Palladium-catalyzed carbene insertion into vinyl halides and trapping with amines

Palladium is shown to catalyze the three-component coupling of vinyl halides, trimethylsilyldiazomethane, and amines to generate allylamines. The mechanism is believed to involve formation of an R-Pd=CHSiMe3 intermediate that undergoes migration of the vinyl ligand to the empty p-orbital of the carbene ligand. The resulting eta1-allylpalladium species forms an eta3-allylpalladium intermediate that is trapped by the amine nucleophile. Under the conditions tested, cyclic secondary amines and terminal vinyl iodides give the best results.     

Diastereoselective Construction of Densely Functionalized 1‐Halocyclopentenes Using an Alkynyl Halo‐Prins/Halo‐Nazarov Cyclization Strategy

A diastereoselective two‐step strategy for the synthesis of densely functionalized 1‐halocyclopentenes with several chiral centers has been developed. In the first step, a multicomponent alkynyl halo‐Prins reaction joins an enyne, a carbonyl derivative, and either a chloride, bromide, or iodide to produce a cyclic ether intermediate. In the subsequent step, the intermediate is ionized to generate a halopentadienyl cation, which undergoes an interrupted halo‐Nazarov cyclization. The products contain three new contiguous stereogenic centers, generated with a high level of stereocontrol, as well as a vinyl halide allowing for additional functionalization. The strategy creates two new carbon–carbon bonds, one carbon–halide bond, and one carbon–oxygen bond.     

In situ soft X-ray studies of ethylene oxidation mechanisms and intermediates on the Pt(111) surface

In situ studies of ethylene oxidation on Pt(111) have been performed using a powerful combination of fluorescence yield soft X-ray methods for temperatures up to 600 K and oxygen pressures up to 0.01 Torr. Absolute carbon coverages have been determined both in steady-state and dynamic catalytic conditions on the Pt(111) surface. Fluorescence yield near-edge spectroscopy (FYNES) and temperature-programmed fluorescence yield near-edge spectroscopy (TP-FYNES) experiments above the carbon K edge were used to identify the structure and bonding of the dominant surface species during oxidation. TP-FYNES experiments of preadsorbed ethylene coverages in oxygen pressures up to 0.01 Torr indicate a stable intermediate is formed over the 215-300 K temperature range. By comparing the intensity of the C-H sigma resonance at the magic angle with the intensity in the carbon continuum, the stoichiometry of this intermediate has been determined explicitly. Based on calibration with known C-H stoichiometries, the intermediate has a C(2)H(3) stoichiometry for oxygen pressures up to 0.01 Torr, indicating oxydehydrogenation occurs before skeletal oxidation. FYNES spectra at normal and glancing incidences were performed to characterize the structure and bonding of this intermediate. Using FYNES spectra of ethylene, ethylidyne, and acetylene as reference standard, this procedure indicates the oxidation intermediate is tri-sigma vinyl. Thus, oxidation of ethylene proceeds through a vinyl intermediate, with oxydehydrogenation preceding skeletal oxidation.     

Crossed beam study of the atom-radical reaction of ground state carbon atoms (C(3P)) with the vinyl radical (C2H3(X2A'))

The atom-radical reaction of ground state carbon atoms (C((3)P)) with the vinyl radical (C(2)H(3)(X(2)A')) was conducted under single collision conditions at a collision energy of 32.3 ± 2.9 kJ mol(-1). The reaction dynamics were found to involve a complex forming reaction mechanism, which is initiated by the barrier-less addition of atomic carbon to the carbon-carbon-double bond of the vinyl radical forming a cyclic C(3)H(3) radical intermediate. The latter has a lifetime of at least 1.5 times its rotational period and decomposes via a tight exit transition state located about 45 kJ mol(-1) above the separated products through atomic hydrogen loss to the cyclopropenylidene isomer (c-C(3)H(2)) as detected toward cold molecular clouds and in star forming regions.     

Ionic reaction of halogens with terminal alkenes: the effect of electron-withdrawing fluorine substituents on the bonding of halonium ions

Ionic reactions of terminal alkenes with chlorine (Cl(2)), bromine (Br(2)), and iodine monochloride (ICl) are sensitive to the alkyl substituents, and the positions and number of vinyl fluorine atoms. These perturbations influence the symmetry of the halonium ion intermediates, which can be determined by the distribution of the Markovnikov to anti-Markovnikov products. A vinyl fluorine on the number-2 carbon favors an unsymmetrical intermediate with greater charge on the number-2 carbon unless the alkyl group is electron withdrawing. A vinyl fluorine on the terminal number-1 carbon favors positive charge development on that carbon unless a resonance stabilizing group is on the number-2 carbon. The symmetry of halonium ions with vinyl fluorines on both carbons-1 and -2 depends primarily on the characteristics of the alkyl substituent. Intermediates range from open-ions with the positive charge on carbon-2, to various bridged species, to open-ions on the terminal carbon.     

