Et(3)B-Induced Hydrogermylation of Alkenes and Silyl Enol Ethers

Tri-2-furanylgermane in the presence of a catalytic amount of Et(3)B adds to internal alkenes as well as terminal alkenes effectively to give the corresponding adducts in good to excellent yields. The addition of tri-2-furanylgermane to silyl enol ethers followed by elimination of germyl and siloxy moieties provides a new route for the conversion of ketones into alkenes.     

Formal and standard ruthenium-catalyzed [2 + 2 + 2] cycloaddition reaction of 1,6-diynes to alkenes: a mechanistic density functional study

"Formal" and standard Ru(II)-catalyzed [2 + 2 + 2] cycloaddition of 1,6-diynes 1 to alkenes gave bicyclic 1,3-cyclohexadienes in relatively good yields. The neutral Ru(II) catalyst was formed in situ by mixing equimolecular amounts of [Cp*Ru(CH3CN)3]PF6 and Et4NCl. Two isomeric bicyclic 1,3-cyclohexadienes 3 and 8 were obtained depending on the cyclic or acyclic nature of the alkene partner. Mechanistic studies on the Ru catalytic cycle revealed a clue for this difference: (a) when acyclic alkenes were used, linear coupling of 1,6-diynes with alkenes was observed giving 1,3,5-trienes 6 as the only initial reaction products, which after a thermal disrotatory 6e-pi electrocyclization led to the final 1,3-cyclohexadienes 3 as probed by NMR studies. This cascade process behaved as a formal Ru-catalyzed [2 + 2 + 2] cycloaddition. (b) With cyclic alkenes, the standard Ru-catalyzed [2 + 2 + 2] cycloaddition occurred, giving the bicyclic 1,3-cyclohexadienes 8 as reaction products. A complete catalytic cycle for the formal and standard Ru-catalyzed [2 + 2 + 2] cycloaddition of acetylene and cyclic and acyclic alkenes with the Cp*RuCl fragment has been proposed and discussed based on DFT/B3LYP calculations. The most likely mechanism for these processes would involve the formation of ruthenacycloheptadiene intermediates XXIII or XXVII depending on the alkene nature. From these complexes, two alternatives could be envisioned: (a) a reductive elimination in the case of cyclic alkenes 7 and (b) a beta-elimination followed by reductive elimination to give 1,3,5-hexatrienes 6 in the case of acyclic alkenes. Final 6e-pi electrocyclization of 6 gave 1,3-cyclohexadienes 3.     

Vicinal C-functionalization of alkenes. Pd/light-induced multicomponent coupling reactions leading to functionalized esters and lactones

Under photoirradiation conditions using a xenon light, and in the presence of PdCl(2)(PPh(3))(2) as a catalyst, four-component coupling reactions comprising of α-substituted iodoalkanes, alkenes, carbon monoxide, and alcohols proceeded smoothly to give functionalized esters in good yields. When alkenyl alcohols were used as acceptor alkenes, three-component coupling reactions accompanied by intramolecular esterification proceeded to give lactones in good yields. The present reaction system represents the vicinal C-functionalization of alkenes.     

Synthesis of trans-Disubstituted Alkenes by Cobalt-Catalyzed Reductive Coupling of Terminal Alkynes with Activated Alkenes

A cobalt-catalyzed reductive coupling of terminal alkynes, RC?CH, with activated alkenes, R'CH?CH(2) , in the presence of zinc and water to give functionalized trans-disubstituted alkenes, RCH?CHCH(2) CH(2) R', is described. A variety of aromatic terminal alkynes underwent reductive coupling with activated alkenes including enones, acrylates, acrylonitrile, and vinyl sulfones in the presence of a CoCl(2) /P(OMe)(3) /Zn catalyst system to afford 1,2-trans-disubstituted alkenes with high regio- and stereoselectivity. Similarly, aliphatic terminal alkynes also efficiently participated in the coupling reaction with acrylates, enones, and vinyl sulfone, in the presence of the CoCl(2) /P(OPh)(3) /Zn system providing a mixture of 1,2-trans- and 1,1-disubstituted functionalized terminal alkene products in high yields. The scope of the reaction was also extended by the coupling of 1,3-enynes and acetylene gas with alkenes. Furthermore, a phosphine-free cobalt-catalyzed reductive coupling of terminal alkynes with enones, affording 1,2-trans-disubstituted alkenes as the major products in a high regioisomeric ratio, is demonstrated. In the reactions, less expensive and air-stable cobalt complexes, a mild reducing agent (Zn) and a simple hydrogen source (water) were used. A possible reaction mechanism involving a cobaltacyclopentene as the key intermediate is proposed.     

