Benzopyranylidene complex

Scheme 5.33 Electrocyclization of o-ethynylphenylketone derivatives leading to benzopyranylidene complexes.

The reactivity of the produced complexes was also examined [30a,b]. Since the benzopyranylidene complex 106 has an electron-deficient diene moiety due to the strong electron-withdrawing nature of W(CO)5 group, 106 is expected to undergo inverse electron-demand Diels-Alder reaction with electron-rich alkenes. In fact, naphthalenes 116 variously substituted at the 1-, 2-, and 3-positions were prepared by the reaction of benzopyranylidene complexes 106 and typical electron-rich alkenes such as vinyl ethers, ketene acetals, and enamines through the Diels-Alder adducts 115, which simultaneously eliminated W(CO)6 and an alcohol or an amine at rt (Scheme 5.35). 

Scheme 5.35 Inverse electron demands Diels-Alder reaction of benzopyranylidene complexes with electron-rich olefins.

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