Addition reactions Reformatsky

Scheme 2.23 provides some examples of conjugate addition reactions. Entry 1 illustrates the tendency for reaction to proceed through the more stable enolate. Entries 2 to 5 are typical examples of addition of doubly stabilized enolates to electrophilic alkenes. Entries 6 to 8 are cases of addition of nitroalkanes. Nitroalkanes are comparable in acidity to (i-ketocslcrs (see Table 1.1) and are often excellent nucleophiles for conjugate addition. Note that in Entry 8 fluoride ion is used as the base. Entry 9 is a case of adding a zinc enolate (Reformatsky reagent) to a nitroalkene. Entry 10 shows an enamine as the carbon nucleophile. All of these reactions were done under equilibrating conditions. 

The Reformatsky reaction is related to both organometallic and aldol addition reactions and probably involves a cyclic TS. The Reformatsky reagent from /-butyl bromoacetate crystallizes as a dimer having both O—Zn (enolate-like) and C—Zn (organometallic-like) bonds (see Figure 7.5).165... 

Asymmetric additions of Reformatsky-type reagents to nitrones 258a and 258b have also been reported (Scheme 139). The reagents were prepared in situ from ZnEt2 and the corresponding iodoacetic acid ester. Diisopropyl (R,R)-tartrate 262 was employed as a chiral inductor. Enantioselectivities varied significantly the best results were obtained at 0 °C when a nitrone was added to the reaction mixture over a 2 h period. 

As a kind of nucleophilic addition reaction similar to the Grignard reaction, the Reformatsky reaction can afford useful ft-hydroxy esters from alkyl haloacetate, zinc, and aldehydes or ketones. Indeed, this reaction may complement the aldol reaction for asymmetric synthesis of //-hydroxy esters. 

The first enantioselective one-pot, three-component imino Reformatsky reactions q have been reviewed 98 (—)-A, A-Dimethylami noisoborneol has been found to be an excellent ligand for the enantioselective addition of Reformatsky reagents to aromatic and aliphatic aldehydes 99 Enantioselectivities up to 93% ee have been obtained with sulfur-containing aldehydes. 

Organogallium compounds are good nucleophiles for performing addition reactions to carbonyl functionalities. Alkylation, allylation, aldol condensation, and the Reformatsky reaction proceed readily with organogallium reagents. 

This chapter summarizes studies on the nature of the Reformatsky reagent as well as other, related, zinc enolates and outlines the synthetic aspects of the reaction with aldehydes and ketones. In addition, reactions of the Reformatsky reagent with imines and nitriles (the Blaise reaction) are described. 

In a series of studies [97-99] the one-step - Reformatsky type - addition reaction to carbon-carbon double and triple bonds was investigated with ultrasound irradiation in which zinc was used together with activated allylic bromides such as... 

A convenient method for the synthesis of polyfunctionalized 3-fluoropyrroles 243 by Rh2(OAc)4-catalyzed intramolecular N-H insertion reaction of difluorinated diazo compounds 241 was reported [83], The starting compounds can be synthesized by Zn-CuCl-promoted Reformatsky-imine addition reaction of 4-bromo-4,4-difluoroacetoacetate 238 with aldimines 239. Subsequent diazotransfer reaction and Rh2(OAc)4-catalyzed intramolecular N-H insertion allow the preparation of 3-fluoropyrroles 243 in almost quantitative yield. 

Zinc enolates prepared under Reformatsky conditions undergo addition reactions with nitriles. The initial products are )8-aniino-a,)8-unsaturated esters, which can be readily hydrolyzed to )8-ketoesters. ... 

The addition of Reformatsky reagents to imines has been utilized occasionally as an alternative to the Mannich reaction where the enolate is generated by deprotonation. A rhodium-catalyzed imine Reformatsky reaction of menthyl bromodifluoroacetate 378 was used for an asymmetric synthesis of P-lactam 379. 

Kitazume and Kasai [55] have investigated the Reformatsky reaction in three ionic liquids. This reaction involves treatment of an a-bromo ester with zinc to give an a-zinc bromide ester, which in turn reacts with an aldehyde to give an addition product. An example is given in Scheme 5.1-26. Moderate to good yields (45-95 %) were obtained in ionic liquids such as [EDBU][OTf] for the reactions between ethyl bro-moacetate or ethyl bromodifluoroacetate and benzaldehyde [55]. 

The complexation of achiral metal enolates by chiral additives, e.g., solvents or complexing agents could, in principle, lead to reagent-induced stereoselectivity. In an early investigation, the Reformatsky reaction of ethyl bromoacetate was performed in the presence of the bidentate ligand (—)-sparteine20. The enantioselectivity of this reaction varies over a wide range and depends on the carbonyl Compound, as shown with bcnzaldehyde and acetophenone. 

Alkylzinc halides have also been prepared under microwave irradiation. The Reformatsky reagents (2-t-butoxy-2-oxoethyl)zinc bromide and [(2-dibenzylamino)-2-oxoethyl]zinc bromide were synthesized from the corresponding bromides via reaction with zinc in THF (Scheme 5) [24], The oxidative addition was executed at 100 °C in 5 min. The obtained reagents were subsequently used in Negishi reactions on 2-bromopyridine, 3-bromopyridine, 2-bromo-5-nitropyridine, and 2-bromo-5-trifluoromethyl-pyridine using Pd(PPh3)4 as a catalyst (Scheme 5). 

In the presence of a strong base, the ot carbon of a carboxylic ester can condense with the carbonyl carbon of an aldehyde or ketone to give a P-hydroxy ester, which may or may not be dehydrated to the a,P-unsaturated ester. This reaction is sometimes called the Claisen reaction,an unfortunate usage since that name is more firmly connected to 10-118. In a modem example of how the reaction is used, addition of tert-butyl acetate to LDA in hexane at -78°C gives the lithium salt of ferf-butyl acetate, " (12-21) an enolate anion. Subsequent reaction a ketone provides a simple rapid alternative to the Reformatsky reaction (16-31) as a means of preparing P-hydroxy erf-butyl esters. It is also possible for the a carbon of an aldehyde or ketone to add to the carbonyl carbon of a carboxylic ester, but this is a different reaction (10-119) involving nucleophilic substitution and not addition to a C=0 bond. It can, however, be a side reaction if the aldehyde or ketone has an a hydrogen. 

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