Alkynes benzannulations with

Aryl- and alkenylcarbene complexes are known to react with alkynes through a [3C+2S+1C0] cycloaddition reaction to produce benzannulated compounds. This reaction, known as the Dotz reaction , is widely reviewed in Chap. Chromium-Templated Benzannulation Reactions , p. 123 of this book. However, simple alkyl-substituted carbene complexes react with excess of an alkyne (or with diynes) to produce a different benzannulated product which incorporates in its structure two molecules of the alkyne, a carbon monoxide ligand and the carbene carbon [128]. As referred to before, this [2S+2SH-1C+1C0] cycloaddition reaction can be carried out with diyne derivatives, showing these reactions give better yields than the corresponding intermolecular version (Scheme 80). 

Finally, the a,/ -unsaturated carbene complex may be generated in situ by alkyne insertion into a chromium-carbene bond of a saturated chromium carbene leading to a chromium vinyl carbene (equivalent to intermediate (f )-D in the mechanism of the benzannulation reaction, see Section 8.2.1, Scheme 3), which may undergo subsequent benzannulation with a second equivalent of the alkyne [43a]. This strategy was subsequently applied to the synthesis of (Z)-enediynes and related compounds [43b], and to that of substituted benzofurans (see also Section 8.5) [43c, 43d]. 

Scheme 20 presents the regiochemical outcome of some benzannulations with both terminal and internal alkynes. With similar alkyl substituents attached to the triple bond, the regioselectivity in favor of 44 gradually drops on going from 1-pentyne (entry A exclusive formation of 44) through 2,2-dimethyl-3-pentyne (entry B 44 45 = 90 10) to 3-pentyne... 

Three different strategies have been envisaged. The chiral information can either be incorporated into the alkyne or linked to the heteroatom or to the a,/ -unsaturated substituent at the carbene complex carbene carbon. High diastereoselectivities (57a 57b >96 4) have been observed in reactions of vinyl carbene complex 55 with the chiral propargylic ether 56 bearing the bulky trityloxy substituent [57a]. A more general approach is based on chiral alcohols incorporated into the alkoxycarbene complex. Upon benzannulation with tert-butylethyne, the menthyloxy carbene complex 58 gave a diastereoselectivity of 10 1 in favor of the naphthalene tricarbonylchromium complex 59a [57c, 57d]. Finally, the tandem benzannulation-Mitsunobu reaction of optically active carbene complex 60 with 5-hexyn-l-ol afforded the anti-benzoxepine complex 61 as the only diastereomer (Scheme 23) [57b]. 

Mechanistically, this unusual multicomponent trimerization can be rationalized as a sequence of a Pd-catalyzed alkyne dimerization [154,155] giving rise to the regioselective formation of the enyne 218, which undergoes subsequent Pd-catalyzed [4 + 2]-benzannulation [158,159] with a butadiyne as an enynophile to furnish the benzene 216 via an allenyl-Pd species 219 (Scheme 90). Upon submitting an electron-deficient alkyne together with a terminal alkyne in equimolar amounts to the sequence, the unsymmetri-cal alkyne dimerization gives a trisubstituted enyne to set the stage for the formation of pentasubstituted benzene derivatives 217. 

Fischer-type chromium carbene complexes of furans underwent Dotz benzannulation with alkynes to provide trisubstituted benzo [, ]furan derivatives. An example used in the synthesis of isodityrosine is depicted in Equation (39) <2005JOC7422>. The efficiency of the reaction could be improved by ultrasound sonication <19990L1721>. 

CycIoaddition. Conjugated carbonyl compounds are benzannulated with alkynes. Different reaction patterns may emerge on varying the substrates. 

Beyond the chemoselectivity, the regioselectivity of the alkyne incorporation is another important criterion for the synthetic value of the benzannulation. The regiocontrol mainly arises from steric factors which favour a coupling of the alkyne carbon bearing the less bulky alkyne substituent with the carbene... 

The Dotz benzannulation was employed as a key step in the formation of a metacyclophane natural product, kendomycin (Scheme 21.33) [37]. The intramolecular benzannulation of the vinylcarbene and alkyne, linked with the highly functionalized tether, afforded the corresponding metacyclophane in good yield. 

The vinylcarbene complexes Cr(CX))5 =C(OEt)C=CXR) (X = NMe2, OEt R = alkyl, aryl) react with alkynes R OCH to form various cyclopenta[b]pyrans.30S In a two step process, addition of the alkynes NEt20Chfe u> the l-metalla-l,3-diene W(CX))s =C(OEt)CHsCHHi) results in metallatriene species that cyclise U) fwm cyclopentadiene complexes 40. Chromium Fischer type alkoxyalkenyl carbene complexes react with ketoalkynes to fcxm bicyclic lactones in a number of different processes involving 8 and 10-e cyclizations. Various dienyl carbene complexes whose parent in Crortho-substituted aromatic alcohols through a variation upon the more usual benzannulation reaction involving alkyne cycloaddition with carbene complexes. ... 