A DFT Study on the Reaction Pathways for Carbon?Carbon Bond‐Forming Reactions between Propargylic Alcohols and Alkenes or Ketones Catalyzed by Thiolate‐Bridged Diruthenium Complexes

The reaction pathways of two types of the carbon? carbon bond‐forming reactions catalyzed by thiolate‐bridged diruthenium complexes have been investigated by density‐functional‐theory calculations. It is clarified that both carbon? carbon bond‐forming reactions proceed through a ruthenium–allenylidene complex as a common reactive intermediate. The attack of π electrons on propene or the vinyl alcohol on the ruthenium–allenylidene complex is the first step of the reaction pathways. The reaction pathways are different after the attack of nucleophiles on the ruthenium–alkynyl complex. In the reaction with propene, the carbon? carbon bond‐forming reaction proceeds through a stepwise process, whereas in the reaction with vinyl alcohol, it proceeds through a concerted process. The interactions between the ruthenium–allenylidene complex and propene or vinyl alcohol have been investigated by applying a simple way of looking at orbital interactions.     

Amide Synthesis by Nucleophilic Attack of Vinyl Azides

A method for the synthesis of amide‐containing molecules was developed using vinyl azides as an enamine‐type nucleophile towards carbon electrophiles, such as imines, aldehydes, and carbocations that were generated from alcohols in the presence of BF₃?OEt₂. After nucleophilic attack of the vinyl azide, a substituent of the resulting iminodiazonium ion intermediate migrates to form a nitrilium ion, which is hydrolyzed to afford the corresponding amide.     

A novel and highly efficient two-carbon ring expansion

[reaction: see text]. Dynamic gas-phase thermoisomerization (DGPTI) of medium- and large-ring 3-vinylcycloalkanones at 600-630 degrees C produces isomeric gamma,delta-unsaturated cycloalkanones expanded by two carbon atoms. A reaction mechanism involving an open-chain diradical intermediate, followed by intramolecular recombination under insertion of the vinyl group is proposed. Substituents on the vinyl moiety are transferred locospecifically to the ring-expanded ketones as corresponding beta- and gamma-substituents, respectively. The preparation of extraordinary cyclic allenes can be accomplished by DGPTI (540 degrees C) of 3-ethinylcyclododecanone.     

Gold-Catalyzed One-Pot Synthesis of Polyfluoroalkylated Oxazoles from N-Propargylamides Under Visible-Light Irradiation

A gold-catalyzed synthesis of polyfluoroalkylated oxazoles from N-propargylamides under visible-light irradiation has been developed. These reactions display excellent compatibility of radicals and gold catalysts under visible-light irradiation. Mechanistic experiments indicate that polyfluoroalkyl iodides play a dual role in enhanced compatibility of radicals and gold catalysts through assisted protodeauration of vinyl gold and reactivated the gold catalyst. In addition, PPh₃AuNTf₂ not only activates N-propargylamide to generate vinyl gold intermediate, but also greatly promotes homolysis of polyfluoroalkyl iodides under blue light irradiation.     

Regioselective copper(I)-catalyzed C–H hydroxylation/C–S coupling: expedient construction of 2-(styrylthio)phenols

Regioselective copper(I)-catalyzed C–H hydroxylation/C–S coupling of aryl thiols with vinyl halides was developed. Starting from substituted aryl thiols and vinyl halides, various 2-(styrylthio)phenol derivatives were efficiently prepared. The application of the synthetic methodology to generate the bioactive organic intermediate was also exemplified.     

Regio- and sterochemistry of the [2+2]-cycloaddition reaction between enones and alkenes. A DFT study

Calculations at DFT/B3LYP/6-31G+(d,p) level of theory have been performed on the photochemical interaction between enones and alkenes. The photochemical reaction of cyclopentenone with ethyl vinyl ether can be explained assuming the reaction occurs through the triplet excited state of the enone. The interaction between the LSOMO of triplet cyclopentenone and the HOMO of ethyl vinyl ether accounts for the observed stereochemistry. The same behaviour has been observed in the reaction of 3-methylcyclohexenone with 1,1-dimethoxyethene, vinyl acetate, and allene. In the reaction of 3,5,5-trimethylcyclohexenone with methyl cyclobutene-1-carboxylate, the observed regiochemistry can be explained assuming a sensitized reaction able to populate the triplet state of methyl cyclobutene-1-carboxylate. The coupling of the HSOMO of this species with the LUMO of the cyclohexenone derivative account for the observed regiochemistry. Furthermore, the coupling of the radical carbon atoms on the biradical intermediate accounts for the observed stereochemistry. In the reaction of 3-methylcyclohexenone with methyl cyclohexene-1-carboxylate the coupling between the LSOMO of triplet state of 3-methylcyclohexenone and the HOMO of the alkene gave two possible biradical intermediates. The most stable one accounts for the observed regiochemistry. The coupling of the radical carbon atom on the HSOMO and LSOMO of the biradical intermediate accounts for the observed stereochemistry. The coupling between the LSOMO of the triplet state of 3-phenylcyclohexenone and the HOMO of cyclopentene accounts for the observed regiochemistry. The stereochemistry can be explained considering the coupling of the LSOMO and HSOMO in the biradical intermediate.     

