Kumada-Corriu coupling of Grignard reagents,probed with a chiral Grignard reagent

The Grignard reagent 2, in which the magnesium-bearing carbon atom is the sole stereogenic centre has been coupled with vinyl bromide under Pd(0) or Ni(0)-catalysis to give compound 3 with full retention of configuration. Coupling using Fe(acac)3 or Co(acac)2 as catalyst was accompanied by considerable racemisation. These findings are discussed with respect to a dichotomy between concerted polar and stepwise SET transmetallation pathways.     

The quest for secondary structure in chiral dendrimers

This review highlights important developments in the pursuit of chiral conformational order in dendritic structures. To be able to create and control chiral secondary structure necessitates a thorough understanding of how chiral subunits influence the macroscopic structure. Recent studies involve highly sophisticated manipulation of macroscopic chirality through a creative combination of a wide range of synthetic, computational and analytical techniques.     

Catalytic asymmetric conjugate addition of Grignard reagents to coumarins--synthesis of versatile chiral building blocks

A new protocol for the Cu-catalysed asymmetric conjugate addition of Grignard reagents to coumarins has been developed. The corresponding products are formed in high yields and enantioselectivities. Through a sequential protocol involving conjugate addition followed by nucleophilic ring opening of the chiral enolate, chiral esters and amides are readily accessible.     

Novel organocycloborates via Grignard reagents

An unprecedented cyclisation reaction of alpha,omega-borylbromoalkanes is seen upon treatment with magnesium turnings, forming organocycloborates in high yield. The novel boratacyclopentanes and -hexanes have been characterised by X-ray crystallography.     

Grignard reagents in ionic liquids

Grignard reagents were generated from magnesium and organic iodides in the ionic liquid n-butylpyridinium tetrafluoroborate, [bpy][BF4], and they showed different reactivity from classical Grignard reagents in organic solvents.     

The mono-alkyldecyanation of tetrafluoroterephthalonitrile by reaction with Grignard reagents

Treatment of tetrafluoroterephthalonitrile in THF with alkyl Grignard reagents gives the corresponding 4-alkyltetrafluorobenzonitrile in about 60% yield. The scope and limitations of this transformation are reported.     

Dealkylation reactions catalyzed by Grignard reagents

Some reactions of 2,3-dihydrobenzofuran derivatives with Grignard reagents were re-examined in order to account for discrepancies between the yields of starting materials and reaction products. Phenol was found to be present in addition to the products previously described. On the basis of the results it is assumed that phenol results from dealkylation of o-alkylphenol, catalyzed by the magnesium halide moiety of the Grignard reagent.     

Reactions of methylchlorodisilanes with Grignard reagents

Reactions of Cl₂MeSiSiMeCl₂ with RMgCl make it possible to obtain and isolate pure disilanes containing a smaller number of functional groups, namely, RMeClSiSiMeCl₂ (R = Ph), RMeClSiSiMeRCl (R = Prⁱ, Ph), and R₂MeSiSiMeRCl (R = Buⁱ). The reaction of Cl₂MeSiSiMeCl₂ with BuⁿMgCl is the least selective. The chlorides obtained were reduced with LiAlH₄ into the corresponding hydrides.Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 5, pp. 954–957, May, 1995.     

Iron-catalyzed alkylation of alkenyl Grignard reagents

The first iron-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction between alkenyl Grignard reagents and n- or s-alkyl bromides is described. The reaction is stereoselective and takes place in the presence of 5 mol % of [Fe(acac)3/TMEDA/HMTA] (1:2:1) under very mild conditions (THF, 0 degrees C, 45 min).     

Highly enantiomerically enriched alpha-haloalkyl Grignard reagents

alpha-Chloro- and alpha-bromoalkyl Grignard reagents 11 and 30 with > 97% ee (enantiomeric excess) were generated by a sulfoxide/magnesium exchange reaction from the enantiomerically and diastereomerically pure sulfoxides 25 and 27. The resulting alpha-haloalkyl Grignard reagents are configurationally stable at -78 degrees C. Racemization sets in at or above -60 degrees C, especially when the solution contains bromide ions. In the absence of halide ions, the configurational stability extends up to -20 degrees C, when chemical decomposition commences.     

