Ru(II)-catalyzed chemo- and regioselective cyclotrimerization of three unsymmetrical alkynes through boron temporary tether. One-pot four-component coupling via cyclotrimerization/Suzuki-Miyaura coupling

The Ru(II)-catalyzed [2+2+2] cyclotrimerization of alkynylboronates, propargyl alcohol, and terminal alkynes proceeded chemo- and regioselectively to give rise to arylboronates, which were subjected to Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling with aryliodides to afford highly substituted biaryls in 53-76% yields.     

Cobalt(II)-Catalyzed [4+2] Annulation of Picolinamides with Alkynes via C−H Bond Activation

A cobalt(II)-catalyzed [4+2] annulation of picolinamides with alkynes via C−H bond activation has been developed. The operationally simple annulation reaction allows for the synthesis of acyl-substituted 1H-benzoquinoline bearing multiple aromatic rings (up to 96 % yield) without co-oxidant or other oxidation factors under mild conditions. Several control experiments were carried out. This practical [4+2] annulation provides an efficient route to access highly functionalized compounds.     

AuCl(3)-catalyzed benzannulation: synthesis of naphthyl ketone derivatives from o-alkynylbenzaldehydes with alkynes

The reaction of o-alkynylbenzaldehydes 1 and alkynes 2 in the presence of a catalytic amount of AuCl3 in (CH2Cl)2 at 80 degrees C gave naphthyl ketone products in high yields. The AuCl3-catalyzed formal [4 + 2] benzannulation proceeds most probably through the coordination of the triple bond of 1 to AuCl3, the formation of benzo[c]pyrylium auric ate complex via the nucleophilic addition of the carbonyl oxygen atom, the Diels-Alder addition of alkynes 2 to the auric ate complex, and subsequent bond rearrangement. Similarly, the AuCl3-catalyzed reactions of o-alkynylacetophenone and o-alkynylbenzophenone with phenylacetylene afforded the corresponding naphthyl ketone products in good yields.     

Nickel-catalyzed dehydrogenative [4 + 2] cycloaddition of 1,3-dienes with nitriles

Pyridines, which comprise one of the most important classes of the six-membered heterocyclic compounds, are widely distributed in nature, and the transition-metal-catalyzed [2 + 2 + 2] cycloaddition reaction of two alkynes and a nitrile is one of the most powerful methods for preparing versatile, highly substituted pyridine derivatives. However, the lack of chemo- and regioselectivity is still a crucial issue associated with fully intermolecular [2 + 2 + 2] cycloaddition. The present study developed the Ni(0)-catalyzed intermolecular dehydrogenative [4 + 2] cycloaddition reaction of 1,3-butadienes with nitriles to give a variety of pyridines regioselectively.     

Enantioselective rhodium-catalyzed [2+2+2] cycloaddition of alkenyl isocyanates and terminal alkynes: application to the total synthesis of (+)-lasubine II

The use of TADDOL-based phosphoramidite ligands on rhodium allows for the incorporation of terminal alkynes in the [2+2+2] cycloaddition with alkenyl isocyanates. Terminal aliphatic alkynes provide bicyclic lactams, while the use of aryl alkynes provides complementary access to vinylogous amides. Product selectivity seems to be governed by a combination of electronics and sterics, with smaller and/or more electron-deficient substituents favoring lactam formation. The use of homologous alkenyl isocyanates leads to an expedient asymmetric total synthesis of the alkaloid lasubine II.     

Copper‐Catalyzed [2+2+2] Modular Synthesis of Multisubstituted Pyridines: Alkenylation of Nitriles with Vinyliodonium Salts

A [2+2+2] modular synthesis of multisubstituted pyridines, with excellent regioselectivity, has been realized by copper catalysisand involves three distinct components: vinyliodonium salts, nitriles, and alkynes. The reactions proceeded with the facile formation of an aza‐butadienylium intermediate by alkenylation of the nitrile with a vinyliodonium salt. Moreover, the alkynes in the reaction were extended to alkenes, which are an advantage of expense and relative scarceness of alkynes.     

Complexes with a Metal-Phosphorus Triple Bond as Versatile Building Blocks in Coordination and Organometallic Chemistry

Trapping reactions of the phosphido complex intermediate [Cp*(CO) 2 W L P M W(CO) 5 ], generated by thermolysis of [Cp*P{W(CO) 5 } 2 ] 1 , occur via [2 + 2] cycloaddition reactions with P 4 , phosphaalkynes, alkynes, and [CpMo(CO) 2 ] 2 , respectively. However, with nitriles, insertion reactions into the P--C bond of 1 are observed already at room temperature to give novel P-containing heterocycles. Furthermore, irradiation of 1 gives the tetrahedral complex [Cp*(CO) 6 W 2 }( w -H)( w , m 2 -P 2 ){W(CO) 5 } 2 ], which indicates that besides the formation of the triple-bond intermediate [Cp*(CO) 2 W L P M W(CO) 5 ] a second Cp* elimination intermediate of the type [P{W(CO) 5 } 2 ] occurs.     

