Allenic zinc derivatives

Propargylic zinc derivatives react with aldehydes or ketones with variable selectivity affording a mixture of allenic and homopropargylic alcohols [135]. However, under appropriate reaction conditions, high enantioselectivities and diastereo-selectivities can be achieved. Marshall and coworkers have shown that chiral propargylic mesylates such as 188 are converted to allenylzinc reagents 189 through treatment with a Pd(0)-catalyst. Their addition to an aldehyde such as 190... 

The earlier examples of [2 + 1] cycloaddition of a carbene (or carbenoid) on the double bond of alkylidenecyelopropanes to yield spiropentane derivatives were observed as undesired side reactions in the synthesis of alkylidenecyelopropanes through the addition of a carbene to a substituted allene [161]. In some cases the spiropentane derivative was obtained as the major product [161a, c] especially when a large excess of the carbene reagent was used. For example, when methyl 3,4-pentadienoate (610) was treated with a ten-fold excess of methylene iodide and zinc-copper couple the two products 611 and 612 were isolated in 1 4.5 ratio (Scheme 86) [161a]. 

If the alkenes and acetylenes that are subjected to the reaction mediated by 1 have a leaving group at an appropriate position, as already described in Eq. 9.16, the resulting titanacycles undergo an elimination (path A) as shown in Eq. 9.58 [36], As the resulting vinyltitaniums can be trapped by electrophiles such as aldehydes, this reaction can be viewed as an alternative to stoichiometric metallo-ene reactions via allylic lithium, magnesium, or zinc complexes (path B). Preparations of optically active N-heterocycles [103], which enabled the synthesis of (—)-a-kainic acid (Eq. 9.59) [104,105], of cross-conjugated trienes useful for the diene-transmissive Diels—Alder reaction [106], and of exocyclic bis(allene)s and cyclobutene derivatives [107] have all been reported based on this method. 

Buynak et al. reported the synthesis of representative 7-vinylidenecephalosporine derivatives bearing an axial allene chirality (Scheme 4.5) [9]. A chiral allene 24 was prepared stereoselectively utilizing the reaction of an organocopper reagent with propargyl triflate 23, obtained by a diastereoselective ethynylation of the ketone 22 with ethynylmagnesium bromide. Terminally unsubstituted allene 26 was synthesized via bromination of the triflate 23 followed by reduction of the bromide 25 with a zinc-copper couple. 

The stereospecific reduction of a 2-butyne-l, 4-diol derivative and silver( I)-mediated cyclization of the resulting allene were successively applied to a short total synthesis of (+)-furanomycin 165 (Scheme 4.42) [68], Stereoselective addition of lithium acetylide 161 to Garner s aldehyde in the presence of zinc bromide afforded 162 in 77% yield. The hydroxyl group-directed reduction of 162 with LiAlH4 in Et20 produced the allene 163 stereospecifically. Cyclization followed by subsequent functional group manipulations afforded (+)-furanomycin 165. 

The addition of carbonyl compounds towards lithiated 1-siloxy-substituted allenes does not proceed in the manner described above for alkoxyallenes. Tius and co-work-ers found that treatment of 1-siloxy-substituted allene 67 with tert-butyllithium and subsequent addition of aldehydes or ketones led to the formation of ,/i-unsaturated acyl silanes 70 (Scheme 8.19) [66]. This simple and convenient method starts with the usual lithiation of allene 67 at C-l but is followed by a migration of the silyl group from oxygen to C-l, thus forming the lithium enolate 69, which finally adds to the carbonyl species. Transmetalation of the lithiated intermediate 69 to the corresponding zinc enolate provided better access to acylsilanes derived from enolizable aldehydes. For reactions of 69 with ketones, transmetalation to a magnesium species seems to afford optimal results. 

The proposed reaction mechanism is as follows (Scheme 16.83). Zinc metal reduces Ni(II) species to Ni(0). A nickelacyclopentadiene may be produced via coordination of two molecules of propiolates and regioselective head-to-head oxidative cyclometallation. Coordination and subsequent insertion of an allene into the Ni(II)-carbon bond give rise to a nickelacycloheptadiene intermediate. Finally, a benzene derivative is produced via reductive elimination followed by isomerization. 

