Alkynes, addition reactions hydroboration

The chemistry of alkynes is dominated by electrophilic addition reactions, similar to those of alkenes. Alkynes react with HBr and HC1 to yield vinylic halides and with Br2 and Cl2 to yield 1,2-dihalides (vicinal dihalides). Alkynes can be hydrated by reaction with aqueous sulfuric acid in the presence of mercury(ll) catalyst. The reaction leads to an intermediate enol that immediately isomerizes to yield a ketone tautomer. Since the addition reaction occurs with Markovnikov regiochemistry, a methyl ketone is produced from a terminal alkyne. Alternatively, hydroboration/oxidation of a terminal alkyne yields an aldehyde. 

The author hopes that this chapter has convinced the readers of the value of homogeneous catalysis for the synthesis of organophosphorus compounds and for organo-heteroatom compounds in a broader sense. Hydrosilylation and hydroboration are indispensable modern synthetic reactions in this category. The H-P addition reactions herein described joins them as a third member. Although this chapter does not cover, the addition reactions of the S-P and Se-P bonds in thiophosphates [39] and selenophosphates [40] to alkynes also proceed in the presence of transition metal catalysts. In view of the wide use of phosphorus compounds, the new procedures will find practical applications. 

Like the double bond, the carbon-carbon triple bond is susceptible to many of the common addition reactions. In some cases, such as reduction, hydroboration and acid-catalyzed hydration, it is even more reactive. A very efficient method for the protection of the triple bond is found in the alkynedicobalt hexacarbonyl complexes (.e.g. 117 and 118), readily formed by the reaction of the respective alkyne with dicobalt octacarbonyl. In eneynes this complexation is specific for the triple bond. The remaining alkenes can be reduced with diimide or borane as is illustrated for the ethynylation product (116) of 5-dehydro androsterone in Scheme 107. Alkynic alkenes and alcohols complexed in this way show an increased structural stability. This has been used for the construction of a variety of substituted alkynic compounds uncontaminated by allenic isomers (Scheme 107) and in syntheses of insect pheromones. From the protecting cobalt clusters, the parent alkynes can easily be regenerated by treatment with iron(III) nitrate, ammonium cerium nitrate or trimethylamine A -oxide. ° ... 

Boron is the prime metal in the area of stoichiometric interactions between metals and unsaturated bonds. Especially, boron hydride additions have been investigated, in particular by H. C. Brown and his students. Nowadays, these addition reactions are well-established text book subjects. A number of reviews on hydroboration have appeared . The development of a clear mechanistic picture lagged far behind the applications in synthesis. It was also the group of Brown that contributed to mechanistic understanding by performing careful kinetic measurements using 9-borabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane, abbreviated as 9-BBN-H, as reagent. Reactive alkynes such as 1-hexyne and 3-methyl-1-butyne exhibited first-order kinetics in 9-BBN-H with a rate constant equal to that of reactive... 

The conversion of acetylenes into olefinic esters by use of addition reactions has been illustrated by the following two examples, (i) 1-Alkenyl boranes, which are readily prepared by the hydroboration of alkynes, are converted into a,fi-unsaturated carboxylic esters in good yield by reaction with carbon monoxide in the presence of palladium chloride and sodium acetate in methanol the process is carried out at atmospheric pressure and occurs with retention of configuration with respect to the alkenyl borane. (ii) Carboxylic acids add to acetylenes in the presence of silver carbonate to provide a novel synthesis of enol esters, which are formed in an 8 2 mixture of isomers. ... 

A carbonyl compound will be the product of hydroboration-oxidation only if a second molecule of BH3 or R2BH does not add to the ir-bond of the boron-substituted alkene. In the case of internal alkynes, the substituents on the boron-substituted alkene prevent the approach of the second boron-containing molecule. In the case of terminal alkynes, however, there is an H instead of a bulky alkyl group on the carbon that the second molecule adds to, so there is less steric hindrance toward the second addition reaction. Therefore, either BH3 or R2BH can be used with internal alkenes, but the more sterically hindered R2BH should be used with terminal alkynes. 

Ketones can be prepared by oxidation of secondary aicohois, hydroboration of internal alkynes, addition of water to aikynes, and ozonoiysis of aikenes aromatic ketones can be prepared by the Friedei-Crafts reaction. 

Both ( )- and (Z)-l-halo-l-alkenes can be prepared by hydroboration of 1-alkynes or 1-halo-l-alkynes followed by halogenation of the intermediate boronic esters (244,245). Differences in the addition—elimination mechanisms operating in these reactions lead to the opposite configurations of iodides as compared to bromides and chlorides. 

In comparison with the hydroboration and diborafion reactions, thioboration reactions are relatively limited. In 1993, Suzuki and co-workers reported the Pd(0)-catalyzed addition of 9-(alkylthio)-9-BBN (BBN = borabicyclo [3.3.1] nonane) derivatives to terminal alkynes to produce (alkylthio)boranes, which are known as versatile reagents to introduce alkylthio groups into organic molecules [21], Experimental results indicate that the thioboration reactions, specific to terminal alkynes, are preferentially catalyzed by Pd(0) complexes, e.g. Pd(PPh3)4, producing (thioboryl)alkene products, in which the Z-isomers are dominant. A mechanism proposed by Suzuki and co-workers for the reactions involves an oxidative addition of the B-S bond to the Pd(0) complex, the insertion of an alkyne into the Pd-B or Pd-S bond, and the reductive elimination of the (thioboryl)alkene product. 

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