Organocopper reagent, conjugate carbonyl addition reactions

The mechanism of conjugate addition reactions probably involves an initial complex between the cuprate and enone.51 The key intermediate for formation of the new carbon-carbon bond is an adduct formed between the enone and the organocopper reagent. The adduct is formulated as a Cu(III) species, which then undergoes reductive elimination. The lithium ion also plays a key role, presumably by Lewis acid coordination at the carbonyl oxygen.52 Solvent molecules also affect the reactivity of the complex.53 The mechanism can be outlined as occurring in three steps. 

G. H. Posner, Conjugate Addition Reactions of Organocopper Reagents, in W. G. Dauben, Ed., Organic Reactions, Vol. 19, Chap. 1, John Wiley Sons, New York, 1972 M. J. Chapdelaine and M. Hulce, Tandem Vicinal Difunctionalization 0-Addition to a,/3-Unsaturated Carbonyl Substrates Followed by cx-Functionalization, in L. A. Paquette, ed., Organic Reactions, Vol. 38, Chap. 

The conjugate addition of organocopper reagents to polyalkenic carbonyl compounds presents an opportunity in which either 1,4-, 1,6- and sometimes 1,8-addition can occur. Much of the early woik in this area was conducted in the study of the reaction of a dienoate or dienone with an alkylcuprate or a catalytic copper/organomagnesium combination. The predominant mode of addition for the reaction of a dienoate and a copper-based organomagnesium reagent was found to be 1,6 not 1,4.72 If the opportunity of 1,8-addition was present, then this mode prevailed.73 However, a truly systematic study has not been carried out with the various reagents. 

Addition to ot, -acetylenic esters and ketones (3, 108 6, 163-164). The addition of organocopper reagents to conjugated acetylenic carbonyl compounds is usually not stereospeciflc, although cis-addition predominates. Japanese chemists have found that the stereoselectivity in the reaction with alkylcopper reagents is markedly enhanced by use of the complex RCu BRj. Thus the reaction of dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate with n-butylcopper complexed with tri-n-butylboron (or triethylboron) results in exclusive formation of the cis-adduct. In the absence of a trialkylborane the cis- and adducts are formed in the-ratio 85 15. 

Conjugate addition to an a,3-unsaturated carbonyl compound is achieved routinely by using a lithium organocopper reagent or a copper-catalyzed Grignard reaction. " It should be noted that in many of these examples, and in particular in the case of lithium diorganocuprates, the resultant enolate has... 

Hahdes of transition metals react with methyllithium to give methyl compounds. This reaction is alternatively afforded by organocopper compounds hke hthiumdialkylcuprates which are also known as Gilman reagents. These reagents are widely used for nucleophilic substitutions of epoxides, alkyl hahdes and for conjugate additions to a,p-unsaturated carbonyl compounds by methyl anion. 

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