Carbenoid

Substituted carbenoids such as LiCsC-C(CH3)2CI, are less stable than LiCsC-CHjCl. ... 

Treatment of geminal dihalocyclopropyl compounds with a strong base such as butyl lithium has been for several years the most versatile method for cumulenes. The dihalo compounds are easily obtained by addition of dihalocarbenes to double--bond systems If the dihalocyclopropanes are reacted at low temperatures with alkyllithium, a cyclopropane carbenoid is formed, which in general decomposes above -40 to -50°C to afford the cumulene. Although at present a number of alternative methods are available , the above-mentioned synthesis is the only suitable one for cyclic cumulenes [e.g. 1,2-cyclononadiene and 1,2,3-cyclodecatriene] and substituted non-cyclic cumulenes [e.g. (CH3)2C=C=C=C(CH3)2]. 

It is also possible to convert carbonyl groups into oxirane rings with cenain carbenoid synthons. The classical Darzens reaction, which involves addition of anions of a-chloroacetic esters, has been replaced by the addition of sulfonium ylides (R. Sowada, 1971 C.R. Johnson, 1979). 

Cyclopropane rings are opened hydrogenolytically, e.g., over platinum on platinum dioxide (Adam s catalyst) in acetic acid at 2 - 4 bars hydrogen pressure. The bond, which is best accessible to the catalyst and most activated by conjugated substituents, is cleaved selectively (W.J. Irwin, 1968 R.L. Augustine, 1976). Synthetically this reaction is useful as a means to hydromethylate C—C double bonds via carbenoid addition (see p. 74f. Z. Majerski, 1968 C.W. Woodworth, 1968). 

Certain organometallic compounds resemble carbenes m their reactions and are referred to as carbenoids lodomethyizmc iodide (Section 14 12) IS an example... 

Hydrogen atoms in azolium ions can be removed easily as protons (e.g. 230—>232) exchange with deuterium occurs in heavy water. The intermediate zwitterion (e.g. 231) can also be written as a carbene, and in some cases this carbenoid form can be trapped or isolated as a dimer. 

Saturated large rings may form nitrogen radicals by H abstraction from N, or abstraction may occur in the a- or /3-positions in nonnitrogen systems. Oxepane gives the radical in the 2-position, with subsequent cleavage and reclosure of the intermediate carbenoid to cyclohexanol (Section 5.17.2.1.5). In unsaturated large systems a variety of reactions, unexceptional in their nature, are found. Some azepines can be brominated by A -bromosuc-cinimide others decompose under similar conditions (Section 5.16.3.7). 

Other potential synthetic routes to these unsaturated aziridine derivatives which involve the addition of nitrenes to allenes <75JOC224), carbenes to imines with subsequent hydrolysis <67JA362), and of carbenoid species to ketenimines <76TL1317,79TL559) have been investigated but are collectively of little or no preparative value. 

The reaction of oxiranes with base can follow several paths, giving products of type (34-38 Scheme 27). (a) Formation of an oxiranyl anion (34) is rare (Section 5.05.3.5). (b) Nucleophilic ring opening to give (35) is common with unhindered bases (Section 5.05.3.4). (c) a-Elimination to give a carbene or carbenoid (36) is favored by alkyllithium bases and... 

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). 

Iodomethylzinc iodide is often refened to as a carbenoid, meaning that it resembles a carbene in its chemical reactions. Caibenes are neutral molecules in which one of the caibon atoms has six valence electrons. Such caibons aie divalent they are directly bonded to only two other atoms and have no multiple bonds. Iodomethylzinc iodide reacts as if it were a source of the caibene H—C—H. 

Certain organometallic compounds resemble caibenes in their reactions and aie refened to as carbenoids. lodomethylzinc iodide (Section 14.12) is an exfflnple. 

In addition to the synthesis of heterocycles, the Corey-Chaykovsky reaction bestows an entry to carbocycles as well. The reaction of (trialkylsilyl)vinylketene 89 with substituted ylide 90 led exclusively to rrans-4,5-dimethyl cyclopentenone 91. The substituted ylide 90 here serves as a nucleophilic carbenoid reagent in the formal [4 +1] annulation reaction. 

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