Cinnamyl derivatives metalation

The carbonylation of allylic compounds by transition metal complexes is a versatile method for synthesizing unsaturated carboxylic acid derivatives (Eq. 11.22) [64]. Usually, palladium complexes are used for the carbonylation of allylic compounds [65], whereas ruthenium complexes show characteristic catalytic activity in allylic carbonylation reactions. Cinnamyl methyl carbonate reacts with CO in the presence of a Ru3(CO)i2/l,10-phenanthroline catalyst in dimethylformamide (DMF) to give methyl 4-phenyl-3-butenoate in excellent yield (Eq. 11.23) [66]. The regioselectivity is the same as in the palladium complex-catalyzed reaction. However, when ( )-2-butenyl methyl carbonate is used as a substrate, methyl ( )-2-methyl-2-butenoate is the major product, with the more sterically hindered carbon atom of the allylic group being carbo-nylated (Eq. 11.24). This regioselectivity is characteristic of the ruthenium catalyst [66]. 

Hydroxyapatite (CajQ(P04)g(0H)2) has also attracted considerable interest as a catalyst support. In these materials, wherein Ca sites are surrounded by P04 tetrahedra, the introduction of transition metal cations such as Pd into the apatite framework can generate stable monomeric phosphate complexes that are efficient for aerobic selox catalysis [99]. Carbon-derived supports have also been utihzed for this chemistry, and are particularly interesting because of the ease of precious metal recovery from spent catalysts simply by combustion of the support. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have received considerable attention in this latter regard because of their superior gas adsorption capacity. Palladium nanoparticles anchored on multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) show better selectivity and activity for aerobic selox of benzyl and cinnamyl alcohols [100, 101] compared to activated carbon. Interestingly, Pd supported on MWCNTs showed higher selectivity toward benzaldehyde, whereas activated carbon was found to be a better support in cinnamyl alcohol oxidation. Functionalized polyethylene glycol (PEG) has also been employed successfully as a water-soluble, low-cost, recoverable, non-toxic, and non-volatile support with which to anchor nanoparticulate Pd for selox catalysis of benzyl/cinnamyl alcohols and 2-octanol [102-104]. 

Several recent studies have revealed the dichotomous relationship between the regioselectivity of reactions of unsymmetrical allyl complexes of palladium and that of reactions of unsjmmetrical allyl complexes of other metals. An isolated molybdenum-allyl complex containing an allyl group derived from methyl cinnamyl carbonate (PhCH=CHCH2C)COjMe) reacts with the sodium salt of dimethyl malonate in the presence of a source of CO to generate the branched substitution product (Equation 11.41). The addition of nucleophile to this allyl complex has been shown to occur by retention of configuration, perhaps by initial attack at the metal, rather than the more common external attack at Are allyl group. ... 

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