Because of the strongly electron-withdrawing character of the Cr(CO)5 unit, the reaction with alkynes to hydroquinone and phenol derivatives [35-37] (Dotz reaction) is possible according to Scheme 6 (see also Chap. 4 Chromium -templated Benzannulation Reactions ). 

The reaction of alkoxyarylcarbene complexes with alkynes mainly affords Dotz benzannulated [3C+2S+1C0] cycloadducts. However, uncommon reaction pathways of some alkoxyarylcarbene complexes in their reaction with alkynes leading to indene derivatives in a formal [3C+2S] cycloaddition process have been reported. For example, the reaction of methoxy(2,6-dimethylphenyl)chromium carbene complex with 1,2-diphenylacetylene at 100 °C gives rise to an unusual indene derivative where a sigmatropic 1,5-methyl shift is observed [60]. Moreover, a related (4-hydroxy-2,6-dimethylphenyl)carbene complex reacts in benzene at 100 °C with 3-hexyne to produce an indene derivative. However, the expected Dotz cycloadduct is obtained when the solvent is changed to acetonitrile [61] (Scheme 19). Also, Dotz et al. have shown that the introduction of an isocyanide ligand into the coordination sphere of the metal induces the preferential formation of indene derivatives [62]. 

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. 

Other examples of [2C+2S+1C0] cycloaddition reactions have been described by Herndon et al. by the use of chromium cyclopropyl(methoxy)carbenes. These complexes react with alkynes releasing ethene and forming cyclopenta-dienone derivatives, which evolve to cyclopentenone derivatives in the presence of chromium(O) and water [122] (Scheme 76). This reaction has been extended to intramolecular processes and also to the synthesis of some natural products [123]. These authors have also described another process involving a formal [2C+2S+1C0] cycloaddition reaction. Thus, the reaction of methyl and cyclo-propylcarbene complexes with phenylacetylene derivatives does not afford the expected benzannulated products, and several regioisomers of cyclopentenone derivatives are the only products isolated [124] (Scheme 76). 

The distribution of products obtained from the benzannulation reaction may be influenced by the concentration of alkyne substrate [18]. In strongly coordinating solvents the ratio of the phenolic benzannulation product over five-membered cyclisation products increases with the concentration of the alkyne (Scheme 10). 

The superior donor properties of amino groups over alkoxy substituents causes a higher electron density at the metal centre resulting in an increased M-CO bond strength in aminocarbene complexes. Therefore, the primary decarbo-nylation step requires harsher conditions moreover, the CO insertion generating the ketene intermediate cannot compete successfully with a direct electro-cyclisation of the alkyne insertion product, as shown in Scheme 9 for the formation of indenes. Due to that experience amino(aryl)carbene complexes are prone to undergo cyclopentannulation. If, however, the donor capacity of the aminocarbene ligand is reduced by N-acylation, benzannulation becomes feasible [22]. 

Wulff et al. examined the necessary reaction conditions for a,fi-unsaturated aminocarbene complexes to react in a benzannulation reaction [23]. The reaction of dimethylamino(alkenyl)carbene complexes 18 with terminal alkynes in non-coordinating and non-polar solvents afforded phenol products in acceptable yields (Scheme 12). 

An unexpected varying regiochemistry in intramolecular benzannulation has also been observed in the synthesis of cyclophanes. As mentioned above, there are only two possible regiochemical outcomes in the benzannulation reaction, which differ in the direction of alkyne incorporation. / -Tethered vinyl-carbene chromium complexes undergo an intramolecular benzannulation reaction with incorporation of the tethered alkyne with normal regioselectivity to give meta-cyclophanes [28]. 

The electrophilic carbene carbon atom of Fischer carbene complexes is usually stabilised through 7i-donation of an alkoxy or amino substituent. This type of electronic stabilisation renders carbene complexes thermostable nevertheless, they have to be stored and handled under inert gas in order to avoid oxidative decomposition. In a typical benzannulation protocol, the carbene complex is reacted with a 10% excess of the alkyne at a temperature between 45 and 60 °C in an ethereal solvent. On the other hand, the non-stabilised and highly electrophilic diphenylcarbene pentacarbonylchromium complex needs to be stored and handled at temperatures below -20 °C, which allows one to carry out benzannulation reactions at room temperature [34]. Recently, the first syntheses of tricyclic carbene complexes derived from diazo precursors have been performed and applied to benzannulation [35a,b]. The reaction of the non-planar dibenzocycloheptenylidene complex 28 with 1-hexyne afforded the Cr(CO)3-coordinated tetracyclic benzannulation product 29 in a completely regio- and diastereoselective way [35c] (Scheme 18). 