Cationic palladium(II)-catalyzed highly enantioselective [3+2] annulation of 2-acylarylboronic acids with substituted alkynes

A cationic palladium(II)-catalyzed enantioselective tandem [3+2] annulation of 2-acylarylboronic acids with substituted alkynes to yield optically active 1-indenols was developed in high yields and excellent enantioselectivities.     

Catalytic enantioselective [2 + 4] and [2 + 2] cycloaddition reactions with propiolamides

We report here the catalytic and highly enantioselective [2 + 4] and [2 + 2] cycloaddition reactions of electron-rich dienes or silyl enol ethers with electron-deficient propiolamide derivatives induced by copper(II).3-(2-naphthyl)-L-alanine amide complex.     

Ruthenium(II)-catalyzed cyclization of azabenzonorbornadienes with alkynes

The ruthenium-catalyzed cyclization of azabenzonorbornadienes with alkynes leads to an unanticipated dihydrobenzoindole framework. Depending on the structure of the alkyne and the Ru catalyst, either a dihydrobenzoindole and/or a [2+2] cycloaddition product could be formed. Cp*Ru(COD)Cl was found to be an active catalyst for the cyclization of an azabenzonorbornadiene with a propargylic alcohol to produce the dihydrobenz[g]indole as a single regio and stereoisomer in good yield. For other alkynes, selective formation of the dihydrobenz[g]indole is possible by using a cationic Ru catalyst, [Cp*Ru(CH3CN)3]PF6.     

Highly regioselective Lewis acid-catalyzed [3+2] cycloaddition of alkynes with donor-acceptor oxiranes by selective carbon-carbon bond cleavage of epoxides

A novel, efficient, highly regioselective Sc(OTf)(3)-catalyzed [3+2] cycloaddition of electron-rich alkynes with donor-acceptor oxiranes via highly chemoselective C-C bond cleavage under mild conditions was developed.     

Cycloaddition of benzothiete and electron-deficient nitriles

The o-quinoid 8π electron system 2 , generated by thermal ring opening of benzothiete ( 1 ), enters regio-specific [8π + 2π] cycloaddition reactions with electron-deficient nitriles 3a-d , yielding the 4H-1,3-benzothiazines 4a-d. A competitive dimerization of 1 leads to 1,5-dibenzo[b,f]dithiocin (5). Depending on the nitrile further competitive or subsequent reactions (2 + 3b → 7b, 2 + 3d → 4d → 8d) can occur. The cycloadducts 10e and 11e gained from 3e anticipate a primary cleavage of 3e to methylisothiocyanate 9e which reacts at the C?N double bond as well as at the C?S double bond.     

Facile one-pot synthesis of 2,3,5-substituted 1,2,4-oxadiazolines from nitriles in aqueous solution

[reaction: see text] Alkyl/aryl amidoximes, prepared from the corresponding nitriles and N-alkylhydroxylamines, have readily undergone consecutive Michael additions to electron-deficient alkynes and provided highly substituted 1,2,4-oxadiazolines in good yields in homogeneous aqueous solution.     

Nickel-catalyzed formation of cyclopentenone derivatives via the unique cycloaddition of α,β-unsaturated phenyl esters with alkynes

Oxygen-containing organic compounds, such as ethers, carboxylates, and carbamates, have recently received increasing attention because of their newly discovered applications as electrophiles in cross-coupling reactions via transition metal-catalyzed C-O bond activation. However, no cycloaddition reaction involving their C-O bond activation has been demonstrated thus far. The present study developed a Ni(0)-catalyzed unique [3+2] cycloaddition reaction of α,β-unsaturated phenyl esters with alkynes in (i)PrOH to yield cyclopentenone derivatives.     

"Formal" ruthenium-catalyzed [4+2+2] cycloaddition of 1,6-diynes to 1,3-dienes: formation of cyclooctatrienes vs vinylcyclohexadienes

[reaction: see text] A new "formal" Ru-catalyzed [4+2+2] cycloaddition of 1,6-diynes to 1,3-dienes giving conjugated 1,3,5-cyclooctatrienes and vinylcyclohexadienes is described. This formal cycloaddition is really a tandem process, the Ru(II)-catalyzed formation of (Z)-tetraenes or vinyl-(Z)-trienes followed by a pure thermal conrotatory 8 pi- or disrotatory 6 pi-electrocyclization. The proposed mechanism allows the differences in product ratio to be explained in terms of steric and stereochemical considerations.     

