Cobalt-mediated cycloaddition

Cobalt, as its CpCo(CO)2 complex, has proven to be especially suited to catalyze [2 + 2 + 2] cycloadditions of two alkyne units with an alkyne or alkene. These cobalt-mediated [2 + 2 + 2] cycloaddition reactions have been studied in great detail by Vollhardt337. The generally accepted mechanism for these cobalt mediated cycloadditions, and similar transition metal mediated cycloadditions in general, has been depicted in equation 166. Consecutive co-ordination of two triple bonds to CpCo(CO)2 with concomitant extrusion of two molecules of carbon monoxide leads to intermediates 578 and 579 via monoalkyne complex 577. These react with another multiple bond to form intermediate 580. The conversion of 578 to 580 is said to be kinetically favored over that of 579 to 580. Because intermediates like 580 have never been isolated, it is still unclear whether the next step is a Diels-Alder reaction to form the final product or an insertion to form 581. The exact circumstances might determine which pathway is followed. 

The resulting heterocycles can be structurally manipulated, e.g., reduced or desilylated either during complexation or after demetallation. Another possibility consists in using the primary products, obtained by the cobalt-mediated cycloaddition, as synthetic intermediates for further catalytic transformations. Indole derivatives have been cocyclized at cpCo to give 4a,9a-dihydro-9 f-carbazoles or, after oxidation, precursors for strychnine (63T247 86JA2091 87MI7) [Eq.(36)]. 

The cobalt-mediated cycloaddition of an alkyne, an alkene, and CO leading to a cyclopentenone has been known as the Pauson-Khand (PK) reaction [78], Due to its synthetic importance, numerous variants - especially catalytic reactions - have been developed to date [79]. The first ruthenium-catalyzed PK reaction of enynes has been achieved using Ru3(CO)i2 by two research groups independently (Scheme... 

The resulting heterocycles in the complex may be further reduced or desilylated (either in the complex or after demetallation). Further synthetic potential exists in the use of the primary products, obtained by cobalt-mediated cycloadditions, as synthons in organic chemistry. For example, indole derivatives have been co-cyclized at the j/ -Cp-cobalt catalyst to give 4a,9a-dihydro-9//-carbazoles or, after oxidation, precursors for strychnine [50]. Remarkably, the cycloaddition of acrolein in the presence of a small amount of methyl acetate occurs at the carbonyl, rather than at the C=C double bond, to give vinylpyran selectively (eq. (19)) [48]. 

The Pauson-Khand reaction is a cobalt-mediated cycloaddition of an alkene, an alkyne, and carbon monoxide to yield cyclopentenones." When employing reactive precursors (acetylene or terminal akynes), the reaction proceeds in excellent yield however, chemoselectivity issues can contribute to decreased reaction yields and unwanted side products in cases where the alkyne component competitively undergoes cyclotrimerization... 

The total synthesis of ( )-estrone [( )-1 ] by Vollhardt et al. is a novel extension of transition metal mediated alkyne cyclotrimeriza-tion technology. This remarkable total synthesis is achieved in only five steps from 2-methylcyclopentenone (19) in an overall yield of 22%. The most striking maneuver in this synthesis is, of course, the construction of tetracycle 13 from the comparatively simple diyne 16 by combining cobalt-mediated and ort/io-quinodimethane cycloaddition reactions. This achievement bodes well for future applications of this chemistry to the total synthesis of other natural products. 

The asymmetric synthesis of allenes via enantioselective hydrogenation of ketones with ruthenium(II) catalyst was reported by Malacria and co-workers (Scheme 4.11) [15, 16]. The ketone 46 was hydrogenated in the presence of iPrOH, KOH and 5 mol% of a chiral ruthenium catalyst, prepared from [(p-cymene) RuC12]2 and (S,S)-TsDPEN (2 equiv./Ru), to afford 47 in 75% yield with 95% ee. The alcohol 47 was converted into the corresponding chiral allene 48 (>95% ee) by the reaction of the corresponding mesylate with MeCu(CN)MgBr. A phosphine oxide derivative of the allenediyne 48 was proved to be a substrate for a cobalt-mediated [2 + 2+ 2] cycloaddition. 

An allene is a very promising unsaturated partner in cobalt-mediated [2 + 2 + 2]-cycloaddition reactions. Exposure of an allenediyne to a stoichiometric amount of CpCo(CO)2 in boiling xylenes under irradiation for 5 h furnishes red-brown complexes in 42% isolated yield (Scheme 16.76) [84—87]. Treatment of a 7 3 mixture of the two diastereomers thus obtained with silica gel provides an oxygen-sensitive cobalt-free tricydic compound. 

The cobalt mediated [2 + 2 + 2] cycloadditions of a, >-diynes with indole were only accomplished when the nitrogen atom was substituted with an electron-withdrawing... 

Uracil derivatives can also participate in cobalt-mediated [2-f2-f2] cycloaddition reactions with dialkynes under photochemical conditions, to give cobalt complexed dihydrobenzo[g]quinazoline derivatives 482 <1999CEJ3549>. 

Intramolecular [2 + 2 + 2] cycloadditions belong to the same type of valence isomerization as those of 1,5-unsaturated compounds to cyclobutanes.70 The cobalt-mediated cyclization of l-en-5-ynes stereoselectively converts enediynes directly to bicyclo[4.2.0]hexa-l,3-dienes, as single diastereomers, when a stoichiometric amount of dicarbonyl(cyclopentadienyl)cobalt is used. This cyclization90 has a high efficiency (92%). An example is the synthesis of the protoilludane framework 23 from the enediyne precursor 22.71... 

