Asymmetric hydrocyanation dienes

In asymmetric hydrocyanation reactions the desired isomers are the chiral branched products only. Good regioselectivity toward the branched product (>98%) is limited to vinylarenes. Hydrocyanation of 1,3-dienes gives a variety of mixtures depending on the catalyst and conditions 1-alkenes give the linear nitrile as major product [34]. Both are seen in the adiponitrile process in which the unwanted branched 2M3BN (hydrocyanation product from 1,3-butadiene) is isomerized to the linear product 3-pentenenitrile, which is then hydrocyanated by in-situ isomerization to 4-pentenenitrile, resulting in the linear adiponitrile. Thus vinylarenes and cyclic alkenes (mainly norbomene) are usually the substrates of choice for the asymmetric hydrocyanation. Hopefully 1,3-dienes will become feasible substrates in the near future. 

In the metal catalyzed hydrocyanation area, the stage is set for major improvements in enantioselectivity for simple styrene derivatives. Asymmetric hydrocyanation of dienes and functionaUzed olefins is another exciting area ripe for further explorations. 

The hydrocyanation of vinylarenes ° has been studied by a DuPont team using nickel catalysis. The hydrocyanation of 6-methoxy-2-vinylnaphthalene (2.219) affords the product (2.220), where the enantiomeric excess is strongly dependent upon the electronic nature of the bisphosphinite ligand (2.12). Hydrolysis of the nitrile (2.220) affords the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug Naproxen. This nickel-catalysed procedure has also been applied with some success to the regiose-lective, asymmetric hydrocyanation of 1,3-dienes such as 1-phenyl-1,3-butadiene (2.221) to give the 1,2-adduct (2.222) with ees between 50 and 83%. ... 

The asymmetric hydrocyanation of dienes with substantial enantioselectivities has also been reported (Equation 16.10). Like the reactions of vinylarenes, these reactions have been reported with catalysts containing carbohydrate-derived phosphinites. Reactions of aryl-substituted dienes occur to form the products from 1,2-hydrocyanation. In addition to the reactions of purely acyclic dienes, such as 1-phenyl-l,3-butadiene, dienes containing an exocyclic vinyl group have been studied. These are substrates for products possessing... 

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