Thermal and photochemical reactions of Fischer carbene complexes with trialkylsilyl-substituted alkynes

Thermal reaction of Fischer carbene complexes with triisopropylsilyl (TIPS) substituted alkynes in benzene afforded TIPS-substituted vinylketenes or 2-TIPS-substituted cyclobutenones as major products while photochemical reaction of Fischer carbene complexes with trimethylsilyl (TMS) substituted alkynes in acetonitrile afforded 3-TMS-substituted cyclobutenones.     

SET pathway in tributylstannyllithium addition to alkynyl Fischer carbene complexes

The reaction of tributyltin lithium with Fischer type alkynyl carbene complexes has been studied. The reaction proceeds via a nucleophilic pathway to produce the conjugate addition product, and a single electron transfer pathway to afford cyclopentannulated derivatives derived from two units of the alkyne complex. Structure of the latter was confirmed by crystal structure determination of a representative complex.     

Synthesis of chromium N-heterocyclic carbene complexes using chromium Fischer carbenes as a source of chromium carbonyls

Chromium Fischer carbene complexes, [Cr{OMe(R)}(CO)₅] have been utilized as a source of chromium carbonyls in the synthesis of chromium NHC complexes. Using the synthetic method, chromium complexes of various NHC ligands were isolated in reasonable yields. Moreover, the method can be employed for the synthesis of molybdenum and tungsten NHC compounds.     

Reaction of α,β-unsaturated Fischer carbene complexes with allyl alkoxide

Optically enriched homo-binuclear Fischer chromium carbene complexes with planar chiral arene chromium complexes gave α-allyl β-arylpropionates up to 97% ee by reaction with allyl alkoxide and subsequent photo-oxidative demetalation. The chiral hetero-binuclear tungsten carbene complexes afforded anti α-allyl β-hydroxy β-arylpropionates as a major product up to 92/8 dr by the same reaction sequence. High diastereoselectivity in these reactions is contributed to the planar chirality of the arene chromium complex, even though the reaction was carried out under vigorous basic media. The reaction products, α-allyl β-arylpropionates were derived by 1,3-M(CO)₅ shift and subsequent [3,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement. Also, the corresponding chromium-uncomplexed α,β-unsaturated Fischer carbene complexes afforded α-allyl β-arylpropionates under the same conditions. Formation of β-allyl β-arylpropionates via 1,2-M(CO)₅ shift followed by [3,4]-sigmatropic rearrangement was not observed in both reactions of chromium-coordinated and the corresponding chromium-uncoordinated α,β-unsaturated Fischer carbene complexes with allyl alkoxide in the presence of base.     

Synthesis of pyrroles through coupling of enyne-hydrazones with Fischer carbene complexes

[reaction: see text] The coupling of enyne-imines with Fischer carbene complexes leads to the formation of alkenylpyrrole derivatives. Maximum yields of pyrrole adducts were obtained using N,N-dimethylhydrazones. A mechanism involving alkyne insertion followed by nucleophilic attack of the imine nitrogen at the intermediate alkenylcarbene complex was proposed.     

Alkylation of acylmetalates with alkyl halides to prepare Fischer carbene complexes: an improved protocol

Alkoxy Fischer carbene complexes have been synthesized by alkylation of lithium acylmetalates with alkyl halides in the presence of catalytic amount (5-10 mol %) of n-tetrabutylammonium bromide (n-Bu₄NBr) restricting the temperature below 55 °C to minimize decomposition of the product. The reaction occurs in a biphasic condition involving water and alkyl halide. The effect of cesium on this alkylation reaction has been studied. The presence of a radical quencher, di-tert-butyl phenol, neither affects the yield nor leads to the formation of dimer of di-tert-butyl phenol, which rules out the possibility of radical pathway mechanism. The kinetic study and the ¹H NMR spectra of products suggest an S_N2 pathway particularly involving alkyl halides.     

Transition metal carbene chemistry: Nucleophilic substitution reactions of imidazolide and benzimidazolide ions with Fischer carbene complexes in MeOH

Rate constants for the nucleophilic substitution reactions of imidazolide (IZ⁻) and benzimidazolide (BIZ⁻) ions with 4-Cr-Z and 5 in MeOH at 25 °C are reported and Hammett ρ values are evaluated to be 1.50 ± 0.10 and 1.51 ± 0.08 for 4-Cr-Z-IZ⁻ and 4-Cr-Z-BIZ⁻ reactions, respectively. The comparable reactivity and also almost identical ρ values for these reactions indicate that there is no difference in sensitivity towards electronic effects due to slightly bigger size of BIZ⁻ over IZ⁻ and bond formation at the transition states are equally progressed. The higher ρ values for these reactions compared to those with a wide range of nucleophiles may arise mainly due to lower polarity of the solvent MeOH which enhances the requirement for stabilization of the negative charge in the transition state by the Z-substituents.     

