Carbenes intramolecular

Photolysis of alkoxysilyl-diazoacetic esters 1 generates l-oxa-2-sila-cyclopentanes 2 by carbenic intramolecular C/H insertion. Four- and six-membered rings are not observed. 

The thiepin system 31 is formed quantitatively by ring expansion of the diazoacetate derivative 30 via carbene formation catalyzed by 7r-allylpalladium chloride and its intramolecular insertion[31], The 4-diazomethyl-4//-pyrane 32 is expanded to the oxepine 33 in quantitative yield with the same catalyst[32]. 

The converse situation in which ring closure is initiated by the attack of a carbon-based radical on the heteroatom has been employed only infrequently (Scheme 18c) (66JA4096). The example in Scheme 18d begins with an intramolecular carbene attack on sulfur followed by rearrangement (75BCJ1490). The formation of pyrrolidines by intramolecular attack of an amino radical on a carbon-carbon double bond is exemplified in Scheme 19. In the third example, where cyclization is catalyzed by a metal ion (Ti, Cu, Fe, Co " ), the stereospecificity of the reaction depends upon the choice of metal ion. 

Intramolecular attack of the carbenes shown in Scheme 30a provides benzo[6]cyclo-hepta[(5 ]-furans and -thiophenes, but the nitrogen analogue (X = NH) yields 9,10-dihydro-acridine 81AJC1037). Photolysis of 2-biphenyl isocyanide (Scheme 30b) (72JOC3571) and thermolysis of 2-biphenylsulfonyl diazomethane (Scheme 30c) (72CC893) also result in ring expansion. 

The ring opening of 2//-azirines to yield vinylnitrenes on thermolysis, or nitrile ylides on photolysis, also leads to pyrrole formation (B-82MI30301). Some examples proceeding via nitrile ylides are shown in Scheme 92. The consequences of attempts to carry out such reactions in an intramolecular fashion depend not only upon the spatial relationship of the double bond and the nitrile ylide, but also upon the substituents of the azirine moiety since these can determine whether the resulting ylide is linear or bent. The HOMO and second LUMO of a bent nitrile ylide bear a strong resemblance to the HOMO and LUMO of a singlet carbene so that 1,1-cycloadditions occur to carbon-carbon double bonds rather than the 1,3-cycloadditions needed for pyrrole formation. The examples in Scheme 93 provide an indication of the sensitivity of these reactions to structural variations. 

Difluoroaminofluorodiazirine (225) extrudes nitrogen at only 75 °C. Intramolecular stabilization gives trifluoromethylenimine (226) added tetrafluoroethylene is cyclopropa-nated. This type of dichotomy is not often found in carbene chemistry alkylcarbenes undergo intramolecular stabilization as a rule, whereas intermolecular stabilization is observed exclusively with alkoxycarbonylcarbenes and with difluorocarbene. In the latter case CF2 attacks its precursor when no other reaction partner is present. 

The same dichotomy was observed with hexafluorodimethylcarbene (228), formed by thermolysis of diazirine (227) at 150 °C. The carbene (228) can stabilize itself either intramolecularly to perfluoropropene (229), or intermolecularly by addition to multiple bonds. Oxirane (230) is formed with hexafluoroacetone, cyclopropene (231) with 2-butyne (66MI50800). 

In chlorodiazirine photolysis there is also evidence of competition between intramolecular stabilization and reaction with added chemicals. Apparently carbenes are stabilized by... 

There are several examples of intramolecular reactions of monocyclic /3-lactams with carbenes or carbenoids most of these involve formation of olivanic acid or clavulanic acid derivatives. Thus treatment of the diazo compound (106) with rhodium(II) acetate in benzene under reflux gives (107), an intermediate in the synthesis of thienamycin (80H(14)1305, 80TL2783). 

An intermolecular carbenoid reaction followed by intramolecular displacement of acetate gives the clavulanic acid derivative (112) in one step from 4-acetoxyazetidin-2-one (91) (80CC1257). Carbene-induced reactions of penicillins and cephalosporins have been reviewed (75S547, 78T1731). 

The triazole 76, which is more accurately portrayed as the nucleophilic carbene structure 76a, acts as a formyl anion equivalent by reaction with alkyl halides and subsequent reductive cleavage to give aldehydes as shown (75TL1889). The benzoin reaction may be considered as resulting in the net addition of a benzoyl anion to a benzaldehyde, and the chiral triazolium salt 77 has been reported to be an efficient asymmetric catalyst for this, giving the products (/ )-ArCH(OH)COAr, in up to 86% e.e. (96HCA1217). In the closely related intramolecular Stetter reaction e.e.s of up to 74% were obtained (96HCA1899). 

Retention of configuration may be used for the synthesis of the intramolecular carbene complexes [87J0M(336)C1]. Methyl- or phenyllithium or di-... 

Acyclic diene molecules are capable of undergoing intramolecular and intermolec-ular reactions in the presence of certain transition metal catalysts molybdenum alkylidene and ruthenium carbene complexes, for example [50, 51]. The intramolecular reaction, called ring-closing olefin metathesis (RCM), affords cyclic compounds, while the intermolecular reaction, called acyclic diene metathesis (ADMET) polymerization, provides oligomers and polymers. Alteration of the dilution of the reaction mixture can to some extent control the intrinsic competition between RCM and ADMET. 

Intermediate 37 can be transformed into ( )-thienamycin [( )-1)] through a sequence of reactions nearly identical to that presented in Scheme 3 (see 22— 1). Thus, exposure of /(-keto ester 37 to tosyl azide and triethylamine results in the facile formation of pure, crystalline diazo keto ester 4 in 65 % yield from 36 (see Scheme 5). Rhodium(n) acetate catalyzed decomposition of 4, followed by intramolecular insertion of the resultant carbene 3 into the proximal N-H bond, affords [3.2.0] bicyclic keto ester 2. Without purification, 2 is converted into enol phosphate 42 and thence into vinyl sulfide 23 (76% yield from 4).18 Finally, catalytic hydrogenation of 23 proceeds smoothly (90%) to afford ( )-thienamycin... 

Cydizations and Other Intramolecular Rearrangements of Carbene Complexes... 

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