Cyclic allene intermediates in intramolecular dehydro Diels-Alder reactions: labeling and theoretical cycloaromatization studies

A comprehensive theoretical and experimental investigation of dehydro Diels-Alder reactions examining the evolution of the cyclic allene intermediates under conditions for intramolecular and ionic and radical intermolecular cycloaromatization processes is reported. Theoretical calculations showed that the most favored intramolecular path for cycloaromatization of 1,2,4-cyclohexatriene 4 and its benzoannulated derivative 14, strained cyclic allenes, consists of a pair of successive [1,2] H shifts rather than a [1,5] shift. Cycloaromatization of cyclic allenes may follow both inter- and intramolecular pathways, depending on the experimental conditions (use of protic or aprotic solvents). For synthetic purposes, the best procedure is to use a protic solvent to promote the ionic intermolecular route, the fastest and highest yielding. When the reaction is carried out in CCl4, intermolecular radical addition of chlorine to the cyclic allene competes with intramolecular aromatization paths. Theoretical calculations predict a low barrier for the reaction of cyclic allenes with carbon tetrachloride, and that the cyclic allenes act as nucleophiles in this reaction.     

Highly Regioselective Radical Amination of Allenes: Direct Synthesis of Allenamides and Tetrasubstituted Alkenes

The first controllable, regioselective radical amination of allenes with N‐fluoroarylsulfonimide is described to proceed under very mild reaction conditions. With this methodology, a general and straightforward route for the synthesis of both allenamides and fluorinated tetrasubstituted alkenes was realized from a wide range of terminal and internal allenes.     

Synthesis and reactivity of allenes substituted by selenenyl groups at 1- and 3-positions

1,3-Bis(methylseleno)- and 1,3-bis(benzylseleno)-1,3-diphenylpropadienes were synthesized by reaction of Ph(2)C(3) dianion, prepared from 1,3-diphenylpropyne and n-butyllithium, with dimethyl diselenide or benzylselenocyanate in the presence of TMEDA, and reaction of the dianion with a mixture of dimethyl diselenide and benzylselenocyanate yielded 1-benzylseleno-3-methylselenoallene along with the symmetric allenes. Diselenocyclic allenes and tetraselenocyclic bisallenes were also obtained by reacting the dianion with corresponding alkane diselenocyanates. The thermal reaction of the 1,3-bis(alkylseleno)allenes mainly afforded enediynes through radical pathway, and the nine-membered cyclic allene provided intramolecular cyclization product via an intramolecular rearrangement. Heating of the cyclic bisallenes gave compounds derived from intramolecular cyclization products together with a small amount of the enediynes. Irradiation of allenes caused rearrangement of the selenenyl group to give alkynes, and the alkynes also reacted photochemically to yield the enediynes.     

Recent advances in the functionalization of allenes via radical process

This review is focused on the recent advances in the functionalization of allenes via radical process. Different radical partners including carbon radicals and heteroatom radicals are discussed in the reactions of allenes. Generally, the radical formed in situ would attack the allene at the central carbon leading to allyl radical intermediate. However, the formation of alkenyl radical intermediate from allene could be observed as well in some cases with high regioselectivity and stereoselectivity.     

Reprint of: Recent advances in the functionalization of allenes via radical process

This review is focused on the recent advances in the functionalization of allenes via radical process. Different radical partners including carbon radicals and heteroatom radicals are discussed in the reactions of allenes. Generally, the radical formed in situ would attack the allene at the central carbon leading to allyl radical intermediate. However, the formation of alkenyl radical intermediate from allene could be observed as well in some cases with high regioselectivity and stereoselectivity.     

A highly regio- and stereoselective formation of bicyclo[4.2.0]oct-5-ene derivatives through thermal intramolecular [2 + 2] cycloaddition of allenes

Thermal [2 + 2] cycloaddition of allenes with an additional multiple bond is described. By simply heating the allenenes or allenynes having a three-atom tether in an appropriate solvent such as dioxane or DMF, the distal double bond of the allenic moiety regioselectively participates in the cycloaddition to form bicyclo[4.2.0]oct-5-ene derivatives in good to excellent yields. In all the reactions of allenenes, the olefin geometry was completely transferred to the cycloadducts. While the reaction of terminal allenes afforded bicyclic cyclobutane derivatives as a single isomer, the cycloaddition of some internal allenes with axial chirality yielded a diastereomeric mixture of cycloadducts. These results are in good accordance with the stepwise mechanism through a biradical intermediate with a coplanar allyl radical.     

Nickel‐Catalyzed Carbofluoroalkylation of 1,3‐Enynes to Access Structurally Diverse Fluoroalkylated Allenes

A nickel‐catalyzed 1,4‐carbofluoroalkylation of 1,3‐enynes to access structurally diverse fluoroalkylated allenes has been established. This method has demonstrated high catalytic reactivity, mild reaction conditions, broad substrate scope, and excellent functional‐group tolerance. The key to success is the use of a nickel catalyst to generate different fluoroalkyl radicals from readily available and structurally diverse fluoroalkyl halides to access 1,4‐difunctionalization of 1,3‐enynes by a radical relay. This strategy provides facile synthesis of structurally diverse multisubstituted allenes, and offers a solution for batch production of various fluorinated bioactive molecules for drug discovery by further transformations.     

