Highly stereoselective palladium-catalyzed dithiocarbonylation of propargylic mesylates with thiols and carbon monoxide

Highly stereoselective dithiocarbonylation of propargylic mesylates with thiols and carbon monoxide has been developed by the use of tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(0) as the catalyst at 90 degrees C in THF. The reaction affords the corresponding dithioesters in good to excellent yields. For some secondary and tertiary propargylic alcohols with a terminal or internal triple bond, the reaction stereoselectively produces E-dithioesters as products. The dithiocarbonylation is believed to proceed via allenylpalladium and allenyl ester intermediates, and the high stereoselectivity might be rationalized by a mechanism where nucleophilic attack of a Pd(0)L(n) species on the allenyl sp carbon occurs from the less hindered side of an alkyl substituent.     

A general procedure for the synthesis of enones via gold-catalyzed Meyer-Schuster rearrangement of propargylic alcohols at room temperature

Meyer-Schuster rearrangements of propargylic alcohols take place readily at room temperature in toluene with 1-2 mol % PPh(3)AuNTf(2), in the presence of 0.2 equiv of 4-methoxyphenylboronic acid or 1 equiv of methanol. Good to excellent yields of enones can be obtained from secondary and tertiary alcohols, with high selectivity for the E-alkene in most cases. A one-pot procedure for the conversion of primary propargylic alcohols into β-arylketones was also developed, via Meyer-Schuster rearrangement followed by Pd-catalayzed addition of a boronic acid.     

Microwave-assisted domino access to C2-chain functionalized furans from tertiary propargyl vinyl ethers

Tertiary propargyl vinyl ethers armed with an electron-withdrawing group (amide or ester) at the tertiary propargylic position have been efficiently transformed into trisubstituted C(2)-chain functionalized furans. The metal-free domino transformation involves a microwave-assisted tandem [3,3]-propargyl Claisen rearrangement/5-exo-dig O-cyclization reaction. The manifold can be performed in a one-pot fashion from the primary components (1,2-ketoester/1,2-ketoamide or tertiary propargyl alcohols).     

Ruthenium-catalyzed propargylic substitution reactions of propargylic alcohols with oxygen-, nitrogen-, and phosphorus-centered nucleophiles

The scope and limitations of the ruthenium-catalyzed propargylic substitution reaction of propargylic alcohols with heteroatom-centered nucleophiles are presented. Oxygen-, nitrogen-, and phosphorus-centered nucleophiles such as alcohols, amines, amides, and phosphine oxide are available for this catalytic reaction. Only the thiolate-bridged diruthenium complexes can work as catalysts for this reaction. Results of some stoichiometric and catalytic reactions indicate that the catalytic propargylic substitution reaction proceeds via an allenylidene complex formed in situ, whereby the attack of nucleophiles to the allenylidene C(gamma) atom is a key step. Investigation of the relative rate constants for the reaction of propargylic alcohols with several para-substituted anilines reveals that the attack of anilines on the allenylidene C(gamma) atom is not involved in the rate-determining step and rather the acidity of conjugated anilines of an alkynyl complex, which is formed after the attack of aniline on the C(gamma) atom, is considered to be the most important factor to determine the rate of this catalytic reaction. The key point to promote this catalytic reaction by using the thiolate-bridged diruthenium complexes is considered to be the ease of the ligand exchange step between a vinylidene ligand on the diruthenium complexes and another propargylic alcohol in the catalytic cycle. The reason why only the thiolate-bridged diruthenium complexes promote the ligand exchange step more easily with respect to other monoruthenium complexes in this catalytic reaction should be that one Ru moiety, which is not involved in the allenylidene formation, works as an electron pool or a mobile ligand to another Ru site. The catalytic procedure presented here provides a versatile, direct, and one-step method for propargylic substitution of propargylic alcohols in contrast to the so far well-known stoichiometric and stepwise Nicholas reaction.     

