Cross-coupling reactions metal-alkyne complexes

Over the last decade, the chemistry of the carbon-carbon triple bond has experienced a vigorous resurgence [1]. Whereas construction of alkyne-con-taining systems had previously been a laborious process, the advent of new synthetic methodology based on organotransition metal complexes has revolutionized the field [2]. Specifically, palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions between alkyne sp-carbon atoms and sp -carbon atoms of arenes and alkenes have allowed for rapid assembly of relatively complex structures [3]. In particular, the preparation of alkyne-rich macrocycles, the subject of this report, has benefited enormously from these recent advances. For the purpose of this review, we Emit the discussion to cychc systems which contain benzene and acetylene moieties only, henceforth referred to as phenylacetylene and phenyldiacetylene macrocycles (PAMs and PDMs, respectively). Not only have a wide... 

The reaction sequence in the vinylation of aromatic halides and vinyl halides, i.e. the Heck reaction, is oxidative addition of the alkyl halide to a zerovalent palladium complex, then insertion of an alkene and completed by /3-hydride elimination and HX elimination. Initially though, C-H activation of a C-H alkene bond had also been taken into consideration. Although the Heck reaction reduces the formation of salt by-products by half compared with cross-coupling reactions, salts are still formed in stoichiometric amounts. Further reduction of salt production by a proper choice of aryl precursors has been reported (Chapter III.2.1) [1]. In these examples aromatic carboxylic anhydrides were used instead of halides and the co-produced acid can be recycled and one molecule of carbon monoxide is sacrificed. Catalytic activation of aromatic C-H bonds and subsequent insertion of alkenes leads to new C-C bond formation without production of halide salt byproducts, as shown in Scheme 1. When the hydroarylation reaction is performed with alkynes one obtains arylalkenes, the products of the Heck reaction, which now are synthesized without the co-production of salts. No reoxidation of the metal is required, because palladium(II) is regenerated. 

The chemistry of haloalkynes with low-valent metal complexes has been reviewed.142 Two competing reactions of anionic metal carbonyls [M(CO) ] with halo-alkynes are (i) abstraction of X+ to give MX(CO) and (ii) nucleophilic displacement of X- to give M(C=CX)(CO) and M(CO) 2(ji-C=C). A recent study of reactions of haloalkynes with [M(CO)3Cp ]- (M = Cr, Mo, W Cp = Cp, Cp )] has clarified the reaction conditions, which are determined by the nucleophilicity of the anionic metal carbonyl and the electron-withdrawing power of any substituent on the C=C triple bond. Cross-coupling of the anion with a chloroalkyne is catalyzed by palladium.143... 

Metal-catalyzed hydroarylation of alkynes catalyzed by electrophilic transition metal complexes has received much attention as a valuable synthetic alternative to the Heck and cross-coupling processes for the synthesis of alkenyl arenes (384). Metal trifluoromethanesulfonates (metal triflates) [M(OTQn M = Sc, Zr, In] catalyze the hydroarylation of alkynes via 71 complexation to give 1,1-diarylalkenes in very good yields (Scheme 32) (385). The reaction likely proceeds by a Friedel-Crafts mechanism via the alkenyl cation intermediate where the aryl starting material also serves as the solvent. 

Recent advances in the chemistry of metal-containing knots include the preparation of composite and heteronuclear knots. The composite knots are based on copper templates and phenanthroline ligating moieties, this time linked by alkynic coupling (Glaser) reactions. Despite their complexity, with a minimum of six crossing points in planar representation (Figure 4-28), these species have been fully... 

Half-sandwich rare earth metal alkyl complexes can act as catalyst precursors for the cross-coupling of various terminal alkynes with isocyanides selectively affording the (Z)-l-aza-l,3-enyne products (Scheme 20). The unprecedented Z selectivity could arise from the formation of an alkynide-bridged binuclear catalyst species, in which the crosscoupling reaction took place at the two metal centers in an intermolecular fashion. 

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