Alkyne catalyst development

Some synthetic approaches to pyrazines relied on metal-assisted reactions. A synthesis of 6-substituted 5H-pyrrolol2,3-bJpyrazines via Pd-catalyzed heteroannulation from W-(3-chloropyrazin-2-yl)methanesulfonamide and alkynes was developed <04TL8087>, and 3- and 5-substituted 2(l//)-pyrazinones were prepared by Suzuki and Heck reactions using 3,5-dichloro-2(l//)-pyrazinones <04TL1885>. An improved synthesis of 6-substituted-5//-pyrrolo 2,3-iiJ-pyrazines via microwave-assisted Pd-catalyzed heteroannulation was developed <04TL8631>, and the reaction of a-diazo-P-keto esters with Boc amino acid amides in the presence of a Rh catalyst gave, after air oxidation, pyrazin-6-ones 111, which were then converted into tetrasubstituted pyrazines 112 <04OL4627>. 

A rhodium-catalyzed one-pot synthesis of substituted pyridine derivatives from a,(3-unsaturated ketoximes and alkynes was developed in 2008 by Cheng and coworkers [99], Good yields of the desired pyri-dines can be obtained (Scheme 3.48). The reaction was proposed to proceed via rhodium-catalyzed chelation-assisted activation of the (3—C—H bond of a,(3-unsaturated ketoximes and subsequent reaction with alkynes followed by reductive elimination, intramolecular electro-cyclization, and aromatization to give highly substituted pyridine derivatives finally [100]. Later on, in their further studies, substituted isoquinolines and tetrahydroquinoline derivatives can be prepared by this catalyst system as well [101]. Their reaction mechanism was supported by isolation of the ort/jo-alkenylation products. Here, only asymmetric internal alkynes can be applied. 

Very effective catalysts for the hydrosilylation of alkynes were developed by Lee and coworkers. They prepared a series of rhodium(I) and rhodium (III) complexes containing their PCP pincer 10 (e.g., ter-[(10)Rh(CO)Cl], jer-[(10)RhCl3]), all of which showed high activities in the hydrosilylation of phenylacetylene with HSiMe2Ph, yielding the ( )-p-silylalkenyl products in >80% selectivity at 0.1-0.001 mol% catalyst loadings [21]. 

Using [Cp RhCl2]2 and metal acetates as the potential catalyst system, a synthetic protocol of isoquinolines from aryl ke-toximes and internal alkynes was developed (eq 12). 7.l The transformation involved a redox-neutral process and demonstrated wide substrate tolerance with oximes and alkynes. Pyridines were synthesized from o , -unsaturated ketoximes and alkynes by the same way via the vinylic C-H bond activation. However, these methods allowed for the use of only nitrogen lone pair to adapt the syn-conformation with respect to the aryl group for selective or-tiio C-H bond activation. To complement this drawback, the [Cp RhCl2]2-Cu(OAc)2 bimetallic system was used for the synthesis of isoquinolines from both anti- and -isomers of aryl ketone O-acetyl oximes with internal alkynes (eq 13). ... 

A synthetic method of pyrroles from enamines and alkynes was developed using a combination of [Cp RhCl2]2 and AgSbFg as the catalyst together with stoichiometric amounts of Cu(OAc)2 (eq 15), which included the allylic sp C-H activation of the enamine substrates. 

As described earlier, a variety of transition metal catalysts have been used to promote the addition of B-H bonds across alkynes. The development of metal-free approaches has been challenging to design due to the unique reactivity profile afforded by transition metal catalysts. To this end, a metal-free catalyst system has been devised for the addition of pinacolborane to internal alkynes (Scheme 6.48) [91]. Surprisingly, only a carboxylic acid additive was needed to effect the hydroboration reaction. In addition to common alkynes, an alkynylboronate was successfully borylated using the carboxylic acid catalyst. The functional group tolerance was remarkably broad, and a host of alkynes were successfully functionalized. Given the wide substrate scope, availability of the precursors and catalysts, and the metal-free nature of the chemistry, this is a reasonable approach to selective hydroboration reactions. 

Fiirstner A, Mathes C, Lehmann CW. Alkyne metathesis development of a novel molybdenum-based catalyst system... 

Further advances in catalyst development are likely to improve the uptake and applicability of the RCAM strategy. In particular, the design of a catalyst system that mediates effective RCAM of terminal alkynes under mild conditions with good functional group tolerance is extremely desirable and would have great effect on the synthetic impact of this already highly employable reaction. 

An obvious drawback in RCM-based synthesis of unsaturated macrocyclic natural compounds is the lack of control over the newly formed double bond. The products formed are usually obtained as mixture of ( /Z)-isomers with the (E)-isomer dominating in most cases. The best solution for this problem might be a sequence of RCAM followed by (E)- or (Z)-selective partial reduction. Until now, alkyne metathesis has remained in the shadow of alkene-based metathesis reactions. One of the reasons maybe the lack of commercially available catalysts for this type of reaction. When alkyne metathesis as a new synthetic tool was reviewed in early 1999 [184], there existed only a single report disclosed by Fiirstner s laboratory [185] on the RCAM-based conversion of functionalized diynes to triple-bonded 12- to 28-membered macrocycles with the concomitant expulsion of 2-butyne (cf Fig. 3a). These reactions were catalyzed by Schrock s tungsten-carbyne complex G. Since then, Furstner and coworkers have achieved a series of natural product syntheses, which seem to establish RCAM followed by partial reduction to (Z)- or (E)-cycloalkenes as a useful macrocyclization alternative to RCM. As work up to early 2000, including the development of alternative alkyne metathesis catalysts, is competently covered in Fiirstner s excellent review [2a], we will concentrate here only on the most recent natural product syntheses, which were all achieved by Fiirstner s team. 

