Cuprates, cyano alkylation

The regiochcmistry for stoichiometric alkylation with butyl(cyano)copper magnesium bromide is the same as that for the copper cyanide catalyzed reaction. The regiochemistry with dibutyl-copper magnesium bromide is also very similar to that of the copper(I) bromide catalyzed reaction. Lithium cuprates do not exhibit y regioselectivity in this biased system. 

Zirconium(IV) propoxide, 352 with organocopper reagents Dilithium acyl(alkyl)(cyano)cuprates, 209... 

Double substitution of geminal dibromides is best accomplished by treatment with an organocuprate, followed by the addition of an alkyl iodide to the crude reaction mixture. " The reaction has found especial application for the synthesis of dimethylcyclopropanes, ubiquitous in natural product chemistry. Excellent yields are often obtained with Me2CuLi, but with less reactive substrates higher order cyano-and thiocyano-cuprates sometimes provide better results. Spiro dialkylation of geminal dibromides has also been accomplished. Vicinal dibromides, on the other hand, afford alkenes upon treatment with dialkyl cuprates. ... 

Syntheses >vith functionalized iodozinc alkyl(cyano)cuprates... 

Kharasch and Tawney (1941) reported that copper salts catalyze 1,4-addi-tion of Grignard reagents to a,jS-unsaturated ketones. Gilman et al. (1952) first discovered that phenylcopper reacts with benzalacetophenone in a 1,4-addition. Subsequently House and associates (1966) have revealed the scope of the conjugate addition of cuprate complexes. Now alkyl, vinyl, and aryl groups can be introduced specifically at the p position of a,jS-unsaturated carbonyl compounds. Transfer of an allyl group from lithium diallylcuprate to 2-cyclohexenone is also known (House and Fischer, 1969). However, ethynyl, cyano, and hetero groups attached to the copper atom are difficult to transfer to electron-poor olefins. 

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