Alkenylcarbene complexes

The insertion of alkynes into a chromium-carbon double bond is not restricted to Fischer alkenylcarbene complexes. Numerous transformations of this kind have been performed with simple alkylcarbene complexes, from which unstable a,/J-unsaturated carbene complexes were formed in situ, and in turn underwent further reactions in several different ways. For example, reaction of the 1-me-thoxyethylidene complex 6a with the conjugated enyne-ketimines and -ketones 131 afforded pyrrole [92] and furan 134 derivatives [93], respectively. The alkyne-inserted intermediate 132 apparently undergoes 671-electrocyclization and reductive elimination to afford enol ether 133, which yields the cycloaddition product 134 via a subsequent hydrolysis (Scheme 28). This transformation also demonstrates that Fischer carbene complexes are highly selective in their reactivity toward alkynes in the presence of other multiple bonds (Table 6). 

Recently, Akiyama et al. reported an enantiocontrolled [3+2] cycloaddition of chirally modified Fischer alkenylcarbene complexes 180 with aldimines 181 under Lewis-acid catalysis (Sn(OTf)2) to afford enantiomerically pure 1,2,5-trisubstituted 3-alkoxypyrrolines 182 (Scheme 40) [121]. The mode of formation of these products 182 was proposed to be a [4+2] cycloaddition, with the complexes 180 acting as a 1-metalla- 1,3-diene with subsequent reductive elimination. Upon hydrolysis under acidic conditions, the enol ethers give the enantiomerically pure 3-pyrrolidinones 183 (Table 9). 

Stabilised sulphur ylides react with alkenylcarbene complexes to form a mixture of different products depending on the reaction conditions. However, at -40 °C the reaction results in the formation of almost equimolecular amounts of vinyl ethers and diastereomeric cyclopropane derivatives. These cyclopropane products are derived from a formal [2C+1S] cycloaddition reaction and the mechanism that explains its formation implies an initial 1,4-addition to form a zwitterionic intermediate followed by cyclisation. Oxidation of the formed complex renders the final products [30] (Scheme 8). 

Alkenylcarbene complexes react with in situ-generated iodomethyllithium or dibromomethyllithium, at low temperature, to produce cydopropylcarbene complexes in a formal [2C+1S] cycloaddition reaction. This reaction is highly diastereoselective and the use of chiral alkenylcarbene complexes derived from (-)-8-phenylmenthol has allowed the enantioselective synthesis of highly interesting 1,2-disubstituted and 1,2,3-trisubstituted cyclopropane derivatives [31] (Scheme 9). As in the precedent example, this reaction is supposed to proceed through an initial 1,4-addition of the corresponding halomethyllithium derivative to the alkenylcarbene complex, followed by a spontaneous y-elimi-nation of lithium halide to produce the final cydopropylcarbene complexes. 

The utility of alkenylcarbene complexes as C3 building blocks in the [3C+2S] cycloaddition reaction has been demonstrated by the wide variety of five-membered hetero- and carbocycles obtained when these complexes are treated with several C2 building block reagents. This impressive chemistry will be briefly discussed in the next few sections. 

In the same way as arylcarbene complexes, alkenylcarbene complexes typically react with alkynes to provide [3C+2S+1C0] Dotz cycloadducts (see Chap. ccChromium-Templated Benzannulation Reactions , p. 123 in this book). However, some isolated examples involving the formation of five-membered rings through [3C+2S] cycloaddition processes have been reported [71]. In this context, de Meijere et al. found that /J-donor-substituted alkenylcarbene complexes react with alkynes to give cyclopentene derivatives [71a]. This topic is also discussed in detail in Chap.ccThe Multifaceted Chemistry of Variously Substituted a,/J-Unsaturated Fischer Metalcarbenes , p. 21 of this book. 

The reaction of alkenylcarbene complexes and electron-poor alkenes normally leads to mixtures of the expected [2S+1C] vinylcyclopropane derivatives (see... 

Coupling of alkenylcarbene complexes and siloxy-substituted 1,3-dienes affords vinylcyclopentene derivatives through a formal [3C+2S] cycloaddition process. This unusual reaction is explained by an initial [4C+2S] cycloaddition of the electron-poor chromadiene system as the 471 component and the terminal double bond of the siloxydiene as the dienophile. The chromacyclohexene intermediate evolves by a reductive elimination of the metal fragment to generate the [3C+2S] cyclopentene derivatives [73] (Scheme 26). 

