Enolate compounds alkylation-annulation

Nucleophilic attack on ( -alkene)Fp+ cations may be effected by heteroatom nucleophiles including amines, azide ion, cyanate ion (through N), alcohols, and thiols (Scheme 39). Carbon-based nucleophiles, such as the anions of active methylene compounds (malonic esters, /3-keto esters, cyanoac-etate), enamines, cyanide, cuprates, Grignard reagents, and ( l -allyl)Fe(Cp)(CO)2 complexes react similarly. In addition, several hydride sources, most notably NaBHsCN, deliver hydride ion to Fp(jj -alkene)+ complexes. Subjecting complexes of type (79) to Nal or NaBr in acetone, however, does not give nncleophilic attack, but instead results rehably in the displacement of the alkene from the iron residue. Cyclohexanone enolates or silyl enol ethers also may be added, and the iron alkyl complexes thus produced can give Robinson annulation-type products (Scheme 40). Vinyl ether-cationic Fp complexes as the electrophiles are nseful as vinyl cation equivalents. ... 

For the alkylation of enolates, chromium tricarbonyl complexes of aromatic compounds (benchrotrenes) are useful, as they make simple aromatic compounds chiral. Thus, enantiomer-ically pure (indanone)tricarbonylchromium (2R)-25 has been prepared by resolution of the racemic benchrotrene derivative with cinchonidine and oxidation of the alcohol to the ketone with manganese dioxide60. The chiral ketone is alkylated diastereoselectively via the enolate, leading to the f.vo-2-methyl derivative (2/ )-25 which has been used in enolate alkylations and annulation reactions (Section D.1.5.2.4.). If necessary, complete isomerization to the endo-methyl compound can be achieved by treatment with base. 

The p-functionalization of saturated esters first reported by Chi (see Section 14.6.4) is a very powerful methodology because it leads to the formation of a new C-C bond via the activation of a C-H bond on the otherwise unreac-tive p-carbon. This alkylation of homoenolates has since extended to other carbonyl compounds such as saturated carboxylic acids and anhydrides. Interestingly, saturated esters can also act as enolate precursors, leading to a-functionalization reactions, as shown by Chi in annulation reactions with a,p-unsaturated imines (Scheme 14.25). ... 

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