Electrophilic activation and cycloisomerization of enynes: a new route to functional cyclopropanes

Transformations of enynes in the presence of transition-metal catalysts have played an important role in the preparation of a variety of cyclic compounds. Recent developments in the activation of triple carbon-carbon bonds by electrophilic metal centers have provided a new entry to the selective synthesis of cyclopropane derivatives from enynes. The mechanisms of these reactions involve catalytic species with both ionic and cyclopropylcarbenoid character. This type of activation will undoubtedly be further developed for application to other unsaturated hydrocarbons and inspire new catalytic cascade reaction sequences. This Minireview discusses the recent developments in electrophilic activation of enynes and shows that simple catalysts such as [Ru(3)(CO)(12)], PtCl(2), and cationic gold complexes are efficient precursors to promote the formation of functional polyclic compounds.     

Nickel-catalyzed coupling of allyl chlorides and enynes

The Ni-catalyzed coupling of allyl chlorides and enynes has been developed; the cyclization of enynes was triggered by the addition of pi-allylnickel species to the alkyne part, followed by the incorporation of the alkene part.     

Escape from Hydrofunctionalization: Palladium Hydride-Enabled Difunctionalization of Conjugated Dienes and Enynes

Palladium hydrides are traditionally employed in hydrofunctionalization (i.e. monofunctionalization) of conjugated dienes and enynes, owning to its facile protic hydropalladation of electron-rich (or neutral) unsaturated bonds. Herein, we report a mild PdH-catalyzed difunctionalization of conjugated dienes and enynes. This protocol is enabled by the chemoselectivity switch of the initial hydropalladation step achieved by visible light enhancement of hydricity of PdH species. This method allows for cascade annulation of dienes and enynes with various easily available and abundant substrates, such as acrylic acids, acrylic amides, and Baylis–Hillman adducts, toward a wide range of alkenyl or alkynyl lactones, lactams, and tetrahydrofurans. This protocol also provides an easy access to complex spiro-fused tricyclic frameworks.     

Enantioselective Rhodium‐Catalyzed Cycloisomerization of (E)‐1,6‐Enynes

An enantioselective rhodium(I)‐catalyzed cycloisomerization reaction of challenging (E)‐1,6‐enynes is reported. This novel process enables (E)‐1,6‐enynes with a wide range of functionalities, including nitrogen‐, oxygen‐, and carbon‐tethered (E)‐1,6‐enynes, to undergo cycloisomerization with excellent enantioselectivity, in a high‐yielding and operationally simple manner. Moreover, this Rh^I‐diphosphane catalytic system also exhibited superior reactivity and enantioselectivity for (Z)‐1,6‐enynes. A rationale for the striking reactivity difference between (E)‐ and (Z)‐1,6‐enynes using Rh^I‐BINAP and Rh^I‐TangPhos is outlined using DFT studies to provide the necessary insight for the design of new catalyst systems and the application to synthesis.     

Skeletal reorganization of enynes catalyzed by InCl3

[reaction: see text] The skeletal reorganization of enynes is achieved by the presence of InCl(3) as the catalyst. The reaction of enynes having a terminal acetylenic moiety proceeds in a stereospecific manner to give 1-vinylcycloalkenes. The reaction of enynes containing an alkyl group on the acetylenic terminal carbon resulted in a new type of skeletal reorganization to give 1-allylcycloalkenes, formation of which involves a double cleavage of the C-C double bond and the triple bond.     

Functionalised butanediacetal-protected 1,2-diols as suitable partners for Pd-catalysed cross-coupling reactions

A new method for the synthesis of dienes and enynes containing chiral 1,2-diols is described. The strategy is based on the Pd-catalysed cross-coupling reactions of a series of vinyl and alkynyl asymmetric butanediacetal-protected building blocks. After the coupling, removal of the protecting group leads to the desired functionalised dienes and enynes.     

Fe‐catalyzed hydrohalogenative cyclization of cyclohexadienone‐containing enynes

A Fe‐catalyzed hydrohalogenative cyclization of cyclohexadienone‐containing 1,n‐enynes to give three different types of compounds is discussed. 1,6‐enynes with a stoichiometric amount of FeX₃ provided cis‐hydrobenzofurans with moderate stereoselectivity, whereas the reaction with TMSX (X = Cl, Br) as the halide source in the presence of Fe catalyst improved the stereoselectivity of halide addition highly. The alkyl vs aryl shows difference that the reaction of 1,6‐enynes bearing an alkylethynyl group gave meta alkenated phenols (2 examples) whereas a similar reaction of 1,6‐enynes with an arylethynyl group delivered only cis‐hydrobenzofurans (12 examples). 1,7‐enynes afforded tricyclic products (4 examples). The different reactivity of 1,6‐ and 1,7‐enynes is probably influenced by the formation of a six‐membered chair‐like intermediate in 1,6‐enynes.     

