Stannylation of unsaturated carbon-carbon bonds by tin tetrachloride

The reactions of tin tetrachloride and four terminal alkynes (PhCCH, ^tBuCCH, ⁿBuCCH, HOCH₂CCH), norbornene, and norbornadiene in dichloromethane or chloroform solution lead to the formation of stannylation products, which were characterized by ¹H, ¹³C and ¹¹⁹Sn NMR spectroscopy. Virtually complete α-regioselectivity was obtained in reaction of all four alkynes without any effect of the relative steric bulk of the substituent R at the triple bond of alkyne RC_βC_αH. The reaction of norbornene and norbornadiene with SnCl₄ is stereoselective, giving an exo stannylation product.     

Synthesis of (1-alkynyl)dicarbonylcyclopentadienyliron complexes by palladium-catalyzed Sonogashira-type carbon-iron bond formation

Treatment of [CpFe(CO)₂I] with terminal alkynes in the presence of catalytic amounts of dichlorobis(triphenylphosphine)palladium and copper iodide in aliphatic amine/THF results in Sonogashira-type carbon-iron bond formation to yield [CpFe(CO)₂(CCR)] in good yields.     

Synthesis of (E)-alkenes via hydroindation of CC in InCl3-NaBH4 system

In InCl₃-NaBH₄-MeCN system, terminal aryl alkynes could couple with aryl iodides and bromides to give disubstituted alkenes via hydroindation of CC. In the similar way, (E)-alkenylsilanes were synthesized via reduction of alkynylsilanes in tetrahydrofuran (THF) in high yields. The processes showed high regio- and stereoselectivity.     

Distinction of Push,pull effect and steric hindrance in disubstituted alkynes

The push,pull effect in two series of disubstituted alkynes was studied at the DFT level [B3LYP/6-311G(d)] by application of the ¹³C chemical shift differences (GIAO) between the alkyne carbon atoms (Δδ_CC), the charge difference between these carbons (Δq_CC), the occupation quotient (NBO) of anti-bonding π^∗, and bonding π orbitals (π^∗_CC/π_CC) and the bond length (d_CC) of the CC triple bond. The linear dependence of d_CC versus π^∗_CC/π_CC quantifies changes in the push,pull effect while deviations from the latter correlation indicate and ascertain quantitatively to what extent steric hindrance restricts the strain-less conjugation of the CC triple bond π-orbitals in the disubstituted alkynes.     

Formation of pyridine from acetylenes and nitriles catalyzed by RuCpCl, CoCp, and RhCp derivatives - A computational mechanistic study

The mechanism of the catalytic formation of pyridines from the coupling of two alkynes and the nitriles NCR (R = H, Me, Cl, COOMe) with the fragments CpRuCl, CpCo, and CpRh has been investigated by means of DFT/B3LYP calculations. According to the proposed mechanism, the key reaction step is the oxidative coupling of two alkyne ligands to give metallacyclopentatriene (Ru, Rh) and metallacyclopentadiene (Co) intermediates. In the case of ruthenium, this process is thermodynamically clearly favored over the oxidative coupling between one alkyne and one nitrile ligand to afford an azametallacycle. This alternative pathway however cannot be dismissed in the case of Co and Rh. The rate determining step of the overall catalytic cycle is the addition of a nitrile molecule to the metallacyclopentatriene and metallacyclopentadiene intermediates, respectively, which has to take place in a side-on fashion. Competitive alkyne addition leads to benzene formation. Thus, also the chemoselectivity of this reaction is determined at this stage of the catalytic cycle. In the case of the RuCpCl fragment, the addition of nitriles R-CN and acetylenes RCCH has been studied in more detail. For R = H, Cl, and COOMe the side-on addition of nitriles is kinetically more favored than alkyne addition and, in accordance with experimental results, pyridine formation takes place. In the case of R = Me nitrile addition could not be achieved and the addition of alkynes to give benzene derivatives seems to be kinetically more favored. Once the nitrile is coordinated facile C-C bond coupling takes place to afford an unusual five- and four-membered bicyclic ring system. This intermediate eventually rearranges to a very unsymmetrical azametallaheptatriene complex which in turn provides CpRuCl(κ¹-pyridine) via a reductive elimination step. Completion of the catalytic cycle is achieved by an exergonic displacement of the respective pyridine product by two acetylene molecules regenerating the bisacetylene complex.     

Palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction of alkynylzincs with benzylic electrophiles

The reaction of alkynylzinc bromides with benzyl bromides or chlorides in the presence of a catalytic amount of Pd(DPEphos)Cl₂ in THF at 23 °C cleanly produces the corresponding benzylated alkynes in 73-97% yields. With 10⁻³ mol % of Pd(DPEphos)Cl₂, the maximum turnover number of 7.1 × 10⁴ has been observed for the formation of PhCCCH₂Ph.     

Rhenium carbonyl compounds with (diphenyl)phosphinoalkynes and a sterically hindered phosphinoalkyne

The synthesis and characterization of two series of rhenium carbonyl complexes with P-coordinated phosphinoalkynes are reported. The anionic fac-[ReBr₂(CO)₃(Ph₂PCCR)]⁻ and neutral fac-[ReBr(CO)₃(Ph₂PCCR)₂] (R = Ph, Tol, ^tBu) complexes have been prepared and the crystal structures of fac-[ReBr₂(CO)₃(Ph₂PCCTol)]⁻ and fac-[ReBr(CO)₃(Ph₂PCC^tBu)₂] have been determined by X-ray crystallography, evidencing the presence of the uncoordinated alkyne in all these compounds. The phosphinoalkyne (o-Tol)₂PCCPh with bulky groups linked to the phosphorus atom was prepared in order to avoid the coordination of two phosphinoalkynes in cis-position around the rhenium metal. As a result, surprisingly the complex fac-[ReBr(CO)₃{(o-Tol)₂PCCPh}₂] was obtained. The crystal structure of this compound was determined confirming the cis-coordination of two bulky phosphinoalkynes in an octahedral rhenium atom. The electronic properties of the uncoordinated alkyne in these new rhenium complexes was analyzed, based on ¹³C NMR data and was compared with reported data on iron complexes. The results obtained indicate that the electronic characteristics of uncoordinated alkynes are similar in both families of complexes. Thus, the different reactivity observed between rhenium and iron complexes is related to the different nature of metallic fragments rather than to electronic features of uncoordinated alkynes.     

Bulky,spherical, and fluorinated anion BAr induces ‘on-water’ activity of silver salt for the hydration of terminal alkynes

AgBAr^F displays remarkable ‘on-water’ activity for catalytic hydration of terminal alkynes although it is ineffective in common organic solvents. Liquid alkynes do not require additive or co-solvent whereas a small amount of ethyl acetate triggers quantitative conversions for solid alkynes.     

Anti-Markovnikov stereoselective hydroamination and hydrothiolation of (hetero)aromatic alkynes using a metal-free cyclic trimeric phosphazene base

Hydroamination and hydrothiolation are the most efficient and completely atom-economical process to construct important enamine and vinyl sulfide intermediates in pharmaceutical and organic chemistry. The cyclic trimeric phosphazene base (CTPB) showed great catalytic activity for the anti-Markovnikov stereoselective hydroamination and hydrothiolation of alkynes in good to excellent yields. A broad substrate scope of alkynes and nucleophiles was demonstrated, including aryl and heteroaryl alkynes, terminal and internal alkynes, different N-heterocycles, thiols and thiophenols. This versatile and cost-efficient approach with good stereoselectivity and excellent functional group tolerance provided new opportunity for the organocatalyzed hydrofunctionalization of alkynes.     

