Intermolecular stereospecific insertion

The main steps in the currently accepted catalytic cycle of the Heck reaction are oxidative addition, carbopalla-dation (G=G insertion), and / -hydride elimination. It is well established that both, the insertion as well as the elimination step, are m-stereospecific. Only in some cases has formal /r/ / i--elimination been observed. For example, exposure of the l,3-dibromo-4-(dihydronaphthyloxy)benzene derivative 16 and an alkene 1-R to a palladium source in the presence of a base led to a sequential intra-intermolecular twofold Heck reaction furnishing the alkenylated tetracyclic products 17 in good to excellent yields (Scheme 9). " In the rate-determining step, the base removes a proton in an antiperiplanar orientation from the benzylic palladium intermediate. The best amine base was found to be l,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane, which apparently has an optimal shape for this proton abstraction. 

A transition metal catalyzed synthesis of ethers by carbene insertion into the O—bond has been reported. Not only saturated but also unsaturated alcohols can be utilized in this catalytic process. ° Intermolecular and intramolecular oxirane ring opening reactions by alkoxides and phenoxides also provide efficient and stereospecific preparations of acyclic and cyclic ethers. The procedures have been surveyed in detail. ... 

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