Manganese diazo compounds, reactions with

For example, in attempts to realize benzannelation reactions, alkyloxy aryl carbene complexes of manganese failed to react with alkynes even in refluxing toluene, and the starting compounds could be recovered [4]. The documented low reactivity of the Mn as opposed to Cr and Mo carbene complexes may in part explain why the electrophilic carbene C-atom and the nucleophilic diazo C-atom tolerate each other in the same molecule. Besides, the bulky substituents at the silicon atom protect it fi"om being attacked by nucleophiles leading to desilylation as reported for trimethylsilyl substituted Cr carbene complexes [5]. 

Diazo compounds, precursors to carbenes, were prepared by the oxidation with active manganese(IV) oxide (or mercury(II) oxide) of the corresponding hydrazones which in turn were obtained from the corresponding ketones by the reaction with anhydrous hydrazine (or hydrazine monohydrate). This method was employed for the introduction of the diazo groups in most of our compounds... 

Miscellaneous Reactions. In addition to the key reactions above, DDQ has been used for the oxidative removal of chromium, iron, and manganese from their complexes with arenes and for the oxidative formation of imidazoles and thiadia-zoles from acyclic precursors. Catal)ftic amounts of DDQ also offer a mild method for the oxidative regeneration of carbonyl compounds from acetals, which contrasts with their formation from diazo compounds on treatment with DDQ and methanol in nonpolar solvents. DDQ also provides effective catalysis for the tetrahydropyranylation of alcohols. Furthermore, the oxidation of chiral esters or amides of arylacetic acid by DDQ in acetic acid provides a mild procedure for the synthesis of chiral a-acetoxy derivatives, although the diastereoselectivity achieved so far is only 65-67%. ... 

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