EWG

R is usually restricted to EWG such as C02F, C02Me, CN, S02Ph etc. and the olefin geometry is usually E. 

The oxidation of terminal alkenes with an EWG in alcohols or ethylene glycol affords acetals of aldehydes chemoselectively. Acrylonitrile is converted into l,3-dioxolan-2-ylacetonitrile (69) in ethylene glycol and to 3,3-dimetho.xy-propionitrile (70) in methanol[28j. 3,3-Dimethoxypropionitrile (70) is produced commercially in MeOH from acrylonitrile by use of methyl nitrite (71) as a unique leoxidant of Pd(0). Methyl nitrite (71) is regenerated by the oxidation of NO with oxygen in MeOH. Methyl nitrite is a gas, which can be separated easily from water formed in the oxidation[3]. 

Efficient acetalization of alkenes bearing various EWG with an optically active 1.3-diol 72 proceeds smoothly utilizing PdCN, CuCI. and O2 in DME to give the 1,3-dioxane 73[113], Methacrylamide bearing 4-t-butyloxazolidin-2-one 74 as a chiral auxiliary reacts with MeOH in the presence of PdCE catalyst... 

Benzyl chloride reacts with alkenes bearing an EWG[8], The reaction with acrylate proceeds smoothly to give 7-phenylcrotonate (76) in the presence of BujN without a ligand. No reaction takes place with Pd(Ph,P)4[77]. 

Alkynes with EWGs are poor substrates for the coupling with halides. Therefore, instead of the inactive propynoate, triethyl orthopropynoate (350) is used for the coupling with aryl halides to prepare the arylpropynoate 351. The coupling product 353 of 3,3-dicthoxy-l-propyne (352) with an aryl halide is the precursor of an alkynal[260]. The coupling of ethoxy) tributylstan-nyl)acetylene (354) with aryl halides is a good synthetic method for the aryl-acetate 355[261]. 

The TT-allylpalladium complexes 241 formed from the ally carbonates 240 bearing an anion-stabilizing EWG are converted into the Pd complexes of TMM (trimethylenemethane) as reactive, dipolar intermediates 242 by intramolecular deprotonation with the alkoxide anion, and undergo [3 + 2] cycloaddition to give five-membered ring compounds 244 by Michael addition to an electron-deficient double bond and subsequent intramolecular allylation of the generated carbanion 243. This cycloaddition proceeds under neutral conditions, yielding the functionalized methylenecyclopentanes 244[148], The syn-... 

Phenols arc highly reactive 0-nucleophiles and allylated easily with allylic carbonates under neutral conditions. EWGs on phenols favor the reac-tion[213]. Allylic acetates are used for the allylation of phenol in the presence of KF-alumina as a base[214]. 

The decarboxylation of allyl /3-keto carboxylates generates 7r-allylpalladium enolates. Aldol condensation and Michael addition are typical reactions for metal enolates. Actually Pd enolates undergo intramolecular aldol condensation and Michael addition. When an aldehyde group is present in the allyl fi-keto ester 738, intramolecular aldol condensation takes place yielding the cyclic aldol 739 as a main product[463]. At the same time, the diketone 740 is formed as a minor product by /3-eIimination. This is Pd-catalyzed aldol condensation under neutral conditions. The reaction proceeds even in the presence of water, showing that the Pd enolate is not decomposed with water. The spiro-aldol 742 is obtained from 741. Allyl acetates with other EWGs such as allyl malonate, cyanoacetate 743, and sulfonylacetate undergo similar aldol-type cycliza-tions[464]. 

Active methylene or methine compounds, to which two EWGs such as carbonyl, alko.xycarbonyl, formyl, cyano, nitro, and sulfonyl groups are attached, react with butadiene smoothly and their acidic hydrogens are displaced with the 2,7-octadienyl group to give mono- and disubstituted compounds[59]. 3-Substituted 1,7-octadienes are obtained as minor products. The reaction is earned out with a /3-keto ester, /9-diketone, malonate, Q-formyl ketones, a-cyano and Q-nitro esters, cya noacetamide, and phenylsulfonylacetate. Di(octadienyl)malonate (61) obtained by this reaction is converted into an... 

Cycloaddition involving the Pd-catalyzed trimethylenemethane (TMM) fragment 63 and the 1.3-diene 61 with an EWG offers a good synthetic method for the hydroazulene skeleton 65. The cydoaddition of trimethylene-... 

Addition of nucleophiles to both activated and unactivated alkenes is catalyzed by Pd(II). Addition of alcohols or AcOH to alkenes bearing EWGs is catalyzed by PdCl2(PhCN)2 to give the corresponding ethers and esters. The addition of an alcohol to the cyclic acetal of acrolein 82 to give the ether 83 is also possible with the same catalyst[64]. Amines add to the vinylic ether 84 to give 85, but not to simple alkenes[65]. 

Bicyclo[3.3.1]nonan-9-one is another ketone that exhibits interesting stereoselectivity. Reduction by hydride donors is preferentially syn to electron-attracting substituents at C-5 (X = EWG in the structure shown below) and anti to electron-releasing substituents (X = ERG below). These effects are observed even for differentially substituted phenyl... 

EWG. electron-withdrawing group ERG, electron-releasing group... 

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