isolated and purified compounds were analyzed by MALDI-TOF spectrometry and gave spectra consistent with the assigned structure.     

Regio- and stereoselective C-2 and C-3 cleavage of 2-(1-aminoalkyl)aziridines with alcohols, carboxylic acids, and sodium iodide

Ring opening of nonactivated aziridines 1 using several nucleophiles, such as alcohols, carboxylic acids, and sodium iodide, is described. Depending on the nucleophile used, aziridines 1 are cleaved at C-3 or C-2 with total regio- and stereoselectivity, affording chiral 2-alkoxy-1,3-diamines 2 with alcohols, or O-acylated-1-hydroxy-2,3-diamines 6 with carboxylic acids in moderate or high yield. In the case of the aziridines derived from phenylalanine, treatment with NaI afford trans-4-phenylbut-3-en-1,2-diamines 9, generating the alkene with total diastereoselectivity. Mechanisms have been proposed to explain these reactions.     

Gas‐phase reactivity study of O(3P) atoms with trans‐CHClCHCl and CHClCCl2 at 298 K: Comparison to reactions with some other substituted ethenes

Absolute rate coefficients for the gas‐phase reactions of trans‐dichloroethene and trichloroethene with O(³P) atoms have been measured at 298 K using a discharge flow tube coupled to a chemiluminescence detection system. The observed rate constant values are (2.2 ± 0.4) × 10^?13 and (1.4 ± 0.2) × 10^?13 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1, respectively. The experiments were carried out under pseudo‐first‐order conditions with [O(³P)]_o ? [alkene]_o. These results are compared to those of O atom reactions with other chloroethenes and with different electrophiles, such as OH and NO₃. Different factors that affect the rate of addition to the double bond are considered. The rate constants for these reactions do not correlate in a simple manner with the experimental ionization potential, as is the case in the alkene and methyl‐substituted alkene reactions. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 33: 415–421, 2001     

Novel oxa-di-pi-methane and Norrish type I reactions in the S2 (pi,pi*) excited state of a series of beta,gamma-unsaturated ketones

[reaction: see text] Beta,gamma-unsaturated methyl ketones with electron-withdrawing groups at the gamma-position of the ene moiety undergo ODPM rearrangements and Norrish type I reactions on direct irradiation at 254 nm. The results are consistent with the involvement of alkene S(2) (pi,pi*) as reactive excited states in these processes.