Benzannulation, carbene synthesis

Other examples of [2C+2S+1C0] cycloaddition reactions have been described by Herndon et al. by the use of chromium cyclopropyl(methoxy)carbenes. These complexes react with alkynes releasing ethene and forming cyclopenta-dienone derivatives, which evolve to cyclopentenone derivatives in the presence of chromium(O) and water [122] (Scheme 76). This reaction has been extended to intramolecular processes and also to the synthesis of some natural products [123]. These authors have also described another process involving a formal [2C+2S+1C0] cycloaddition reaction. Thus, the reaction of methyl and cyclo-propylcarbene complexes with phenylacetylene derivatives does not afford the expected benzannulated products, and several regioisomers of cyclopentenone derivatives are the only products isolated [124] (Scheme 76). 

An unexpected varying regiochemistry in intramolecular benzannulation has also been observed in the synthesis of cyclophanes. As mentioned above, there are only two possible regiochemical outcomes in the benzannulation reaction, which differ in the direction of alkyne incorporation. / -Tethered vinyl-carbene chromium complexes undergo an intramolecular benzannulation reaction with incorporation of the tethered alkyne with normal regioselectivity to give meta-cyclophanes [28]. 

The use of a stereogenic carbon centre allowed an efficient asymmetric induction in the benzannulation reaction towards axial-chiral intermediates in the synthesis of configurationally stable ring-C-functionalised derivatives of al-locolchicinoids [51]. The benzannulation of carbene complex 52 with 1-pen-tyne followed by oxidative demetalation afforded a single diastereomer 53 (Scheme 33). 

The fact that pentacarbonyl carbene complexes react with enynes in a chemo-selective and regiospecific way at the alkyne functionality was successfully applied in the total synthesis of vitamins of the Kj and K2 series [58]. Oxidation of the intermediate tricarbonyl(dihydrovitamin K) chromium complexes with silver oxide afforded the desired naphthoquinone-based vitamin K compounds 65. Compared to customary strategies, the benzannulation reaction proved to be superior as it avoids conditions favouring (E)/(Z)-isomerisation within the allylic side chain. The basic representative vitamin K3 (menadione) 66 was synthesised in a straightforward manner from pentacarbonyl carbene complex 1 and propyne (Scheme 38). 

A plausible pathway is that the aromatisation of the cyclohexadienone 92 by a proton shift is accelerated in the presence of Ac20 under formation of acetate 93. The simultaneously generated acetic acid then cleaves the acetate to form the free phenol 94 (Scheme 44). This effect was observed for the first time during studies towards the total synthesis of the lipid-alternating and anti-atherosclerotic furochromone khellin 99 [64].The furanyl carbene chromium complex 96 was supposed to react with alkoxyalkyne 95 in a benzannulation reaction to give the densely substituted benzofuran derivative 97 (Scheme 45). Upon warming the reaction mixture in tetrahydrofuran to 65 °C the reaction was completed in 4 h, but only a dimerisation product could be isolated. This... 

Nanaomycin A 103 and deoxyfrenolicin 108 are members of a group of naphthoquinone antibiotics based on the isochroman skeleton. The therapeutic potential of these natural products has attracted considerable attention, and different approaches towards their synthesis have been reported [65,66]. The key step in the total synthesis of racemic nanaomycin A 103 is the chemo-and regioselective benzannulation reaction of carbene complex 101 and allylacety-lene 100 to give allyl-substituted naphthoquinone 102 after oxidative workup in 52% yield [65] (Scheme 47). The allyl functionality is crucial for a subsequent intramolecular alkoxycarbonylation to build up the isochroman structure. However, modest yields and the long sequence required to introduce the... 

The thermal benzannulation of Group 6 carbene complexes with alkynes (the Dotz reaction) is highly developed and has been used extensively in synthesis [90,91]. It is thought to proceed through a chromium vinylketene intermediate generated by sequential insertion of the alkyne followed by carbon monoxide into the chromium-carbene-carbon double bond [92]. The realization that photodriven CO insertion into Z-dienylcarbene complexes should generate the same vinylketene intermediate led to the development of a photochemical variant of the Dotz reaction (Table 14). 

