Alkynes reactions with metal atoms

Alkynes have not yielded isolable organometallic complexes in their reactions with metal atoms, although the field has not been systematically examined. 

Many pyridine-indole compounds are biologically active. A growing number of methods for the preparation of indolylstannanes have been developed. 2-Trialkylstannylindoles, for example, have been synthesized via directed metalation followed by reaction with tin chloride [91-93]. The latest indolylstannane syntheses include Fukuyama s free radical approach to 2-trialkylstannylindoles from novel isonitrile-alkenes [94], and its extension to an isonitrile-alkyne cascade [95]. Assisted by the chelating effect of the SEM group oxygen atom, direct metalation of 1-SEM-indole and transmetalation with BujSnCl afforded 2-(tributylstannyl)-l//-indole 108, which was then coupled with 2,6-dibromopyridine to give adduct 109. 

A proposed mechanism of this reaction was reported by Magnus and Principle [10], which is nowadays widely accepted (Scheme 1). Recently, negative-ion electrospray collision experiments have confirmed this mechanism in detail [11]. Starting with the formation of the alkyne-Co2(CO)6 complex 2, olefin 3 coordination and subsequent insertion takes place at the less hindered end of the alkyne. The in situ formed metallacycle 4 reacts rapidly under insertion of a CO ligand 5 and reductive elimination of 6 proceeds to liberate the desired cyclopentenone 7. It is important to note that all the bond-forming steps occur on only one cobalt atom. The other cobalt atom of the complex is presumed to act as an anchor which has additional electronic influences on the bond-forming metal atom via the existing metal-metal bond [12]. 

One of the very few examples of a four-membered heterocycle with sulfur atoms substituted 1,2 was reported by Dupont workers (60JA1515,61JA3434). Its synthesis involves the high temperature reaction of fluorinated alkynes and elemental sulfur, probably via a diradical intermediate (Scheme 102). The chemistry of these 1,2-dithietenes has been reviewed (76RCR639). As discussed later, these dithietenes form complexes with a number of transition metals. 

Metallacyclopentadienes undergo a range of synthetically versatile reactions which proceed with extrusion of the metal atom and attendant ligands. Thus, reactions with alkenes and alkynes afford cyclohexa-1,3-dienes and arenes (Scheme 6), and thiophenes, selena-cyclopentadienes, pyrroles and cyclopentadienones (indenones, fluorenones) can be obtained by treatment with sulfur, selenium, nitroso compounds and CO, respectively. The best studied substrates for such reactions are cobaltacyclopentadienes of the type (24a), which have been converted into a wide variety of arenes, cyclohexadienes and five-membered heterocycles, many of which would be very difficult to obtain by conventional organic procedures (74TL4549, 77JOM(139)169, 80JCS(P2)1344). 

Cyclometallation (also called oxidative coupling) is a rather special case of oxidative addition. In this reaction, two unsaturated molecules, X=Y and X =Y, add to the same metal atom M. One of the X—Y bonds and one of the X —Y bonds are broken, and new M X and M -Y bonds form. However, a new Y—Y bond also forms, and the overall result is a cyclometaUated compound (Figure 3.7a). As in oxidative addition, the oxidation state of the metal center increases by 2. Cyclometallation is common with alkynes (Figure 3.7b), as well as with alkenes activated by electron-withdrawing groups [21]. 

Dirhodium(II) tetrakis(carboxamides), constructed with chiral 2-pyrroli-done-5-carboxylate esters so that the two nitrogen donor atoms on each rhodium are in a cis arrangement, represent a new class of chiral catalysts with broad applicability to enantioselective metal carbene transformations. Enantiomeric excesses greater than 90% have been achieved in intramolecular cyclopropanation reactions of allyl diazoacetates. In intermolecular cyclopropanation reactions with monosubsti-tuted olefins, the cis-disubstituted cyclopropane is formed with a higher enantiomeric excess than the trans isomer, and for cyclopropenation of 1-alkynes extraordinary selectivity has been achieved. Carbon-hydro-gen insertion reactions of diazoacetate esters that result in substituted y-butyrolactones occur in high yield and with enantiomeric excess as high as 90% with the use of these catalysts. Their design affords stabilization of the intermediate metal carbene and orientation of the carbene substituents for selectivity enhancement. 

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