Intermolecular cycloaddition of N-boranonitrone with alkenes

Ethyl glyoxylate O-tert-butyldimethylsilyloxime (8), on treatment with 2.2 equiv of BF3 x OEt2, generated N-boranonitrone E, which underwent intermolecular cycloaddition with alkenes 18 to afford isoxazolidines 19 in moderate to high yields. The cycloaddition of N-boranonitrone E with most of the alkenes gave 3,5-trans isoxazolidines as the major isomers via a concerted mechanism. However, in the case of 1-methylated cyclic alkenes (18j and 18l), the cycloaddition surprisingly furnished the 3,3a-cis-cycloadducts (19j and 19l) as major isomers. A possible explanation is that the reaction of 1-methylated cyclic alkenes proceeds mainly via a stepwise mechanism. This reaction of terminal alkenes is very useful for synthesis of 1,3-anti aminoalcohol derivatives by reductive cleavage of an N-O bond.     

Cyclopropanation of Terminal Alkenes through Sequential Atom‐Transfer Radical Addition/1,3‐Elimination

An operationally simple method to affect an atom‐transfer radical addition of commercially available ICH₂Bpin to terminal alkenes has been developed. The intermediate iodide can be transformed in a one‐pot process into the corresponding cyclopropane upon treatment with a fluoride source. This method is highly selective for the cyclopropanation of unactivated terminal alkenes over non‐terminal alkenes and electron‐deficient alkenes. Due to the mildness of the procedure, a wide range of functional groups such as esters, amides, alcohols, ketones, and vinylic cyclopropanes are well tolerated.     

Adducts of phenoxathiin and thianthrene cation radicals with alkenes and cycloalkenes

Phenoxathiin cation radical perchlorate (PO.+ClO4(-)) added stereospecifically to cyclopentene, cyclohexene, cycloheptene, and 1,5-cyclooctadiene to give 1,2-bis(5-phenoxathiiniumyl)cycloalkane diperchlorates (4-7) in good yield. The diaxial configuration of the PO+ groups was confirmed with X-ray crystallography. Unlike additions of thianthrene cation radical perchlorate (Th.+ClO4(-)) to these cycloalkenes, no evidence for formation of monoadducts was found in the reactions of PO.+ClO4(-). This difference is discussed. Addition of Th.+ClO4(-) to five trans alkenes (2-butene, 2-pentene, 4-methyl-2-pentene, 3-octene, 5-decene) and four cis alkenes (2-pentene, 2-hexene, 2-heptene, 5-decene) gave in each case a mixture of mono- and bisadducts in which the configuration of the alkene was retained. Thus, cis alkenes gave erythro monoadducts and threo bisadducts, whereas trans alkenes gave threo monoadducts and erythro bisadducts. In these additions to alkenes, cis alkenes gave predominantly bisadducts, while trans alkenes (except for trans-2-butene) gave predominantly monoadducts. This difference is explained. 1,2-Bis(5-phenoxathiiniumyl)cycloalkanes (4-7) and 1,2-bis(5-thianthreniumyl)cycloalkanes underwent fast elimination reactions on activated alumina forming, respectively, 1-(5-phenoxathiiniumyl)cycloalkenes (8-11) and 1-(5-thianthreniumyl)cycloalkenes (12-16). Among adducts of Th.+ClO4(-) and alkenes, monoadducts underwent fast ring opening on alumina to give (5-thianthreniumyl)alkenes, while bisadducts underwent fast eliminations of H+ and thianthrene (Th) to give (5-thianthreniumyl)alkenes also. Ring opening of monoadducts was a stereospecific reaction in which the configuration of the original alkene was retained. Thus, erythro monoadducts (from cis alkenes) gave (E)-(5-thianthreniumyl)alkenes and threo monoadducts (from trans alkenes) gave (Z)-(5-thianthreniumyl)alkenes. Among bisadducts, elimination of a proton and Th occurred and was more complex, giving both (E)- and (Z)-(5-thianthreniumyl)alkenes. These results are explained. Configurations of adducts and (5-thianthreniumyl)alkenes were deduced with the aid of X-ray crystallography and (1)H and (13)C NMR spectroscopy. In the NMR spectra of (E)- and (Z)-(5-thianthreniumyl)alkenes, the alkenyl proton of Z isomers always appeared at a lower field (0.8-1.0 ppm) than that of E isomers.     

