Dotz mechanism

More generally, if the carbene employed does not possess a,p-unsaturation, the Dotz mechanism cannot fully operate. The intermediates that do form can be intercepted in other ways. Both alkenes and alcohols are capable of reacting with ketenes, giving cyclobutanones and esters, respectively. A pendant alkene can, therefore, intercept the ketene intermediate 8.97 by [2 + 2] cycloaddition to give a cyclobutanone 8.98 (Scheme 8.27).2 ... 

The formation of the tricarbonylchromium-complexed fulvene 81 from the 3-dimethylamino-3-(2 -trimethylsilyloxy-2 -propyl)propenylidene complex 80 and 1-pentyne also constitutes a formal [3+2] cycloaddition, although the mechanism is still obscure (Scheme 17) [76]. The rf-complex 81 must arise after an initial alkyne insertion, followed by cyclization, 1,2-shift of the dimethylamino group, and subsequent elimination of the trimethylsilyloxy moiety. Particularly conspicuous here are the alkyne insertion with opposite regioselectivity as compared to that in the Dotz reaction, and the migration of the dimethylamino functionality, which must occur by an intra- or intermo-lecular process. The mode of formation of the cyclopenta[Z ]pyran by-product 82 will be discussed in the next section. 

The first and rate-determining step involves carbon monoxide dissociation from the initial pentacarbonyl carbene complex A to yield the coordinatively unsaturated tetracarbonyl carbene complex B (Scheme 3). The decarbonyla-tion and consequently the benzannulation reaction may be induced thermally, photochemically [2], sonochemically [3], or even under microwave-assisted conditions [4]. A detailed kinetic study by Dotz et al. proved that the initial reaction step proceeds via a reversible dissociative mechanism [5]. More recently, density functional studies on the preactivation scenario by Sola et al. tried to propose alkyne addition as the first step [6],but it was shown that this... 

Dotz reaction is proposed. According to our calculations the addition of the alkyne molecule to the carbene complex takes place before CO loss in the initial steps of the reaction. Further, our study shows that a novel proposal involving a chromahexatriene intermediate entails lower energy barriers and more stable intermediates than the previous reaction mechanisms postulated by Dotz and Casey. The novel findings query revision of the classically assumed paths and put forward that additional experimental and theoretical studies are necessary to definitely unravel the reaction mechanism of this intringuing reaction. 

Key words Dotz reaction, benzannulation, Fischer carbene complexes, reaction mechanism, density functional theory... 

Despite the undeniable synthetic value of the benzannulation reaction of aryl and alkenyl Fischer carbene complexes, the details of its mechanism at the molecular level remain to be ascertained. Indeed, although a relatively large number of theoretical studies have been directed to the study of the molecular and electronic structure of Fischer carbene complexes [22], few studies have been devoted to the analysis of the reaction mechanisms of processes involving this kind of complexes [23-30]. The aim of this work is to present a summary of our theoretical research on the reaction mechanism of the Dotz reaction between ethyne and vinyl-substituted hydroxycarbene species to yield p-hydroxyphenol. 

The Dotz reaction mechanism has received further support from kinetic and theoretical studies. An early kinetic investigation [37] and the observation that the reaction of the metal carbene with the alkyne is supressed in the presence of external carbon monoxide [38] indicated that the rate-determining step is a reversible decarbonylation of the original carbene complex. Additional evidence for the Dotz mechanistic hyphotesis has been provided by extended Hiickel molecular orbital [23, 24] and quantum chemical calculations [25],... 

Despite these important studies, most steps of the reaction mechanism are still only postulated. Therefore, we have decided to undertake a theoretical investigation of the Dotz reaction by discussing whether the reaction proceeds via a dissociative or an associative pathway in the initial steps of the process. We have also analyzed the central part of the reaction, the key issue being whether the reaction proceeds through a vinylketene intermediate (route A) or, instead, via a metallacycloheptadienone (route B). As will be seen, we came across a novel third pathway (route C) that turns out to be the best alternative from thermodynamic and kinetic points of view... 

This section describes the main results obtained in our studies of the Dotz reaction mechanism [26-29, 39]. The section is divided as follows First, the results for the initial part of the reaction (9—>13) are presented. The central discussion will be whether the alkyne binds the carbene complex after or before CO loss. Then, the results for routes A, B and C (Figure 3) are discussed. In particular, we will examine the suitability of the novel route C involving a chromahexatriene intermediate. 

