Ring expansion of 5- to 6-member zirconacycles by carbenoid insertion

A wide range of carbenoids (1-lithio-1-halo species), including those with α-SiR₃, OEt, SPh, SO₂Ph, P(O)(OEt)₂, and CN substituents, insert into 5-member zirconacycles (saturated and unsaturated, mono- and bi-cyclic) to afford functionalized 6-member zirconacycles. 1-Lithio-1-haloalkenes insert to afford 6-member zirconacycles with an alkylidene substituent next to the metal. Unexpected double insertion of some carbenoids, and evidence for endocylic β-hydride transfer processes provide additional mechanistic interest.     

Synthesis and molecular structures of dialkylselenonium methylide complexes of indium tribromide

The reaction of bromomethyl-dibromo-indium(III), Br₂InCH₂Br with dialkylselenides, R¹SeR² (R¹ = CH₃, R² = CH₂C₆H₅; R¹ = C₂H₅, R² = CH₂C₆H₅; R¹ = R² = CH₂C₆H₅) afforded the corresponding dialkylselenonium methylide complexes of indium tribromide, Br₃InCH₂SeR¹R², which were fully characterized by NMR spectroscopy and single crystal X-ray diffraction studies.     

Electronic structure of axially ligated rhodium carboxylates: π back-bonding revisited

Fenske-Hall molecular orbital calculations have been applied to a new, structurally isolable analog of the intermediate involved in catalytic rhodium carboxylate carbenoid transformations. Results from the structural characterization of axially ligated rhodium acetate phenylisonitrile complexes have been utilized in approximate molecular orbital calculations. The results from the calculations suggest that a significant degree of π back-bonding exists between the metal and isonitrile fragments which, by analogy, implies that π back-bonding should also exist in the rhodium carbenoid intermediate. Sensitivity of the Fenske-Hall method to the magnitude of π back-donation in these complexes was gauged through calculations involving different phenylisonitrile groups in which the π back-bonding ability was modulated through derivativization. The reliability of the Fenske-Hall method was evaluated through a comparison to a high-level calculation. Received: 13 December 1996 / Accepted: 18 March 1997     

The Rhodium(II) Carbenoid Cyclization-Cycloaddition Cascade of alpha-Diazo Dihydroindolinones for the Synthesis of Novel Azapolycyclic Ring Systems

Tandem carbonyl ylide formation-1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of α-diazo N-acetyl-tetrahydro-β-carbolin-1-one derivatives occur efficiently in the presence of a dirhodium catalyst to afford bimolecular cycloadducts in high yield. The Rh(II)-catalyzed reaction also takes place intramolecularly to give products derived from trapping of the carbonyl ylide dipole with a tethered alkene. The power of the intramolecular cascade sequence is that it rapidly assembles a pentacyclic ring system containing three new stereocenters and two adjacent quaternary centers stereospecifically in a single step and in high yield.     

Difluoromethylation of Amines with Zn(CF3)Br · 2 CH3CN,Cd(CF3)2 · 2 CH3CN and the System Bi(CF3)3/AlCl3

The reactions of Zn(CF₃)Br · 2 CH₃CN, Cd(CF₃)₂ · 2 CH₃CN or Bi(CF₃)₃/AlCl₃ with tertiary amines lead to the formation of quaternary ammonium salts of the general formula [R₃NCF₂H]X. The reaction of 4‐N,N‐dimethylaminopyridine with Zn(CF₃)Br · 2 CH₃CN yields (N‐difluoromethyl)‐4‐N,N‐dimethylaminopyridinium bromide. Bi(CF₃)₃/AlCl₃ reacts with 1,4‐diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane to form a mixture of mono‐ and bis(difluoromethylammonium) salts.     

Ab Initio Studies on MCH2(OH) and CH3OM(M=H, -, Li, Na)

IntroductionThe greatsynthetic utility of organolithium reagents has been extended by the introduc-tion ofα-lithium-etherreagents[1— 4] .Those reagentsareeasily prepared,and they can be usedas anionic resources to synthesize a large variety of compounds stereo-selectively[5— 8] .Fur-thermore,such reagents can react with nucleophiles like RLi,only a typical reaction of car-benoid[9,1 0 ] .Though the ambidentnature isof greatinterest,only a little work has been doneon model molecule Li CH2 …     

Transition metal-catalyzed reactions of propargylic carboxylates via an initial 1,2-acyloxy migration

Propargylic carboxylates, as a type of easily available alkyne compounds, have attracted considerable attentions in recent decade. Under the catalysis of transition metal complex (Pd, Ru, Pt, Au, Rh etc), one of chemical transformations of propargylic carboxylate is 1,2-acyloxy migration. The resultant alkenyl metallocarbenoid or metal-containing species may undergo a variety of chemical transformations, leading to formation of carbocyclic and heterocyclic compounds. In this review, representative domino reactions initiated by 1,2-acyloxy migration of propargylic carboxylates are summarized, including pentannuations, cycloadditions and rearrangements. Some mechanistic discussions and synthetic applications are also included.     

Rh(III)-catalyzed, 1,2,3-triazole-assisted directed CH coupling with diazo diphosphonates

A mild and efficient procedure was developed for the [Cp1Rh(III)]-catalyzed, 1,2,3-triazole directed CH coupling with diazomethylene-diphosphonates. This protocol provided a step- and atom-economical protocol for CC bond formation and led to structurally diverse 2-(1,2,3-triazol-2-yl)benzyl diphosphonates in good to excellent yields.     

Copper catalyzed access to functionalized oxazoles from oximes via carbenoids

An operationally simple, economical and straightforward synthesis of diverse oxazoles from oximes possessing a vicinal carbonyl group has been achieved by treatment of the latter with terminal diazo compounds like ethyl/benzyl diazoacetate and diazoacetophenone (which act as carbenoids) in one pot. At least two reducible functional groups (two ester groups or cyano?+?ester) are simultaneously introduced in one step. This reaction involves expulsion of a molecule each of N₂ and water only as byproducts under copper catalysis. The structure of one of these oxazoles is confirmed by X-ray crystallography. Both the ester groups in the oxazole product could be reduced to alcohol moieties by using NaBH₄/EtOH.     

An Enantioselective Approach to the Securinega Alkaloids: The Total Synthesis of (+)-Norsecurinine and (+)-Allonorsecurinine

Total syntheses of (+)-norsecurinine and (+)-allonorsecurinine are described that utilize a rhodium carbenoid-initiated O-H insertion/Claisen rearrangement/1,2-allyl migration domino process for the stereoselective introduction of the tertiary alcohol moiety. Overall the employed strategy is flexible and will allow access to other members of the Securinega family of alkaloids.