Tf2NH-catalyzed,highly regio-and stereo-selective synthesis of trisubstituted alkenes and indane derivatives from benzylic alcohols and alkenes

A reaction of benzylic alcohols with alkenes has been developed in the presence of bis(trifluoromethane)sulfonimide for the synthesis of trisubstituted alkenes and indane derivatives with high stereoselectivity.In general,benzylic alcohols react with 1,1-diaryl alkenes to afford trisubstituted alkenes,and the reaction with 1,2-disubstituted and trisubstituted alkenes affords indane derivatives through a [3 + 2] annulation reaction.     

Recent advances in "formal" ruthenium-catalyzed [2+2+2] cycloaddition reactions of diynes to alkenes

"Formal" and standard RuII-catalyzed [2+2+2] cycloaddition of 1,6-diynes to alkenes gave bicyclic 1,3-cyclohexadienes in relatively good yields. When terminal 1,6-diynes 1 were used, two isomeric bicyclic 1,3-cyclohexadienes 4 or 6 were obtained, depending on the acyclic or cyclic nature of the alkene partner. When unsymmetrical substituted 1,6-diynes 7 were used, the reaction with acyclic alkenes took place regio- and stereoselectively to afford bicyclic 1,3-cyclohexadienes 8. A cascade process that behaves as a "formal" RuII-catalyzed [2+2+2] cycloaddition explained these results. Initially, a Ru-catalyzed linear coupling of 1,6-diynes 1 and 7 with acyclic alkenes occurs to give open 1,3,5-trienes of type 3, which after a thermal disrotatory 6e(-) pi-electrocyclization led to the final 1,3-cyclohexadienes 4 and 8. When disubstituted 1,6-diyne 10 was used with electron-deficient alkenes, new exo-methylene cyclohexadienes 12 arose from a competitive reaction pathway.     

Phosphabarrelenes as ligands in rhodium-catalyzed hydroformylation of internal alkenes essentially free of alkene isomerization

Despite significant research efforts in the past, one of the remaining problems to be solved in industrially important hydroformylation is the chemoselective low-pressure hydroformylation of internal alkenes. We report here on a new class of phosphabarrelene/rhodium catalysts 2 that display very high activity towards hydroformylation of internal alkenes with an unusually low tendency towards alkene isomerization. Preparation of new phosphabarrelene ligands, studies of their coordination properties, as well as results obtained in the rhodium-catalyzed hydroformylation of cyclic and acyclic internal alkenes are reported.     

Controllable Isomerization of Alkenes by Dual Visible‐Light‐Cobalt Catalysis

We report herein that thermodynamic and kinetic isomerization of alkenes can be accomplished by the combination of visible light with Co catalysis. Utilizing Xantphos as the ligand, the most stable isomers are obtained, while isomerizing terminal alkenes over one position can be selectively controlled by using DPEphos as the ligand. The presence of the donor–acceptor dye 4CzIPN accelerates the reaction further. Transformation of exocyclic alkenes into the corresponding endocyclic products could be efficiently realized by using 4CzIPN and Co(acac)₂ in the absence of any additional ligands. Spectroscopic and spectroelectrochemical investigations indicate Co^I being involved in the generation of a Co hydride, which subsequently adds to alkenes initiating the isomerization.     

An Alkene‐Promoted Borane‐Catalyzed Highly Stereoselective Hydrogenation of Alkynes to Give Z‐ and E‐Alkenes

The stereoselective hydrogenation of alkynes to alkenes is an extremely useful transformation in synthetic chemistry. Despite numerous reports for the synthesis of Z‐alkenes, the hydrogenation of alkynes to give E‐alkenes is still not well resolved. In particular, selective preparation of both Z‐ and E‐alkenes by the same catalytic hydrogenation system using molecular H₂ has rarely been reported. In this paper, a novel strategy of using simple alkenes as promoters for the HB(C₆F₅)₂‐catalyzed metal‐free hydrogenation of alkynes was adopted. Significantly, both Z‐ and E‐alkenes can be furnished by hydrogenation with molecular H₂ in high yields with excellent stereoselectivities. Further experimental and theoretical mechanistic studies suggest that interactions between H and F atoms of the alkene promoter, borane intermediate, and H₂ play an essential role in promoting the hydrogenolysis reaction.     

