Fischer preparation, Experimental Procedures

The subject of this book has been organized in three main sections preparation and applications of heteroatom-substituted carbene complexes (Fischer-type carbenes), non-heteroatom-substituted carbene complexes, and acceptor-substituted carbene complexes. In each section the different types of reaction have been ordered either according to the mechanism or according to the type of product. In addition to a selection of illustrative examples, several experimental procedures have been included. These were chosen taking into account safety, availability of starting materials, relevance of the products, and general interest. 

All enthalpy of solution measurements were carried out with an LKB 8700-1 precision calorimetry system. The experimental procedure and tests of the calorimeter have been reported previously (3, 4, 5). The purification of the solvent DMF (Baker Analyzed Reagent) and of all solutes used has been described in the same papers. The solvent mixtures were prepared by weighing and the mole fraction of water in the DMF-water mixtures was corrected for the original water content of the amide as measured by Karl Fischer titration. 

The present overview deals with the application of Fischer chromium carbene complexes in the benzannulation reaction for the preparation of highly substituted aromatic compounds. Before focussing on specific arenes (Section 8.5), details of the mechanism are given (Section 8.2), and the scope and limitations of the reaction are defined (Section 8.3). A short description of the experimental procedure is given thereafter (Section 8.4). Finally, the contribution deals with the application of the chromium carbene benzannulation to natural compounds and molecules with biological activity (Section 8.6). 

The enthalpies of solution were measured with a LKB 8700-1 precision calorimetry system. The experimental procedure and test of the instrument have been given before (6,7). EC (Fluka, purissimum) was distilled under reduced pressure and the middle fraction was stored over molecular sieves (4 A) for at least 48 hr. ACN (Merck, pro analysis) was dried over molecular sieves and used without further purification. The purity of both solvents (determined shortly before use), as deduced from GLC, was always better than 99.8%. The volume fraction of water, determined by K. Fischer titration (8) was always less than 3.10-4. The mixed solvents were prepared by weight as shortly as possible before the measurements. AH° of Bu4NBr in W-ACN mixtures have been measured at 25°C while those in W-EC are at 45°C, which is above the melting point of pure EC. 

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