Arene allylation

The concept of a diastereoselective Friedel-Crafts alkylation of a-chiral benzyl alcohols was first examined by Bach and coworkers [62, 63]. The initial protocol required stoichiometric amounts of strong Brpnsted acids like HBF4 and was followed by a more valuable methodology in which catalytic amounts of AuC L were employed for the diastereoselective functionalization of chiral benzyl alcohols [64], Beside arenes, allyl silanes, 2,4-pentanediones and silyl enol ethers have been used as nucleophiles. Depending on the diastereodiscriminating group and on the catalyst (Brpnsted or Lewis acid), the authors observed either the syn or the anti diastereoisomer as the major product. 

Arene allylation. This reaction can be carried out in 40 70% yield (isolated) by reaction of the arene (large excess) with an allylsilane, allylgermane, or allylstannane and T1(OCOCFj)j to form an allyl cation. Thallium(III) nitrate can also be used. Example ... 

Borylation. Directed by a silylated heteroatom the borylation opens a new trail for o-functionalization of arenes. Allylic boranes derived from aUcenes by the same protocol can be used to synthesize homoallylic alcohols and alkenylarenes. ... 

Cyclopratadicnyl, Arene, Allyl, and Rdated Carbonyl Con lexes of Cr, Mo,... 

Allyl Complexes. Allyl complexes of thorium have been known since the 1960s and are usually stabilized by cyclopentadienyl ligands. AEyl complexes can be accessed via the interaction of a thorium haUde and an aHyl grignard. This synthetic method was utilized to obtain a rare example of a naked aHyl complex, Th(Tj -C2H )4 [144564-74-9] which decomposes at 0°C. This complex, when supported on dehydroxylated y-alumina, is an outstanding heterogeneous catalyst for arene hydrogenation and rivals the most active platinum metal catalysts in activity (17,18). 

Recently some information became available on a new type of highly active one-component ethylene polymerization catalyst. This catalyst is prepared by supporting organometallic compounds of transition metals containing different types of organic ligands [e.g. benzyl compounds of titanium and zirconium 9a, 132), 7r-allyl compounds of various transition metals 8, 9a, 133), 7r-arene 134, 185) and 71-cyclopentadienyl 9, 136) complexes of chromium]. 

This section will describe the Friedel-Crafts alkylation reactions of aromatic hydrocarbons with alkenylchlorosilanes containing short chain alkenyl groups such as allyl and vinyl. The reaction will be discussed in terms of the substituent effect on silicon and the arene rings. 

Highly diasteroselective and chemoselective reductions may be performed on the hydroxy functions of (r/6-arene)-tricarbonylchromium complexes. Treatment of the chromium-complexed benzylic alcohol 29 with triethylsilane and boron trifluoride etherate in dichloromethane at —78° to 0° gives only diastereomer 30 in 75% yield (Eq. 40).181 In a similar fashion, treatment of the complexed exo-allyl-endo-benzylic alcohol 31 with an excess of Et3SiH/TFA in dichloromethane at room temperature under nitrogen produces only the endo-aflyl product 32 in 92% yield after 1.5 hours (Eq. 41). It is noteworthy that no reduction of the isolated double bond occurs.182... 

The smaller p -tert-butyl-calix [4] arenes have a rich coordination chemistry as well (65). Of these, however, only the upper-rim modified calixarenes seem to support metal complexes with confined binding sites (66), except in those cases where the lower-rim substituents form an appended cavity. Thus, Matt and coworkers have reported (67) a pocket-shaped calix[4]arene ligand L2 bearing two lower-rim [([Pg.410]

Suitably protected glycosyl halides or acetates, upon Lewis-acid promoted SN1 heterolysis, generate glycosyl cation intermediates that can react with electron-rich arenes, heteroarenes, Me3SiCN, enoxysilanes, enamines, allyl silanes and stannanes, acetylenyl silanes and stannanes affording C-glycosyl compounds. 

The presence of hetero-atoms within the system, remote from the alkene double bonds, does not have an adverse influence on the SET processes that occur. Thus irradiation of the diene 33 in benzene solution with 1,4-dicyanonaphthalene as the electron-transfer sensitizer affords the cyclobutane 34 in 78% yield. Various examples of the reaction were described giving cyclobutane derivatives in 54-69% yield. Benzene, or an arene solvent, is vital for the success of the reaction. When acetonitrile is used, allylation of the sensitizer (akin to the photo-NOCAS reaction) results in the formation of the three products 35-3718. (2 + 2)-Cyclization of this type described for 33 is also seen with the dialkenyl ether 38. When 38 is irradiated using X > 350 nm or X > 450 nm in acetonitrile... 

As well as organic chiral auxiliaries, organometallic fragments have found some application as chiral auxiliaries in conjugate addition reactions. Particularly noteworthy are chiral molybdenum allyl complexes [69], chiral iron complexes [70], and planar chiral arene chromium species [71]. 

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