The Palladium-Catalyzed Cross-Coupling Reactions of Organotin Reagents with Organic Electrophiles [New Synthetic Methods (58)]

The cross-coupling of organotin reagents with a variety of organic electrophiles, catalyzed by palladium, provides a novel method for generating a carbon-carbon bond. Because this mild, versatile reaction is tolerant of a wide variety of functional groups on either coupling partner, is stereospecific and regioselective, and gives high yields of product, it is ideal for use in the synthesis of elaborate organic molecules. When the coupling reaction is carried out in the presence of carbon monoxide, instead of a direct coupling, carbon monoxide insertion takes place, stitching the two coupling partners together and generating a ketone.     

Catalytic Reactions with Hydrosilane and Carbon Monoxide [New synthetic methods (30)]

The reagent hydrosilane/carbon monoxide opens up new possibilities for organic synthesis. Four cases will be discussed: 1. The reaction of olefins with hydrosilane (trialkylsilane) and carbon monoxide in the presence of Co, Ru, and Rh complexes leads to enol silyl ethers having one more carbon atom that the olefins. 2. Cyclic ethers underto carbonylative ring opening to ω-siloxyaldehydes when reacted with hydrosilane and carbon monoxide in the presence of Co₂(CO)₈ as catalysts 3. Aldehydes are catalytically converted into the next higher α-siloxyaldehydes or 1,2-bis(siloxy)alkenes depending on the reaction conditions used. 4. The reaction of alkyl acetates proceeds in various ways depending on the nature of the alkyl group; enol silyl ethers or alkenes are optained.–Mechanisms of these Co₂(CO)₈ catalyzed reactions using hydrosilane and carbon monoxide are discussed in which HCo(CO)_n or R₃SiCo(CO)_nL function as catalytically active agents. With these species there are four types of catalytic cycles.–The synthetic possibilities of these catalytic reactions have still not been fully explored.     

Titanium Tetrachloride in Organic Synthesis [New synthetic methods (21)]

Titanium tetrachloride can accelerate numerous organic reactions. Valuable syntheses of, e.g., allyl sulfides, amides, enamines, and ketones are based upon transformations of functional groups with TiCl₄. Particular mention should also be made of carbon-carbon linkage with TiCl₄ which permits the synthesis of hydroxy ketones and carbonyl compounds of the Michael adduct type. TiCl₄ reduced in situ is suitable for the reduction of chloroarenes or the linkage of two aldehyde molecules to give an alkene.     

Syntheses with Radicals—C?C Bond Formation via Organotin and Organomercury Compounds [New Synthetic Methods (52)]

C? C bond formation is one of the most important synthetic steps in the construction of organic molecules. In the last few years it has been increasingly achieved by radical addition to alkenes. In such reactions the adduct radicals have to be trapped by an donor subsequent to the C? C bond formation in order to prevent polymerization. This task can be accomplished with organotin and organomercury hydrides, the use of which has led to new synthetic methods. The occurrence of radical chain reactions in which reactions take place between radicals and nonradicals is decisive for the success of the synthesis. In these cases small amounts of radical initiators suffice and numerous functional groups may be used in the C? C bond-forming reactions. The yields and selectivities of these radical reactions are often very high.     

Mercury(II)- and Palladium(II)-Catalyzed [3,3]-Sigmatropic Rearrangements [New Synthetic Methods (46)]

Mercury(II) and palladium(II) salts have found broad applications as catalysts for [3,3]-sigmatropic rearrangements leading to formation of C? O, C? N, C? S, and C? C σ bonds. Increases in reaction rate are often very large (10¹⁰ – 10¹⁴ at 1 M catalyst concentration) and allow many previously difficult transformations to be conducted at or near room temperature, often with attendant increases in stereoselectivity and decreases in by-product formation. The mechanism of these catalyzed transformations is briefly discussed, and evidence is summarized to suggest that many follow a cyclization-induced rearrangement mechanism.     

Directed Homogeneous Hydrogenation [New Synthetic Methods (65)]

Stereochemical control is a major concern in the application of homogeneous catalysis to organic chemistry. In this context, the directed hydrogenation of olefins employing cationic rhodium or iridium catalysts has considerable potential, for very high selectivity can be attained under mild reaction conditions. The only requirement is a polar functional group in proximity to the double-bond which remains bound to the metal during the catalytic cycle and thereby controls the Stereochemical course of hydrogen delivery through the constraints of chelation. The substituent is most frequently a hydroxy group OH but can also be an ester, amide or carbamate group; other groups remain to be scrutinized. In cyclic compounds, directed hydrogenation can lead to face-selectivity, and the polar substituent may be in the β-, γ-, or δ-position to the double-bond. Acyclic stereoselection ensues with β- or γ-substituents in appropriate compounds, and the configuration of reduced product is predictable on the basis of simple rules. The application of optically active rhodium complexes leads to useful kinetic resolution procedures.     