Metal-catalyzed silacyclopropanation of mono- and disubstituted alkenes

As an alternative to the strongly reducing conditions necessary for the formation of silacyclopropanes, silylene transfer was developed as a mild, functional group tolerant method of silacyclopropanation. Complex silacyclopropanes were formed from functionalized alkenes using cyclohexane di-tert-butyl silacyclopropane, 1, as the source of t-Bu(2)Si. Di-tert-butyl silylene can be generated from 1 through the use of a catalytic amount of a metal salt. At -27 degrees C, silver triflate catalyzes the transfer of t-Bu(2)Si from 1 to mono- and disubstituted alkenes stereospecifically and diastereoselectively. In situ functionalization of silacyclopropanes with catalytic zinc bromide and methyl formate provides for an expedient one-flask synthesis of complex oxasilacyclopentanes from alkenes.     

Zirconium-Catalyzed Atom-Economical Synthesis of 1,1-Diborylalkanes from Terminal and Internal Alkenes

A general and atom-economical synthesis of 1,1-diborylalkanes from alkenes and a borane without the need for an additional H₂ acceptor is reported for the first time. The key to our success is the use of an earth-abundant zirconium-based catalyst, which allows a balance of self-contradictory reactivities (dehydrogenative boration and hydroboration) to be achieved. Our method avoids using an excess amount of another alkene as an H₂ acceptor, which was required in other reported systems. Furthermore, substrates such as simple long-chain aliphatic alkenes that did not react before also underwent 1,1-diboration in our system. Significantly, the unprecedented 1,1-diboration of internal alkenes enabled the preparation of 1,1-diborylalkanes.     

Synthesis of trans‐Disubstituted Alkenes by Cobalt‐Catalyzed Reductive Coupling of Terminal Alkynes with Activated Alkenes

A cobalt‐catalyzed reductive coupling of terminal alkynes, RC?CH, with activated alkenes, R′CH?CH₂, in the presence of zinc and water to give functionalized trans‐disubstituted alkenes, RCH?CHCH₂CH₂R′, is described. A variety of aromatic terminal alkynes underwent reductive coupling with activated alkenes including enones, acrylates, acrylonitrile, and vinyl sulfones in the presence of a CoCl₂/P(OMe)₃/Zn catalyst system to afford 1,2‐trans‐disubstituted alkenes with high regio‐ and stereoselectivity. Similarly, aliphatic terminal alkynes also efficiently participated in the coupling reaction with acrylates, enones, and vinyl sulfone, in the presence of the CoCl₂/P(OPh)₃/Zn system providing a mixture of 1,2‐trans‐ and 1,1‐disubstituted functionalized terminal alkene products in high yields. The scope of the reaction was also extended by the coupling of 1,3‐enynes and acetylene gas with alkenes. Furthermore, a phosphine‐free cobalt‐catalyzed reductive coupling of terminal alkynes with enones, affording 1,2‐trans‐disubstituted alkenes as the major products in a high regioisomeric ratio, is demonstrated. In the reactions, less expensive and air‐stable cobalt complexes, a mild reducing agent (Zn) and a simple hydrogen source (water) were used. A possible reaction mechanism involving a cobaltacyclopentene as the key intermediate is proposed.     

Substituent effects on the stereochemistry in the [2 + 2] photocycloaddition reaction of homobenzoquinone derivative with variously substituted alkenes and alkynes