Regioselective radical bromoallylation of allenes leading to 2-bromo-substituted 1,5-dienes

The regioselective radical bromoallylation of allenes proceeded efficiently in the presence of AIBN as a radical initiator to give 2-bromo-substituted 1,5-dienes in excellent yields. The addition of a bromine radical took place regioselectively onto the central carbon of allenes generating a stable allyl radical, which underwent addition/β-fragmentation reactions with allylbromides. The products could be further functionalized by Pd-catalyzed coupling reactions.     

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.     

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.     

Hetero diels-alder reaction of vinyl allenes and aldehydes. An experimental and computational study

The hetero Diels-Alder reaction of vinyl allenes and aldehydes in the presence of a Lewis acid has been studied both experimentally and theoretically. Differently substituted vinyl allenes and aldehydes were used to obtain information on the structural requirements of the reaction. Theoretical calculations using the density functional theory indicate that the reaction proceeds through a highly asynchronous polar transition state.     

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.     

Organocatalytic Formation of Chiral Trisubstituted Allenes and Chiral Furan Derivatives

A novel reaction that provides chiral allenes by amino catalytic activation of either aldehydes or α,β‐unsaturated aldehydes for reaction with alkynyl‐substituted enones is presented. The reaction forms a variety of trisubstituted allenes in high yields and with excellent stereoselectivities. The utility of the reaction concept is demonstrated by the synthesis of chiral furan derivatives in high yields and stereoselectivities.     

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.     

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.     

Hydroindation of allenes and its application to radical cyclization

Hydroindation of allenes and radical cyclization of 1,2,7-trienes (allenenes) were accomplished by HInCl2 with high regioselectivity to afford a variety of cyclic compounds. The resulting vinylic indiums could be used for successive coupling reactions in a one-pot procedure. The use of HInCl2 generated slowly in situ is extremely effective for the radical cyclization.     

The palladium catalyzed asymmetric addition of oxindoles and allenes: an atom-economical versatile method for the construction of chiral indole alkaloids

The Pd-catalyzed asymmetric allylic alkylation (AAA) is one of the most useful and versatile methods for asymmetric synthesis known in organometallic chemistry. Development of this reaction over the past 30 years has typically relied on the use of an allylic electrophile bearing an appropriate leaving group to access the reactive Pd(π-allyl) intermediate that goes on to the desired coupling product after attack by the nucleophile present in the reaction. Our group has been interested in developing alternative approaches to access the reactive Pd(π-allyl) intermediate that does not require the use of an activated electrophile, which ultimately generates a stoichiometric byproduct in the reaction that is derived from the leftover leaving group. Along these lines, we have demonstrated that allenes can be used to generate the reactive Pd(π-allyl) intermediate in the presence of an acid cocatalyst, and this system is compatible with nucleophiles to allow for formation of formal AAA products by Pd-catalyzed additions to allenes. This article describes our work regarding the use of oxindoles as carbon-based nucleophiles in a Pd-catalyzed asymmetric addition of oxindoles to allenes (Pd-catalyzed hydrocarbonation of allenes). By using the chiral standard Trost ligand (L1) and 3-aryloxindoles as nucleophiles, this hydrocarbonation reaction provides products with two vicinal stereocenters, with one being quaternary, in excellent chemo-, regio-, diastereo-, and enantioselectivities in high chemical yields.     

An expedient approach to allenes and polycyclic structures using propargyl radicals

A general approach to the synthesis of allenes and polycyclic structures has been developed, based on the addition of a xanthate to an enyne followed by ring-closure of the allenyl radical on to an internal olefin.     

Access to Hydroxy-Functionalized Polypropylene through Coordination Polymerization

Preparation of polyethylenes containing hydroxy groups has been already industrialized through radical copolymerization under harsh conditions followed by alcoholysis. By contrast, hydroxy-functionalized polypropylene has proven a rather challenging goal in polymer science. Propylene can't be polymerized through a radical mechanism, and its coordination copolymerization with polar monomers is frustrated by catalyst poisoning. Herein, we report a new strategy to reach this target. The coordination polymerization of allenes by rare-earth-metal precursors affords pure 1,2-regulated polyallenes, which are facilely transformed into poly(allyl alcohol) analogues by subsequent hydroboration/oxidation. Strikingly, the copolymerization of allenes and propylene gives unprecedented hydroxy-functionalized polypropylene after post-polymerization modification. Mechanistic elucidation by DFT simulation suggests kinetic rather than thermodynamic control.     

Asymmetric Rhodium‐Catalyzed Addition of Thiols to Allenes: Synthesis of Branched Allylic Thioethers and Sulfones

A highly regio‐ and enantioselective hydrothiolation of terminal allenes, a reaction which fulfills the criteria of atom economy, is reported. Applying two chiral rhodium catalyst systems, a wide variety of thiols and allenes could be coupled. Oxidation gave access to the corresponding allylic sulfones in essentially enantiomerically pure form. The reaction tolerates a variety of functional groups and labeling experiments gave first insights into the reaction mechanism of this new methodology.