The ligandless Beletskaya catalysts, PdCl2(CH3CN)2 used in DMF or acetone with tin-substituted alkynes and sp -hybridized iodides and bromides. This system is very reactive and relatively cheap. The disadvantage is that it decomposes quickly under development of catalyticaUy inactive Pd-black particles [20 c]. 

Amatore et al. developed an aqueous cross-coupling reaction of terminal alkynes with 1-iodoalkynes using a water-soluble Pd(0) catalyst prepared in situ from Pd(OAc)2 and sulfonated triphenylphosphine P(C6H4 — m-SCENa (TPPTS) without Cu(I) promoter, giving diynes with moderate yields (43-65%)(Eq. 4.22) 42... 

Recently, on the basis of the Markovnikov addition of water to alkynes, Trost et al. developed a three-component addition reaction of terminal alkynes, water, and methyl vinyl ketone, affording 1,5-diketones in DMF/water in the presence of ruthenium and indium catalysts (Eq. 4.38). 

Pt-catalyzed hydration of various aliphatic and aromatic alkynes under phase transfer conditions in (CH2C1)2/H20 in the presence of Aliquat 336 led to either a Markovnikov product, mixtures of two ketones, or ketones with the carbonyl group positioned away from the bulky side.72 In the absence of the phase transfer reagent, Aliquat 336, hardly any reaction took place. Recently, a hydrophobic, low-loading and alkylated polystyrene-supported sulfonic acid (LL-ALPS-SO3H) has also been developed for the hydration of terminal alkynes in pure water, leading to ketones as the product.73 Under microwave irradiation, the hydration of terminal arylalkynes was reported to proceed in superheated water (200°C) without any catalysts.74... 

Yong et al. developed a cobalt-catalyzed [2+2+2] cyclotrimerization of terminal alkynes in good yields in aqueous media (80/20 mixture of water and ethanol) at room temperature. A cyclopentadienyl cobalt complex bearing a pendant phosphine ligand was used as a catalyst (Eq. 4.59). The cyclotrimerization of internal alkynes resulted in lower yields and required an elevated temperature, most likely due to steric interactions. For example, cyclotrimerization of 2,5-dimethyl-3-hexyne gave hexaisopropylbenzene in 51% yield and the reaction of diphenylethyne resulted in a 47% yield of hexaphenylbenzene.112... 

Alkyne-nitrile cyclotrimerization is a powerful synthetic methodology for the synthesis of complex heterocyclic aromatic molecules.118 Recently, Fatland et al. developed an aqueous alkyne-nitrile cyclotrimerization of one nitrile with two alkynes for the synthesis of highly functionalized pyridines by a water-soluble cobalt catalyst (Eq. 4.62). The reaction was chemospecific and several different functional groups such as unprotected alcohols, ketones, and amines were compatible with the reaction.119 In addition, photocatalyzed [2+2+2] alkyne or alkyne-nitrile cyclotrimerization in water120 and cyclotrimerization in supercritical H2O110121 have been reported in recent years. 

Although the titanium-based methods are typically stoichiometric, catalytic turnover was achieved in one isolated example with trialkoxysilane reducing agents with titanocene catalysts (Scheme 28) [74], This example (as part of a broader study of enal cyclizations [74,75]) was indeed the first process to demonstrate catalysis in a silane-based aldehyde/alkyne reductive coupling and provided important guidance in the development of the nickel-catalyzed processes that are generally more tolerant of functionality and broader in scope. 

Chiu et al. developed a catalytic reductive aldol cyclization of alkyne-diones such as 115 and 117 using [Ph3PCuH]6 (10mol%) as catalyst and polymethylhydrosiloxane PMHS (200 mol %) as terminal reductant. The... 

We are applying the principles of enzyme mechanism to organometallic catalysis of the reactions of nonpolar and polar molecules for our early work using heterocyclic phosphines, please see ref. 1.(1) Here we report that whereas uncatalyzed alkyne hydration by water has a half-life measured in thousands of years, we have created improved catalysts which reduce the half-life to minutes, even at neutral pH. These data correspond to enzyme-like rate accelerations of >3.4 x 109, which is 12.8 times faster than our previously reported catalyst and 1170 times faster than the best catalyst known in the literature without a heterocyclic phosphine. In some cases, practical hydration can now be conducted at room temperature. Moreover, our improved catalysts favor anti-Markovnikov hydration over traditional Markovnikov hydration in ratios of over 1000 to 1, with aldehyde yields above 99% in many cases. In addition, we find that very active hydration catalysts can be created in situ by adding heterocyclic phosphines to otherwise inactive catalysts. The scope, limitations, and development of these reactions will be described in detail. 

Among the most exciting frontiers in boratabenzene chemistry is the development of transition metal-boratabenzene complexes as catalysts. As early as 1984, it had been demonstrated that these adducts can accelerate useful reactions— specifically, Bonnemann established that (C5H5B-Ph)Co(cod) serves as a catalyst for pyridine-forming cyclotrimerization reactions of alkynes and nitriles.39... 

As with carboxylic acids obtained by palladium hydroxycarbonylation, their derivatives esters, amides, anhydrides and acyl halides are synthesized from alkenes, CO and HX (X = OR, NR2 etc.). The Pd-catalyzed methoxycarbonylation is one of the most studied reactions among this type of catalyzed carbonylations and has been reviewed and included in reports of homogeneous catalysis.625, 26 The methoxycarbonylation has been applied to many different substrates to obtain intermediates in organic syntheses as well as specific products. For instance, the reaction has been applied for methoxycarbonylation of alkynes666 Highly efficient homogeneous Pd cationic catalysts have been reported and the methoxycarbonylation of alkynes has been used to develop economically attractive and environmentally benign process for the production of methyl... 

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