Alkenes potassium hexamethyldisilazide

Z)-OL, -Unsaturated esters,l Wittig-Homer reactions generally show a preference for formation of (E)-alkenes. Thus (E)-a,p-unsaturated esters are obtained preferentially on reaction of aldehydes with trimethyl phosphonoacetate under usual conditions (potassium f-butoxide). Use of a highly dissociated base can favor (Z)-selectivity. The most effective base for this purpose is potassium hexamethyldisilazide, KN[Si(CH3)3]2, in combination with 18-crown-6, although even potassium carbonate with the crown ether is fairly effective. The (Z)-selectivity can be further enhanced by use of 1 as the phos-phonoester. Under these conditions, (Z)-unsaturated esters can be prepared from aliphatic and aromatic aldehydes with Z/E ratios as high as 50 1. The method is also useful for transformation of unsaturated aldehydes to (E,Z)-dienoates and (E,E,Z)-trienoates. 

A similar carbonyl addition with benzaldehyde derivatives having an ortho-allylic ether led to a benzopyranone when treated with potassium hexamethyldisilazide. ° These reactions are not successful when the alkene contains electron-withdrawing groups, such as halo or carbonyl groups. A free-radical initiator is required, usually peroxides or UV light. The mechanism is illustrated for aldehydes but is similar for the other compounds ... 

Mitsunobu reaction with alcohols and subsequent oxidation with MCPBA. Deprotonation of such a sulfone with sodium or potassium hexamethyldisilazide in DME followed by reaction with an aldehyde results in an ( )-alkene. 

The Julia reaction is remarkably versatile but it does need three steps to make the alkene addition, acylation, and reduction. A more recent version of the reaction cuts this down to one by using not a phenylsulfone but instead a sulfone carrying an electron-deficient heterocycle, for example a tetrazole. The anion of the sulfone is made with a strong base (here potassium hexamethyldisilazide, KHMDS—see p. 635) and is added to an aldehyde to give an alkene directly. 

---