Acetylenes allenylpalladium complexes

Substituted propargylic carbonates react with terminal acetylenes in the presence of a catalytic amount of Pd(PPh3)4 and Cul to produce Sonogashira-type cross-coupling products (Eq. 9.114) [84]. Presumably, the reaction proceeds through an allenylpalladium complex. Addition of a salt, such as KBr, increased the yield of the coupling product. Only tetrasubstituted allenes could be obtained by this procedure. 

The formation of (31) was favoured in most reactions tried, presumably due to the directing influence of the hydroxyl group present as the lithium anion. Palladium catalysis finds yet another fruitful application in the conversion of acetylenic carbonates to allenic products. The allenylpalladium complexes... 

Primary propargylic formates decarboxylate in the presence of Pd(acac)2 and Bu3P at room temperature to give mainly allenic products (Eq. 9.115) [91]. Initial formation of a propargylic palladium complex, which rearranges to the more stable allenylpalladium species, accounts for this transformation. Under similar conditions, a terminal allenyl formate afforded a 99 1 mixture of allene and acetylene product (Eq. 9.116) [91]. However, a mixture of enyne elimination products was formed when a secondary propargylic carbonate was treated with a palladium catalyst (Eq. 9.117). 

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