Exo-alkylidene oxacycloalkylidene complexes such as chromium 2-oxacy-clopentylidene 30 are reluctant to react thermally with alkynes. Nevertheless, benzannulation can be achieved under photochemical conditions (for a detailed... 

The fact that pentacarbonyl carbene complexes react with enynes in a chemo-selective and regiospecific way at the alkyne functionality was successfully applied in the total synthesis of vitamins of the Kj and K2 series [58]. Oxidation of the intermediate tricarbonyl(dihydrovitamin K) chromium complexes with silver oxide afforded the desired naphthoquinone-based vitamin K compounds 65. Compared to customary strategies, the benzannulation reaction proved to be superior as it avoids conditions favouring (E)/(Z)-isomerisation within the allylic side chain. The basic representative vitamin K3 (menadione) 66 was synthesised in a straightforward manner from pentacarbonyl carbene complex 1 and propyne (Scheme 38). 

The benzannulation reaction with small alkynes such as 1-pentyne may generate a two-alkyne annulation product. In this case the original [3+2+l]-benz-annulation is changed to a [2+2+1+1]-benzannulation. After CO dissociation and insertion of the first alkyne, the coordinated a,/J-unsaturated moiety in the vinylcarbene complex is supposed to be replaced by the second alkyne. The subsequent reaction steps give the phenol 112 (Scheme 50). 

The thermal benzannulation of Group 6 carbene complexes with alkynes (the Dotz reaction) is highly developed and has been used extensively in synthesis [90,91]. It is thought to proceed through a chromium vinylketene intermediate generated by sequential insertion of the alkyne followed by carbon monoxide into the chromium-carbene-carbon double bond [92]. The realization that photodriven CO insertion into Z-dienylcarbene complexes should generate the same vinylketene intermediate led to the development of a photochemical variant of the Dotz reaction (Table 14). 

This photodriven benzannulation was used in the synthesis of indolocar-bazoles (Eq. 22) [96] and calphostins (Eq. 23) [97]. The thermal insertion of isonitriles into these same classes of carbenes provided a complementary approach to similar benzannulations [98-100]. Manganese alkoxycarbene complexes underwent both inter- [101] and intramolecular [102] photodriven benzannulation reactions with alkynes (Eqs. 24 and 25). 

Merlic discovered the novel benzannulation of biindole 249 to 250 during studies to synthesize indolocarbazoles [123]. Several unsymmetrical biindoles were also prepared and their reactions with dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate and related alkynes were studied. Yields of indolocarbazoles were 51-88% and some regioselectivity was observed in unsymmetrical cases (up to 80 20). 

In addition to reactions characteristic of carbonyl compounds, Fischer-type carbene complexes undergo a series of transformations which are unique to this class of compounds. These include olefin metathesis [206,265-267] (for the use as metathesis catalysts, see Section 3.2.5.3), alkyne insertion, benzannulation and other types of cyclization reaction. Generally, in most of these reactions electron-rich substrates (e.g. ynamines, enol ethers) react more readily than electron-poor compounds. Because many preparations with this type of complex take place under mild conditions, Fischer-type carbene complexes are being increasingly used for the synthesis [268-272] and modification [103,140,148,273] of sensitive natural products. 

Aryl(dialkylamino)carbene chromium complexes do not yield aminonaphthols upon treatment with alkynes, but form indene derivatives. Vinyl(dialkylamino)car-bene complexes, however, react with alkynes to yield aminophenols as the main products if solvents of low nucleophilicity are used [335]. (2-Amino-1-vinyl)carbene complexes do not undergo benzannulation when treated with alkynes, but form cyclopentadienes or heterocycles instead [251]. 

In addition to the reaction of vinylcarbene complexes with alkynes, further synthetic procedures have been developed in which Fischer-type carbene complexes are used for the preparation of benzenes. Most of these transformations are likely to be mechanistically related to the Dbtz benzannulation reaction, and can be rationalized as sequences of alkyne-insertions, CO-insertions, and electrocycli-zations. A selection of examples is given in Table 2.18. Entry 4 in Table 2.18 is an example of the Diels-Alder reaction (with inverse electron demand) of an enamine with a pyran-2-ylidene complex (see also Section 2.2.7 and Figure 2.36). In this example the adduct initially formed eliminates both chromium hexacarbonyl ([4 -I- 2] cycloreversion) and pyrrolidine to yield a substituted benzene. 

---