Intermolecular cyclopropenation alkynes

Chiral rhodium(II) carboxamides are exceptional catalysts for highly enantio-selective intermolecular cyclopropenation reactions (50). With ethyl diazoacetate and a series of alkynes, use of dirhodium(II) tetrakis[methyl 2-pyrrolidone-5-(R)-carboxylate], Rh2(5R-MEPY)4, in catalytic amounts ( 1.0 mol %) results in the formation of ethyl eyelopropene-3-earboxylates (eq 4) with enantiomeric excesses... 

Dirhodium(ll) tetrakis[methyl 2-pyrrolidone-5(R)-oarboxylate], Rh2(5R-MEPV)4, and its enantiomer, Rh2(5S-MEPY)4, which is prepared by the same procedure, are highly enantioselective catalysts for intramolecular cyclopropanation of allylic diazoacetates (65->94% ee) and homoallylic diazoacetates (71-90% ee),7 8 intermolecular carbon-hydrogen insertion reactions of 2-alkoxyethyl diazoacetates (57-91% ee)9 and N-alkyl-N-(tert-butyl)diazoacetamides (58-73% ee),10 Intermolecular cyclopropenation ot alkynes with ethyl diazoacetate (54-69% ee) or menthyl diazoacetates (77-98% diastereomeric excess, de),11 and intermolecular cyclopropanation of alkenes with menthyl diazoacetate (60-91% de for the cis isomer, 47-65% de for the trans isomer).12 Their use in <1.0 mol % in dichloromethane solvent effects complete reaction of the diazo ester and provides the carbenoid product in 43-88% yield. The same general method used for the preparation of Rh2(5R-MEPY)4 was employed for the synthesis of their isopropyl7 and neopentyl9 ester analogs. 

Enantioselective Intermolecular Cyclopropenation Reactions. The use of Rh2(MEPY)4 catalysts for intermolecular cyclopropenation of 1-alkynes results in moderate to high selectivity. With propargyl methyl ether (or acetate), for example, reactions with (—)-menthyl [(+)-(l/ ,25,5/ )-2-isopropyT5-methyl-1-cyclohexyl] diazoacetate catalyzed by Rh2(55 -MEPY)4 produces the corresponding cyclopropene product (eq 3) with 98% diastere-omeric excess (de). ... 

Dirhodium(II) catalysts that possess chiral 2-pyrrolidone-5-carboxylate ester ligands (mepy) are the most effective among those of dirhodium or copper for highly diastereoselective and enantioselective intermolecular cyclopropenation reactions between l-alkynes and diazoesters (eq. (9)). Product yields are moderate, and enantiomeric excesses range from 40 to 98 %. Interestingly, the (R) or (5) catalyst produces the cyclopropene-l-carboxylate respectively with the (/ ) or (5) configuration [26]. 

The intermolecular reaction of alkynes with acylcarbene complexes normally yields cyclopropenes [587,1022,1060-1062]. Because of the high reactivity of cyclopropenes, however, in some of these reactions unexpected products can result. In particular intramolecular cyclopropanations of alkynes, which would lead to highly strained bicyclic cyclopropenes, often yield rearrangement products of the latter. In many instances these products result from a transient vinylcarbene complex, which can be formed by two different mechanisms (Figure 4.3). 

Cazes et al. reported the Pd-catalyzed intermolecular hydroamination of substituted allenes using aliphatic amines in the presence of triethylammonium iodide leading to allylic amines [19]. In a way similar to the Pd-catalyzed hydrocarbona-tion reactions we reported that the hydroamination of allenes [20], enynes [21], methylenecyclopropanes [22], and cyclopropene [10] proceeds most probably via oxidative addition of an N-H bond under neutral or acidic conditions to give allylic amines. The presence of benzoic acid as an additive promotes the Pd-medi-ated inter- and intramolecular hydroamination of internal alkynes [23]. Intramolecular hydroamination has attracted more attention in recent years, because of its importance in the synthesis of a variety of nitrogen-containing heterocycles found in many biologically important compounds. The metal-catalyzed intramolecular hydroamination/cyclization of aminoalkenes, aminodienes, aminoallenes, and aminoalkynes has been abundantly documented [23]. 

Dirhodium(II) tetrakis(carboxamides), constructed with chiral 2-pyrroli-done-5-carboxylate esters so that the two nitrogen donor atoms on each rhodium are in a cis arrangement, represent a new class of chiral catalysts with broad applicability to enantioselective metal carbene transformations. Enantiomeric excesses greater than 90% have been achieved in intramolecular cyclopropanation reactions of allyl diazoacetates. In intermolecular cyclopropanation reactions with monosubsti-tuted olefins, the cis-disubstituted cyclopropane is formed with a higher enantiomeric excess than the trans isomer, and for cyclopropenation of 1-alkynes extraordinary selectivity has been achieved. Carbon-hydro-gen insertion reactions of diazoacetate esters that result in substituted y-butyrolactones occur in high yield and with enantiomeric excess as high as 90% with the use of these catalysts. Their design affords stabilization of the intermediate metal carbene and orientation of the carbene substituents for selectivity enhancement. 

Cyclopropene can also be used as the aUcene component and affords bicyclo[3.1.0]hexen-2-ones upon reaction with alkyne dicobalt octacarbonyl complexes in the presence of NMO (Scheme 250). Vinyl ethers and vinyl esters serve as ethene equivalents in Pauson-Khand reactions. For example, reaction of vinyl benzoate with complex (169) furnished cyclopentenone (170) (Scheme 251). This reaction was used in a synthesis of (-l-)-taylorine and nortaylorine. Allenes participate in intermolecular Pauson-Khand reactions affording alkylidene-substituted cyclopentenones (Scheme 252). ... 

The intermolecular addition of a carbene to a cyclopropene to give a bicyclo-[l.l.OJbutane is not a viable synthetic method since products of ring cleavage are usually observed However, diazoalkane addition to a cyclopropene (or bis-addition to an alkyne) is known to occur and subsequent deazetation generally leads to bicyclobutane and diene by separate pathways. 

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