General reactivity stereoselectivity

Homer-Wadsworth-Emmons reactions encounter serious problems of reactivity, stereoselectivity, and generality when used to form tetrasubstituted olefins. Most studies on the synthesis of tetrasubstituted olefins exploit alternative routes based on carbometalation of alkynes [17-19]. However, these processes have difficulties associated with the regioselectivity of the initial carbometalation and with reactivity during the final coupling. Here we describe stereoselective s3mtheses of tetrasubstituted olefins, via the olefination of carbonyl compounds with ynolates, as well as some synthetic applications [20,21]. 

The stereochemistry of this reaction is consistent with transition state 2 in which the ethoxycar-bonyl unit adopts an equatorial position. The same result could occur, however, via boat-like transition state 3 with an axial ethoxycarbonyl group47. The reactions of 2-oxopropanoate esters and 9-(2-butenyl)-9-borabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane occur at — 78°C, reflecting the greater reactivity, but stereoselectivity is generally poor except in cases where a very hindered ester is employed3811. 

Sp and sp-carbon atoms such as a carbonyl group and an alkene are reactive cent-ersl in many kinds of reactions. The n orbitals of a simple molecule such as ethylene or formaldehyde are symmetric in magnimde and antisymmetric in sign with respect to reflection in the molecular plane. Various attempts have been made to rationalize stereoselectivities, and several general ideas have emerged, including a steric basis and an orbital basis. 

The Alder-ene reaction has traditionally been performed under thermal conditions—generally at temperatures in excess of 200 °C. Transition metal catalysis not only maintains the attractive atom-economical feature of the Alder-ene reaction, but also allows for regiocontrol and, in many cases, stereoselectivity. A multitude of transition metal complexes has shown the ability to catalyze the intramolecular Alder-ene reaction. Each possesses a unique reactivity that is reflected in the diversity of carbocyclic and heterocyclic products accessible via the transition metal-catalyzed intramolecular Alder-ene reaction. Presumably for these reasons, investigation of the thermal Alder-ene reaction seems to have stopped almost completely. For example, more than 40 papers pertaining to the transition metal-catalyzed intramolecular Alder-ene reaction have been published over the last decade. In the process of writing this review, we encountered only three recent examples of the thermal intramolecular Alder-ene reaction, two of which were applications to the synthesis of biologically relevant compounds (see Section 10.12.6). 

Discussions about reactivity, regioselectivity and stereoselectivity are mostly based on a more qualitative application of equation 15. To that aim, the following general considerations given by Fleming51 and Houk52 can be used to evaluate the influence of substituents on the reacting it systems ... 

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