Three characteristic reactions of alkynes with metal compounds in organic synthesis

Alkynes have two sets of mutually orthogonal π‐bonds that are different from the π‐bonds of alkenes. These π‐bonds are able to bond with transition metal compounds. Alkynes easily bond with the various kinds of compounds having a π‐bond such as carbon monoxide, alkenes, other alkynes and nitriles in the presence of the transition metal compounds. The most representative reaction of alkynes is called the Pauson–Khand reaction. The Pauson–Khand reactions include the cyclization of alkynes with alkenes and carbon monoxide in the presence of cobalt carbonyls. Similar Pauson–Khand reactions also proceed in the presence of other transition metal compounds. These reactions are the first type of characteristic reaction of alkynes. Other various kinds of cyclizations with alkynes also proceed in the presence of the transition metal compounds. These reactions are the second type of characteristic reaction of alkynes. These include cyclooligomerizations and cycloadditions. The cyclooligomerizations include mainly cyclotrimerizations and cyclotetramerizations, and the cycloadditions are [2 + 2], [2 + 2 + 1], [2 + 2 + 2], [3 + 2], [4 + 2], etc., type cycloadditions. Alkynes are fairly reactive because of the high s character of their σ‐bonds. Therefore, simple coupling reactions with alkynes also proceed besides the cyclizations. The coupling reactions are the third type of characteristic reactions of alkynes in the presence of, mainly, the transition metal compounds. These reactions include carbonylations, dioxycarbonylations, Sonogashira reactions, coupling reactions with aldehydes, ketones, alkynes, alkenes and allyl compounds. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Mechanism of the carbopalladation of alkynes by aryl-palladium complexes

The reaction between trans-PhPdI(PPh₃)₂ and EtO₂C-CCH has been investigated. This carbopalladation step involved in palladium-catalyzed multicomponent reactions with alkynes gives the unusual trans-adduct EtO₂C-C(PdIL₂)CHPh 1 as the major complex formed by isomerization of the primary cis-adduct EtO₂C-C(PdIL₂)CHPh 2. The carbopalladation was regiospecific. A multicarbopalladation was also observed by successive carbopalladation of EtO₂C-CCH by the vinyl-palladium complexes themselves generated in carbopalladation steps, leading to cationic complexes.     

Alkynylcyanation of alkynes and dienes catalyzed by nickel

Alkynyl cyanides are found to add across alkynes and 1,2-dienes in the presence of a catalyst prepared in situ from Ni(cod)₂, xantphos, and BPh₃. A range of functionalized conjugated cis-enynes are obtained with high regioselectivity. The addition reaction across norbornadiene proceeds in the absence of BPh₃ to give exo-cis adduct exclusively. A stoichiometric reaction of an alkynyl cyanide, Ni(cod)₂, xantphos, and BPh₃ gives trans-(xantphos)Ni(CNBPh₃)(CCSiMe₂t-Bu), which is suggested to be a plausible reaction intermediate of the alkynylcyanation reaction.     

Catalytic synthesis of vinylphosphanes via calcium-mediated intermolecular hydrophosphanylation of alkynes and butadiynes

The calcium complex [(thf)₄Ca(PPh₂)₂] (1) is a very effective catalyst for the hydrophosphanylation of substituted alkynes of the type R-CC-R (R = Me, Ph) yielding (E)-1,2-diphenyl-1-diphenylphosphanylethene (2a) and (Z)-1-phenyl-2-diphenylphosphanyl-1-propene (2b). The calcium-mediated hydrophosphanylation of butadiynes of the type R-CC-CC-R (R = Me, SiMe₃, Ph, Mes, tBu) proceeds less selectively and diverse products are obtained such as 1,4-substituted 1,4-bis(diphenylphosphanyl)-1,3-butadienes (3), 1,4-diphenyl-1,2-bis(diphenylphosphanyl)-1,3-butadiene (4), and 1,4-di(tert-butyl)-1,4-bis(diphenylphosphanyl)buta-1,2-diene (5). Besides these regioisomers also several configuration isomers with respect to the C=C double bonds [(E)/(Z) isomerism] are obtained. A catalytic cycle can be formulated with the first addition of a Ca-P bond of the catalyst 1 to a CC triple bond always leading to the formation of an intermediate with the newly formed C-P bond in 1-position whereas the remaining phosphanido calcium fragment binds to the carbon in 2-position. The addition of a second diphenylphosphane is much faster and therefore, only two-fold hydrophosphanylated butadiynes are observed. Neither addition products with only one HPPh₂ group nor those with more than two PPh₂ substituents are obtained.     

