Cyclobutanones from enynes

P Volume 1,1991,283 pp. 109.50/ 69.50 ISBN 1-55938-180-9 CONTENTS Introduction to the Series An Editor s Foreword, Albert Padwa. Preface, Brian Halton. Strain in Organic Chemistry A Perspective, Brian Halton. Gem-Dihalocyclopropanes in Chemical Synthesis, Martin G. Banwell and Monica E. Re-um. 1-Halo- and 1, 2-Dihalocyclopropenes Useful Synthetic Intermediates, Mark S. Baird. Cyciization and Cycloaddition Reactions of Cyclopropenes, Albert Padwa and Glen E. Fryx-ell. New Synthetic Pathways From Cyclobutanones, Edward Lee-Ruff. Cyclic Alkynes, Enynes and Dienynes A Synthetic Challenge, Herbert Meier. Index. 

Albeit no examples of a stable bicyclo[3.2.0]hept-5-ene obtained by a metal-catalyzed reaction from a 1,6-enyne have been observed, interestingly, following earlier work done with PtCl2 as catalyst,it was found that the gold-catalyzed reaction of 1,6-ene-ynamides gives cyclobutanones (equation 42), in a process that probably proceeds through unstable bicyclic enamines. 

In the two separate, initial reports on the reactivity of Fischer carbenes with enynes, one study found cyclobutanone and furan products [59], while the other found products due to olefin metathesis [60]. These products have turned out to be the exceptions rather than the rule, as enynes have since been found to react with Fischer carbenes to produce bicyclic cyclopropanes quite generally. The proposed mechanistic pathway is included as part of Bq. (28), in which vinylcarbene 10, produced by insertion of the alkyne into the metal carbene, may then cyclize with the pendant olefin to metallacyclobutane 11, leading to product. The first reported version of this reaction suffered from extreme sensitivity to olefin substitution [Eq. (28) compare R=H, Me] often producing side-products due to metathesis (through 11 to yield dienes) and CO insertion (into 10 to yield cyclobutanones and furans) [61]. Since then, several important modifications have been developed which improve yield, provide greater tolerance for alkene substitution, and increase chemoselectivity for the bicyclic cyclopropane... 

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