Allenes carbon-alkene reactions

Although cyclopropylidenes have been generated by a number of independent methods which include cycloaddition of atomic carbon to alkenes, decarbonylation of cyclo-propylideneketenes, decarboxylation of oxaspiropentanes, from a preparative viewpoint, the a-elimination reaction of cyclopropane derivatives is most practical because of the mild reaction conditions and the availability of the starting materials. These methods are illustrated by the formation of allenes from atomic carbon/alkene reactions in Table 1 and in the preparation of 3/4, and from cyclopropanes in the preparation of 5/6. Examples showing allenes from decarbonylation of cyclopropylideneketenes are shown in the preparations of compounds 7/8, 9, 10, " and 11. ... 

Table 1. Allenes from Atomic Carbon/Alkene or Cyclopropane Reactions...

The free radical addition of a thiol to carbon-carbon double or triple bonds is a well-established reaction. It represents one of the most useful methods of synthesizing sulfides under mild conditions. Since its discovery [5] and its much later formulation as a free-radical chain reaction (Scheme 1) [6], the anti-Markovnikov addition of thiols to unsaturated compounds has been the subject of many reviews [8, 9]. These reactions were originally initiated by thermal decomposition of peroxides or azocompounds, by UV irradiation or by radiolysis [10]. (An example of addition of 1-thiosugar to alkenes initiated by 2,2 -azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) [11] is reported in equation (1)). More recently, organoboranes have been used as initiators and two examples (Et3B and 9-bora-bicyclo [3.3.1.] nonane) are reported in equations (2) and (3) [12,13]. Troyansky and co-workers [14a] achieved the synthesis of macrocycles like 12- and 13-membered sulfur-containing lactones by the double addition of thiyl radical to alkynes. An example is depicted in equation (4). The same approach has also been applied to the construction of 9- and 18-membered crown thioethers [14b]. The radical chain addition of thiyl radicals to differently substituted allenes has been considered in detail by Paste and co-workers [15], who found that preferential attack occurs at the central allenic carbon and gives rise to a resonance-stabilized ally radical. The addition of benzenethiol to allenic esters has been reported and the product formation has been similarly inferred (equation (5)) [16]. 

Electrophilic additions to allenes represent an interesting reaction type which is related to additions to both alkenes and alkynes. An allene could, for example, conceivably be protonated at either a terminal s[p- carbon or the central sp carbon. 

Hydroaminomethylahon of alkenes [path (c)j wiU not be considered [12]. This review deals exclusively with the hydroaminahon reaction [path (d)], i.e. the direct addition of the N-H bond of NH3 or amines across unsaturated carbon-carbon bonds. It is devoted to the state of the art for the catalytic hydroamination of alkenes and styrenes but also of alkynes, 1,3-dienes and allenes, with no mention of activated substrates (such as Michael acceptors) for which the hydroamination occurs without catalysts. Similarly, the reachon of the N-H bond of amine derivatives such as carboxamides, tosylamides, ureas, etc. will not be considered. 

The heat of hydrogenation of one carbon-carbon double bond of allene is 41 kcal mol-1, whereas that of an ordinary alkene is around 29 kcal mol-1. Thus the cumulated double bond of allene liberates 12 kcal mol-1 more than that of a simple alkene on hydrogenation. Accumulation of two carbon-carbon double bonds imparts an extra reactivity to allene, making it a remarkably active component participating in a variety of cycloaddition reactions as a two-carbon unit. 

Most, perhaps all, of the reactions that simple alkenes undergo are also available to allenes. By virtue of their strain and of the small steric requirement of the sp-hybrid-ized carbon atom, the reactions of allenes usually take place more easily than the corresponding reactions of olefins. Because the allenes can also be chiral, they offer opportunities for control of the reaction products that are not available to simple alkenes. Finally, some reaction pathways are unique to allenes. For example, deprotonation of allenes with alkyllithium reagents to form allenyl anions is a facile process that has no counterpart in simple alkenes. These concepts will be illustrated by the discussion of cyclization reactions of allenes that follows. 

Tius and co-workers elegantly applied a variant of the Nazarov reaction to the preparation of cyclopentenone prostaglandins (Scheme 19.39) [46]. Moreover, it was demonstrated that the chirality of non-racemic allenes is transferred to an sp3-hybridized carbon atom. Preparation of allenic morpholinoamide 214 and resolution of the enantiomers by chiral HPLC provided (-)- and (+)-214. Compound (-)-214 was exposed to the vinyllithium species 215 to afford a presumed intermediate which was not observed but spontaneously cyclized to give (+)- and (—)-216 as a 5 1 mixture. Compound (+)-216 was obtained with an 84% transfer of chiral information and (-)-216 was obtained in 64% ee. The lower enantiomeric excess of (—)-216 indicates that some Z to E isomerization took place. This was validated by the conversion of 216 to 217, where the absolute configuration was established. The stereochemical outcome of this reaction has been explained by conrotatory cyclization of 218 in which the distal group on the allene rotates away from the alkene to give 216. 

Besides alkenes and alkynes, other multiple bonds can be used as acceptors in addition reactions of carbon radicals provided the usual requirements of reactivity and selectivity are met. Other types of carbon-carbon multiple bonds that have been used as acceptors include dienes,162 allenes,61 enolates (and ni-tronates, see below) and quinones.223 Even highly strained cr-bonds have served as acceptors on occasion.224... 

Most of the recent synthetic developments in the field of radical cyclization have involved the reactions of carbon-centered radicals with alkenes and alkynes. Other useful acceptors include allenes,31 dienes30 and vinyl epoxides.32 The same methods are used for cyclizations to these acceptors as for radical additions, and the preceding chapter should be consulted for specific details on an individual method (the organization of this section parallels that of Section 4.1.6). Selection of a particular method to conduct a proposed cyclization is based on a variety of criteria, including the availability of the requisite pre-... 

Interestingly, the alkene to allene conversion can be carried out directly without isolation of the intermediate dihalocyclopropane. This process involves the treatment of the alkene with 1 equiv. of carbon tetrabromide and 2 equiv. of methyllithium in ether at -65 °C.163 Ultrasonic irradiation facilitates the formation of cyclopropylidenes, and therefore the allenes, from dihalocyclopropanes under the influence of Li, Na or Mg.1 The reactions are usually complete in 5-15 min. A report165 on the use of n-butyllithium complexed with the chiral tertiary amine (-)-sparteine, leading to optically active allenes, seems to be of questionable value. 

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