Kinetic resolution of racemic Grignard reagents by nickel-catalyzed asymmetric Grignard cross-coupling

Racemic Grignard reagents, 2-phenylpropylmagnesium chloride and 2-norbornylmagnesium chloride were kinetically resolved by asymmetric cross-coupling with vinyl bromides in the presence of chiral phosphine-nickel catalysts to give optically active coupling products (~37% ee) and carboxylic acids after carbonation with carbon dioxide.     

Iron-catalyzed oxidative homo-coupling of aryl Grignard reagents

[reaction: see text] Iron-catalyzed homo-coupling of aryl Grignard reagents was successfully developed. A variety of aryl Grignard reagents were efficiently converted into the corresponding symmetrical biaryls in the presence of 1-5 mol % FeCl3 and a stoichiometric amount of 1,2-dichloroethane.     

Reaction of furfurylidene acetone with Grignard reagents

The interaction of furfurylidene acetone with methylmagnesium iodide and ethylmagnesium halides has been studied. In the first case 2-methyl-4-(2-furyl)-3-buten-2-ol is formed as the product of 1,2-addition (yield 73 %). In the second case 4-(2-furyl)-2-hexanone (42 %) is the result of 1,4-addition, whereas 3-methyl-5-(2-furyl)-3-heptanol (45 %) is formed by consecutive 1,2- and 1,4-addition. In all cases the products of 1,3-addition were found.Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 5, pp. 921–923, May, 1993.     

Alkenenitriles: annulations with omega-chloro Grignard reagents

[reaction: see text] omega-Chloro Grignard reagents chelate with cyclic gamma-hydroxy-alpha,beta-alkenenitriles to trigger a conjugate addition-alkylation annulation. The chelation-controlled conjugate addition-alkylation is the first anionic annulation with alpha, beta-alkenenitriles, providing cis bicyclo[3.3.0]octane, hydrindane, and decalin ring systems in a single synthetic operation.     

Reactions of Grignard reagents with 1,3-dicyanoadamantane

Reactions of Grignard reagents RMgX (R = Me, Et, Pr, Bu; X = Br, I) with 1,3-dicyanoadamantane (1) were studied. Optimum conditions for the synthesis of monoaddition products of Grignard reagents to compound 1 were established. The first stage of the reaction of cyanoadamantane 1 with MeMgBr was studied by the MNDO-PM3 method. According to calculations, the more preferable reaction mechanism involves formation of a six-membered cyclic intermediate containing two Mg atoms, two C atoms, and one Br and one N atom.     

Copper-catalyzed asymmetric conjugate addition of Grignard reagents to trisubstituted enones. Construction of all-carbon quaternary chiral centers

The copper-catalyzed asymmetric conjugate addition of Grignard reagents to trisubstituted cyclic enones affords enantioenriched all-carbon quaternary centers with up to 96% ee. The chiral ligand is a diaminocarbene, directly generated in situ. The combination of Grignard reagent and diaminocarbene is unprecedented in conjugate addition, and the additon of the phenyl group, on such enones, cannot be done by other conjugate addition methods.     

Reactions of pentafluorophenylgermanium hydrides with Grignard reagents

Dendritic and cross-linked polyphenylenepolygermanes have been obtained by reactions of EtMgBr with (C₆F₅)₃GeH and (C₆F₅)₂GeH₂, respectively. The reaction of sodium naphthalenide with trihydride C₆F₅GeH₃ gives linear insoluble polymer (C₆F₄GeH₂) _n .Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 1, pp. 191–193, January, 1996.     

Asymmetric addition reactions of Grignard reagents to chiral 2-trifluoromethyl tert-butyl (Ellman) sulfinimine-ethanol adducts

The addition of Grignard reagents to chiral trifluoromethyl tert-butyl sulfinimine-ethanol adducts affords protected trifluoromethylamines in high yields with good to excellent diastereoselectivities. The stereochemical outcome of the addition is opposite to that expected via a chelation controlled transition state.