Carbonylative coupling processes

Two classes of charged radicals derived from ketones have been well studied. Ketyls are radical anions formed by one-electron reduction of carbonyl compounds. The formation of the benzophenone radical anion by reduction with sodium metal is an example. This radical anion is deep blue in color and is veiy reactive toward both oxygen and protons. Many detailed studies on the structure and spectral properties of this and related radical anions have been carried out. A common chemical reaction of the ketyl radicals is coupling to form a diamagnetic dianion. This occurs reversibly for simple aromatic ketyls. The dimerization is promoted by protonation of one or both of the ketyls because the electrostatic repulsion is then removed. The coupling process leads to reductive dimerization of carbonyl compounds, a reaction that will be discussed in detail in Section 5.5.3 of Part B. 

A somewhat related process, the cobalt-mediated synthesis of symmetrical benzo-phenones from aryl iodides and dicobalt octacarbonyl, is shown in Scheme 6.49 [100]. Here, dicobalt octacarbonyl is used as a combined Ar-I bond activator and carbon monoxide source. Employing acetonitrile as solvent, a variety of aryl iodides with different steric and electronic properties underwent the carbonylative coupling in excellent yields. Remarkably, in several cases, microwave irradiation for just 6 s was sufficient to achieve full conversion An inert atmosphere, a base or other additives were all unnecessary. No conversion occurred in the absence of heating, regardless of the reaction time. However, equally high yields could be achieved by heating the reaction mixture in an oil bath for 2 min. 

Recent contributions from Vogel s group have shown that, under CO atmosphere and in the presence of Pd2(dba)3 and Ph3As, 1-stannyl glycals can be carbonylated and coupled to organic halides (Scheme 6a),38 or vinyl triflates (Scheme 6b),39 in carbonylative Stifle cross-coupling processes.40 Also of interest is the palladium catalyzed cross-coupling reaction of... 

An acyl-palladium complex might undergo a series of follow up reactions. Subsequent transmetalation and reductive elimination lead to the formation of a carbonyl compound. This process is also coined carbonylative coupling, referring to the cross-coupling reaction, which would take place in the absence of carbon monoxide under similar conditions (for more details see Chapter 2.4.). 

Alkylative carbonylation of alkenes accompanied by a phenylselenyl group transfer has been used to prepare selenoesters via a three component coupling process [87]. 

Since 2 equiv. of Sml2 are required for the reaction, the reductive coupling process must be a two-electron process overall (Scheme 5). Cyclization appears to occur after transfer of a single electron, with Sm controlling the stereochemistry at this stage by chelation with the Lewis basic ester carbonyl. Subsequent reduction to a transient carbanion, followed by immediate protonation, accounts for the observed products. Only if a transient anion is generated can one account for >90% deuterium incorporation at the methyl group when the reaction is performed in MeOD (equation 67). ... 

A study carried out by Kocienski and Lythgoe flrst demonstrated the trans selectivity of the Julia coupling process. The authors found the i uctive elimination could best be carried out with the acet-oxy or benzoyloxy sulfones. If the lithio sulfone derivative is used for addition to the carbonyl, the reaction can be worked up with acetic anhydride or benzoyl chloride to obtain the alkene precursor. In cases where enolization of the carbonyl is a complication, the magnesium derivative can frequently be used successfully. A modification of the reductive elimination was found to be most effective. Methanol, ethyl acetate/methanol or THF/methanol were the solvents of choice and a temperature of -20 C was effective at suppressing the undesired elimination of the acetoxy group to produce the vinyl sulfone. With these modifications of the original procedure, the ability of the reaction to produce dienes as well as rran.r-disubstituted alkenes was demonstrated, llie diastereoisomeric erythro- and threo-acetoxy sulfones could be separated and it was demonstrated that both isomers were converted to the rrans-alkene. It... 

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