Pinacol reductive coupling

Pinacol reductive coupling.1 A couple prepared by sonication of zinc dust and CuCl2 in acetone-water (4 1) promotes coupling of enones and acetone to a, 3-unsaturated vic-diols. The reaction is slow in the absence of sonication. 

A variety of such ternary catalytic systems has been developed for diastereoselective carbon-carbon bond formations (Table). A Cp-substituted vanadium catalyst is superior to the unsubstituted one,3 whereas a reduced species generated from VOCl3 and a co-reductant is an excellent catalyst for the reductive coupling of aromatic aldehydes.4 A trinuclear complex derived from Cp2TiCl2 and MgBr2 is similarly effective for /-selective pinacol coupling.5 The observed /-selectivity may be explained by minimization of steric effects through anti-orientation of the bulky substituents in the intermediate. 

The Grignard reagents prepared from the activated magnesium appear to react normally with electrophiles. Thus reactions with proton donors, ketones, and carbon dioxide afford hydrocarbons, alcohols, and carboxylic acids, respectively. The reductive coupling of ketones to pinacols had also been accomplished with the activated magnesium. ... 

As reductions by metals often occur by one-electron transfers, radicals are involved as intermediates. When the reaction conditions are adjusted so that coupling competes favorably with other processes, the formation of a carbon-carbon bond can occur. The reductive coupling of acetone to 2,3-dimethylbutane-2,3-diol (pinacol) is an example of such a reaction. 

Catalytic Reductive Coupling of Carbonyl Compounds -The Pinacol Coupling Reaction and Beyond... 

Hirao T (2007) Catalytic Reductive Coupling of Carbonyl Compounds - The Pinacol Coupling Reaction and Beyond. 279 53-75 Hirayama N, see Sakai K (2007) 269 233-271 Hirst AR, Smith DK (2005) Dendritic Gelators. 256 237-273 Holzwarth AR, see Balaban TS (2005) 258 1-38... 

Pinacol coupling. Yb(0) metal can effect pinacol reduction of aromatic, but not aliphatic ketones.1 However, it can effect cross-coupling of benzophenone with aliphatic ketones, often in high yield (equation I). 

The electroreductive coupling of the hindered aromatic ketones (367) has been achieved in a DMF-BU4NBr-(Hg) system by the aid of CrCh or MnCl2 as the electrocatalyst (Scheme 134) [484, 485]. The reductive coupling proceeds at a less negative potential [ 1/2 —1.44 —1.53 V (SCE)] than the reduction of the ketone (—1.63 —2.01 V). In some cases, Mn electrocatalysts favor the reduction to the carbinol (369), whereas a Cr catalyst promotes the formation of the pinacol (368). 

Due to space limitations, vinylogous reactions of pinacol coupling and reductive coupling using nitriles are not described. Also, reductive coupling reactions between compounds having carbon-carbon multiple bonds and carbonyl compounds are not covered. 

Pinacol Acetone (Japan) BASF (West Germany) Past pilot-plant Reductive coupling... 

Reductive coupling of carbonyls to alkenes Titanium(IV) chloride-Zinc, 310 of carbonyls to pinacols Titanium(III) chloride, 302 Titanium(IV) chloride-Zinc, 310 of other substrates Samarium(II) iodide, 270 Reductive cyclization 2-(Phenylseleno)acrylonitrile, 244 Tributylgermane, 313 Tributyltin hydride, 316 Triphenyltin hydride, 335 Trityl perchlorate, 339 Reductive hydrolysis (see Hydrolysis) Reductive silylation Chlorotrimethylsilane-Zinc, 82... 

The reductive coupling of carbonyl compounds to pinacols (i.e., 1,2-diols) is usually performed in the presence of a low-valent metal such as Li(0), Sm(II) or Ti(III). Under... 

Bolourtchian, M., Zadmard, R. and Saidi, M.R., Microwave promoted reductive coupling of carbonyl compounds to bis(trimethylsilyl) pinacols under solvent-free conditions, Synth. Commun., 1998,28, 2017-2020. 

The samarium-lV-bromosuccinimide combination reductively dimerizes carbonyl compounds.163 This pinacol-type coupling gives diols in 60-80% yield, with some diastereoselectivity the by-product from simple reduction (i.e. alcohol) is typically 5-10%. The conditions suggest a single electron transfer to give carbonyl radical anion, which then self-couples. Even congested ketones such as benzophenone and fluorenone worked well. 

The magnesium salt of glycol is thus formed. It yields a glycol with the trival name pinacol upon workup with weak acid. Hence, this kind of reductive coupling of carbonyl compounds is called pinacol coupling. 

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