Aminoalkynes, 5-/6-endo cyclizations

Cyclizations with nitrogen nucleophiles involving alkynes and allenes have received little attention until recently. The cyclizations of several a-aminoallenes to 3-pyrrolines with silver tetrafluoroborate was reported by Claesson and coworkers (equation 133).264 A similar cyclization to form A -carba-penems has been reported (equation 134).265 Diastereomeric allenes (R1 R2) were shown to cyclize with complete stereocontrol. Cyclization with palladium chloride in the presence of allyl bromide or electrophilic alkenes allowed for the intermediate vinylpalladium species to be trapped by the electrophile.2651 A related product was obtained by cyclization of an alkynic substrate (equation 13S).265 Other examples of 5-endo cyclization of p-aminoalkynes50 include the formation of indoles by cyclization of 2-alkynylanilines with mercury salts200 or palladium chloride,266a,266b,266c formation of 1-pyrrolines with catalytic palladium chloride (equation 136)198 and formation of pyrroles by cyclization of hydroxy-substituted p-aminoalkynes.198,2666... 

The rare-earth metal-catalyzed cyclization of aminoalkenes, aminoalkynes and aminodienes generally produces exclusively the exocyclic hydroamination products. The only exception was found in the cyclization of homopropargylamines leading to the formation of the endocyclic enamine product via a 5-endo-dig hydroamination/cyclization (32) [142], most likely due to steric strain in a potential four-membered ring exocyclic hydroamination product. Interestingly, the 5-endo-dig cyclization is still preferred even in the presence of an alkene group that would lead to a 6-exo hydroamination product [142]. 

The cyclization reactions of aminoalkynes proceed in endo- or exo- manner, and the reactions are catalyzed by various kinds of metal complexes as shown below. When the substrates of primary amine are used, the hydroamination products often isomerize to cyclic imines. Most reactions afford 5- or 6-membered ring products. 

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