Alkenes, homoallylic lactonization

The reaction of alkenyl mercurials with alkenes forms 7r-allylpalladium intermediates by the rearrangement of Pd via the elimination of H—Pd—Cl and its reverse readdition. Further transformations such as trapping with nucleophiles or elimination form conjugated dienes[379]. The 7r-allylpalladium intermediate 418 formed from 3-butenoic acid reacts intramolecularly with carboxylic acid to yield the 7-vinyl-7-laCtone 4I9[380], The /i,7-titisaturated amide 421 is obtained by the reaction of 4-vinyl-2-azetidinone (420) with an organomercur-ial. Similarly homoallylic alcohols are obtained from vinylic oxetanes[381]. 

In intramolecular cyclopropanation, Doyle s catalysts (159) show outstanding capabilities for enantiocontrol in the cyclization of allyl and homoallyl diazoesters to bicyclic y-and <5-lactones, respectively (equations 137 and 138)198 205. The data also reveal that intramolecular cyclopropanation of Z-alkenes is generally more enantioselective than that of E-alkenes in bicyclic y-lactone formation198. Both Rh(II)-MEPY enantiomers are available and, through their use, enantiomeric products are accessible. In a few selected cases, the Pfaltz catalyst 156 also results in high-level enandoselectivity in intramolecular cyclopropanation (equation 139)194. On the other hand, the Aratani catalyst is less effective than the Doyle catalyst (159) or Pfaltz catalyst (156) in asymmetric intramolecular cyclo-propanations201. In addition, the bis-oxazoline-derived copper catalyst 157b shows lower enantioselectivity in the intramolecular cyclopropanation of allyl diazomalonate (equation 140)206. 

When either an alcohol or an amine function is present in the alkene, the possibility for lactone or lactam formation exists. Cobalt or rhodium catalysts convert 2,2-dimethyl-3-buten-l-ol to 2,3,3-trimethyl- y-butyrolactone, with minor amounts of the 8-lactone being formed (equation 51).2 In this case, isomerization of the double bond is not possible. The reaction of allyl alcohols catalyzed by cobalt or rhodium is carried out under reaction conditions that are severe, so isomerization to propanal occurs rapidly. Running the reaction in acetonitrile provides a 60% yield of lactone, while a rhodium carbonyl catalyst in the presence of an amine gives butane-1,4-diol in 60-70% (equation 52).8 A mild method of converting allyl and homoallyl alcohols to lactones utilizes the palladium chloride/copper chloride catalyst system (Table 6).79,82 83... 

The C—Si bond formed by the hydrosilation of alkene is a stable bond. Although it is difficult to convert the C—Si bond to other functional groups, it can be converted to alcohols by oxidation with MCPBA or H2O2. This reaction enhances the usefulness of hydrosilylation of alkenes [219], Combination of intramolecular hydrosilylation of allylic or homoallylic alcohols and the oxidation offers regio- and stereoselective preparation of diols [220], Internal alkenes are difficult to hydrosilylate without isomerization to terminal alkenes. However, intramolecular hydrosilation of internal alkenes can be carried out without isomerization. Intramolecular hydrosilylation of the silyl ether 572 of the homoallylic alcohol 571 afforded 573 regio- and stereoselectively, and the Prelog-Djerassi lactone 574 was prepared by applying this method. 

In combination with the incremental advances concerning reaction conditions in recent years, especially for low-pressure carbonylations, there is a trend toward increasing use of this chemistry to synthesize advanced building blocks. In this respect carboxylation of alkenes with an appropriate alcohol or amine function leads to the formation of lactones or lactams. Thus, cobalt, rhodium, or palladium chloride/copper chloride catalysts convert allyl and homoallyl alcohols or amines to the corresponding butyrolactones or butyrolactams, respectively [15]. 

Carbonylation of alkenes having an amino or hydroxy group (AH or BH = OH or NHR) 140, 142 and 144 offers interesting synthetic methods for cyclic compounds. The 4-pentenylamine or alcohol 140 is converted to 141 via amino or oxypalladation, followed by carbonylation. The amino alcohol 142 gives 143 by palladation and carbonylation by path a. The homoallylic amine or alcohol 144 is converted to lactone or lactam ester 145 by path c [60]. 

This method can he used for a variety of alkenes. The siliranes can he efficiently applied for thermal di-terf-butylsilylene transfer reactions to form other di-terf-hutylsiliranes (8), other thermal and photochemical ring expansion reactions, eg, to diastereoselectively form seven- (6,11), eight- (7), or nine-memhered heterocycles (12). Furthermore the siliranes may he applied to synthesize y-lactones (13), selective synthesis of tiiols, and homoallylic alcohols (14) or stereoselective formation of chiral allylic silanes (15) have also been reported. The following experimental procedure of isonitrile insertions exemplifies the silirane s high reactivity and facile formation of 1,1-di-terf-butyl-iminosilacyclobutanes (1,1-di-tert-butyl-iminosiletans or silacyclobutanimines) (4,5). 

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