Chiral bis(imidazolidine)pyridine-cu complex-catalyzed enantioselective [3+2]-cycloaddition of azomethine imines with propiolates

[3+2] Cycloaddition of azomethine imines with electron-deficient terminal alkynes was smoothly catalyzed by a chiral bis(imidazolidine)pyridine-CuOAc complex to give bicyclic pyrazolo[1,2-a]pyrazolone derivatives with up to 74% ee.     

Mechanistic implications of proton transfer coupled to electron transfer.

The kinetics of electron transfer for the reactions cis-[Ru(IV)(bpy)2(py)(O)]2+ + H+ + [Os(II)(bpy)3]2+ <==> cis-[Ru(III)(bpy)2(py)(OH)]2+ + [Os(III)(bpy)3]3+ and cis-[Ru(III)(bpy)2(py)(OH)]2+ + H+ + [Os(II)(bpy)3]2+ <==> cis-[Ru(II)(bpy)2(py)(H2O)]2+ + [Os(III)(bpy)3]3+ have been studied in both directions by varying the pH from 1 to 8. The kinetics are complex but can be fit to a double "square scheme" involving stepwise electron and proton transfer by including the disproportionation equilibrium, 2cis-[Ru(III)(bpy)2(py)(OH)]2+ <==> (3 x 10(3) M(-1) x s(-1) forward, 2.1 x 10(5) M(-1) x s(-1) reverse) cis-[Ru(IV)(bpy)2(py)(O)]2+ + cis-[Ru(II)(bpy)2(py)(H2O)]2+. Electron transfer is outer-sphere and uncoupled from proton transfer. The kinetic study has revealed (1) pH-dependent reactions where the pH dependence arises from the distribution between acid and base forms and not from variations in the driving force; (2) competing pathways involving initial electron transfer or initial proton transfer whose relative importance depends on pH; (3) a significant inhibition to outer-sphere electron transfer for the Ru(IV)=O2+/Ru(III)-OH2+ couple because of the large difference in pK(a) values between Ru(IV)=OH3+ (pK(a) < 0) and Ru(III)-OH2+ (pK(a) > 14); and (4) regions where proton loss from cis-[Ru(II)(bpy)2(py)(H2O)]2+ or cis-[Ru(III)(bpy)2(py)(OH)]2+ is rate limiting. The difference in pK(a) values favors more complex pathways such as proton-coupled electron transfer.     

Cyclotrimerization reactions of arynes and strained cycloalkynes

The use of arynes and related species as substrates in metal-catalyzed cycloaddition reactions leads to structurally interesting products. Palladium-catalyzed cyclotrimerization of arynes provides a new method for the synthesis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. For instance, the chemoselective formal [2 + 2 + 2] cocycloaddition of 2,3-triphenylynes with alkynes affords extended triphenylenes, which are good candidates to behave as liquid crystals. Cotrimerization of benzyne and electron-deficient alkenes selectively affords dihydrophenanthrenes or ortho-olefinated biaryls depending on the catalytic system employed. The use of 2,2'-bis(diphenylphosphino)-1,1'-binophythyl (BINAP)-based palladium(0) catalysts in the cocyclotrimerization of 7-methoxynaphthalyne and dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate affords an enantiomerically enriched tetrasubstituted pentahelicene, the first example of a metal-catalyzed enantioselective reaction involving arynes. Strained cyclic alkynes can also participate in the palladium-catalyzed cyclotrimerization reactions, which again lead to structurally interesting products.     

Synthesis of 2-substituted pyridines catalyzed by cobalt(I) complexes and promoted by light

A series of pyridines substituted in the 2-position were synthesized by cobalt(I)-catalyzed cotrimerization of alkynes and nitriles. The reactions are usually enhanced by light. The reaction conditions are very mild. Activity and selectivity are satisfactory with respect to formation of pyridines, but depend on the type of nitrile.     

Efficient one-pot synthesis of biologically interesting diverse furo[2,3-b]pyran-6-ones by rhodium(II)-catalyzed cascade reactions of diazo compound with ethynyl compounds

Rhodium(II)-catalyzed reactions of diazo compound and a variety of ethynyl compounds were carried out. These reactions provide a rapid route for preparing a variety of furo[2,3-b]pyran-6-one derivatives in one-pot via cascade reactions of metal carbenoid reaction/ketene formation/[2+2]cycloaddition/ring expansion.