Catalytic Reactions with Hydrosilane and Carbon Monoxide [New synthetic methods (30)]

The reagent hydrosilane/carbon monoxide opens up new possibilities for organic synthesis. Four cases will be discussed: 1. The reaction of olefins with hydrosilane (trialkylsilane) and carbon monoxide in the presence of Co, Ru, and Rh complexes leads to enol silyl ethers having one more carbon atom that the olefins. 2. Cyclic ethers underto carbonylative ring opening to ω-siloxyaldehydes when reacted with hydrosilane and carbon monoxide in the presence of Co₂(CO)₈ as catalysts 3. Aldehydes are catalytically converted into the next higher α-siloxyaldehydes or 1,2-bis(siloxy)alkenes depending on the reaction conditions used. 4. The reaction of alkyl acetates proceeds in various ways depending on the nature of the alkyl group; enol silyl ethers or alkenes are optained.–Mechanisms of these Co₂(CO)₈ catalyzed reactions using hydrosilane and carbon monoxide are discussed in which HCo(CO)_n or R₃SiCo(CO)_nL function as catalytically active agents. With these species there are four types of catalytic cycles.–The synthetic possibilities of these catalytic reactions have still not been fully explored.     

Syntheses with Radicals—C?C Bond Formation via Organotin and Organomercury Compounds [New Synthetic Methods (52)]

C? C bond formation is one of the most important synthetic steps in the construction of organic molecules. In the last few years it has been increasingly achieved by radical addition to alkenes. In such reactions the adduct radicals have to be trapped by an donor subsequent to the C? C bond formation in order to prevent polymerization. This task can be accomplished with organotin and organomercury hydrides, the use of which has led to new synthetic methods. The occurrence of radical chain reactions in which reactions take place between radicals and nonradicals is decisive for the success of the synthesis. In these cases small amounts of radical initiators suffice and numerous functional groups may be used in the C? C bond-forming reactions. The yields and selectivities of these radical reactions are often very high.     

Titanium Tetrachloride in Organic Synthesis [New synthetic methods (21)]

Titanium tetrachloride can accelerate numerous organic reactions. Valuable syntheses of, e.g., allyl sulfides, amides, enamines, and ketones are based upon transformations of functional groups with TiCl₄. Particular mention should also be made of carbon-carbon linkage with TiCl₄ which permits the synthesis of hydroxy ketones and carbonyl compounds of the Michael adduct type. TiCl₄ reduced in situ is suitable for the reduction of chloroarenes or the linkage of two aldehyde molecules to give an alkene.     

The Palladium-Catalyzed Cross-Coupling Reactions of Organotin Reagents with Organic Electrophiles [New Synthetic Methods (58)]

The cross-coupling of organotin reagents with a variety of organic electrophiles, catalyzed by palladium, provides a novel method for generating a carbon-carbon bond. Because this mild, versatile reaction is tolerant of a wide variety of functional groups on either coupling partner, is stereospecific and regioselective, and gives high yields of product, it is ideal for use in the synthesis of elaborate organic molecules. When the coupling reaction is carried out in the presence of carbon monoxide, instead of a direct coupling, carbon monoxide insertion takes place, stitching the two coupling partners together and generating a ketone.     

CC Bond Formation by Addition of Carbenium Ions to Alkenes: Kinetics and Mechanism

The addition of carbenium ions to CC double bonds, a key step in many syntheses in organic and macromolecular chemistry, is analyzed using the Lewis acid promoted reactions of alkyl chlorides with alkenes as an example. Stereochemical and kinetic experiments suggest that the transition state is slightly bridged and product-like. Rearrangements of the carbenium ions that result from the electrophilic attack can be minimized by adding salts with nucleophilic counter ions. The thermodynamics of the addition reactions are analyzed, and the conditions necessary in order to observe the back reaction (i.e. the Grob fragmentation) are discussed. Multiparameter equations that predict rate constants are derived from kinetic studies on the reactivities of carbenium ions and alkenes. Reactivity-selectivity relationships over a reactivity range that covers eight orders of magnitude show that the structure of the transition state is only changed by variation of substituents in the immediate vicinity of the reaction center.     

