Development of a Novel Approach to Formation of a Pyrrole Ring: Synthesis of 2,3,5-Substituted 1-[2-(Vinyloxy)ethyl]pyrroles

Reaction of 2-(vinyloxy)ethylisothiocyanate with unsaturated carbanions generated in situ from propargyl ethers and amines when treated with superbases, after S-alkylation and cyclization of the adducts in the presence of CuBr, leads to the previously unknown 2,3,5-substituted 1-[2-(vinyloxy)ethyl]pyrroles.     

Synthesis of 1-alkylselenocyclobutene via intermediate allenyl selenoketene

Reactions of 2-alkynyl arylethynyl selenide 1 with alkyl iodides 3 in the presence of lithium aluminium hydride via allenyl selenoketene 2 afforded cyclobutene 4. Allenyl group of the intermediate allenyl selenoketene 2 was monitored by React IR.     

Allenyl esters as quenching agents for ruthenium olefin metathesis catalysts

In the attempt to synthesize substituted allenyl esters through a metathesis coupling of unsubstituted allenyl esters and alkenes using a variety of ruthenium catalysts, it was discovered that allenyl esters themselves cleanly arrested the activity of the catalysts. Further studies suggests possible utility of allene esters as general quenching agents for metathesis reactions. To explore this idea, several representative olefin metathesis reactions, including ring closing, were successfully terminated by the addition of simple allenyl esters for more convenient purification.     

Electrochemical, EPR and computational results on [Fe2Cp2(CO)2]-based complexes with a bridging hydrocarbyl ligand

The dimetallacyclopentenone complexes [Fe₂Cp₂(CO)(μ−CO){μ−η¹:η³−C_αHC_β(R)C(O)}] (R = CH₂OH, 1a; R = CMe₂OH, 1b; R = Ph, 1c) were prepared by photolytic reaction of [Fe₂Cp₂(CO)₄] with alkyne according to the literature procedure. The X-ray and the electrochemical characterization of 1c are presented. The μ-allenyl compound [Fe₂Cp₂(CO)₂(μ−CO){μ−η¹:η²_α,β−C_αHC_βCMe₂][BF₄] ([2][BF₄]), obtained by reaction of 1b with HBF₄, underwent monoelectron reduction to give a radical species which was detected by EPR at room temperature. The EPR signal has been assigned to [Fe₂Cp₂(CO)₂(μ−CO){μ−η¹:η²_α,β-C_αHC_βCMe₂}], [2]^•. The molecular structures of [2]⁺ and [2]^• were optimized by DFT calculations. The unpaired electron in [2]^• is localized mainly at the metal centers and, coherently, [2]^• does not undergo carbon-carbon dimerization, by contrast with what previously observed for the μ-vinyl radical complex [Fe₂Cp₂(CO)₂(μ−CO){μ−η¹:η²-CHCH(Ph)}]^•, [3]^•. Electron spin density distributions similar to the one of [2]^• were found for the μ-allenyl radical complexes [Fe₂Cp₂(CO)₂(μ-CO){μ-η¹:η²_α,β-C_αHC_βC(R¹)(R²)}]^• (R¹ = R² = H, [4]^•; R¹ = H, R² = Ph, [5]^•; R¹ = R² = Ph, [6]^•).     

Additions and intramolecular migrations of nucleophiles in cationic diruthenium μ-allenyl complexes

The diruthenium μ-allenyl complex [Ru₂(CO)(NCMe)(μ-CO){μ-η¹:η²-C(H)CC(Me)(Ph)}(Cp)₂][BF₄], 3b, reacts with halide anions to yield the neutral derivatives [Ru₂(CO)₂(X){μ-η¹:η²-C(H)CC(Me)(Ph)}(Cp)₂] [X = Cl, 4b; X = Br, 4c; X = I, 4d]. Complex 4b undergoes isomerization to the unprecedented bridging vinyl-chlorocarbene species [Ru₂(CO)(μ-CO){μ-η¹:η³- C(Cl)C(H)C(Me)(Ph)}(Cp)₂], 10, upon filtration of a CH₂Cl₂ solution through an alumina column.Complex 3b reacts with an excess of NaBH₄ to give five products: the allene complex [Ru₂(CO)₂{μ-η²:η²- CH₂CC(Me)(Ph)}(Cp)₂], 5; the hydride species trans-[Ru₂(CO)₂(μ-H){μ-η¹:η²-CHCC(Me)(Ph)}(Cp)₂], 6, and cis-[Ru₂(CO)₂(μ-H){μ-η¹:η²-CHCC(Me)(Ph)}(Cp)₂], 8; the vinyl-alkylidene [Ru₂(CO)(μ-CO){μ-η¹:η³- C(H)C(H)C(Me)(Ph)}(Cp)₂], 9; and the cluster [Ru₃(CO)₃(μ-H)₃(Cp)₃], 7.Studies on the thermal stabilities of 5, 6, 8 and 9 have suggested a plausible mechanism for the formation of these complexes and for the synthesis of 10.     

