Efficient Trapping of 1,2‐Cyclohexadienes with 1,3‐Dipoles

1,2‐Cyclohexadienes are transient intermediates that undergo rapid dimerization and intermolecular trapping with activated olefins and heteroatomic nucleophiles. Fluoride‐mediated desilylative elimination of readily accessible 6‐silylcyclohexene‐1‐triflates allows the mild, chemoselective, and functional‐group tolerant generation of cyclic allene intermediates, which undergo efficient trapping reactions with stable 1,3‐dipoles. The reactions proceed with high levels of both regio‐ and diastereoselectivity. The reaction of cyclic allenes with azides is accompanied by the facile loss of dinitrogen, resulting in the formation of tetrahydroindoles or polycylic aziridines depending on the azide employed.     

Palladium‐Catalyzed CH Activation and Intermolecular Annulation with Allenes

A new and efficient Pd^II‐catalyzed intermolecular annulation of N‐benzoylsulfonamide with allenes for the synthesis of 3,4‐dihydroisoquinolin‐1(2H)‐ones is reported. This C?H functionalization is compatible with ambient air and moisture, and it can be applied to terminal or internal allenes with di?erent synthetically attractive functional groups. Control experiments and a kinetic isotope effect study are conducted and a plausible mechanism is proposed.     

Metal Alkoxide Promoted Regio‐ and Stereoselective CO and CC Metathesis of Allenoates with Aldehydes

The reaction of 2,3‐allenoates and aldehydes in the presence of an alkoxide affords alkyl 4,5‐diaryl‐3‐oxo‐2‐propylpent‐4(E)‐enoates and cis‐3,4‐diaryloxetanes through a formal C?O and C?C metathesis. A mechanism for this reaction has been proposed.     

Intermolecular Hydroaminoalkylation of Propadiene

Intermolecular hydroaminoalkylation reactions of propadiene with selected secondary amines take place in the presence of a 2,6-bis(phenylamino)pyridinato titanium catalyst. The corresponding products, synthetically useful allylamines, are formed in convincing yields and with high selectivities. In addition, propadiene easily inserts into the titanium-carbon bond of a titanaaziridine.     

Polymerization of Allenes by Using an Iron(II) β-Diketiminate Pre-Catalyst to Generate High Mn Polymers

Herein, we report an iron(II)-catalyzed polymerization of arylallenes. This reaction proceeds rapidly at room temperature in the presence of a hydride co-catalyst to generate polymers of weight up to M_n=189 000 Da. We have determined the polymer structure and chain length for a range of monomers through a combination of NMR, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and gel permeation chromatography (GPC) analysis. Mechanistically, we postulate that the co-catalyst does not react to form an iron(II) hydride in situ, but instead the chain growth is proceeding via a reactive Fe(III) species. We have also performed kinetic and isotopic experiments to further our understanding. The formation of a highly unusual 1,3-substituted cyclobutane side-product is also investigated.     

Advances in Total Synthesis of Some 2,3,5‐Trisubstituted Tetrahydrofuran Natural Products

2,3,5‐Trisubstituted tetrahydrofuran moiety is ubiquitous in natural products. These have served as appealing candidates for total synthesis due to their varied bio‐ and pharmaceutical activities. This tutorial review delineates the ingenious efforts by many researchers in the total synthesis of selected natural products based on a common 2,3,5‐trisubstituted tetrahydrofuran core structure. Many of the syntheses display nuanced interplay between new methods and the ingenuity of planned strategies achieved through catalysis or cascade chemistry. In some cases, the chiron approach has come quite handy, wherein the structural features and the stereochemistry in select molecules could map well with naturally available starting materials. This compilation also aims to enhance the diversity space based on these natural products and further interest in sustainable total synthesis.     

Asymmetric Wacker‐Type Oxyallenylation and Azaallenylation of Cyclic Alkenes

Palladium‐catalyzed three‐component carboetherification of cyclic alkenes proceeded to give trans adducts exclusively with excellent enantioselectivity through a Wacker‐type pathway. The reaction is also applicable to other oxygen nucleophiles, such as water, phenols, and carboxylic acids, as well as some electron‐poor aryl amines.     

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.     

钯催化有机卤化物与烷基炔的Heck型反应

烯烃的Heck反应经过几十年的发展已日趋成熟,但相应的钯催化有机卤化物与烷基炔的Heck反应生成联烯虽然有着原料简单易得的优点,但发展严重滞后。这一方面是由于活性中间体烯基钯自身难以发生β-H消除,导致其更容易发生质子化反应、碳卤化反应以及串联反应等竞争性反应,另一方面,联烯异构化以及非对称烷基炔的区域选择性问题同样限制了烷基炔Heck反应的研究进展。目前能高效促进烯基钯中间体β-H消除的方法主要有提高反应温度、芳基卤化合物引入取代基和改变配体等。本文主要叙述烷基炔的Heck反应过程中涉及到的烯基钯β-H消除生成联烯以及质子化反应、碳卤化反应和串联反应等竞争性反应,最后总结该反应存在的问题,并对其研究方向进行展望。     

An Enolate-Structure-Enabled Anionic Cascade Cyclization Reaction: Easy Access to Complex Scaffolds with Contiguous Six-, Five-, and Four-Membered Rings

Catalyst-free addition of ketone enolate to non-activated multiple C−C bonds involves non-complementary reaction partners and typically requires super-basic conditions. On the other hand, highly aggregated or solvated enolates are not reactive enough to undergo direct addition to alkenes or alkynes. Herein, we report a new anionic cascade reaction for one-step assembly of intriguing molecular scaffolds possessing contiguous six-, five-, and four-membered rings, representing a formal [2+2] enol–allene cycloaddition. Reaction proceeds under very mild conditions and with excellent diastereoselectivity. Deeper mechanistic and computational studies revealed unusually slow proton transfer phenomenon in cyclic ketone intermediate and explained peculiar stereochemical outcome.