Ring Closures with Carbon Monoxide

Carbon monoxide undergoes catalytic reactions with unsaturated compounds to give heterocyclic carbonyl compounds. This cyclization has led to new syntheses of imides, lactams, lactones, phthalimidines, indazolones, and tetrahydroquinazolines.     

1,3-Anionic Cycloadditions of Organolithium Compounds: An Initial Survey. New synthetic methods (4)

In the field of [3 + 2]-cycloaddition reactions, 1,3-anionic cycloadditions have now joined 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions as a second reaction type of major general importance. The cycloaddition in question has been found to occur with 2-azaallyllithium compounds, allyllithium compounds (with an electron acceptor located on C²), and 1,3-diphenylpropargyllithium. Compounds with CC, CN, NN, and CS double bonds and those with CC and CN triple bonds were found to be 1,3-anionophilic. 1,3-Anionic cycloaddition opens new routes to 1-aza-, 1,2-diaza-, 1,3-diaza-, 1,2,4-triaza-, and 1-thia-3-azacyclopentane derivatives, to pyrroles and imidazoles, as well as (and this appears to be of special importance) to cyclopentane derivatives. Currently available data attribute stereospecificity to the 1,3-anionic cycloadditions, which occupy an interesting intermediate position between 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions and transition-metal-catalyzed cyclizations. A two-step mechanism has been demonstrated in one case.     

Cyclizations via Palladium-Catalyzed Allylic Alkylations [New Synthetic Methods (79)]

The history of ring systems in organic chemistry parallels their synthetic accessibility. Transition-metal-catalyzed cyclizations offer a new opportunity to create carbo- and heterocyclic compounds with great facility. Among these methods, allylic alkylations catalyzed by palladium have proven unusually productive because of the extraordinary chemo-, regio-, and diastereoselectivity and the continuing possibility for the development of enantioselectivity. The rules for ring closure differ from those for non-transition-metal-catalyzed reactions. A major benefit is the ability to generate medium (eight-, nine-, ten-, and eleven-membered) and large rings in preference to normal (five-, six- and seven-membered) rings. With the appropriate substrate, efficient macrocyclizations are possible under conditions of normal concentrations. A second major benefit derives from the complementary stereochemistry of the metalcatalyzed substitution (net retention of configuration) compared to non-metal-catalyzed reactions (inversion of configuration). Further, the requirement for the substrate to conform to the transition-metal template may impose a stereochemical preference in the intermediate that ultimately translates into the thermodynamically less stable organic product regardless of the stereochemistry of the starting material. While more work has focused on carbocyclic synthesis, the possibilities for heterocyclic synthesis are just beginning to be tapped. In addition to forming heterocycles by C? C bond formation, use of a heteroatom as a nucleophile has already proven effective for oxygen and nitrogen, with other nucleophiles awaiting investigation. New dimensions for cyclization via allylic alkylation arise by generating the requisite π-allylpalladium intermediates by methods other than palladium(0)-initiated allylic ionizations. In addition, metals other than palladium will clearly expand the possibilities, but as yet remain untapped.     

Rhodium(III)‐Catalyzed Redox‐Neutral Coupling of α‐Trifluoromethylacrylic Acid with Benzamides through Directed C−H Bond Cleavage

A rhodium(III)‐catalyzed redox‐neutral coupling of α‐trifluoromethylacrylic acid with bezamides proceeds smoothly accompanied by amide‐directed C?H bond cleavage to produce β‐[2‐(aminocarbonyl)phenyl]‐α‐trifluoromethylpropanoic acid derivatives. One of the products can be transformed to a trifluoromethyl substituted heterocyclic compound. In addition, the redox‐neutral coupling of α‐trifluoromethylacrylic acid with related aromatic substrates possessing a nitrogen‐containing directing group can also be conducted under similar conditions.     

Formation Mechanism of the First Carbon–Carbon Bond and the First Olefin in the Methanol Conversion into Hydrocarbons

The elementary reactions leading to the formation of the first carbon–carbon bond during early stages of the zeolite‐catalyzed methanol conversion into hydrocarbons were identified by combining kinetics, spectroscopy, and DFT calculations. The first intermediates containing a C?C bond are acetic acid and methyl acetate, which are formed through carbonylation of methanol or dimethyl ether even in presence of water. A series of acid‐catalyzed reactions including acetylation, decarboxylation, aldol condensation, and cracking convert those intermediates into a mixture of surface bounded hydrocarbons, the hydrocarbon pool, as well as into the first olefin leaving the catalyst. This carbonylation based mechanism has an energy barrier of 80 kJ mol^?1 for the formation of the first C?C bond, in line with a broad range of experiments, and significantly lower than the barriers associated with earlier proposed mechanisms.     

