Allylic zirconocenes

Hydrozirconation of allenic systems preferentially leads to allylic zirconocenes, which are highly reactive and thus very useful organometallic reagents. Allenic sulfides react in the expected fashion to give the (E)-y-thiophenylallylzirconocene chloride 20 (Scheme 4.18) [47]. These intermediates, upon introduction of an aldehyde or methyl ketone, give predominantly the anti isomer (ratios from 82 18 to > 97 3). Exclusive 1,2-addition was observed by Suzuki et al. in the case of an a,f5-unsaturated aldehyde. As long as the steric demands of the two substituents attached to the ketone carbonyl are significantly different, synthetically useful levels of selectivity can be achieved. 

Scheme 4.52. Coupling of an allylic zirconocene with a vinylic zirconocene.

Allylic zirconocenes, generated by hydrozirconation (see Hydrozirconation) of allenic systems, react with terminal alkynes when activated with MAO to regioselectively afford 1,4-dienes. The same MAO catalyzed process, applied to haloalkynes, leads to excellent yields of the 1,4-enyne (100) (Scheme 23). ... 

Carbozirconation. The presence of MAO is essential for the reaction of alkynes with the allylic zirconocene chlorides derived fixim allenes. The Lewis acid presumably enhances the carbozirconation of alkynes by promoting formation of cationic Zr species in the same manner as during the polymerization of a-olefins. 

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