Highly chemoselective calcium-catalyzed propargylic deoxygenation

A calcium-catalyzed direct reduction of propargylic alcohols and ethers has been accomplished by using triethylsilane as a nucleophilic hydride source. At room temperature a variety of secondary propargylic alcohols was deoxygenated to the corresponding hydrocarbons in excellent yields. Furthermore, for the first time, a catalytic deoxygenation of tertiary propargylic alcohols was generally applicable. The same protocol was suitable for an efficient reduction of secondary as well as tertiary propargylic methyl, benzyl and allyl ethers. Substrates containing an additional keto-, ester or secondary hydroxyl function were reduced with exceptional chemoselectivity at the propargylic position.     

Highly Chemoselective Calcium‐Catalyzed Propargylic Deoxygenation

A calcium‐catalyzed direct reduction of propargylic alcohols and ethers has been accomplished by using triethylsilane as a nucleophilic hydride source. At room temperature a variety of secondary propargylic alcohols was deoxygenated to the corresponding hydrocarbons in excellent yields. Furthermore, for the first time, a catalytic deoxygenation of tertiary propargylic alcohols was generally applicable. The same protocol was suitable for an efficient reduction of secondary as well as tertiary propargylic methyl, benzyl and allyl ethers. Substrates containing an additional keto‐, ester or secondary hydroxyl function were reduced with exceptional chemoselectivity at the propargylic position.     

Preparation of phenyl substituted propargylic alcohol dicobalt hexacarbonyls and their reactions with active methylene compounds in the presence of acid

Eight new complexes with the formula [PhC_2C(OH)R~2R~2]Co_2(CO)_6 were prepared fromphenyl substituted propargylic alcohols and dicobalt octacarbonyl.The reactions of these propargylioalcohol complexes with active methylene compounds,2,4-pentanedione or ethyl acetoacetate,in thepresnce of an acid,HBF_4(40％)+P_2O_5(in excess)or BF_3·Et_2O,at room temperature in dichlorome-thane were investigated.From the 1-alkyl substituted tertiary propargylic alcohol complexes,threenew conjugated ene-yne complexes produced by intramolecular dehydration reaction were isolated inhigh yields(82—95％).On the other hand,four new alkylated complexes were obtained withsatisfactory yields(44—66％)from the secondary propargylic alcohol complexes.The influence ofother acids,phosphorus pentoxide and polyphosphoric acid,on both dehydration reaction andalkylated reaction was also studied.     

Rh‐Catalyzed Reaction of Propargylic Alcohols with Aryl Boronic Acids–Switch from β‐OH Elimination to Protodemetalation

It is known that Rh‐catalyzed reaction of propargylic alcohols with aryl metallic reagents undergoes S_N2’‐type reaction affording allenes via a sequential arylmetalation and β‐OH elimination process. Here we report a Rh/Ag‐cocatalyzed reaction of propargylic alcohols with organoboronic acids affording stereo‐defined (E)‐3‐arylallylic alcohols via arylmetalation and protodemetalation with a high regio‐ and stereoselectivity under very mild conditions. The reaction exhibits a good substrate scope and the compatibility with synthetically useful functional groups with no racemization for optically active propargylic alcohols. Such a reaction may also be extended to homopropargylic alcohols with a remarkable regioselectivity and exclusive E‐stereoselectivity.     

Tetrabutylammonium fluoride (TBAF)-catalyzed addition of substituted trialkylsilylalkynes to aldehydes, ketones, and trifluoromethyl ketones

Herein we report that tetrabutylammonium fluoride (TBAF) is a very efficient catalyst for the addition of trialkylsilylalkynes to aldehydes, ketones, and trifluoromethyl ketones in THF solvent at room temperature. The reaction conditions are mild and operationally simple, and a variety of aryl functional groups, such as chloro, trifluoromethyl, bromo, and fluoro groups, are tolerated. Impressively, using our protocol, useful CF(3)-bearing tertiary propargylic alcohols can be synthesized. Product yields are generally better than or comparable to those in the literature. 1-Phenyl-2-trimethylsilyl acetylene, trimethyl ((4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)ethynyl)silane, 1-trimethylsilyl-1-hexyne, and trimethyl(thiophen-3-ylethynyl)silane underwent clean conversion to their corresponding propargylic alcohols as products under our conditions. Heterocyclic carbonyl compounds, such as furan-3-carboxaldehyde, thiophene-3-carboxaldehyde, and 2-pyridyl ketone, gave good yields of propargylic alcohols.     