Fischer alkenylcarbene complexes undergo cyclopentannulation to alkenyl AT,AT-dimethylhydrazones (1-amino-1-azadienes) to furnish [3C+2S] substituted cyclopentenes in a regio- and diastereoselective way along with minor amounts of [4S+1C] pyrrole derivatives. Enantiopure carbene complexes derived from (-)-8-(2-naphthyl)menthol afford mixtures of trans,trans-cycloipentenes and ds,ds-cyclopentenes with excellent face selectivity [75]. The mechanism proposed for the formation of these cyclopentene derivatives is outlined in Scheme 28. The process is initiated by nucleophilic 1,2-attack of the carbon... 

The reaction of alkenylcarbene complexes and imines in the presence of a Lewis acid generates pyrroline derivatives as a result of a [3C+2S] cyclisation process [76]. This reaction has been extended to an asymmetric version by the use of chiral alkenylcarbene complexes derived from several chiral alcohols. However, the best results are found when (-)-8-phenylmenthol-derived complexes are used and catalytic amounts of Sn(OTf)2 are added to the reaction. In these conditions high levels of trans/cis selectivity are achieved and the hydrolysis of the major tram diastereoisomers allows the preparation of optically pure 2,5-disubstituted-3-pyrrolidinone derivatives (Scheme 29). 

The diastereofacial selectivity of this asymmetric [3C+2S] process is explained following a model similar to that described in Sect. 2.6.4.4 for the reaction of chiral alkenylcarbene complexes and 1,3-dienes. Thus, the proposed mechanism that explains the stereochemistry observed assumes a [4+2] cycloaddition reaction between the chromadiene system and the C=N double bond of the imine. The necessary s-cis conformation of the complex makes the imine... 

Diastereoselective and enantioselective [3C+2S] carbocyclisations have been recently developed by Barluenga et al. by the reaction of tungsten alkenylcarbene complexes and enamines derived from chiral amines. Interestingly, the regio-chemistry of the final products is different for enamines derived from aldehydes and those derived from ketones. The use of chiral non-racemic enamines allows the asymmetric synthesis of substituted cyclopentenone derivatives [77] (Scheme 30). 

The mechanism for aldehyde-derived enamines involves a Michael-type 1,4-addition of the enamine to the alkenylcarbene complex to generate a zwit-terionic intermediate which evolves to the final product by cyclisation. On the other hand, ketone-derived enamines react through an initial 1,2-addition to the carbene carbon to generate a different zwitterionic intermediate. Then, a [l,2]-W(CO)5 shift-promoted ring closure produces a new intermediate which, after elimination of the metal moiety, furnishes the corresponding cyclopen-tene derivatives (Scheme 30). 

The insertion reaction between alkenylcarbene complexes and electron-rich alkynes such as 1-alkynylamines (ynamines) leads to mixtures of two regioi-someric cyclopentyl derivatives [78]. Thus, if the insertion occurs on the carbon-metal bond a new aminocarbene complex is produced which evolves to a cyclopentenylmetal derivative. On the other hand, if the insertion reaction occurs on the carbon=carbon double bond of the alkenyl complex, the reaction gives a l-metala-4-amino-l,3,5-triene complex which finally generates a different regioisomer of the cyclopentenylmetal derivative (Scheme 31). 

An interesting strategy for the diastereoselective synthesis of five-membered carbocycles was achieved by the reaction of alkenylcarbene complexes and lithium enolates derived from simple methyl ketones [79]. The use of more or less coordinating solvents (THF or Et20) or the presence of cosolvents such as PMDTA allows the selective synthesis of one or the other diastereoisomer of the final cyclopentene derivative (Scheme 32). 

The a-substitution in the alkenylcarbene complex seems to be crucial to direct the reaction to the five-membered rings. The mechanism proposed for this transformation supposes an initial 1,2-addition of the enolate to the carbene carbon atom to generate a zwitterionic intermediate. Cyclisation promoted by... 

Isonitriles react with alkenylcarbene complexes to form initially at 0 °C a 3-ethoxy-3-styrylketeneimine complex, which on warming to room temperature leads to the formation of a cyclic 3-ethoxy-2,5-dihydro-2-pyrrolylidene complex. Finally, on heating to 100 °C a pyrrole derivative is produced [80] (Scheme 33). 

The reaction of 1,3-diamino-1,3-dienes with aryl or a,/J-disubstituted alkenylcarbene complexes leads to the formation of formal [4S+1C] cyclopen-tenones [25a] (Scheme 35). In the case of alkenylcarbene complexes, the substitution of the double bond of the complex in both a- and /J-carbons seems to play a fundamental role as reactions performed in the same conditions but using alkenylcarbene complexes with other substitution patterns leads to compounds of a different nature ([4+3], [4+2] and [2+1] cycloadducts). 