Regioselective addition of chalcogenol to an η-propargyl/allenyl complex via formation of the carbon-chalcogen bond leading to new chalcogenoxyallyl species

Regioselective addition of chalcogenol to an ν³-propargyl complex Pt(PPh₃)₂(η³-C₃H₃)](BF₄) (2) via the formation of the C---O, C---S, or C---Se bond generates new cationic chalcogenoxyallyl species {Pt(PPh₃)₂[η³CH₂C(ER)CH₂]}(BF₄) (E = O, R = Me 4(a), Et (4b, ⁱPr (4c), ¹Bu (4d), Ph (4e); E=S, E=Et (5b), ^tBu (5d, Ph (5e); E=Se, R=Ph (6e )) respectively in good yields. Thiol and selenol react with complex 2 much faster than alcohol; and 2 reacts with p-(HO)C₆H₄(SH) to exclusively yield the thioxyallyl product {Pt(PPh₃)₂[η³-CH₂C(SC₆H₄OH)CH₂]}(BF₄) (5f). Among the alcoh and phenol, thereactivity follows the order MeOH > EtOH >, ⁱPrOH >, ^tBuOH > PhOH. A mechanism comprising a preceding coordination step is postulated. The X-ray structures of 4b, 4e, 5b, 5e and 6e are provided.     

Reaction of allenylmagnesium and allenylindium bromides with nitrile oxides: synthesis of novel 5-butynyl- and 5-methylisoxazoles

5-Butynylisoxazoles were obtained in high yields through a domino addition, C-O heterocyclization involving allenylmagnesium bromide and benzonitrile oxide in dry THF, in which the corresponding 5-methylisoxazoles were isolated in trace amounts. However, when the reactions were attempted in aqueous media using allenylindium bromide, 5-methylisoxazoles were formed as the sole products in high yields.     

A novel thermal rearrangement of allenic imidothioates. Formation of iminocyclobutenes

Allenic imidothioates, H₂CCC(Ph)C(SMe)NR (R = Me, t-Bu, Ph) have been obtained in good yields by reaction of 1,3-dilithiated 1-(2-propynyl)benzene with isothiocyanates and successive addition of t-butyl alcohol and methyl iodide. Heating the imidothioates at ∼120 °C gave an iminocyclobutene as the only isolated product (if R = t-Bu), a ∼4:6 mixture of a 2,3-dihydropyridine and an iminocyclobutene (if R = Me) or a 3:1 mixture of a quinoline and an iminocyclobutene (if R = Ph).     

Highly Regio‐ and Stereoselective Synthesis of β‐Phenyl‐chalcogenyl Allyl Sulfones by Hydrochalcogenation Reaction of 1,2‐Allenyl Sulfones

The hydrochalcogenation of allenyl sulfones with sodium organyl chalcogenolates can proceed smoothly to give β‐phenylchalcogenyl allyl sulfones in high yields with exclusive regioselectivity. For the asymmetric allenyl sulfone, the reaction has both high regio‐ and stereoselectivity with the predominace of E‐isomer. Some applications of β‐phenyltelluro and β‐phenylselanyl allyl sulfone in organic synthesis are also investigated.     

Chemistry of allenic/propargylic anions generated by base treatment of sulfonylallenes: synthesis of 1-alkynyl-1-sulfonylcycloalkanes and cycloalkanols

The intramolecular trapping of allenyl/propargyl anions, generated from sulfonylallenes with the proper base, by a haloalkyl group or an aldehyde functionality was investigated. The treatment of 1-(ω-iodoalkyl)-1-(phenylsulfonyl)allenes with TBAF or NaH in DMF efficiently produced the 1-alkynyl-1-(phenylsulfonyl)-substituted three- to seven-membered carbocycles. The allenyl/propargyl anions could also be intramolecularly trapped using a terminal aldehyde to stereoselectively afford the 2-alkynyl-2-(phenylsulfonyl)-substituted five- and six-membered cycloalkanols. The latter reaction could be performed using a catalytic amount of TBAF or DBU.