The most common citation of rj4-vinylketene complexes in the literature is to be found in mechanistic discussions of the Dotz annulation.8 In the years since the reaction was discovered,2 there has been an enormous amount of research conducted to determine a definitive mechanism. Nevertheless, certain transformations in the mechanism are still open to speculation, the most recent reassessment having been postulated by Sola.911 is not within the scope of this review to comprehensively discuss a subject which has been extensively covered elsewhere.8,10,11 However, the reactions of i74-vinylketene complexes of chromium, and indeed of all the other metals in this review, are so intrinsically linked with the Dotz annulation that we must acquaint ourselves with its intricacies. We shall see the same structures occurring in mechanisms time after time, and the same classes of organic molecules being isolated as final products. 

Fig. 2.24. Possible mechanism of the Dotz benzannulation reaction (R, R large, small substitutents H, alkyl, aryl).

The formation of cycloheptadienones from alkoxy(cyclopropyl)carbene complexes and alkynes (Entry 5, Table 2.24) [388,389] proceeds essentially by the same mechanism as the Dotz benzannulation reaction (see Figure 2.32). The cyclopropyl group participates in the electrocyclic rearrangement as the equivalent of a vinyl group. 

Density functional calculations on the Dotz reaction leading from chromium carbene (75) with acetylene to give the phenol (78) suggested a new mechanism involving the formation of a chromahexatriene complex (77) from the initially formed vinylallyl-idene complex (76). " Complex (77) then collapses to the phenol complex (78). 

A new chromahexatriene (118) route has been proposed for the mechanism of the Dotz benzannulation reaction between vinylcarbene complexes (117) and ethynes (Scheme 46). ... 

P. Hofmann, and M. Hammerle, Mechanism of Dotz Reaction Alkyne-Carbene Linkage to Chromacyclobutenes , Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. Engl. 28, 908-910 (1989). 

The mechanism of the Dotz benzannulation reaction has not been fully elucidated. The first step is the ratedetermining dissociation of one carbonyl ligand from the Fischer carbene complex, which is cis to the carbene moiety. Subsequently, the alkyne component coordinates to the coordinatively unsaturated carbene complex, and then it inserts into the metal-carbon bond. After the alkyne insertion, a vinylcarbene is formed that can lead to the product by two different pathways (Path A or Path b). ... 

When the Dotz reaction is executed in EtOH, products derived from addition of EtOH to a dienylketene are obtained, suggesting that either of the latter two mechanisms is correct. 

Chromium carbene complexes undergo other reactions, too. The mechanisms of these reactions consist of steps ([2 + 2] cycloadditions, electrocyclic reactions) that are similar to those seen in the mechanism of the Dotz reaction. 

A comprehensive treatment of the benzannulation of Fischer carbene complexes with alkynes is not possible in this review, and thus instead the material presented here will hopefully serve to give the reader an overview of its scope and limitations. The first report of this reaction was in 1975 by Dotz in which he describes the formation of the naphthol chromium tricarbonyl complex (236) from the reaction of the phenyl chromium complex (la) with diphenylacetylene. In the intervening years over 100 papers have been published describing various aspects of this reaction.The reaction of the generic cartene complex (233 Scheme 34) with alkynes will serve to focus the organization of the scope and limitations of the benzaimulation reaction. The issues to be considered are (i) the regioselectivity with unsymmetri-cal alkynes (ii) possible mechanisms (iii) applications in natural product syntheses (iv) the effect of substitution on the aryl or alkenyl substituent of the carbene carbon (v) functionality on the alkyne (vi) effects of the solvent and the concentration of the alkyne (vii) tandem applications with other reactions of carbene complexes (viii) reactions where aromatization is blocked (cyclohexadienone annulation) (ix) annulation of aryl versus alkenyl carbene complexes (x) the effect of the ligands L on the metal (xi) the effect of the ancilliary substituent RX and (xii) reactions with —C X functionality. 

On the basis of these results the mechanism shown in Scheme 13 was proposed in which the ki step is rate limiting. In support of rate-limiting nucleophilic attack, Fischer and Dotz cite the fact that the second-order rate constants (Table 22) increase strongly as the Z substituent becomes more electron withdrawing (the reasons why electron withdrawing substituents enhance nucleophilic additions even with neutral nucleophiles have been discussed under Phosphine and phosphite nucleophiles ), and that they correlate well with the equilibrium constants of (n-... 

The [3+2+1] cycloaddition of an a, 3-unsaturated or aryl carbene complex of chromium, an alkyne, and carbon monoxide, that is named the Dotz benzannulation, is a useful method for the synthesis of a phenol or naphthol derivative, although this reaction requires a stoichiometric amount of the chromium carbene complex of chromium [35]. A mechanism of this reaction is shown in Scheme 21.31. When unsymmetrical alleynes are used, the regioselectivity is determined in the alkyne insertion step by the steric effect. 

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