Skeletal reorganization of enynes to 1-vinylcycloalkenes catalyzed by GaCl(3)

The skeletal reorganization of enynes is achieved by the presence of GaCl3 as the catalyst. This reaction demonstrates the first example of the skeletal reorganization of enynes catalyzed by typical metal complexes. The process is simple and provides a diverse range of enynes in good to high yields. The reaction of enynes bearing a monosubstituent at the terminal olefinic carbon proceeds in a stereospecific manner with respect to the geometry of the olefin moiety. Enynes, bearing two substituents at the olefinic terminal carbon, undergo an efficient skeletal reorganization, these substrates having been known to be unsuitable substrates for the skeletal reorganization of enynes.     

Nickel-catalyzed cycloadditions of unsaturated hydrocarbons, aldehydes, and ketones

The nickel-catalyzed cycloaddition of unsaturated hydrocarbons and carbonyls is reported. Diynes and enynes were used as coupling partners. Carbonyl substrates include both aldehdyes and ketones. Reactions of diynes and aldehydes afforded the [3,3] electrocyclic ring-opened tautomers, rather than pyrans, in high yields. The cycloaddition reaction of enynes and aldehydes afforded two distinct products. A new carbon-carbon bond is formed, prior to a competitive beta-hydrogen elimination of a nickel alkoxide, between the carbonyl carbon and either one of the carbons of the olefin or the alkyne. The steric hindrance of the enyne greatly affected the chemoselectivity of the cycloaddition of enynes and aldehydes. In some cases, dihydropyran was also formed. The scope of the cycloaddition reaction was expanded to include the coupling of enynes and ketones. No beta-hydrogen elimination was observed in cycloaddition reaction of enynes and ketones. Instead, C-O bond-forming reductive elimination occurred exclusively to afford dihydropyrans in excellent yields. In all cases, complete chemoselectivity was observed; only dihydropyrans where the carbonyl carbon forms a carbon-carbon bond with a carbon of the olefin, rather than of the alkyne, were observed. All cycloaddition reactions occur at room temperature and employ nickel catalysts bearing the hindered 1,3-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene (IPr) or its saturated analogue, 1,3-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)-4,5-dihydroimidazolin-2-ylidene (SIPr).     

Enantioselective Synthesis of Multisubstituted Allenes by Cooperative Cu/Pd‐Catalyzed 1,4‐Arylboration of 1,3‐Enynes

A cooperative Cu/Pd‐catalyzed enantioselective synthesis of multisubstituted allenes is established. By employing chiral sulfoxide phosphine (SOP)/Cu and PdCl₂(dppf) complexes as catalysts, the 1,4‐arylboration of 1,3‐enynes provides an efficient approach to trisubstituted chiral allenes with up to 92 % yield and 97:3 er. Furthermore, by using 2‐substituted 1,3‐enynes as substrates, the tetrasubstituted chiral allenes were successfully generated using this strategy. Finally, theoretical calculations indicate that the transmetallation of the allenylcopper species is the rate‐limiting step of this transformation.     

Triflic Acid‐Catalyzed Enynes Cyclization: A New Strategy beyond Electrophilic π‐Activation

The cyclization of enynes, catalyzed by a transition metal, represents a powerful tool to construct an array of cyclic compounds through electrophilic π‐activation. In this paper, we disclose a new and efficient strategy for enynes cyclization catalyzed by triflic acid. The salient features of this transformation includes a broad substrate scope, metal free synthesis, open flask and mild conditions, good yields, ease of operation, low catalyst loading, and easy scale‐up to gram scale. A preliminary mechanism study demonstrated that the activation model of the reaction was σ‐activation, which is different from the transition‐metal‐catalyzed enynes cyclization. Our strategy affords a complementary method to the traditional strategies, which use transition‐metal catalysts.     

Enhanced reactivity of electron-deficient enynes in the palladium-catalyzed homo-benzannulation of conjugated enynes

We report the high reactivity of electron-deficient enynes in the homo-benzannulation of conjugated enynes in the presence of Pd(PPh3)4. The introduction of electron-withdrawing groups enabled us to carry out the benzannulation of 1-substituted enynes as well as 1,2- and 2,4-disubstituted enynes. Polysubstituted benzenes were prepared in a highly regioselective manner in good to excellent yields.     

