Domino reactions classification

In transition metal-catalyzed domino reactions, more than one catalyst is often employed. In Tietze s definition and the classification of domino reactions, no distinction has been made between transformations where only one or more transition metal catalyst is used for the different steps, provided that they take place in a chronologically distinct order. Poli and coworkers [13] differentiated between these processes by calling them pure-domino reactions (which consisted of a single catalytic cycle driven by a single catalytic system) or pseudo-domino reactions . The latter type was subdivided into ... 

Such an inter-type difference will not be utilized in this book, mainly because it complicates the classification and is not necessary as tbe focus is placed on the substrates and the products. The argument is also valid for enzymatic transformations [12d, 14], where one enzymatic system with one enzyme or different independent enzymatic systems with one or more enzymes may be used. In Nature, as well as in several artificial enzymatic domino reactions, a mixture of different enzymes catalyzing independent cycles is employed. 

In this article novel developments of the different types of domino processes are presented which are subdivided according to our classification. Since our first review on this topic and the book of Ho several overviews on special domino reactions have been published.113 ld 111... 

The classification of domino reactions is based on the intermediate generated in the first step. Thus a clear classification, which not only allows a better understanding of the existing domino reactions, but also facilitates the invention of newer domino reactions is presented below. 

In transition-metal-catalysed domino reactions, often more than one catalyst is employed. In Tietze s definition and classification of domino reactions, no differentiation is made between domino reactions, whether it is just one or more than one transition-metal catalyst... 

For the reason of comparison and the development of new domino processes, we have created a classification of these transformations. As an obvious characteristic, we used the mechanism of the different bond-forming steps. In this classification, we differentiate between cationic, anionic, radical, pericyclic, photochemical, transition metal-catalyzed, oxidative or reductive, and enzymatic reactions. For this type... 

There are, however, also many examples of mixed domino processes , such as the synthesis of daphnilactone (see Scheme 0.6), where two anionic processes are followed by two pericydic reactions. As can be seen from the information in Table 0.1, by counting only two steps we have 64 categories, yet by including a further step the number increases to 512. However, many of these categories are not - or only scarcely - occupied. Therefore, only the first number of the different chapter correlates with our mechanistic classification. The second number only corresponds to a consecutive numbering to avoid empty chapters. Thus, for example in Chapters 4 and 6, which describe pericydic and transition metal-catalyzed reactions, respectively, the second number corresponds to the frequency of the different processes. 

In most of the palladium-catalysed domino processes known so far, the Mizoroki-Heck reaction - the palladium(0)-catalysed reaction of aryl halides or triflates as well as of alkenyl halides or triflates with alkenes or alkynes - has been apphed as the starting transformation accordingly to our classification (Table 8.1). It has been combined with another Mizoroki-Heck reaction [6] or a cross-coupling reaction [7], such as Suzuki, Stille or Sonogashira reactions. In other examples, a Tsuji-Trost reaction [8], a carbonylation, a pericyclic or an aldol reaction has been employed as the second step. On the other hand, cross-couphng reactions have also been used as the first step followed by, for example, a Mizoroki-Heck reaction or Tsuji-Trost reactions, palladation of alkynes or allenes [9], carbonylations [10], aminations [11] or palladium(II)-catalysedWacker-type reactions [12] were employed as the first step. A novel illustrative example of the latter procedure is the efficient enantioselective synthesis of vitamin E [13]. 

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