1,2-Migration 1,2-metallate rearrangements

Abstract The photoinduced reactions of metal carbene complexes, particularly Group 6 Fischer carbenes, are comprehensively presented in this chapter with a complete listing of published examples. A majority of these processes involve CO insertion to produce species that have ketene-like reactivity. Cyclo addition reactions presented include reaction with imines to form /1-lactams, with alkenes to form cyclobutanones, with aldehydes to form /1-lactones, and with azoarenes to form diazetidinones. Photoinduced benzannulation processes are included. Reactions involving nucleophilic attack to form esters, amino acids, peptides, allenes, acylated arenes, and aza-Cope rearrangement products are detailed. A number of photoinduced reactions of carbenes do not involve CO insertion. These include reactions with sulfur ylides and sulfilimines, cyclopropanation, 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions, and acyl migrations. 

Double-bond isomerization can also take place in other ways. Nucleophilic allylic rearrangements were discussed in Chapter 10 (p. 421). Electrocyclic and sigmatropic rearrangements are treated at 18-27-18-35. Double-bond migrations have also been accomplished photochemically, and by means of metallic ion (most often complex ions containing Pt, Rh, or Ru) or metal carbonyl catalysts. In the latter case there are at least two possible mechanisms. One of these, which requires external hydrogen, is called the nwtal hydride addition-elimination mechanism ... 

In the presence of transition-metal complexes, organic compounds that are unsaturated or strained often rearrange themselves. One synthetically useful transition-metal catalyzed isomerization is the olefin migration reaction. Two general mechanisms have been proposed for olefin migrations, depending on the type of catalyst employed (A and B) (Scheme 3.8).137... 

When we allowed pentafluorophenyl-lithium to decompose in ether in the presence of an excess of N, ZV-dimethy laniline we obtained the compounds (92) 70, X = F), (94), the latter as the major compound, and a product which was shown to be (97). That this latter compound did not arise by metallation of 2V,lV-dimethylaniline followed by addition to tetrafluorobenzyne was shown by quenching the reaction mixture with deuterium oxide. No deuterium incorporation was detected. The compound (97) provides a rare example of a product derived by a Stevens rearrangement in which aryl migration has occurred b>. 

In general, the rearrangements of dienes and polyenes can be both thermal and photochemical reactions (the latters are not included in this chapter), and can be catalyzed by acids, bases, metal complexes and enzymes. They can be degenerate processes or occur with the introduction or elimination of functional groups, be accompanied by shifts of multiple bonds or by migrations of atoms or groups and they may lead to cyclizations. 

---