A novel palladium(0) catalysed tandem 1,3-allyl shift and Heck arylation

On treatment with Pd(PPh₃)₄ allyl vinyl ether (1) undergoes a Pd(0) catalysed 1,3 oxygen to carbon allyl shift to afford -allyl ketone (2). In the presence of both Pd(PPh₃)₄ and base the allyl vinyl ether undergoes a Pd(0) catalysed tandem 1,3 allyl shift and intramolecular Heck arylation to give the spiro indane (3). Mechanistic investigations suggest that the 1,3-allyl shift proceeds via a π-allyl palladium intermediate.     

Diastereoselective Total Synthesis of (±)‐Schindilactone A,Part 3: The Final Phase and Completion

The final phase for the total synthesis of (±)‐schindilactone A ( 1 ) is described herein. Two independent synthetic approaches were developed that featured Pd–thiourea‐catalyzed cascade carbonylative annulation reactions to construct intermediate 3 and a RCM reaction to make intermediate 4 . Other important steps that enabled the completion of the synthesis included: 1) A Ag‐mediated ring‐expansion reaction to form vinyl bromide 17 from dibromocyclopropane 30 ; 2) a Pd‐catalyzed coupling reaction of vinyl bromide 17 with a copper enolate to synthesize ketoester 16 ; 3) a RCM reaction to generate oxabicyclononenol 10 from diene 11 ; 4) a cyclopentenone fragment in substrate 8 was constructed through a Co–thiourea‐catalyzed Pauson–Khand reaction (PKR); 5) a Dieckmann‐type condensation to successfully form the A ring of schindilactone A ( 1 ). The chemistry developed for the total synthesis of schindilactone A ( 1 ) will shed light on the synthesis of other family members of schindilactone A.     

A crossed beams study of the reaction of carbon atoms, C(3Pj), with vinyl cyanide, C2H3CN(X 1A')--investigating the formation of cyano propargyl radicals

The chemical dynamics of the reaction of ground state carbon atoms, C(3Pj), with vinyl cyanide, C2H3CN(X 1A'), were examined under single collision conditions at collision energies of 29.9 and 43.9 kJ mol(-1) using the crossed molecular beams approach. The experimental studies were combined with electronic structure calculations on the triplet C4H3N potential energy surface (H. F. Su, R. I. Kaiser, A. H. H. Chang, J. Chem. Phys., 2005, 122, 074320). Our investigations suggest that the reaction follows indirect scattering dynamics via addition of the carbon atom to the carbon-carbon double bond of the vinyl cyanide molecule yielding a cyano cyclopropylidene collision complex. The latter undergoes ring opening to form cis/trans triplet cyano allene which fragments predominantly to the 1-cyano propargyl radical via tight exit transition states; the 3-cyano propargyl isomer was inferred to be formed at least a factor of two less; also, no molecular hydrogen elimination channel was observed experimentally. These results are in agreement with the computational studies predicting solely the existence of a carbon versus hydrogen atom exchange pathway and the dominance of the 1-cyano propargyl radical product. The discovery of the cyano propargyl radical in the reaction of atomic carbon with vinyl cyanide under single collision conditions implies that this molecule can be an important reaction intermediate in combustion flames and also in extraterrestrial environments (cold molecular clouds, circumstellar envelopes of carbon stars) which could lead to the formation of cyano benzene (C6H5CN) upon reaction with a propargyl radical.     

Advances in Catalysis. Volume 25; edited by D.D. Eley, H. Pines, and P.B. Weisz, Academic Press, New York, San Francisco and London, 1976, xii + 457 pages, $42.50

Photolysis of 1,2-divinyl- and 1-phenyl-2-vinyltetramethyldisilane and 1-phenylethenylpentamethyldisilane has been investigated. All three compounds afforded a new type of silicon—carbon double-bonded intermediate via photorearrangement of a silyl group to the terminal carbon of a vinyl group.     