Rhodium(I)‐Catalyzed C−C Bond Activation of Siloxyvinylcyclopropanes with Diazoesters

The rhodium(I)‐catalyzed C?C bond activation reaction of siloxyvinylcyclopropanes with diazoesters demonstrates a novel mode of C?C bond cleavage of siloxyvinvylcyclopanes. The alkene products were obtained as single E‐configured isomers in good yields. A σ,η³‐allyl rhodium complex, which has been previously proposed as the key intermediate in rhodium(I)‐catalyzed cycloaddition of vinylcyclopropanes, has been isolated and characterized by X‐ray crystallography.     

Carbon Suboxide in Preparative Organic Chemistry. New synthetic methods (1)

Although it has been known for nearly 70 years, carbon suboxide was used almost exclusively for the preparation of simple malonic acid derivatives until about 1960. Since then, however, the significance of this unusual “bisketene” has steadily increased in synthetic chemistry (especially that of heterocyclic compounds). This progress report surveys the possible applications of C₃O₂ in preparative organic chemistry, including photochemical reactions.     

Lewis Acid Induced α-Alkylation of Carbonyl Compounds

Carbonyl compounds undergo α-alkylation via the corresponding silyl enol ethers using S_N1 active alkyl halides or acetates in the presence of Lewis acids. This methodology extends the scope of carbonyl chemistry considerably, since S_N1 active alkylating agents are generally base sensitive and therefore unsuitable for reactions with enolate anions or nitrogen analogs. A prime example is the α-tert-alkylation of aldehydes, ketones and esters.     

Halovinylene Carbonates in Organic Synthesis. New synthetic methods (2)

Monohalo- and dihalovinylene carbonates constitute a new class of cyclophiles which permit simultaneous introduction of masked α-hydroxyketo and α-diketo functions, respectively, into the cycloadducts. Demasking can be performed by simple hydrolysis. Solvolytic opening of the carbonate ring leads to glycolic acid derivatives in the case of the monohalo compounds and to glyoxylic acid derivatives with the dihalo compounds. Preparation of the title compounds, their potential as synthetic reagents, and the chemistry of their simple reaction products are surveyed from a preparative viewpoint.     

Palladium(II)‐Catalyzed ortho‐Arylation of Aromatic Alcohols with a Readily Attachable and Cleavable Molecular Scaffold

A palladium(II)‐catalyzed C?H arylation process of alcohols has been developed. The strategy utilizes a novel quinoline‐based hemiacetal scaffold that can direct the selective C?H bond functionalization. This reaction provides a useful method to construct biaryl compounds of benzyl alcohols in good to excellent yields. The new molecular scaffold can be readily attached, removed, and recovered.     

Mild‐Base‐Promoted Arylation of (Hetero)Arenes with Anilines

Transition metal‐free radical arylation of heteroarenes is achieved at room temperature by simply adding aqueous sodium carbonate to a solution of the corresponding heteroarene and arenediazonium salt, which can even be formed in situ. Such an easy, inexpensive and mild methodology has been optimized and applied to the expeditious modification of interesting molecular cores like naphthylimide or bisthienylcyclopentenes.     

α-Metalated Isocyanides in Organic Synthesis. New synthetic methods (6)

α-Alkali-metalated isocyanides, which can be obtained from isocyanides and bases, can be used for nucleophilic introduction of (masked) α-aminoalkyl groups. Intramolecular ring-closure may then follow if a nucleophile combines at the electron sextet of the isocyanide carbon. Treatment of α-alkali-metalated isocyanides with electrophilic agents permits rapid and efficient synthesis of, inter alia, 2- and 3-amino alcohols, straight-chain, branched, and β-functional α-amino acids, olefins, vinyl isocyanides, and of a large number of mainly five-, but also six- and seven-membered aza-, diaza-, oxa-aza-, and thia-aza heterocycles.