Cobalt-Mediated [2 + 2 + 2]-Cycloadditions: A Maturing Synthetic Strategy [New Synthetic Methods (43)]

Dicarbonyl (η⁵-cyclopentadienyl)cobalt functions as a matrix on which a variety of unsaturated organic substrates undergo mutual bond formation. In this way α,ω-diynes cocyclize with monoalkynes to give annelated benzenes, while o-diethynylbenzenes furnish biphenylenes, and α,ω-enynes lead to the formation of complexed bi-and tricyclic dienes. Nitriles cocyclize with two alkynyl groups to give pyridines and other heterocycles, isocyanates allow access to annelated 2-pyridones, and incorporation of carbon monoxide provides complexed cyclopentadienones. In many cases remarkable chemo-, regio-, and stereoselectivity are observed, partially facilitated by use of the trimethylsilyl substituent as a controlling group. The scope and level of maturity of the method are demonstrated by the synthesis of a series of hitherto inaccessible, novel, and theoretically interesting molecules, and by its utilization in several unique approaches to a variety of natural products, e.g. protoberberines, steroids, vitamin B₆, and camptothecin.     

Gene Synthesis [New Synthetic Methods (77)]

Oligonucleotide synthesis, until a few years ago the rather exotic preserve of a few experts, has become an integral part of the arsenal of molecular-biological techniques. The last decade, in particular, has seen unbelievably rapid development in this area. DNA synthesis has been automated and can now produce genes greater than 1000 base pairs in length. Tailor-made synthetic genes also permit the synthesis of altered or even novel proteins (de novo protein design) by gene-technological methods. Together with modern methods of gene isolation, sequencing, and expression, gene synthesis has played a major part in the enormous advances achieved in gene technology.     

Enzymes as Catalysts in Synthetic Organic Chemistry [New Synthetic Methods (53)]

Enzymes have great potential as catalysts for use in synthetic organic chemistry. Applications of enzymes in synthesis have so far been limited to a relatively small number of largescale hydrolytic processes used in industry, and to a large number of small-scale syntheses of materials used in analytical procedures and in research. Changes in the technology for production of enzymes (in part attributable to improved methods from classical microbiology, and in part to the promise of genetic engineering) and for their stabilization and manipulation now make these catalysts practical for wider use in large-scale synthetic organic chemistry. This paper reviews the status of the rapidly developing field of enzyme-catalyzed organic synthesis, and outlines both present opportunities and probable future developments in this field.     

Carbene Complexes in Organic Synthesis [New Synthetic Methods (47)]

Transition metals are finding increasing use in organic synthesis on the borderline between “organic” and “inorganic” chemistry. Advantage is taken thereby of the fact that metal-induced CC bond formation often takes place with remarkable selectivity. The rapid development that has taken place in this area of chemistry is clearly demonstrated by the carbene complexes, examples of which are now known for almost all transition elements, and which have transformed from organometallic curiosities into synthetically useful reagents in less than two decades since the first studies of E. O. Fischer. They are not only suitable as carbene-transfer agents but also undergo interesting cycloadditions with other ligands in the co-ligand sphere. Their manipulation requires techniques no more complicated than those for Grignard reactions. Thus, carbene complexes can also be used in the synthesis of natural products such as vitamins or antibiotics.     

Triphase Catalysis [New synthetic methods (27)]

Triphase catalysis (TC) has recently been introduced as a unique form of heterogeneous catalysis in which the catalyst and each of a pair of reactants are located in separate phases. Based on this concept, new synthetic methods have been developed for aqueous phase–organic phase reactions using a solid phase catalyst. Although it is only at an early stage of development, TC shows considerable potential for practical use. Our mechanistic understanding of these highly complex catalytic systems is at present very limited and detailed examination will be required before their relationship to phase-transfer, micellar, and interfacial catalysis becomes clear.     

Microbial Asymmetric Catalysis—Enantioselective Reduction of Ketones [New Synthetic Methods (45)]

Microbial asymmetric reduction of ketones is a method widely used for the preparation of chiral alcohols. The present progress report deals with the basic concepts that govern enantioselectivity of enzymes and intact cells. Strategies to control the stereochemical course of microbial reductions of carbonyl compounds and the relationship of substrate structure to enantioselectivity are considered.     

Advances in Phase-Transfer Catalysis [New synthetic methods (20)]

Phase-transfer catalysis (PTC) has grown into a versatile preparative method in the last few years. The most notable new developments include the use of crown ethers as phase-transfer catalysts and the introduction of solid-liquid PTC. Some representative examples have been selected from the large number of new PTC reactions and some of them are summarized in tables.     

Palladium-Catalyzed Enantioselective Organic Transformations

Many palladium-catalyzed organic reactions with tailored ligands, besides the princess of asymmetric catalysis, allylic alkylation, are suitable for enantioselective organic synthesis. This is clearly illustrated by the large number of promising examples such as the Heck reaction, and Wacker-type oxidations, cycloadditions, cycloisomerizations, carbonylations, and copolymerization of alkenes with carbon monoxide.     

