Metallation of Alkenes in the Vinylic Position

Alkenes lacking hydrogen atoms at allylic positions are much less acidic than ordinary unsaturated hydrocarbons. Superbases regioselectively exchange allylic protons in alkenes whenever there is a choice. However, a few examples of metallation of alkenic C-H bonds with superbases are known and a compilation of them is reported in Table 1. Ethylene itself has been deprotonated by the superbasic mixture constituted by butyllithium, potassium tert-butoxide, and TMEDA.41 

While norbornene, norbornadiene, 2-triallkylsilylnorbornadiene, and 1,3,5-cycloheptatriene are selectively deprotonated by the LIC-NAOR mixture (butyllithium/sodium /f 7-butoxide), other less acidic substrates such as bicyclo[2.2.2]oct-2-ene, camphene, 3,3-dimethyl-l-butene, and tro/o-dicyclopentadiene require the use of stronger bases constituted by mixtures of pentylsodium/disodium pinacolate (NAC-NAOR) or pentylsodium/ potassium ftrt-butoxide (NAC-KOR). 

The presence of a heterosubstituent facilitates deprotonation. 4-Methyl-4H-pyran and 1,4-dimethyldihydropyr-idine are regioselectively metallated at the position next to the heteroatom by LIC-KOR or trimethylsilylmethylpotassium.47 The metallation of cyclic vinyl ethers with Schlosser s base has been successfully used in the synthesis of C-glycosides48 50 via metallation of the glucal followed by a reaction with tributyltin chloride to afford the corresponding tin derivative that could be submitted to coupling reactions with various electrophiles.48 

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Table 1 Metallation of alkenes in the vinylic position Metallated alkene Superbase...

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