Allylic substitution on cyclopentene and -hexene rings with alkynylcopper reagents

Substitution of cyclic allylic picolinates with a reagent derived from TMS-C≡CMgBr and a copper salt was investigated. Although the previous type of reagent (TMSC≡CMgBr and CuBr·Me(2)S) developed for linear allylic picolinates was less product selective and regioselective, the Cu(acac)(2)-derived reagent was highly selective (94-95%) to afford the S(N)2' product in good yields. As an application, several C-C bond formations at the acetylenic carbon and the synthesis of the PG intermediate were studied with success.