This photodriven benzannulation was used in the synthesis of indolocar-bazoles (Eq. 22) [96] and calphostins (Eq. 23) [97]. The thermal insertion of isonitriles into these same classes of carbenes provided a complementary approach to similar benzannulations [98-100]. Manganese alkoxycarbene complexes underwent both inter- [101] and intramolecular [102] photodriven benzannulation reactions with alkynes (Eqs. 24 and 25). 

In addition to reactions characteristic of carbonyl compounds, Fischer-type carbene complexes undergo a series of transformations which are unique to this class of compounds. These include olefin metathesis [206,265-267] (for the use as metathesis catalysts, see Section 3.2.5.3), alkyne insertion, benzannulation and other types of cyclization reaction. Generally, in most of these reactions electron-rich substrates (e.g. ynamines, enol ethers) react more readily than electron-poor compounds. Because many preparations with this type of complex take place under mild conditions, Fischer-type carbene complexes are being increasingly used for the synthesis [268-272] and modification [103,140,148,273] of sensitive natural products. 

Benzannulation reactions of Fischer carbene complexes have proved a useful route for the synthesis of benzene rings fused to one furan ring and one additional heteroaromatic ring (Equation 96) <2005TL2211>. Thus, reaction of chromium carbene complex 168 with the conjugated dienyne systems produces benzofuran derivatives (Table 7). 

More recently, a stereocontrolled approach to the synthesis of allocolchicinoids was disclosed by Wulff and co-workers using a diastereoselective benzannulation of chromium carbene complexes, Fig. (16) [104,105],... 

Besides alkyloxy carbene complexes, acyloxy carbene complexes have also been proven to be effective in the benzannulation reaction. For example, Yamashita and Ohishi have reported the synthesis of various naphthoquinones in yields of 47-71 % using acetyloxy phenyl chromium carbene complex and terminal alkynes with different alkyl chain lengths [29]. 

Scheme 17. Synthesis of dicarbonyl(phosphine)carbene complexes by means of the benzannulation reaction.

Finally, the a,/ -unsaturated carbene complex may be generated in situ by alkyne insertion into a chromium-carbene bond of a saturated chromium carbene leading to a chromium vinyl carbene (equivalent to intermediate (f )-D in the mechanism of the benzannulation reaction, see Section 8.2.1, Scheme 3), which may undergo subsequent benzannulation with a second equivalent of the alkyne [43a]. This strategy was subsequently applied to the synthesis of (Z)-enediynes and related compounds [43b], and to that of substituted benzofurans (see also Section 8.5) [43c, 43d]. 

A bidirectional benzannulation strategy allows the extension of an existing biaryl skeleton. The BINOL-derived bis-carbene complex 69, accessible through a sequence of regioselective double ortfio-lithiation/Fischer carbene complex synthesis, undergoes bidirectional benzannulation to give the dinuclear biphenanthrene complex 70. The optical induction exerted by the binaphthyl core is, however, only moderate a mixture of C2- and Cj-symmetrical bis(phenanthrohydroquinone) bis-chromium complexes is formed, in which the C2-... 

To date, reports of linear benzannulation are very limited [55b, 79]. One example referred to the annulation of a 2-naphthohydroquinoid chromium carbene, which was employed in the synthesis of anthracycline (see Section 8.6.2) [79]. Later, a complementary approach in this area started from 2-naphthylcyclopropenes which, in the presence of hexacarbonyl-molybdenum, served as precursors for the vinyl ketenes required for linear annulation [55b],... 

Apart from the construction of phenanthrenes, carbene complexes have also been used for the synthesis of more extended polycyclic arenes. An unusual dimerization of chromium coordinated ortbo-ethynyl aryl carbenes results in the formation of chrysenes (Scheme 37) [81]. This unusual reaction course is presumably due to the rigid C2 bridge that links the carbene and alkyne moieties, and thus prevents a subsequent intramolecular alkyne insertion into the metal-carbene bond. Instead, a double intermolecular alkyne insertion favored by the weak chromium-alkyne bond is believed to occur forming a central ten-membered ring that may then rearrange to the fused arene system. For example, under typical benzannulation conditions, carbene complex 97 affords an equimolar mixture of chrysene 98a and its monochromium complex 98b. The peri-interactions between the former alkyne substituent (in the 5- and 11-positions) and the aryl hydrogen induce helicity in the chrysene skeleton. 

