Olefin complexes optical isomerism

II(S)) and/or to a different reaction rate of the two diastereomeric 7r-olefin complexes to the corresponding diastereomeric alkyl-rhodium complexes (VI(s) and VI(R)). For diastereomeric cis- or trans-[a-methylbenzyl]-[vinyl olefin] -dichloroplatinum( II) complexes, the diastereomeric equilibrium is very rapidly achieved in the presence of an excess of olefin even at room temperature (40). Therefore, it seems probable that asymmetric induction in 7r-olefin complexes formation (I — II) cannot play a relevant role in determining the optical purity of the reaction products. On the other hand, both the free energy difference between the two 7r-olefin complexes (AG°II(S) — AG°n(R) = AG°) and the difference between the two free energies of activation for the isomerization of 7r-com-plexes II(S) and II(R) to the corresponding alkyl-rhodium complexes VI(s) and VI(R) (AG II(R) — AG n(S) = AAG ) can control the overall difference in activation energy for the formation of the diastereomeric rhodium-alkyl complexes and hence the sign and extent of asymmetric induction. 

Olefinic double-bond isomerization is probably one of the most commonly observed and well-studied reactions that uses transition metals as catalysts [1]. However, prior to our first achievement of asymmetric isomerization of allylamine by optically active Co(I) complex catalysts [2], there were only a few examples of catalytic asymmetric isomerization, and these were characterized by very low asymmetric induction (<4% ee) [3], In 1978 we reported that an enantioselective hydrogen migration of a prochiral allylamine such as AVV-diethylgerany-lamine, (1) or N V-diethylnerylamine (2) gave optically active citronellal ( )-enamine 3 with about 32% ee utilizing Co(I)-DIOP [DIOP = 2,3-0-isopropylidene-2,3-dihydroxy-l,4-bis(diphenylphosphino)butane] complexes as the catalyst (eq 3.1). 

Although various transition-metal complexes have reportedly been active catalysts for the migration of inner double bonds to terminal ones in functionalized allylic systems (Eq. 3.2) [5], prochiral allylic compounds with a multisubstituted olefin (Rl, R2 H in eq 2) are not always susceptible to catalysis or they show only a low reactivity [Id]. Choosing allylamines 1 and 2 as the substrates for enantioselective isomerization has its merits (1) optically pure citronellal, which is an important starting material for optically active terpenoids such as (-)-menthol, cannot be obtained directly from natural sources [6], and (2) both ( )-allylamine 1 and (Z)-allylamine 2 can be prepared in reasonable yields from myrcene or isoprene, respectively, The ( )-allylamine 1 is obtained from the reaction of myrcene and diethylamine in the presence of lithium diethylamide under Ar in an almost quantitative yield (Eq. 3.3) [7], The (Z)-allylamine 2 can also be prepared with high selectivity (-90%) by Li-catalyzed telomerization of isoprene using diethylamine as a telomer (Eq. 3.4) [8], Thus, natural or petroleum resources can be selected. 

Therefore, for either antipode, the diastereomeric activated complex controlling optical yield could be either the one corresponding to the formation of the x-complex or the one corresponding to the olefin insertion into the metal-hydrogen bond. In the case of rhodium, it appears from the results of the hydroformylation of 1,2-dimethylcyclohexene and of 2-methylmethylidencyclohexane, that the second case is more probable 10). In the case of platinum, the fact that isomerization of the substrate, which is very likely to occur via metal alkyl-complex formation, proceeds at a rate similar to or even higher than the hydroformylation rate seems to indicate that the same situation can also be assumed. 

Alkenyl carboxylates and enamides are topologically analogous to each other. Both possess a carbonyl oxygen atom that is located three atoms from the olefin. The correct arrangement facilitates chelation to a metal center to realize high asymmetric induction. In fact, the BINAP-Ru complex is effective for hydrogenation of a 70 30 E/Z mixture of ethyl a-(acetoxy)-/3-(isopropyl)acrylate in 98% optical yield (Eq. 2.4) [34]. The E/Z isomeric mixtures can be employed without detrimental effect on the selectivity. 

This isomerization is enantioselective when optically active BINAP is used and provides practical access to optically active aldehydes and alcohols such as L-menthol, which is a key fragrance chemical [297—299], The proposed mechanism involves amine, iminium, and enamine as complex intermediates [300], Extension of this olefin isomerization is realized in the isomerization of an alkyne to a conjugated diene (Scheme 1-47) [301], High chemoselectivity is achieved when Pd(OAc)2 or [Pd2(dba)3]/HOAc, in the presence of phosphine, is used as catalyst (Table 1-14). The phosphine of choice is dppb although dppf could give a similar yield. 

The intramolecular hydroesterification of olefins provides a route to lactones. Alihough this reaction has not been applied extensively in the synthesis of complex molecules, several examples demonstrating the scope and potential utility of this reaction have been reported, As shown in Equations 17.42-17.44 this reaction can be used to prepare optically active lactones,benzo-fused lactones, and lactams. The reaction in Equation 17.43 illustrates how the product can result from a combination of isomerization and carbonyla-tion, and the reaction in Equation 17.44 shows how the ring size can be controlled by the composition of the catalyst. 

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