Synthesis, structure and benzannulation of chalcogen-tethered Fischer carbene complexes

Addition of PhSH-NEt₃ or PhSeNa to PhCCC(OC₂H₅)M(CO)₅ [M = Cr or W] afforded stable, β-chalcogenide tethered conjugated carbene complexes 3-6 as a mixture of E,Z-isomers. The Z-configuration was ascribed to those isomers that readily yield cyclometallated complexes. Aminolysis with methylamine yielded corresponding amino carbene complexes as mixtures of E,Z-isomers. Alkylation by methyl iodide afforded separable E,Z-isomers of dimethylamino complexes. One-step aminolysis of ethoxy carbene complexes with dimethylamine furnished only the Z-isomer of the dimethylamino complex. The Z-isomer of dimethylamino carbene complexes yielded cyclometallated products on warming. Representative crystal structures of these complexes confirm isomer assignments. Only E-isomers of the S or Se-tethered ethoxy complexes undergo benzannulation reaction with alkynes, with loss of chalcogenide atom.     

Synthesis of highly substituted benzene ring systems through three-component coupling of enyne imines,Fischer carbene complexes,and electron-deficient alkynes

Three-component coupling of Fischer carbene complexes, enyne aldehyde hydrazones, and electron-deficient alkynes leads to simple benzoate derivatives in a process involving the formation of an N-aminopyrrole derivative, Diels-Alder reaction, and nitrene extrusion. The products are readily converted into isoquinolones through reaction with primary amines. The reaction proceeds best with highly substituted and electron-rich pyrroles even though these are the sterically least favorable substrates, and this reactivity trend is supported by a computational study.     

Chromium(0)-rhodium(I) metal exchange: Synthesis and X-ray structure of new Fischer (NHC)carbene complexes of rhodium(I)

An easy approach to Fischer (NHC)carbene complexes of rhodium(I) 3 from methoxy- and aminocarbene complexes of chromium 1 and (NHC)(cod)RhCl (2) is described. The process involves the transfer of the carbene unit and a CO ligand from chromium to rhodium. The X-ray analysis is provided for 3d and the preliminary results on their thermal stability and reactivity toward alkynes and allenes are also reported.     

Synthesis of uracil derivatives by oxidation of Fischer tungsten-carbene uracil complexes

A study on the oxidation of Fischer tungsten-carbene uracil complexes has been carried out. Several commonly used oxidants gave results strongly influenced by the presence of substituent on nitrogen atoms. In particular, usual oxidants failed in the oxidation of 3-alkyl uracil carbene complexes. Finally, we showed that t-butyl hydroperoxide is able to oxidize successfully also 3-alkyl uracil carbene complexes and can be used as a good alternative to the other methods.     

Oxidative demetalation of Fischer alkoxy carbene complexes with stoichiometric pyridine N-oxide and NaBH4-promoted demetalation of Fischer iminocarbene complexes with sulfur and selenium

Oxidation of Fischer alkoxy carbene complexes were systematically investigated with stoichiometric pyridine N-oxide (PNO) under mild conditions, forming ester products in good to excellent yields from the corresponding monocarbene complexes. Fischer alkoxy biscarbene complexes efficiently underwent stepwise oxidative demetalation under controlled conditions, resulting in ester-monocarbene and diester products, respectively. This oxidation protocol has demonstrated a generally efficient method to oxidize Fischer alkoxy carbene complexes under mild conditions, providing a new route to novel monocarbene complexes from Fischer biscarbene complexes. In the presence of NaBH₄, reactions of Fischer iminocarbene complexes with elemental sulfur or selenium in ethanol at ambient temperature regioselectively afforded thione or selone complexes by insertion of a sulfur or selenium atom into the MC bonds in Fischer carbene complexes, and metal-free selone was also obtained. The molecular structures of the iminocarbene complexes and selone derivatives were confirmed by X-ray crystallographic study. The NaBH₄-promoted demetalation protocol suggests a potential new route to demetalate Fischer aminocarbene complexes.     