Due to its versatility with respect to the scope and substitution pattern, both in terms of the chromium carbene and the alkyne, the benzannulation reaction has been recognized as a valuable methodology for the synthesis of complex biologically active compounds. 

Heteroatom-stabilized carbene complexes of type 1, first discovered by E.O. Fischer in 1964 [1], nowadays belong to the best investigated classes of transition metal compounds. Such complexes are coordinatively saturated, intensely colored solids = 350-400 nm), which exhibit a sufficient stability for normal preparative use. Especially chromium carbene complexes (2) enjoy increasing importance in organic synthesis, and it must be added that thermal reactions such as benzannulations (i.e. the Ddtz reaction), cyclopropanations and additions to a,j8-unsatu-rated complexes clearly predominate [2J. 

Fischer-type chromium carbene complexes of furans underwent Dotz benzannulation with alkynes to provide trisubstituted benzo [, ]furan derivatives. An example used in the synthesis of isodityrosine is depicted in Equation (39) <2005JOC7422>. The efficiency of the reaction could be improved by ultrasound sonication <19990L1721>. 

P. Quayle and co-workers utilized the Dotz benzannulation reaction for the synthesis of diterpenoid quinones." The authors developed a novel synthetic approach to 12-O-methyl royleanone using a simple vinyl chromium carbene complex along with a disubstituted oxygenated acetylene. The bicyclic hydrazone was converted to the corresponding vinyllithium derivative by the Shapiro reaction and then functionalized to give the desired crude Fischer chromium carbene complex. The benzannulation took place in refluxing THF with excellent regioselectivity, and the natural product was obtained in 37% overall yield from the hydrazone. 

The use of a metal carbene complex in benzannulations has become one of the most valuable synthetic applications of these organometallic reagents . Because of its applicability to a broad spectrum of substituents, its regioselectivity and its mild experimental conditions, benzannulation has been employed as a key step in the synthesis of a series of natural compounds . 

Carbocycles, heterocycles and polycyclic arenes can serve as carbene ligands for the synthesis of complexes with benzannulated arenes (equation 133) . ... 

The two syntheses of 11-deoxydaunomycinone are summarized in Schemes 38 and 39 as they are illustrative of the viability of carbene complexes as intermediates in organic synthesis. The synthesis by Dotz and Popall begins with the chelated o-methoxyphenyl carbene complex (275) and the alkyne (276). A single regioisomer of the phenol (277) was obtained in 76% yield in the benzannulation. After protection of the phenol and carbon homologation of the ketone to the acid, an intramolecular Frie-del-Crafts reaction gave the tetracyclic dione (279) in 45% overall yield from (277). This represents a formal synthesis of 11-deoxydaunomycinone (269) since it has been reported that (279) can be converted to (269) by the procedures of Sih and Johnson. ... 

The chromium-templated coupling of alkenyl- or arylcarbene, aUcyne and carbonyl ligands generates arene tricarbonylchromium complexes as primary benzannulation products which - based on their unsymmetric substitution pattern - bear a plane of chirality. Chiral arene complexes are powerful reagents in stereoselective synthesis however, the preparation of pure enantiomers is a lengthy and often tedious procedure, and thus diastereoselective benzannulation appears to be an attractive alternative. In order to lure the chromium fragment to one or the other face of the arene formed, chiral information may be incorporated in the carbene complex or the aUcyne. 

Synthesis of Five-Membered Carbocycles An annulation of chromium arylcarbenes by alkynes without CO-insertion leads to five-membered rings. It has been observed as a side reaction along the benzannulation which may become predominant depending on the nature of the carbene heteroatom substitution pattern, [72] the metal [40] and its coligands [73] and the solvent [43] used. In this respect, indene derivatives have been obtained from arylcarbene complexes of chromium and tungsten. [73,74]... 

A recent synthesis [29] via phthalidotetralin intermediates is based on the benzannulation [30] of the Fischer chromium carbene complex 22 with the ethynyl phthalide 21. This reaction, which involves incorporation of a CO ligand as well as the carbene carbon in the formation of ring B, is highly regioselective, yielding the product 23. After oxidative removal of chromium... 

---