Selective Reactions Using Organoaluminum Reagents [New Synthetic Methods (54)]

In addition to their high oxyphilicity, organoaluminum compounds are endowed with ambiphilic character. These properties can be successfully utilized in developing new synthetic reactions with unique selectivities. Especially noteworthy are the organoaluminum-promoted Beckmann rearrangement of oxime sulfonates, new syntheses of polyamino macrocycles via reductive cleavage of aminals and amidines by diisobutylaluminum hydride, the diastereoselective cleavage of chiral acetals by organoaluminum compounds leading to optically active secondary alcohols, allylic alcohols, and β-substituted carbonyl compounds, and biomimetic terpene syntheses. These and other examples, which illustrate the characteristics of organoaluminum chemistry, are used to demonstrate the distinct advantages of organoaluminum reagents in selective organic synthesis.     

Chiral Compounds Synthesized by Biocatalytic Reductions [New Synthetic Methods (51)]

It has been known for many decades that chiral compounds can be obtained by stereospecific biocatalytic reduction. Further significant methodological developments in this field have, however, only been made during the past ten years; they include the application of previously unused microorganisms and electron donors, the discovery of additional substrates for the known reductases, the development of methods for regenerating reduced pyridine nucleotides, and the discovery of new reductases which were sought for specific preparative purposes. Many chiral compounds can now be synthesized by microbial hydrogenation using H₂ and hydrogenase-containing microorganisms as well as by electromicrobial or electroenzymatic reduction. In the two latter methods, anaerobic or aerobic organisms are supplied with electrons from electrochemically reduced, artificial mediators, e.g., methyl viologen. Reductases that do not require pyridine nucleotides and can accept electrons directly from reduced viologens are especially useful. Two examples of this type of enzyme are described which are of preparative interest. Many cells contain methyl viologen-dependent NAD(P) reductases, a large number of which have still not been characterized. A productivity number is proposed which allows different methods of bioconversion with microorganisms to be compared. The productivity numbers of compounds synthesized by the methods described in this review are often 10- to 100-fold higher than those of substances obtained by conventional techniques.     

New Reductive Transformations of Unsaturated Cyclic Hydrocarbons [New Synthetic Methods (66)]

The successive reduction of fully conjugated cyclic hydrocarbons leads to singly and multiply charged ions with unusual bonding. The charge distribution in these ions can be determined spectroscopically, and the information so obtained is then used in kinetically controlled trapping reactions for the regioselective introduction of electrophilic groups. When non-benzenoid substrates are used, syntheses become possible which can either not be carried out or can only be carried out with great difficulty in other ways. Examples of new preparative applications are cycloannelation and bridging reactions as well as polymerization reactions. The ion pair structure of the intermediate and the type of electrophile used are of paramount importance in controlling the mechanism of these reductive transformations.     

Ring Closures with Carbon Monoxide

Carbon monoxide undergoes catalytic reactions with unsaturated compounds to give heterocyclic carbonyl compounds. This cyclization has led to new syntheses of imides, lactams, lactones, phthalimidines, indazolones, and tetrahydroquinazolines.     

The Stereoselectivity of Intermolecular Free Radical Reactions [New Synthetic Methods (78)]

The regio- and chemoselectivities of free radical reactions are often high and largely predictable; systematic studies have now shown that the stereoselectivity of free radical reactions can also be directed. Examples involving five- and six-membered cyclic radicals will be used to show how steric and stereoelectronic effects influence the diastereoselectivity of reactions of cyclic radicals with olefins. The temperature, the solvent, and the nature of the radical scavenger used also play a role, so that, if the correct reaction conditions are used, the stereoselectivity of reactions for cyclic reactants can be very high. Lower stereoselectivities are often observed for reactions between acyclic radicals and acyclic alkenes. However, preliminary experiments have indicated that under certain conditions such systems can also react in a stereoselective manner.     

Phosphaalkynes—Syntheses,Reactions, Coordination Behavior [New Synthetic Methods (73)]

Organophosphorus compounds have been applied in two ways in chemical synthesis. They can either be used as a reagent in a step of the synthesis (for example, in the Wittig reaction) or they can be incorporated directly into the target molecule. This second application, in particular, has expanded greatly in the last few years with the preparation of low-coordination phosphorus compounds. These include the phosphaalkynes, which are of great interest to organic and inorganic chemists. Phosphaalkynes have been employed in the synthesis of heterocyclic compounds, phosphaarenes and their valence isomers, and polycyclic compounds. Further applications have been the use of phosphaalkynes as new ligand systems in complex chemistry and their cyclooligomerization with organometallic reagents. While the chemical properties of phosphaalkynes have little in common with those of nitriles, they are in many ways very similar to those of the isoelectronic acetylenes.