Conjugated double bonds, reduction metals

In systems of conjugated double bonds catalytic hydrogenation usually gives a mixture of all possible products. Conjugated dienes and polyenes can be reduced by metals sodium, potassium, or lithium. The reduction is accomplished by 1,4-addition which results in the formation of a product with only one double bond and products of coupling and polymerization. Isoprene was reduced in 60% yield to 2-methyl-2-butene by sodium in liquid ammonia [357]. Reduction of cyclooctatetraene with sodium in liquid ammonia gave a... 

The inertness of ordinary double bonds toward metallic hydrides is quite useful, since it permits reduction of, say, a carbonyl or nitro group, without disturbing a double bond in the same molecule (see Chapter 19 for a discussion of selectivity in reduction reactions). Sodium in liquid ammonia also does not reduce ordinary double bonds,275 although it does reduce alkynes, allenes, conjugated dienes,276 and aromatic rings (5-10). 

Although Smh is more chemoselective than traditional dissolving metal reagents, it does react with sulfoxides, epoxides, the conjugated double bonds of unsaturated ketones, aldehydes and esters, alkyl bromides, iodides and p-toluenesulfonates. It does not, however, reduce carboxylic acids, esters, phosphine oxides or alkyl chlorides. In common with most dissolving metal systems, ketones with an a-hetero substituent suffer loss of the substituent rather than reduction of the carbonyl group. ... 

The recent advances in the understanding of the reaction of aromatic hydrocarbons with alkali metals have provided an explanation for many apparently unconnected experimental observations, such as those surveyed in 1942 by Campbell and Campbell 41) in a review article on the reduction and hydrogenation of molecules with multiple carbon-carbon bonds. A general approach to the course of chemical reduction, electrochemical reduction, and catalytic hydrogenation of hydrocarbons with conjugated double bonds has been given by Hoijtink 42-44). On the basis of the general reduction scheme... 

Evidence for the intermediate formation of nitrone species during the carbonylation of nitroarenes in e s-cyclooctene as solvent catalysed by Ru3(CO)i2 have been obtained [14], Moreover, zerovalent palladium species with nitrogen donor ligands have been shown to be active catalysts in the reductive carbonylation of organic nitro derivatives [41]. The hypothesis that an intermediate having the olefinic double bond coordinated to the metal is formed during the catalytic cycle is supported by the steric effect that has been observed in the case of p,p -dimethyl-o-nitrostyrene (7f) as substrate. Moreover, such an intermediate could explain why a pentaatomic indole nucleus is preferentially formed, even when a conjugated double bond is present in the olefinic chain ... 

The Birch reductions of C C double bonds with alkali metals in liquid ammonia or amines obey other rules than do the catalytic hydrogenations (D. Caine, 1976). In these reactions regio- and stereoselectivities are mainly determined by the stabilities of the intermediate carbanions. If one reduces, for example, the a, -unsaturated decalone below with lithium, a dianion is formed, whereof three different conformations (A), (B), and (C) are conceivable. Conformation (A) is the most stable, because repulsion disfavors the cis-decalin system (B) and in (C) the conjugation of the dianion is interrupted. Thus, protonation yields the trans-decalone system (G. Stork, 1964B). 

Under the conditions which cause migration of the double bonds, e.g. treatment with sodium and especially potassium, the isolated double bonds can become conjugated, and thus they undergo reduction by metals. Some macrocyclic cycloalkadienes were reduced (predominently to trans cycloalkenes) by treatment with potassium on alumina in a hydrogen atmosphere [350]. 

Double bonds conjugated with aromatic rings and with carbonyl, carboxyl, nitrile and other functions are readily reduced by catalytic hydrogenation and by metals. These reductions are discussed in the appropriate sections aromatics, unsaturated aldehydes and ketones, unsaturated acids, their derivatives, etc. 

Double bonds conjugated with benzene rings are reduced electrolytically [344] (p. 23). Where applicable, stereochemistry can be influenced by using either catalytic hydrogenation or dissolving metal reduction [401] (p. 24). Indene was converted to indane by sodium in liquid ammonia in 85% yield [402] and acenaphthylene to acenaphthene in 85% yield by reduction with lithium aluminum hydride in carbitol at 100° [403], Since the benzene ring is not inert toward alkali metals, nuclear reduction may accompany reduction of the double bond. Styrene treated with lithium in methylamine afforded 25% of 1-ethylcyclohexene and 18% of ethylcyclohexane [404]. 

Various examples of the use of dissolving metal reduction on exocyclic double bonds, conjugated either with another C —C double bond53 or a carbonyl group,54 have been reported. For example, reaction of 2,6,6-trimethyltricyclo[5-4.0.0I,5]undec-7-en-9-one with lithium metal in liquid ammonia gave, after trapping of the intermediate enolate, 2,6,6-trimethyl-9-tri-fyloxy[5.4.0.015]undec-8-enc (3).53... 

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