Facile preparation of allenic hydroxyketones via rearrangement of propargylic alcohols

[formula: see text] Treatment of tertiary propargylic alcohols 13 with 3-diazo-2-butanone 6 and catalytic dirhodium tetraacetate in benzene gave good yields of the diastereomeric allenic hydroxyketones 14, with, in some cases, good diastereocontrol. These products are presumably formed via the [2,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement of an alpha-propargyloxy enol derivative. This reaction has been extended to the preparation of homoallylic hydroxyketones from allylic alcohols by reaction with 6 and the rhodium catalyst.     

Gold- and silver-catalyzed reactions of propargylic alcohols in the presence of protic additives

A wide range of primary, secondary and tertiary propargylic alcohols undergo a Meyer-Schuster rearrangement to give enones at room temperature in the presence of a gold(I) catalyst and small quantities of MeOH or 4-methoxyphenylboronic acid. The syntheses of the enone natural products isoegomaketone and daphenone were achieved using this reaction as the key step. The rearrangement of primary propargylic alcohols can readily be combined in a one-pot procedure with the addition of a nucleophile to the resulting terminal enone, to give β-aryl, β-alkoxy, β-amino or β-sulfido ketones. Propargylic alcohols bearing an adjacent electron-rich aryl group can also undergo silver-catalyzed substitution of the alcohol with oxygen, nitrogen and carbon nucleophiles. This latter reaction was initially observed with a batch of gold catalyst that was probably contaminated with small quantities of silver salt.     

Enantioselective Alkynylation of Ketones Promoted by β-Sulfonamide Alcohol-Titanium Complexes

A readily available β-sulfonamide alcohol-titanium complex was found to be effective on promoting the asymmetric addition reaction of an alkynylzinc reagent to unactivated simple ketones under very mild conditions. And the corresponding chiral tertiary propargylic alcohols were obtained with enantiomeric excesses of up to 86%, which provided a simple, practical and inexpensive method to generate chiral tertiary propargylic alcohols.     

Highly efficient synthesis of functionalized indolizines and indolizinones by copper-catalyzed cycloisomerizations of propargylic pyridines

The copper-catalyzed cycloisomerizations of 2-pyridyl-substituted propargylic acetates and its derivatives are described, which offer an efficient route to C-1 oxygenated indolizines with a wide range of substituents under mild reaction conditions. The presented method could be readily applied to the synthesis of indolizinones through a cyclization/1,2-migration of tertiary propargylic alcohols.     

Gold‐ and Silver‐Catalyzed Reactions of Propargylic Alcohols in the Presence of Protic Additives

A wide range of primary, secondary and tertiary propargylic alcohols undergo a Meyer–Schuster rearrangement to give enones at room temperature in the presence of a gold(I) catalyst and small quantities of MeOH or 4‐methoxyphenylboronic acid. The syntheses of the enone natural products isoegomaketone and daphenone were achieved using this reaction as the key step. The rearrangement of primary propargylic alcohols can readily be combined in a one‐pot procedure with the addition of a nucleophile to the resulting terminal enone, to give β‐aryl, β‐alkoxy, β‐amino or β‐sulfido ketones. Propargylic alcohols bearing an adjacent electron‐rich aryl group can also undergo silver‐catalyzed substitution of the alcohol with oxygen, nitrogen and carbon nucleophiles. This latter reaction was initially observed with a batch of gold catalyst that was probably contaminated with small quantities of silver salt.     

Direct and stereospecific synthesis of allenes via reduction of propargylic alcohols with Cp2Zr(H)Cl

Allenes can be synthesized via the direct SN2' addition of hydride to propargylic alcohols. Previous examples of this approach, however, have involved harsh reaction conditions and have suffered from incomplete transfer of central chirality to axial chirality. Here we show that Cp2Zr(H)Cl can react with the zinc or magnesium alkoxides of propargylic alcohols to generate allenes in good yield and in high optical purity. Dialkyl-, alkyl-aryl-, and diaryl-allenes are accessible by this method. Furthermore, the reaction can provide silyl-substituted allenes, trisubstituted allenes, and terminal allenes.     