Divergent Gold(I)‐Catalyzed Skeletal Rearrangements of 1,7‐Enynes

The gold(I) complex catalyzed cycloisomerization and skeletal rearrangement of 1,n‐enynes (n=5–7) is a powerful methodology for the efficient synthesis of complex molecular architectures. In contrast to 1,6‐enynes, readily accessible homologous 1,7‐enynes are largely unexplored in such transformations. Here, the divergent skeletal rearrangement of all‐carbon 1,7‐enynes by catalysis with a cationic gold(I) complex is reported. Depending on electronic and steric factors, differently substituted 1,7‐enynes react via different carbocations formed from a common gold carbene intermediate to yield on the one hand novel exocyclic allenes and on the other hand tricyclic hexahydro‐anthracenes through a novel dehydrogenative Diels–Alder reaction.     

Missing cyclization pathways and new rearrangements unveiled in the gold(I) and platinum(II)-catalyzed cyclization of 1,6-enynes

Cyclopropyl metal carbenes formed in the 6-endo-dig cyclization may evolve to form seven-membered ring intermediates. This has been achieved for the first time by using highly electrophilic platinum(II) and gold(I) complexes. Gold(I) also triggers a remarkable rearrangement of certain enynes leading to complex cyclic systems. A new cationic platinacycle is described, which catalyzes skeletal rearrangements and other reactions of enynes at room temperature.     

Conjugated enynes as a new type of substrates for olefin metathesis

[reaction: see text] It has been demonstrated for the first time that conjugated enynes can be employed as a facile substrate in olefin metathesis with the use of a bispyridine-substituted ruthenium benzylidene catalyst. Cross-metathesis of the enynes with alkenes turns out to proceed with preferential formation of (Z)-isomers over (E)-isomers up to >25:1 in moderate to good yields. The intramolecular version of conjugated enynes affords novel butadienyl cycloalkenes, which are a highly useful synthetic building blocks, in acceptable yields.     

Asymmetric Reductive and Alkynylative Heck Bicyclization of Enynes to Access Conformationally Restricted Aza[3.1.0]bicycles

Conformationally restricted azabicycles are becoming increasingly important in medicinal research. Asymmetric Heck bicyclization of enynes proceeds to give medicinally useful aza[3.1.0] and aza[4.1.0] bicycles with excellent enantioselectivity. The key organopalladium species after bicyclization can be trapped by silanes and terminal alkynes.     

Palladium-catalyzed arylation of enynes and electron-deficient alkynes using diaryliodonium salts

A new single-pot procedure for the synthesis of aryl alkynes is described. Palladium catalyzes the coupling reaction of diaryliodonium compounds with enynes and electron-deficient alkynes to give aryl alkynes in good yields.     

Calcium‐Catalyzed Formal [2+2+2] Cycloaddition

A formal intermolecular [2+2+2] cycloaddition reaction of enynes to aldehydes is presented, which can be realized in the presence of a simple and benign calcium catalyst. The reaction proceeds with excellent chemo, regio‐ and diastereoselectivity and leads to a one‐step assembly of highly interesting bicyclic building blocks containing up to three stereocenters from simple precursors via a new type of skeletal rearrangement of enynes. The observed diastereoselectivity is accounted for by two different mechanistic proposals. The first one engages mechanistic prospects arising from a gold catalyzed reaction in the absence of the stabilizing gold substituent. The second proposal involves an unprecedented cyclization–carbonyl allene ene reaction–hydroalkoxylation cascade.     

Enantioselective Rhodium‐Catalyzed Coupling of Arylboronic Acids, 1,3‐Enynes,and Imines by Alkenyl‐to‐Allyl 1,4‐Rhodium(I) Migration

A chiral rhodium complex catalyzes the highly enantioselective coupling of arylboronic acids, 1,3‐enynes, and imines to give homoallylic sulfamates. The key step is the generation of allylrhodium(I) species by alkenyl‐to‐allyl 1,4‐rhodium(I) migration.     

Ruthenium-catalyzed reactions of 1-cyclopropyl-2-propyn-1-ols with anilines and water via allenylidene intermediates: selective preparation of tri- and tetrasubstituted conjugated enynes

Ruthenium-catalyzed efficient preparation of the conjugated enynes can be carried out in the reactions of 1-cyclopropyl-2-propyn-1-ols with nitrogen- and oxygen-centered nucleophiles such as anilines and water in the presence of a catalytic amount of sulfur-bridged diruthenium complexes. The use of such complexes as catalysts realizes the completely stereoselective preparation of tri- and tetrasubstituted conjugated enynes, where ruthenium-allenylidene complexes work as key intermediates. The direct attack of nucleophiles on a cyclopropane ring connected to an allenylidene ligand is a key step to obtain the enynes stereoselectively.