A highly selective cobalt-catalyzed carbonylative cyclization of internal alkynes with carbon monoxide and organic thiols

Despite the fact that many transition-metal-catalyzed reactions of organosulfur compounds with internal alkynes are ineffective, cobalt carbonyl (Co₂(CO)₈) is an excellent catalyst for carbonylative cyclization of internal alkynes with carbon monoxide. When Co₂(CO)₈-catalyzed reactions of internal alkynes with organic thiols are conducted in acetonitrile under 4 MPa pressure of carbon monoxide, thiolative lactonization of internal alkynes successfully takes place with incorporation of two molecules of CO. This carbonylation provides a useful tool to prepare the corresponding α,β-unsaturated γ-thio-γ-lactones (butenolide derivatives) in good yields. In the cases of unsymmetrical alkynes, such as 2-octyne and 6-methyl-2-heptyne, the thiolative lactonization proceeds with moderate regioselectivity to give the butenolide derivatives on which the carbonyl group preferentially bonds to the less hindered acetylenic carbon. Mechanistic pathways about the present thiolative lactonization are also discussed.     

Palladium-catalyzed one-pot construction of difluorinated 1,3-enynes from α,α,α-iododifluoroacetones and alkynes

A palladium-catalyzed one-pot difunctionalization of alkynes with α,α,α-iododifluoroacetones is introduced for the synthesis of difluorinated 1,3-enynes. The reaction proceeds through the radical addition of RCOCF₂ radical to alkynes and subsequent Sonogashira coupling with the same alkynes to give the 1,3-enyne products with high regio and stereoselectivity.     

Base-Promoted One-Pot Synthesis of Pyridine Derivatives via Aromatic Alkyne Annulation Using Benzamides as Nitrogen Source

In the presence of Cs₂CO₃, the first simple, efficient, and one-pot procedure for the synthesis of 3,5-diaryl pyridines via a variety of aromatic terminal alkynes with benzamides as the nitrogen source in sulfolane is described. The formation of pyridine derivatives accompanies the outcome of 1,3-diaryl propenes, which are also useful intermediates in organic synthesis. Thus, pyridine ring results from a formal [2+2+1+1] cyclocondensation of three alkynes with benzamides, and one of the alkynes provides one carbon, whilst benzamides provide a nitrogen source only. A new transformation of alkynes as well as new utility of benzamide are found in this work.     

Synthesis of new quinuclidine derivatives via Pd-mediated cross-coupling and cross-benzannulation reactions

New functionalized quinuclidines were prepared via palladium-catalyzed addition reactions of terminal alkynes (donors) to internal alkynes (acceptors). The enantiopure terminal alkynes were derivatives of quincoridine and quincorine, two semi-natural Cinchona alkaloids. The processes exhibited high chemoselectivity and excellent diastereoselectivity, the E-enynes being obtained as single products in almost all cases. The synthesis of new tetra and pentasubstituted benzene derivatives in good yields by [2+2+2] benzannulation of the diynes, obtained by the palladium-catalyzed homodimerization of 10,11-didehydro quincoridine and 10,11-didehydro quincorine, with terminal alkynes and in fair yield by [4+2] benzannulation of an enyne derivative of 10,11-didehydro quincoridine with 2,4-hexane-diyne are reported.     

Facile and selective copper-palladium catalyzed addition of terminal alkynes to activated alkynes in water

The combination of palladium and copper catalyzes the addition of terminal alkynes to electron-deficient alkynes selectively and effectively in water without the competition of terminal alkynes’ homo-coupling.