Brønsted acid−catalyzed synthesis of tetrasubstituted allenes and polysubstituted 2H-chromenes from tertiary propargylic alcohols

A practical and environmentally benign Brønsted acid?catalyzed protocol for the preparation of all-carbon tetrasubstituted allenes, consisting in the direct S_N? addition of tri- or dimethoxy arenes or allyltrimethylsilane to tertiary propargylic alcohols, has been developed. In addition, a straightforward synthesis of densely substituted 2H-chromenes by metal-free tandem allenylation/heterocyclization reaction of methoxyphenols and tertiary alkynols is presented.     

Light-Mediated Formal Radical Deoxyfluorination of Tertiary Alcohols through Selective Single-Electron Oxidation with TEDA2+.

The synthesis of tertiary alkyl fluorides through a formal radical deoxyfluorination process is described herein. This light-mediated, catalyst-free methodology is fast and broadly applicable allowing for the preparation of C−F bonds from (hetero)benzylic, propargylic, and non-activated tertiary alcohol derivatives. Preliminary mechanistic studies support that the key step of the reaction is the single-electron oxidation of cesium oxalates—which are readily available from the corresponding tertiary alcohols—with in situ generated TEDA^2+. (TEDA: N-(chloromethyl)triethylenediamine), a radical cation derived from Selectfluor®.     

Ruthenium-catalyzed propargylic substitution reaction of propargylic alcohols with thiols: a general synthetic route to propargylic sulfides

A novel cationic methanethiolate-bridged diruthenium complex [Cp*RuCl(mu2-SMe)2RuCp*(OH2)]OTf (1e) has been disclosed to promote the catalytic propargylic substitution reaction of propargylic alcohols bearing not only terminal alkyne group but also internal alkyne group with thiols. It is noteworthy that neutral thiolate-bridged diruthenium complexes (1a-1c), which were known to promote the propargylic substitution reactions of propargylic alcohols bearing a terminal alkyne group with various heteroatom- and carbon-centered nucleophiles, did not work at all. The catalytic reaction described here provides a general and environmentally friendly preparative method for propargylic sulfides, which are quite useful intermediates in organic synthesis, directly from the corresponding propargylic alcohols and thiols.     

Tertiary alcohols by tandem β-carbolithiation and N→C aryl migration in enol carbamates

Enol carbamates (O-vinylcarbamates) derived from aromatic or α,β-unsaturated compounds and bearing an N-aryl substituent undergo carbolithiation by nucleophilic attack at the (nominally nucleophilic) β position of the enol double bond. The resulting carbamate-stabilized allylic, propargylic, or benzylic organolithium rearranges with N→C migration of the N-aryl substituent, creating a quaternary carbon α to O. The products may be readily hydrolyzed to yield multiply branched tertiary alcohols in a one-pot tandem reaction, effectively a polarity-reversed nucleophilic β-alkylation-electrophilic α-arylation of an enol equivalent.     

CpRuCl(PPh3)2-catalyzed cyclopropanation of bicyclic alkenes with tertiary propargylic acetates

The electron-rich cyclopentadienylruthenium complex CpRuCl(PPh3)2 turns out to be an efficient catalyst for the regio- and stereoselective cyclopropanation of bicyclic alkenes with tertiary propargylic carboxylates. The reaction provides 1,2,3-trisubstituted cyclopropanes in high yields as a single stereoisomer instead of the expected cyclobutenes via [2 + 2] cycloaddition. Functional groups such as ethers, esters, alcohols, phenols, ketones, esters, carboxylic anhydrides, nitriles, halides, sulfones, imides, carbamates, and azines are tolerated with the catalyzed reaction. An efficient cyclopropanation of cyclobutenes was also demonstrated, providing the strained bicyclo[2.1.0(1,3)]pentane framework.