Dihalocarbene, reaction with allyl

Although the C=C bond of allyl alcohols is frequently less susceptible to reaction with dihalocarbenes, insertion of the carbene into the C=C bond invariably occurs (Table 7.4) to the exclusion of reaction at the hydroxyl group (see Section 7.5) [98]. A complex mixture of products is obtained from the reaction of dichlorocarbene with allyl alcohol, but the cyclopropane can be obtained in high overall yield (>70%) via... 

The only known reaction of a furan with a dihalocarbene is that recently reported between benzofuran and dichlorocarbene in hexane at 0°. The initial adduct (7) could not be isolated but on hydrolysis gave the ring-expanded product 8, possibly via 9, in 15% yield. Benzothiophene was recovered in 92% yield under the same conditions. 2,5-Dihydrofuran reacted with dichloro- and dibromo-carbene to give the products of allylic insertion, 2-dihalogenomethyl-2,5-dihydrofuran, as well as the normal addition products. ... 

Acyclic and cyclic allylic ethers and acetals react normally with dihalocarbenes at the C=C bond [e.g. 77, 85, 108,114,121,122], Carbene insertion into the C=C bond of allylic ketones, which can be complicated by competitive reaction by the carbonyl group, can also be effected via the initial formation of the acetal and has been used in the synthesis of cyclonona-3,4- and -4,5-dienones from cyclooctenones [125],... 

Predictably, with enynes dihalocarbene addition occurs preferentially with the double bond (equation 17).63 64 The reaction of dichlorocarbene with allenes usually gives rise to spiro-linked dichlorocyclopro-panes (equation 18),65 but rearranged products are obtained in some cases (equation 19).65 66 Somewhat surprisingly, a measure of stereoselectivity has been observed in the formation of dichlorocyclopro-pylcarbinols from secondary allylic alcohols and dichlorocarbene (equation 20).67... 

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