Isomerization, quaternary ammonium salts

Partitioning of carbocations between addition of nucleophiles and deprotonation, 35, 67 Perchloro-organic chemistry structure, spectroscopy and reaction pathways, 25, 267 Permutational isomerization of pentavalent phosphorus compounds, 9, 25 Phase-transfer catalysis by quaternary ammonium salts, 15, 267 Phosphate esters, mechanism and catalysis of nucleophilic substitution in, 25, 99 Phosphorus compounds, pentavalent, turnstile rearrangement and pseudoration in permutational isomerization, 9, 25... 

As with the reaction of pyrroles, diazoles and triazoles react with propargyl bromide to yield TV-substituted products and, depending upon the base strength, either TV-prop-2-ynylazoles or allenic derivatives are formed [30]. Generally, with potassium carbonate under soliddiquid two-phase conditions at room temperature in the absence of a solvent, the prop-2-ynyl compounds are formed as sole products, whereas with solid potassium hydroxide at elevated temperatures the allenes are obtained as the major products. Benztriazole produces a mixture of the N1- and N2-prop-2-ynyl, and N2-allenic derivatives, whereas with potassium hydroxide only the N -allenic derivative is obtained. The alkynes readily isomerize to the allenes in the presence of base and the quaternary ammonium salt, or upon treatment with methanolic sodium hydroxide. A series of l-(alk-2-ynyl)imidazoles have been prepared, as intermediates in the synthesis of imidazopyridines [31 ] and the reaction of 3-hydroxymethylpyrazoles with propargyl bromide leads to pyrazolooxazines [32]. 

Alkynes react with haloethenes [38] to yield but-l-en-3-ynes (55-80%), when the reaction is catalysed by Cu(I) and Pd(0) in the presence of a quaternary ammonium salt. The formation of pent-l-en-4-ynes, obtained from the Cu(I)-catalysed reaction of equimolar amounts of alk-l-ynes and allyl halides, has greater applicability and versatility when conducted in the presence of a phase-transfer catalyst [39, 40] although, under strongly basic conditions, 5-arylpent-l-en-4-ynes isomerize. Symmetrical 1,3-diynes are produced by the catalysed dimerization of terminal alkynes in the presence of Pd(0) and a catalytic amount of allyl bromide [41]. No reaction occurs in the absence of the allyl bromide, and an increased amount of the bromide also significantly reduces the yield of the diyne with concomitant formation of an endiyene. The reaction probably involves the initial allylation of the ethnyl carbanion and subsequent displacement of the allyl group by a second ethynyl carbanion on the Pd(0) complex. 

Although the effect of quaternary ammonium salts on the stereochemistry of the two-phase condensation reaction of a-chloroacetonitrile with acrylonitriles to form cyclopropanes [4, 7] is not as pronounced as with the Darzens reaction, it can be rationalized in an analogous manner (Scheme 12.2). In the absence of the catalyst, the more highly stabilized anion (4a) is favoured leading to the preferential production of the cis isomer (5). As with the Darzens reaction, addition of the catalyst causes diffusion of the anions (4a) and (4b), as ion-pairs, into the bulk of the organic phase where their relative stabilities are similar and a more equal ratio of the two isomeric cyclopropanes (5) and (6) results (Table 12.2). 

On the other hand, the addition of a quaternary ammonium salt to the reaction medium accelerates the isomerization of the radical intermediate [36]. Thus, the epoxidation of c/j-stilbene in the presence of A -benzylquinine salt gives rranr-stilbene oxide with 90% ee as major product (Table 6B.1, entry 24). This protocol provides an effective method for the synthesis of trans-epoxides. In contrast to the epoxidation of c/s-di- and tri-substituted olefins for which complexes 11-13 are the catalysts of choice, the best catalyst for the epoxidation of tetra-substituted conjugated olefins varies with substrates (Table 6B.1, entries 27 and 28) [37]. The asymmetric epoxidation of 6-bromo-2,2,3,4-tetramethylchromene is well-promoted by complex 14 and that of 2-methyl-3-phenylindene, by complex 12a. 

Isomerization can also be effected under the influence of a base (Scheme 114)233 the quaternary ammonium salt of an aminoalkyltriazoline isomerizes in an analogous manner (Scheme 115).179 5-Amino-l-aryl-4-methylenetriazolines also isomerize to 5-amino-l-aryl-4-methyltriazoles on reaction with nonnucleophilic bases.179,391... 

Alkylation via Isomerization of Quaternary Ammonium Salts (MSMA to RSMA)... 

The synthesis of stereodefined acyclic alkenes via 3-elimination reactions—such as (1) dehydration of alcohols, (2) base-induced eliminations of alkyl halides or sulfonates (tosyl or mesyl esters), and (3) Hofmann eliminations of quaternary ammonium salts—often suffers from a lack of regio- and stereoselectivity, producing mixtures of isomeric alkenes. 

For the oxidation of terminal alkenes to methyl alkyl ketones, RhCl3 and RuCls as well as their complexes may be used instead of PdCl2. In these cases, symmetrical quaternary ammonium salts are also effective. However, under these conditions, the isomerization of alkenes occurs simultaneously with the oxidation [85]. The biphasic Wacker reaction can also be carried out under IPTC conditions using a- or /i-CD as the PT agent [86, 87]. 

Although isomerization of alkenes occurs simultaneously with the oxidation, rhodium and ruthenium complexes can also be used instead of palladium for the oxidation of terminal alkene [15]. With these catalysts, symmetrical quaternary ammonium salts such as tetrabutylammonium hydrogensulfate are effective. Interestingly, the rate of palladium-catalyzed oxidation of terminal alkenes can be improved by using poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) instead of quaternary ammonium salts [16]. Thus, the rates of PEG-400-induced oxidation of 1-decene are up three times faster than those observed with cetyltrimethylammonium bromide under the same conditions. Interestingly, internal alkenes can be efficiently oxidized in this polyethylene glycol/water mixture. 

In the presence of NaNH2 benzylic quaternary ammonium salts generally lead to the Sommelet-Hauser rearrangement (refs. 90, 92-104). An ortho alkylation takes place via an exomethylene intermediate. If the two ortho and ortho positions are methylated, the methylene compounds can be isolated (refs. 92, 93). The first anion formed in this reaction can be trapped at a very low temperature (-80 °C) in an aldol reaction for example (ref. 103). At -30°C the isomerization and the rearrangement occur (Fig. 16). 

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