Allyl-carbonyl group transfer

Ene and Carbonyl-Ene Reactions. Certain double bonds undergo electrophilic addition reactions with alkenes in which an allylic hydrogen is transferred to the reactant. This process is called the ene reaction and the electrophile is known as an enophile A When a carbonyl group serves as the enophile, the reaction is called a carbonyl-ene reaction and leads to [3,-y-unsalurated alcohols. The reaction is also called the Prins reaction. 

In the reaction of (R,R)-tartrate allyl-boronate with aldehydes, Si attack of the nucleophile on the carbonyl group has been observed, while Re attack occurs in (S, S )-tartrate allyl-boronate reactions. Thus, an (S )-alcohol is produced preferentially when an (R,R)-allyl reagent is used, and the (R)-product can be obtained from an (S.Sj-reagent. assuming that the R substituent in the aldehyde substrate takes priority over the allyl group to be transferred. In fact, no exceptions to this generalization have yet been found in over 40 well-characterized cases where the tartrate auxiliary controls the stereochemical outcome of the allyl or crotyl transfer.72... 

Chemoselective reduction of conjugated enones to allylic alcohols via hydrogen transfer from propan-2-ol over metal oxides is investigated in vapour phase conditions. The unique ability of Mgo to reduce exclusively carbonyl group is observed. However, because of the high basicity of MgO side reactions are present. It is shown that by doping the Mgo catalyst with HC1 a significant decrease of its basicity occurs and consequently side reactions are minimized. 

Acid-catalyzed addition of aliphatic, aromatic or heteroaromatic cyanohydrins to ethyl vinyl ether, n-butyl vinyl ether or dihydro-4//-pyran provides base stable, protected cyanohydrin derivatives. Phase transfer catalyzed alkylation of aliphatic cyanohydrins with allylic bromides gave a-substituted a-allyl-oxyacetonitrile. Carbonyl compounds react wiA cyanide under phase transfer catalysis to give cyanohydrin anions, which are trapped by an acyl chloride or ethyl chloroformate to give acyl- or alkoxycarbonyl-protected cyanohydrins respectively. The reduction of the carbonyl group of an acyl cyanide by NaBH4 under phase transfer conditions followed by esterification serves as an alternative route to aldehyde-derived cyanohydrin esters. ... 

The alkoxydi(sulfonyl)methane shown in Scheme 128 (entry b) has been used as a useful carbonyl 1,1-dipole synthon ( C°-0). Its alkylation with alkyl halides is best achieved using CS2CO3 in DMF at 50 °C, and its palladium-catalyzed allylation requires the use of phase-transfer conditions (Scheme 128, entry b). The unmasking of the carbonyl group was then achieved by reacting the resulting disulfone with boron trichloride (-78 C, CH2CI2) followed by the addition of alcohols or amines to provide esters or amides respectively (Scheme 128, entry b). ... 

Selective reduction of the carbonyl group of a,/S-unsaturated aldehydes and ketones has been achieved by a vapor-phase hydrogen transfer reaction using saturated primary and secondary alcohols as hydrogen donors. The preferred catalyst for the reaction, which is reversible, is magnesium oxide. Application to the reduction of acrolein to allyl alcohol, methacrolein to methallyl alcohol, crotonaldehyde to crotyl alcohol, and methyl isopropenyl ketone to 3-methyl-3-buten-2-ol is described. 

These reactions enabled addition of the allylic electrophiles to the carbonyl group of aldehydes via oxidative addition of the allylic compounds to Pd(0) and transfer of the allyl group from Pd(II) to main group elements. 

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