Alkene complexes synthesis, reactions

An obvious drawback in RCM-based synthesis of unsaturated macrocyclic natural compounds is the lack of control over the newly formed double bond. The products formed are usually obtained as mixture of ( /Z)-isomers with the (E)-isomer dominating in most cases. The best solution for this problem might be a sequence of RCAM followed by (E)- or (Z)-selective partial reduction. Until now, alkyne metathesis has remained in the shadow of alkene-based metathesis reactions. One of the reasons maybe the lack of commercially available catalysts for this type of reaction. When alkyne metathesis as a new synthetic tool was reviewed in early 1999 [184], there existed only a single report disclosed by Fiirstner s laboratory [185] on the RCAM-based conversion of functionalized diynes to triple-bonded 12- to 28-membered macrocycles with the concomitant expulsion of 2-butyne (cf Fig. 3a). These reactions were catalyzed by Schrock s tungsten-carbyne complex G. Since then, Furstner and coworkers have achieved a series of natural product syntheses, which seem to establish RCAM followed by partial reduction to (Z)- or (E)-cycloalkenes as a useful macrocyclization alternative to RCM. As work up to early 2000, including the development of alternative alkyne metathesis catalysts, is competently covered in Fiirstner s excellent review [2a], we will concentrate here only on the most recent natural product syntheses, which were all achieved by Fiirstner s team. 

The reaction between alkenes and synthesis gas (syngas), an equimolar mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen, to form aldehydes was discovered in 1938 by Otto Roelen [1,2]. Originally called oxo-reaction , hydroformyla-tion is the term used today. This reflects the formal addition of formaldehyde to the olefinic double bond. Commercially, homogeneous metal complexes based on cobalt and rhodium are used as catalysts. With more than 10 million metric tons of oxo products per year, this reaction represents the most important use of homogeneous catalysis in the chemical industry. 

The synthesis of polyhalide salts, R4NX , used in electrophilic substitution reactions, are described in Chapter 2 and H-bonded complexed salts with the free acid, R4NHX2, which are used for example in acid-catalysed cleavage reactions and in electrophilic addition reactions with alkenes, are often produced in situ [33], although the fluorides are obtained by modification of method I.I.I.B. [19, 34], The in situ formation of such salts can inhibit normal nucleophilic reactions [35, 36]. Quaternary ammonium chlorometallates have been synthesized from quaternary ammonium chlorides and transition metal chlorides, such as IrClj and PtCl4, and are highly efficient catalysts for phase-transfer reactions and for metal complex promoted reactions [37]. 

The oxo synthesis (hydroformylation), which was discovered by Otto Roelen in 1938 at Ruhrchemie AG, is one of the most important metal-complex-catalyzed reactions of alkenes. Today, the worldwide capacity for oxo products is about 6 million tons/year. 

Other methods for obtaining complexes of ethylene and other alkenes include ligand substitution reactions, reduction of a higher valent metal in the presence of an alkene, and synthesis from alkyl and related species [reductive elimination, of an allyl or hydride, for example hydride abstraction from alkyls protonation of sigma-allyls from epoxides (indirectly)] [74a],... 

The imines 12 (X = 4-CH3-QH4-SO2 (Ts), Ar, C02R, COR, etc.) preformed or generated in situ from N,0- or N,N-acetals or hemiacetals are another important class of Mannich reagents frequently used for diastereo- and/or enantioselective aminoalkylation reactions catalyzed by chiral Lewis acids (usually copper or palladium BINAP complexes such as 13). Among other things excellent results were obtained in the aminoalkylation of silyl enol ethers or ketene acetals [24], A typical example is the synthesis of Mannich bases 14 depicted in Scheme 5 [24b], Because of their comparatively high electrophilicity imines 12 could even be used successfully for the asymmetric aminoalkylation of unactivated alkenes 15 (ene reactions, see Scheme 5) [24h, 25], and the diastereo- and/or enantioselective aminoalkyla-... 

Alkanes are the world s most abundant organic resource. Olefins, by contrast, are relatively scarce they are, however, the most important class of intermediate in the commodity chemical industry [1], Thus the ability to convert alkanes to alkenes is a reaction with tremendous potential utility. Likewise, in view of the obvious importance of the carbon-carbon double bond functionality in the synthesis of complex organic molecules, the ability to introduce unsaturation into unfunctionalized alkyl groups is also a very alluring goal. 

The most characteristic photochemical reaction of aromatic compounds is their cydoaddition with alkenes. The intramolecular reaction is suitable for the synthesis of complex structures, such as those depicted in Scheme 9.49, where [3+2]-photocycloaddition leads to structures which resemble natural products (aphidico-line and stemoclinone). An interaction of the arene singlet excited state with the alkene ground state gives rise to the meta adduct [83, 84]. 

The chiral anisole derivative 37 has been used in the synthesis of several asymmetric functionalized cyclohexenes (Table 9) [22]. In a reaction sequence similar to that employed with racemic anisole complexes, 37 adds an electrophile and a nucleophile across C4 and C3, respectively, to form the cyclohexadiene complex 38. The vinyl ether group of 38 can then be reduced by the tandem addition of a proton and hydride to C2 and Cl, respectively, affording the alkene complex 39. Direct oxidation of 39 liberates cydohexenes 40 and 41, in which the initial asymmetric auxiliary is still intact. Alternatively, the auxiliary may be cleaved under acidic conditions to afford /y3 -allyl complexes, which can be regioselectively attacked by another nucleophile at Cl. Oxidative decomplexation liberates the cyclohexenes 42-44. HPLC analysis revealed high ee values for the organic products isolated both with and without the initial asymmetric group. 

Asymmetric Synthesis by Homogeneous Catalysis Coordination Organometallic Chemistry Principles Hydrobo-ration Catalysis Hydrogenation Isomerization of Alkenes Mechanisms of Reaction of Organometallic Complexes Silicon Organosilicon Chemistry. 

Since the vanadium center of vanadocenes is electron-deficient, various vanadium derivatives are formed by the attack with PR3, CO, or unsaturated tt-donating hgands/ This reaction provides a useful synthetic method for the synthesis of jj -alkene complexes as described later. Thus formed Cp 2V(CO) (22) is converted to the cyano derivative (23, see Cyanide Complexes of the Transition Metals) on treatment with the isocyanide (Scheme 12). ( -C5Me5)2V is incubated with O2 at -78 °C to yield [(/u.-)] -C5Me503)V(0)]2 via oxygen insertion into the carbon-vanadium bond." ... 

---