Irradiation of a homobenzoquinone derivative with variously substituted alkenes and alkynes gave the [2 + 2] photocycloadducts, tricyclic diones, almost quantitatively as a mixture of regio- and stereoisomers. The preferred regioisomer for all reactions is attributed to the more stable 1,4-biradical intermediate (major addition mode), and the minor isomer is attributed to the less stable biradical (minor addition mode). A radical trapping experiment using benzeneselenol proved the generation of these two regioisomeric biradicals, reflecting the regioselectivity in selenol-free photoreaction. Both biradicals tended to preferentially yield the endo-isomer for the alkenes with smaller substituents such as ethoxy, cyano, and acetoxy groups, but the exo-isomer for the alkenes with larger substituents such as phenyl, carbazolyl, and tert-butyl groups. The logarithmic exo/endo ratios were well correlated with a combination of Taft's steric factor E(s) and the energy gain (DeltaE') associated with the orbital interactions between the spin centers of 1,4-biradicals. These results were interpreted in terms of Griesbeck's SOC mechanism as well as the possible bond rotation around the armed radical chain. Therefore, it is concluded that a balance of repulsive steric hindrance and the attractive FMO interaction determines the stereochemical course of the [2 + 2] photoaddition of homobenzoquinone derivative with variously substituted alkenes.     

An improved methyltrioxorhenium-catalyzed epoxidation of alkenes with hydrogen peroxide

Methyltrioxorhenium (MTO)-catalyzed epoxidation of alkenes with H(2)O(2) has been significantly improved by using 3-methylpyrazole as an additive. A system consisting of 35% H(2)O(2) and MTO-3-methylpyrazole in CH(2)Cl(2) catalyzes the epoxidation of various alkenes in excellent yields. The catalytic activity of MTO-3-methylpyrazole surpasses MTO-pyrazole and MTO-pyridine catalysts. Quantitative yields of epoxides from cyclic and internal alkenes were obtained with only 0.05-0.1 mol% of MTO in the presence of 10 mol% of 3-methylpyrazole.     

Phospha-Michael additions to activated internal alkenes: steric and electronic effects

The addition of P(O)-H bonds to internal alkenes has been accomplished under solvent-free conditions without the addition of a catalyst or radical initiator. Using a prototypical secondary phosphine oxide, a range of substrates including cinnamates, crotonates, coumarins, sulfones, and chalcones were successfully functionalized. Highly activated acceptors such as isopropylidenemalononitrile and ethyl 2-cyano-3-methyl-2-butenoate underwent the phospha-Michael reaction upon simple trituration of the reagents at room temperature, whereas less activated substrates such as ethyl cinnamate and methyl crotonate required heating (>150 °C) in a microwave reactor to achieve significant consumption of the starting alkenes. For the latter alkenes, a competing reaction involving disproportionation of the ditolylphosphine oxide into ditolylphosphinic acid and ditolylphosphine was observed at the high temperatures needed to promote the addition reaction.     

Theoretical investigations of substituent effects in dimethyldioxirane epoxidation reactions

A detailed theoretical study of dimethyldioxirane-mediated epoxidations with a variety of differently substituted alkenes 3-21 is presented. Transition structures and activation barriers were determined in the gas phase and in acetone as solvent with the B3LYP/6-311+G(d) level of theory. Substituent effects were elucidated by frontier orbital analyses of the reacting species as well as by natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis of the transition structures. Epoxidations with alkenes carrying electron-donating groups such as OMe or NHAc commonly tend to have low activation energies and early transitions states, whereas using alkenes with electron-withdrawing moieties such as CN, SO2Me, CO2Me, CF3, CHO, and Cl higher activation barriers and late transition states are observed. In all cases a net charge transfer (CT) from the alkene to the dioxirane was observed substantiating the electrophilic character of dimethyldioxirane.     

Catalytic and enantioselective aza-ene and hetero-Diels-Alder reactions of alkenes and dienes with azodicarboxylates

Lewis acids such as Cu(OTf)(2), Zn(OTf)(2), Yb(OTf)(3) and Nd(OTf)(3) catalyze the aza-ene reaction of alkenes with azodicarboxylates, giving the allylic amination adducts. The use of bis(2,2,2-trichloroethyl)azodicarboxylate as the amination reagent and Cu(OTf)(2) and Yb(OTf)(3) as the catalysts gave the aza-ene reaction of different alkenes, leading to the corresponding allyl amines in high yields. Chiral copper complexes prepared from Cu(OTf)(2) and chiral bisoxazoline ligands were found to catalyze the enantioselective aza-ene reaction of azodicarboxylates with alkenes and the hetero-Diels-Alder reaction with cyclopentadiene, giving the corresponding aza-ene- and hetero-Diels-Alder adducts, respectively, in good yields and moderate enantioselectivities.