Alkenes with metal alkoxides

Tab. 10.8 summarizes the application of rhodium-catalyzed allylic etherification to a variety of racemic secondary allylic carbonates, using the copper(I) alkoxide derived from 2,4-dimethyl-3-pentanol vide intro). Although the allyhc etherification is tolerant of linear alkyl substituents (entries 1-4), branched derivatives proved more challenging in terms of selectivity and turnover, the y-position being the first point at which branching does not appear to interfere with the substitution (entry 5). The allylic etherification also proved feasible for hydroxymethyl, alkene, and aryl substituents, albeit with lower selectivity (entries 6-9). This transformation is remarkably tolerant, given that the classical alkylation of a hindered metal alkoxide with a secondary alkyl halide would undoubtedly lead to elimination. Hence, regioselective rhodium-catalyzed allylic etherification with a secondary copper(l) alkoxide provides an important method for the synthesis of allylic ethers. 

Heterometal alkoxide precursors, for ceramics, 12, 60-61 Heterometal chalcogenides, synthesis, 12, 62 Heterometal cubanes, as metal-organic precursor, 12, 39 Heterometallic alkenes, with platinum, 8, 639 Heterometallic alkynes, with platinum, models, 8, 650 Heterometallic clusters as heterogeneous catalyst precursors, 12, 767 in homogeneous catalysis, 12, 761 with Ni—M and Ni-C cr-bonded complexes, 8, 115 Heterometallic complexes with arene chromium carbonyls, 5, 259 bridged chromium isonitriles, 5, 274 with cyclopentadienyl hydride niobium moieties, 5, 72 with ruthenium—osmium, overview, 6, 1045—1116 with tungsten carbonyls, 5, 702 Heterometallic dimers, palladium complexes, 8, 210 Heterometallic iron-containing compounds cluster compounds, 6, 331 dinuclear compounds, 6, 319 overview, 6, 319-352... 

Insertion reactions involving metal alkoxides are also known. For example, carbon dioxide is known to react with some metal alkoxides as shown in equation (12). The formation of a bidentate ligand is a significant thermodynamic driving force for some of these reactions. The isoelectronic aryl and alkyl isocyanates and carbodiimides can react similarly. Insertion reactions involving alkenes and carbon monoxide are known for platinum alkoxides. 

Alkyl derivatives of metals such as aluminum, boron and zinc are fairly active Friedel-Crafts catalysts. However, hyperconjugative effects result in a lowering of the electron deficiency. In the case of metal alkoxides this effect is even stronger, and, as a result, they are fairly weak Lewis acids. Metal alkyls, such as alkylaluminums, alkylaluminum halides and sesquihalides are also vital components of Ziegler-Natta catalyst systems which sometimes are utilized for Friedel-Crafts-type reactions. For example, alkylations of aromatics with alkenes in the presence of a Ziegler-Natta catalyst such as AIR3 -1- TiCU results in lower-chain alkylates. Even alkylaluminum halides and sesquihalides serve as Friedel-Crafts catalysts. 

Two mechanisms for the hydroesterification of alkenes have been considered. One pathway—the "alkoxide cycle"— begins with the insertion of CO into a metal alkoxide (Scheme 17.18) and the other—"the hydride cycle"— begins with the insertion of an alkene into a metal hydride (Scheme 17.19). The relative importance of the different pathways depends on the identity of the dative ligand. However, hydroesterification of ethylene with the bis(di-ferf-butylphosphinomethyl)benzene ligand is now generally accepted to occur through a palladium hydride. The mechanism of the hydroesterification of alkynes is less established, but is likely to occur by a sequence that shares some steps with the mechanism for the hydroesterifcation of alkenes. 

The advantages of this method are clear the carbene is generated from the CCls" anion in the organic phase, where there is a low concentration of water despite the presence of a separate aqueous phase. This means that the reaction of the carbene with the alkene is much more likely than hydrolysis. Sodium hydroxide can be used as the base in place of more expensive metal alkoxides because the aqueous phase has no detrimental effect on the reaction. 

The selectivity of reaction of alkenes with carbenes (produced by a-eliminations using metal alkoxides), in the presence or absence of crown compounds, has been used as a probe for carbenoid character, since in the former case carbenes are assumed to be formed free of any interactions with metal ions. The ambident carbanion of ethyl acetoacetate, as its sodium salt in THF solution, not only shows enhanced reactivity in the presence of complexing agents for the sodium ion, but also an increase in 0-alkylation with respect to C-alkylation. ... 

Alcohols undergo many reactions and can be converted into many other functional groups. They can be dehydrated to give alkenes by treatment with POCI3 and can be transformed into alkyl halides by treatment with PBr3 or SOCU- Furthermore, alcohols are weakly acidic (p/C, — 16-18) and react with strong bases and with alkali metals to form alkoxide anions, which are used frequently in organic synthesis. 

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