Conformational preferences of heteronuclear Fischer carbene complexes of cymantrene and cyclopentadienyl rhenium tricarbonyl

Homo- and heteronuclear bimetallic carbene complexes of group VII transition metals (Mn and Re), with cymantrene or cyclopentadienyl rhenium tricarbonyl as the starting synthon, have been synthesized according to classic Fischer methodology. Crystal structures of the carbene complexes with general formula [RC₅H₄ M'(CO)₂{C(OEt)(C₅H₄ M(CO)₃)}], where M = M′ = Mn, R = H (1), R = Me (2); M = Mn, M′ = Re, R = H (3); M = M′ = Re, R = H (4); and M = Re, M′ = Mn, R = H (5), are reported. A density functional theory (DFT) study was undertaken to determine natural bonding orbitals (NBOs) and conformational as well as isomeric aspects of the binuclear complexes. Application of second-order perturbation theory (SOPT) of the NBO method revealed stabilizing interactions between the methylene C–H bonds and the carbonyl ligands of the carbene metal moiety. Energy calculations in the gas phase of the cis and trans conformations of the Cp rings relative to one another are comparable, with the trans conformation slightly lower in energy. The theoretical findings have also been confirmed with single-crystal X-ray diffraction, and all solid-state structures are found in the trans geometry.     

Synthesis of benzofurans through coupling of dienylacetylenes with carbene complexes: total synthesis of egonol

The reaction of various carbene complexes with dienylacetylenes has been examined. The reaction has been used as the cornerstone for the preparation of the nor-neolignan natural product egonol in five steps from readily available components. In most examples of the carbene-alkyne coupling, the reaction proceeds to form benzofuran derivatives. In the case of one highly functionalized terminal alkyne, a competing rearrangement/cyclization process occurs in preference to the carbene coupling process. The use of silylated alkynes subverts this process.     

Synthesis of nitrogen-containing compounds using chromium Fischer carbene complexes

Synthetic utility of the Fischer-type carbene complexes of chromium for the preparation of nitrogen-containing compounds is demonstrated. Alkoxy carbene complexes reacted with imines to give (optically active) 3-pyrrolines and beta-methoxy allylic amine derivatives in good yields. The amino carbene complexes reacted with alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes to give substituted pyrroles in good yields.     

Preparative Synthesis of 7-Carboxy-2-R-isoindol-1-ones

A preparative method for the synthesis of 7-carboxy-2-R-isoindol-1-ones was developed on the basis of the [4+2] cycloaddition of secondary furfurylamines to maleic anhydride.     

Synthesis of Benzo[g]isochromenes through Photo‐Dehydro‐Diels–Alder Reaction

The Photo‐Dehydro‐Diels–Alder (PDDA) reaction is shown to be a versatile method for the preparation of highly functionalized naphthalenes. Thus, ketones 1 could be cyclized to the 1H‐benzo[g]isochromen‐4‐(3H)‐ones 11 and 12 , mostly in good yields. The influence of various substituents on the regioselectivity of the reaction was investigated, and the mechanism is discussed based on theoretical calculations.     

Synthesis,characterization and catalytic activity in Suzuki–Miyaura coupling of palladacycle complexes with n‐butyl‐substituted N‐heterocyclic carbene ligands

A series of monomeric palladacycle complexes bearing n‐butyl‐substituted N‐heterocyclic carbenes, namely [Pd(NHC)X(dmba)] (dmba: dimethylbenzylamine and [Pd(NHC)X(ppy)]; NHC: 1‐n‐butyl‐3‐substituted benzylimidazol‐2‐ylidene; ppy: 2‐phenylpyridine), were prepared either by transmetallation from the corresponding silver carbene complexes or by the reaction of the corresponding acetate‐bridged palladacycle dimer with N‐heterocyclic carbene ligands in high yields. The palladium(II) complexes were characterized using elemental analyses, APCI‐MS, ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR spectroscopies. These complexes are efficient in the Suzuki–Miyaura coupling reaction between phenylboronic acid and aryl bromides.     

Synthesis of benzo[c]fluorenone through a one-pot cascade reaction using inden-1-one derivatives

A novel one-pot thermal cycloaddition of two indenones followed by a decarbonylation and dehydrogenation cascade afforded benzo[c]fluorenones regioselectively. Various substituted indenone derivatives were converted into their corresponding benzo[c]fluorenones in good to excellent yields.