Theoretical analysis of the conversion mechanism of acetylene to ethylidyne on Pt(111)

The conversion of acetylene to ethylidyne on Pt(111) has been comprehensively investigated using self-consistent periodic density functional theory. Geometries and energies for all of the intermediates involved as well as the conversion mechanism were analyzed. On Pt(111), the carbon atoms in the majority of stable C(2)H(x) (x = 1-4) intermediates prefer saturated sp(3) configurations with the missing H atoms substituted by the adjacent metal atoms. The most favorable conversion pathway for acetylene to ethylidyne is via a three-step reaction mechanism, acetylene → vinyl → vinylidene → ethylidyne. The first step, acetylene → vinyl, depends on the availability of surface H atoms: without preadsorbed H the reaction occurs via the initial disproportionation of acetylene, which resulted in adsorbed vinyl; with an abundance of preadsorbed H, acetylene could transform to vinyl via both the disproportionation and hydrogenation reactions. Conversions through initial dehydrogenation of acetylene and isomerizations of acetylene and vinyl are unfavorable due to high energy barriers along the relevant pathways. The conversion rate involving vinylidene as an intermediate is at least 100 times larger than that involving ethylidene.     

C-C bond formation on reduction of organomercurial and its application to biomimetic synthesis of strobane carbon skeleton

The bicyclic ethers obtained by the oxymercuration-demercuration reaction of linalool was found to be formed in the demercuration step. The facile C-C bond formation is due to the proximity of Hg and the vinyl group in the organomercurial intermediate. Applying this process to epimanool a biomimetic synthesis of strobane carbon skeleton was achieved.     

Stereochemistry and mechanism of acylation of acetylenes

The addition of acid chloride-AlCl₃ complexes and of acyl triflates to several acetylenes has been performed. Evidence is given that these additions occur at least partly through a vinyl cation intermediate. In the case of aroyl chlorides or aroyl triflates the intermediate vinyl cation can be attacked by the aromatic nucleus of the aroyl group, leading to the formation of indenones. The difference in behaviour between aroyl chloride-AlCl₃ complexes and aroyl triflates is explained by the hardness of the triflate anion as a nucleophile, compared to the tetrachloraluminate anion. Further evidence for the intermediate vinyl cation is found in the formation of rearranged products in the addition of 3,5 dimethoxybenzoyl chloride-AlCl₃ complex and benzoyl triflate to 4,4-dimethyl-2-pentyne.     

Cyclocarbopalladation involving an unusual 1,5-palladium vinyl to aryl shift as termination step: theoretical study of the mechanism

A DFT/B3LYP model study has been carried out on the cyclocarbopalladation and on an unusual 1,5 vinyl to aryl palladium shift which are the two first steps of a cyclocarbopalladation-Stille coupling tandem reaction of various gamma-bromopropargylic-1,2 diols with alkenyls or alkynyl stannanes catalyzed by Pd(PPh(3))(4). From the calculations, the active intermediates in the catalytic process appear to bear a single phosphine ligand, the palladium(II) center keeping in all cases a square-planar coordination pattern either through intramolecular binding of the triple bond or via an intramolecular Pd...C(phenyl) interaction. The computation of the various transition states and intermediates for the 1,5 vinyl to aryl palladium shift reveals that the intimate mechanism of this pathway corresponds to a one-step hydrogen transfer between the two negatively charged carbon atoms of the vinyl and phenyl groups. A two-step pathway involving a Pd(IV) intermediate is not likely to occur. This conclusion may apply to other 1,n-palladium shifts which have been experimentally observed in various organometallic transformations.     

A theoretical study of the mechanism of phosphine-catalyzed hydroalkoxylation of methyl vinyl ketone

The mechanism of phosphine-catalyzed hydroalkoxylation of the methyl vinyl ketone has been investigated by the second-order M?ller-Plesset perturbation theory and the conductor-like polarized continuum model. The free energy reaction profiles of the reaction in both gas phase and solution phase are explored and compared. Our results suggest that the first stage of the studied reaction is the generation of the base (the methoxide anion) with the help of trialkylphosphine, and the second stage is the hydroalkoxylation of the methyl vinyl ketone catalyzed by this base. In the first stage, trialkylphosphine first adds to the methyl vinyl ketone to form a phosphonium enolate intermediate and then this species deprotonates a methanol molecule to generate a methoxide anion. Both steps involve free energy barriers of about 20 kcal/mol. In the second stage, both the addition of the methoxide anion to the methyl vinyl ketone and the proton transfer process from methanol to the methoxyl enolate anion intermediate have activation free energies of about 16 kcal/mol. The reaction in the second stage is exothermic by 10.2 kcal/mol at room temperature. A comparison of the free energy reaction profiles in the gas phase and the solution phase demonstrated that the generation of the methoxide anion could only occur in the presence of the polar solvents. The mechanism proposed in the present work is in reasonable agreement with the known experimental facts.