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.     

Palladium(0)-catalyzed cycloisomerization of enallenes

A novel palladium(0)-catalyzed cycloisomerization of enallenes has been developed. This reaction, catalyzed by [Pd(dba)2] (dba=dibenzylideneacetone) in acetic acid, results in the formation of cyclopentene derivatives and [n.3.0]bicyclic systems (n=3, 4) in good to high yields. The carbon-carbon bond-forming step is highly stereoselective to give cis-fused bicyclic systems. The presence of acetic acid as solvent and dba as ligand for palladium(0) turned out to be essential for the reaction in order to provide good reactivity and regioselectivity.     

Synthesis and easy aromatisation of 5-substituted 6-(alkylthio)-2-methoxy-2,3-dihydropyridines. A new approach to the pyridine ring

Reaction of lithiated methoxyallene, 1-ethoxyethoxyallene, 1-(methylthio)propyne and 2-butyne with methoxymethyl isothiocyanate, MeOCH₂N=C=S followed by methylation affords the imidothioates H₂C=C=C(R)C(SMe)=NCH₂OMe [R=Me, OMe, OCH(Me)OEt, SMe]. Rearrangement to the fully conjugated systems H₂C=CH---C(R)=C(SMe)---N=CHOMe and subsequent electrocyclisation of these compounds leads to the 5-substituted 6-(methylthio)-2-methoxy-2,3-dihydropyridines with good to excellent yields. In the presence of acidic catalysts or by heating at elevated temperatures these dihydropyridines eliminate methanol to afford 3-substituted 2-(methylthio)pyridines. The aroma compound 2-(methylthio)-3-pyridinol was obtained by acid-catalysed treatment of 3-(1-ethoxyethoxy)-2-(methylthio)pyridine.     

Stereoselective Iodolactonization of 4‐Allenoic Acids with Efficient Chirality Transfer: Development of a New Electrophilic Iodination Reagent

A highly stereoselective iodolactonization of 4‐allenoic acids with a new sterically demanding electrophilic iodination reagent to afford optically active γ‐butyrolactones has been developed. The reaction shows high efficiency of axial chirality transfer and excellent Z/E selectivity and has been applied to the synthesis of chiral cis‐β,γ‐disubstituted γ‐butyrolactones to give very high diastereomeric and enantiomeric excess values. The reaction has been successfully utilized in the synthesis of naturally occurring compounds (+)‐cis‐whisky lactone and (+)‐cis‐3‐methyl‐4‐decanolide.     

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.