Alkyne-esters, from metallated alkynes

The intermolecular variant of the O-H insertion reaction gets stuck at the stage of the initial adduct 8. We envisioned that if R1 = allyl, coordination of the double bond to the metal would initiate a Claisen-type process to form the jr-allylruthenium complex 9, whose reductive elimination would form the allyl ketone starting from terminal alkynes and allyl alcohols (Equation 1.10). Gratifyingly, this prediction was fully realized as shown in Equation 1.11 [13]. A tertiary ester does not undergo elimination under these reaction conditions (Equation 1.12). Dihydroxylationofthe double bond and subsequent acidification effect cyclodehydration to form furans in two overall steps. Subsequent elimination of the elements of acetic acid completes a synthesis of rosefuran 10, one of the most prized fragrances [14]. 

Ethyl diazopyruvate, under copper catalysis, reacts with alkynes to give furane-2-carboxylates rather than cyclopropenes u3) (Scheme 30). What looks like a [3 + 2] cycloaddition product of a ketocarbenoid, may actually have arisen from a primarily formed cyclopropene by subsequent copper-catalyzed ring enlargement. Such a sequence has been established for the reaction of diazoacetic esters with acetylenes in the presence of certain copper catalysts, but metallic copper, in these cases, was not able to bring about the ring enlargement14). Conversely, no cyclopropene derivative was detected in the diazopyruvate reaction. 

The cobalt catalyzed cocyclization of alkynes with heterofunctional substrates is not limited to nitriles. cpCo-core complexes are capable of co-oligomerizing alkynes with a number of C,C, C,N or C,0 double bonds in a Diels-Alder-type reaction. Chen, in our laboratories, has observed that these cycloadditions are best performed with the help of stabilizers such as ketones or acetic esters that are weakly coordinated to the cobalt and prevent the alkynes from being cyclotrimerized at the metal center... 

Propargylic compounds (2-alkynyl compounds) are derivatives of alkynes and they undergo several types of transformations in the presence of transition metal catalysts. However, catalytic reactions of propargylic compounds, particularly their esters and halides, clearly differ mechanistically from those of simple alkynes, except in a few cases. Therefore, the catalytic reactions of propargylic compounds are treated independently from those of simple alkynes. The most extensive studies have been carried out using Pd catalysts, and mainly Pd-catalysed reactions are treated in this chapter [1],... 

Addition of H and CO to alkenes and alkynes catalysed by transition metal complexes is called hydrocarbonylation, and is useful for the syntheses of carboxylic acids, their esters, aldehydes and ketones [1]. Oxidative carbonylation of alkenes and alkynes with Pd(II), treated in Section 11.1.5, differs mechanistically from hydrocarbonylation. Some carbonylation reactions occur at under 1 atm or low pressures, without using a high-pressure laboratory apparatus. Several commercial processes based on hydrocarbonylation have been developed. 

Various functionalized alkynes can be submitted to carbocupration reactions, such as alkoxyalkynes,150 alkynyl carbamates,151 acetylenic orthoesters,152 and thioalkynes.153 The carbocupration of orthoesters, for example, 204, has been used to prepare a-substituted esters of the type 206 by acidic hydrolysis of the adduct 205 (Scheme 51).152 This allows the formation of regioisomers that are not accessible by copper-mediated addition to acetylenic esters. A stereoselective synthesis of trisubstituted alkenes has been described by Normant et al.lSd> starting from phenylthio-acetylene 207. Carbocupration with lithium di- -butylcuprate affords the intermediate 208 which, upon addition of /z-butyllithium, undergoes a 1,2-metalate rearrangement to the vinylcuprate 209. The latter can be trapped with various electrophiles, for example, ethyl propiolate, providing product 210 with complete regio- and stereocontrol. 

---