Elimination from dihalides

Diorganometallic compounds cannot be prepared from dihalides if the halogens are separated by three C-C bonds or less because elimination or other reactions usually predominate. With active metals and 1,1-, 1, 2-, or 1,3-dihalides, the following reactions normally occur ... 

Alkenes (e.g. camphene) are readily prepared by the BF3,Et20-catalysed elimination of secondary borate esters.Terminal conjugated dienes may be prepared by Pd(OAc)2-PPh3-catalysed elimination from allyl phenyl ethers or allylic acetates [e.g. geranyl, neryl, and linalyl acetates to form similar mixtures of myrcene (60—74%), trans-ocimene (8—20%), and c -ocimene (14—20%)], and the complex [(i7-CsH5)Cr(NO)2]2 dehalogenates n/c-dihalides (e.g. limonene tetrabromide) without affecting other halides (except for benzyl halides). 

Elimination from vicinal dihalides has also been accomplished with the reducing agent, lithium aluminium hydride and the nucleophilic thiophenox-ide but mechanistic details other than anti stereospecificity are lacking. 

General Preparations.—Alkenes. Dehalogenation of vicinal dihalides is easily carried out using sodium in liquid ammonia, e.g. 1,2-dichlorocyclo-octane gave ds-cyclo-octene in 95% yield.The scope of the synthesis of ap-unsaturated carbonyl compounds by syn-elimination from 2-phenylselenoxides has been studied only low yields of the desired ketone were obtained from 2-phenylseleno-cycloheptanone and cyclo-octanone because of the competing Pummerer rearrangements, but improved yields could be obtained by prior conversion of the ketones into ketals. The reaction worked well for 2-methoxycarbonyl cyclic ketones, e.g. 2-methoxycarbonylcyclo-oct-2-en-l-one was prepared in 93% yield. ... 

A sterically hindered base, such as potassium r rr-butoxide, is used to prevent the competing 5 2 reaction from occurring. Conjugated dienes can also be formed from dihalides via two successive elimination reactions. 

Two efficient syntheses of strained cyclophanes indicate the synthetic potential of allyl or benzyl sulfide intermediates, in which the combined nucleophilicity and redox activity of the sulfur atom can be used. The dibenzylic sulfides from xylylene dihalides and -dithiols can be methylated with dimethoxycarbenium tetrafiuoroborate (H. Meerwein, 1960 R.F. Borch, 1968, 1969 from trimethyl orthoformate and BFj, 3 4). The sulfonium salts are deprotonated and rearrange to methyl sulfides (Stevens rearrangement). Repeated methylation and Hofmann elimination yields double bonds (R.H. Mitchell, 1974). 

Regioselectivity of C—C double bond formation can also be achieved in the reductiv or oxidative elimination of two functional groups from adjacent carbon atoms. Well estab llshed methods in synthesis include the reductive cleavage of cyclic thionocarbonates derivec from glycols (E.J. Corey, 1968 C W. Hartmann, 1972), the reduction of epoxides with Zn/Nal or of dihalides with metals, organometallic compounds, or Nal/acetone (seep.lS6f), and the oxidative decarboxylation of 1,2-dicarboxylic acids (C.A. Grob, 1958 S. Masamune, 1966 R.A. Sheldon, 1972) or their r-butyl peresters (E.N. Cain, 1969). 

The malonic ester required for synthesis of cyclopal (107) can be obtained by alkylation of diethyl allylmalonate (115) with 1,2-dibromocyclopentane in the presence of excess base. It is probable that the reaction proceeds by elimination of hydrogen bromide from the dihalide as the first step. The resulting allilic halide (116) would be the most reactive electrophile in the reaction mixture and thus would quickly alkylate the anion of the malonate to afford 117. 

Alkynes can be prepared by the elimination of HX from alkyl halides in much the same manner as alkenes (Section 7.1). Treatment of a 1,2-dihaloaJkane (a vicinal dihalide) with excess strong base such as KOH or NaNH2 results in a twofold elimination of HX and formation of an alkyne. As with the elimination of HX to form an alkene, we ll defer a discussion of the mechanism until Chapter 11. 

An alkyne is a hydrocarbon that contains a carbon-carbon triple bond. Alkyne carbon atoms are sp-hybridized, and the triple bond consists of one sp-sp a bond and two p-p tt bonds. There are relatively few general methods of alkyne synthesis. Two good ones are the alkylation of an acetylide anion with a primary-alkyl halide and the twofold elimination of HX from a vicinal dihalide. 

Eliminations have also been carried out on a number of compounds of the form HalCH2CH2Y, where Y = OH, OR, OCOR, NH2, etc. these eliminations normally require conditions more drastic than for 1,2-dihalides, and metals or metal cations are found to be more effective than Ie. These eliminations are often found to be somewhat indiscriminate in their stereochemistry. The elimination of CO Br6 from the diastereoisomer (72) of 2,3-dibromo-3-phenylpropanoate in Me2CO is, however, found to proceed 100% ANTI, and under extremely mild conditions ... 

Fig. 2 Reductive elimination of halogens from chalcogenopyrylium dyes 6-11 containing tellurium(IV) dihalide groups. 

Problem 7.35 Dehalogenation of Wc-dihalides with active metals (Mg or Zn) is also an anti elimination. Predict the products from (a) meso- and (b) either enantiomer of 2,3-bromobutane. ... 

Alkenes are obtained by the transformation of various functional groups, e.g. dehydration of alcohols (see Section 5.4.3), dehalogenation of alkyl halides (see Section 5.4.5) and dehalogenation or reduction of alkyl dihalides (see Section 5.4.5). These reactions are known as elimination reactions. An elimination reaction results when a proton and a leaving group are removed from adjacent carbon atoms, giving rise to a tt bond between the two carbon atoms. 

Alkynes are prepared from alkyl dihalides via elimination of atoms or groups from adjacent carbons. Dehydrohalogenation of vicinal- or gemiwaZ-dihahdes is a particularly useful method for the preparation of alkynes (see Section 5.4.5). 

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