The reaction of JV,iV-dimethylhydrazones (1-amino-1-azadienes) and alkenylcarbene complexes mainly produces [3C+2S] cyclopentene derivatives (see Sect. 2.6.4.5). However, a minor product in this reaction is a pyrrole derivative which can be considered as derived from a [4S+1C] cycloaddition process [75]. In this case, the reaction is initiated by the nucleophilic 1,2-addition of the nitrogen lone pair to the metal-carbon double bond followed by cyclisation and... 

Another example of a [4S+1C] cycloaddition process is found in the reaction of alkenylcarbene complexes and lithium enolates derived from alkynyl methyl ketones. In Sect. 2.6.4.9 it was described how, in general, lithium enolates react with alkenylcarbene complexes to produce [3C+2S] cycloadducts. However, when the reaction is performed using lithium enolates derived from alkynyl methyl ketones and the temperature is raised to 65 °C, a new formal [4s+lcj cy-clopentenone derivative is formed [79] (Scheme 38). The mechanism proposed for this transformation supposes the formation of the [3C+2S] cycloadducts as depicted in Scheme 32 (see Sect. 2.6.4.9). This intermediate evolves through a retro-aldol-type reaction followed by an intramolecular Michael addition of the allyllithium to the ynone moiety to give the final cyclopentenone derivatives after hydrolysis. The role of the pentacarbonyltungsten fragment seems to be crucial for the outcome of this reaction, as experiments carried out with isolated intermediates in the absence of tungsten complexes do not afford the [4S+1C] cycloadducts (Scheme 38). 

S+1C] Cycloadducts have also been obtained in the reaction of alkenylcarbene complexes with electronically neutral 1,3-dienes by appropriate choice of the reaction conditions (see for comparison Sect. 2.6.4.4). Thus, performing the reaction in THF at 120 °C in a sealed flask the formal [4S+1C] cyclopentene derivative is generated in moderate yield [74a, 85] (Scheme 39). The key step... 

In a reaction closely related to the latter, pyranylidene derivatives are obtained by the intermolecular radical coupling of alkynyl- or alkenylcarbene complexes and epoxides. Good diastereoselectivities are observed when cyclic epoxides are used. Moreover, the best results are reached by the generation of the alkyl radical using titanocene monochloride dimer [90] (Scheme 43). 

The potential of Fischer carbene complexes in the construction of complex structures from simple starting materials is nicely reflected in the next example. Thus, the reaction of alkenylcarbene complexes of chromium and tungsten with cyclopentanone and cyclohexanone enamines allows the di-astereo- and enantioselective synthesis of functionalised bicyclo[3.2.1]octane and bicyclo[3.3.1]nonane derivatives [12] (Scheme 44). The mechanism of this transformation is initiated by a 1,4-addition of the C -enamine to the alkenylcarbene complex. Further 1,2-addition of the of the newly formed enamine to the carbene carbon leads to a metalate intermediate which can... 

It has been established that alkoxy alkenylcarbene complexes participate as dienophiles in Diels-Alder reactions not only with higher rates but also with better regio- and stereoselectivities than the corresponding esters [95]. This is clearly illustrated in Scheme 51 for the reactions of an unsubstituted vinyl complex with isoprene. This complex reacts to completion at 25 °C in 3 h whereas the cycloaddition reaction of methyl acrylate with isoprene requires 7 months at the same temperature. The rate enhancement observed for this complex is comparable to that for the corresponding aluminium chloride-catalysed reactions of methyl acrylate and isoprene (Scheme 51). 

The Diels-Alder reaction of simple alkoxy alkenylcarbene complexes leads to mixtures of endo and exo cycloadducts, with the endo isomer generally being the major one [96,97]. Asymmetric examples of endo Diels-Alder reactions have also been reported by the use of chiral auxiliaries both on the carbene complex and the diene. Thus, the reaction of cyclopentadiene with chiral alkenylcarbene complexes derived from (-)-menthol proceeds to afford a 4 1... 

Titanoxy alkenylcarbene complexes have been used as dienophiles in their reaction with cyclopentadiene to give predominantly the exo cycloadduct in high yield. The unexpected formation of the exo isomer is attributed to the... 

Following the same tendency as alkenylcarbene complexes, the substitution of the alkoxy group for an amino group in alkynylcarbene derivatives greatly decreases the rate of Diels-Alder reactions [102, 104b]. In fact, substituted... 

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