2-Alkylidene ketones, synthesis

Some representative examples of the [3+2] annulatlon are listed in Table 1. Both cyclic and acyclic allenophiles participate in the reaction, a-Alkylidene ketones undergo annulation to provide access to spiro-fused systems, and acetylenic allenophiles react to form cyclopentadiene derivatives. The reactions of (E)- and (Z)-3-methy1-3-penten-2-one illustrate the stereochemical course of the annulation, which proceeds with a strong preference for the suprafacial addition of the allene to the two-carbon allenophile. The high stereoselectivity displayed by the reaction permits the stereocontrol led synthesis of a variety of mono- and polycyclic systems. 

The first preparative use of intramolecular C—H insertion in organic synthesis was based on the observation that on flash vacuum pyrolysis, a conjugated alkynyl ketone such as 1-(1-methyl-cyclopentyl)-2-propynonc is smoothly converted to a mixture of the cyclizcd enones 1 and 223. This elegant reaction apparently proceeds via isomerization of the alkyne to the corresponding alkylidene carbcne, followed by subsequent intramolecular C-H insertion. It should be noted that despite a 3 2 statistical predominance of primary C-H bonds over secondary C—H bonds, a marked preference for insertion into the latter (methylene) is observed. 

An attractive method to generate C5-monoalkyl-substituted Meldrum s acids consists of a two-step synthesis (Scheme 10). In the first step, a Knoevenagel reaction between Meldrum s acid (22) and an aldehyde (or sometimes a ketone) yields the C5-alkylidene derivative 23. In the following step, the alkylidene derivative 23 is reduced, to generate the C5-monoalkyl-substituted Meldrum s acid 24.[43 71 104 1051 Alternatively, in the second step, Michael addition of a nucleophile to the conjugated C=C bond in the C5-alkylidene derivative generates a Meldrum s acid 25 monosubstituted on C5 by a more elaborated alkyl.t106 ... 

Oxidation of methyl ketone guanylhydrazones (686) with selenium dioxide affords the corresponding monosubstituted glyoxal derivatives (687) which cyclize to the 5-unsubstituted 3-amino-1,2,4-triazines (473) (78HC(33)189, p.360). We have already noted the cyclization of bis(alkylidene)- or bis(arylidene)-acetone guanylhydrazones (475) in the synthesis of 6-(vinyl-substituted) 3-amino-1,2,4-triazines (477) (Section 2.19.4.1.1). 

The Paterno-Biichi reaction has been employed in the synthesis, often in high yield, of a large variety of substituted oxetanes. In addition to simple aliphatic and aromatic alkenes, cycloaddition of ketones to, for example, fumaronitrile,284 l,3-diacetylimidazolin-2-one288 [Eq. (73)], and allenes286 has been reported. Allenes yield both 1,5- and l,6-dioxaspiro[3.3]heptanes as well as the 2-alkylidene-oxetane this is illustrated for benzophenone and tetramethylallene in Eq. (74). Cycloaddition of ketones to ketenimines to form 2- and... 

The reaction is effective with electron-rich carbonyls such as trimethylsilyl esters and thioesters, as Table 20 indicates. Lactones ate substrates for alkylidenation however, hydroxy ketones are formed as side products, and yields are lower than with alkyl esters. Amides are also effective, but form the ( )-isomer predominantly. This method has been applied to the synthesis of precursors to spiroacetals (499) by Kocienski (equation 115). ° The reaction was found to be compatible with THP-protected hy- oxy groups, aromatic and branched substituents, and alkene functionality, although complex substitution leads to varying rates of reaction for alkylidenation. Kocienski and coworkers found the intramolecular reaction to be problematic. As with the CrCb chemistry, this reaction cannot be used with a disubstituted dibromoalkane to form the tetrasubstituted enol ether. Attempts were made to apply this reaction to alkene formation by reaction with aldehydes and ketones, but unfortunately the (Z) ( )-ratio of the alkenes formed is virtu ly 1 1. ... 

The synthesis of alkylidene and allylidene cyclopropanes reported in this section takes advantage of the availability 77 78,81 a-82) of l-(l-silyl) cyclopropyl carbinols from a-lithio cyclopropylsilanes and carbonyl compounds. It, however, suffers from the sometimes modest yields obtained when ketones are involved (Schemes 21 a, 47) in the Peterson olefination reaction 77,78,81a) (Schemes 21, 48). This reaction seems much more difficult to achieve than when straight-chain analogs are involved and resembles the cases of allenes 1211 and chlorocyclopropenes120) reported by Chan. For example, thionyl chloride alone is not suitable for that purpose 77,136) but further addition of tetra-n-butylammonium fluoride (20 °C, 15 hrs) leads to the formation of undecylidene cyclopropane77,136 in 46% yield from the corresponding l-(l-silyl)cyclopropyl... 

The molybdenum catalyst 2 has been used extensively for ADMET polymerization. This complex is easier to handle than the tungsten analog and is more tolerant of functionality. This complex has allowed the synthesis of polymers containing esters, carbonates, ethers, sulfides, aromatic amines, boronates, dichlorosilanes, siloxanes, acetals, and conjugated carbon-carbon double bonds [38-45]. Aldehydes, ketones, and protic functionahty are not tolerated. The molybdenum alkylidene will react with aldehydes and ketones, but not esters, in a Wittig fashion [64]. 

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