Further variations of the Claisen rearrangement protocol were also utilized for the synthesis of allenic amino acid derivatives. Whereas the Ireland-Claisen rearrangement led to unsatisfactory results [133b], a number of variously substituted a-allenic a-amino acids were prepared by Kazmaier [135] by chelate-controlled Claisen rearrangement of ester enolates (Scheme 18.47). For example, deprotonation of the propargylic ester 147 with 2 equiv. of lithium diisopropylamide and transmetallation with zinc chloride furnished the chelate complex 148, which underwent a highly syn-stereoselective rearrangement to the amino acid derivative 149. 

SCHEME 91. Reaction of allenic, propargylic and allylic zinc reagents with carbonyl derivatives... 

A similar cyclization to give cyclopropanone acetals 33 was accomplished with magnesium in tetrahydrofuran or zinc in hexamethylphosphoric triamide. However, considerable amounts of allenes were also isolated as byproducts. Acetals derived from linear 1,3-dibromo ketones gave a mixture of spiroacetals and allenes, while acetals derived from cyclic ketones, e.g. 2,6-dibromocyclohexan-l-one, afforded cyclopropanone acetals exclusively. In general, the more substituted the substrate, the greater the yield of cyclpropanone acetals. ... 

Reactions with —OH Groups and Epoxides.—The formation of A -l,2-oxaphos-pholen derivatives from propargylic alcohols and phosphorus trichloride has been studied in detail. Intermediate phosphites (24) and allenic phosphonates (25) are described, and the A -l,2-oxaphosphoIen is produced in the final stage, as shown. Improved conditions have been outlined for the preparation of allylic bromides (26) from allylic alcohols and phosphorus tribromide. Related reactions of primary alcohols with the complex of phosphorus trichloride and DMF lead to the chloride (27) 22 addition of zinc bromide to the reaction results in the formation of alkyl bromides, but an attempt to extend this exchange to the preparation of cyanides was not successful. ... 

However, the reaction with carbonyl compounds of the a-Grignard or a-zinc halide derivatives (prepared by exchange) affords mixtures of the allenic and acetylenic derivatives [9] ... 

The zinc and cadmium reagents " " (R0)2P(0)CF2MBr have also proved useful as alkylation substrates for particularly reactive species, e.g. allylic, benzylic or propargylic halides with the last type, some rearrangement to allenic compounds is observed. Scheme 12 illustrates the use of such reagents in the synthesis of a-fluorinated alkylphosphonic acid derivatives. 

The adsorptive powers of lignite have been shown to reduce the COD of an effluent. Lignite treated with 50% sulphuric acid at 100°C is partly activated. It is claimed that activated carbon reduces the COD of slaughterhouse wastes by up to 60%. Lignite and lignite-derived activated carbons also exhibit adsorption of organics such as benzoic acid and chlo-robenzoic acids. The retention of metallic cations by lignites is well established (Allen et al, 1992 Ibarra et al., 1979). The adsorption of copper, cadmium, lead, aluminum, and zinc is shown in Fig. 15.5. 

The reaction of l-bromo-2-heptyne with zinc in the presence of 2,2-dimethylpropanal [67], however, did yield the allenic derivative as the main product together with small amounts of the acetylenic compound ... 

Alkoxypropargylation. The ambident character of the propargylic anion, which may be in equihbrium with the aUenic form, is responsible for its limited use in synthesis. In general the structure and reactivity of the ambident anion depend on the nature of the substrate, the counter cation, and the solvent. There is also an erythro-threo stereoselectivity problem when alkylated propargylic anions react with aldehydes or unsymmetrical ketones. In contrast, the zinc and titanium reagents derived from the title compound possess the allenic structure and, upon reaction with aldehydes, lead almost exclusively to the )8-acetylenic alcohol (eq 1), presumably by a chelate transition state (Sei process). The reaction also leads preferentially to the erythro diastereomer. The stereoselectivity is highest with titanium as the metal and THE as the solvent. ... 

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