More important than the actual synthesis itself, the central goal of this project required the employment of the cobalt-mediated [2 + 2 + 2] cycloaddition during the synthetic sequence. Pioneered by our group and... 

Efficient access to 23 finally allowed the examination of the pivotal cobalt-mediated [2 + 2 + 2]cycloaddition. Initial experiments employed bis(trimethylsilyl)acetylene (BTMSA) as a cocylization partner (Scheme 15). This alkyne had been used previously with great success, because it does not autocyclize and is relatively volatile and, hence, can be used as a solvent. However, while successful, the reaction generated a significant... 

An original diastereoselective approach to the synthesis of steganone analogues was reported by Motherwell and co-workers, Fig. (29) [144], The diyne 135 was obtained from bromide 133 and lactone 134 via diastereoselective alkylation and deprotection of the alkyne groups. A cobalt-mediated [2+2+2] cycloaddition of 135 with... 

Review "Cobalt Mediated 2+2+2 Cycloadditions A Maturing Synthetic Strategy"... 

In previous works this group had observed a competition between the PKR and a [2 + 2 + 2] cyclization in the second reaction step of three triple bonds. Thus, when reacting linear triynes 174 under catalytic, high CO pressure, cobalt mediated PKR conditions, they obtained mixtures of products 175 coming from two [2 + 2 + 1] cycloadditions, and 176 from a [2 + 2 + 1]/ [2 + 2 + 2] tandem reaction. When the triple bonds were ether linked, the latter was the favored reaction, while with substrates lacking oxygen atoms, the iterative PKRs was the major pathway (Scheme 51) [166]. When the reaction was performed intramolecularly between a diyne and an alkyne, the only reaction products were the result of a [2 + 2 + 1 ]/[2 + 2 + 2] tandem cycloaddition [167,168]. 

Scheme 55 Cobalt mediated tandem [5 + l]/[2 + 2 + 1]-cycloaddition reaction...

Among the wide variety of unsaturated functionalities which participate in the cobalt-mediated [2+2+2] cycloaddition that has proved to be a powerful tool for the assembly of complex polycyclic molecules are a number of aromatic heterocyclic double bonds, such as those in pyrrole and indole <20000L2479, 2001JA9324 and references therein>. Indoles, including those substituted at C-3, can be cyclized, both intra- and intermolecularly, with a wide variety of alkynes to yield functionalized products in moderate to good yields. A stereoselective cobalt-mediated [2+2+2] cycloaddition reaction between the W(pent-2-en-4-ynoyl)indole moiety of tryptamine derivative 1093 (R = (CH2)2NHAc) and acetylene has been employed for the formal total synthesis of strychnine 1097, the most famous Strychnos alkaloid and a commonly used rodenticide and animal stimulant (Scheme 213). 

Pauson-Khand Cycloaddition. Pauson Khand cycloaddition (see Pauson-Khand Reaction) is a cobalt-mediated method to prepare cyclopentenone from the cyclization of an alkyne with an alkene and CO (equation 14). This method is widely used to produce cychc ketones. Originally, stoichiometric amounts of Co2(CO)g were used in these reactions with the cobalt carbonyl being the CO source. However, it was shown that a strict temperature profile and high-purity reagents allowed the use of catalytic amounts of Co2(CO)g for reactions with 1 atm of CO. Currently, there is intense interest in developing catalytic cobalt starting materials for use in Pauson-Khand reactions. 

Slowinski, R, Aubert, C.. and Malacria, M., Highly stereoselective induction in the cobalt-mediated [2 -I- 2 -I- 2] cycloaddition of chhal phosphine oxides substituted linear enediynes. Tetrahedron Lett., 40, 5849, 1999. 

Cobalt-mediated [2-I-2-I-2] cycloaddition of an alkyne to the double bond of an enamide has been found to give spontaneously the lycorane ring system 127). Thus, a formal total synthesis of ( )--y-lycorane (100) has been achieved by this methodology. Also, ( )-y-lycorane (100) has been synthesized starting with pyrrole 128) or homophthalimide 129). 

To date, the most commonly used transition metal-promoted cycloaddition in organic synthesis is the Pauson-Khand reaction. First reported by Pauson and Khandin 1973 [9],this transformation is the cobalt-mediated [2+2+1] cycloaddition of an alkyne, an alkene and carbon monoxide to form a cyclopentenone, Eq. (1). Although mechanistic understanding is Hmited, the accepted mechanism for the transformation is depicted in Fig. 2. Loss of two equivalents of CO followed by complexation of an alkyne produces 1. Subsequent loss of CO from... 

Tetracarbonylnickel and other nickel(O) compounds, as well as palladium complexes, catalyze the [2 + 2 + 1] cycloaddition of allylic systems with alkenes or alkynes and carbon monoxide to form cyclopentanones or cyclopentenones. This reaction type resembles stoichiometric zirconium- and cobalt-mediated [2 + 2 + 1] cycloadditions (vide supra), mechanistically, however, it proceeds via transition metal 7r-allyl complexes. 

Grotjahn DB, VoUhardt KPC (1986) Cobalt-mediated [2+2+2] cycloadditions of alkynes to the indole 2,3-double bond an extremely facile entry into the novel 4a, 9a-dihydro-9H-carbazole nueleus. J Am Chem Soc 108 2091-2093... 

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