Propargyl, reaction with organocuprates

Ethynyl carbinols (propargylic alcohols) such as 134 (Scheme 2.58) represent another important group of oxidation level 3 compounds. Their preparation involves nucleophilic addition of acetylides to the carbonyl group, a reaction that is nearly universal in its scope. Elimination of water from 134 followed by hydration of the triple bond is used as a convenient protocol for the preparation of various conjugated enones 135. Easily prepared O-acylated derivatives are extremely useful electrophiles in reactions with organocuprates, which proceed with propargyl-allenyl rearrangements to furnish allene derivatives 136. 

The reaction is completely regioselective in favor of the 8 2 product, and the cross-coupling of propargyl epoxides with organocuprates give nearly an exclusive anti-product when dimethyl sulfur is present, but give mixtures of syn- and anti-products in its absence. 

C-Trapping. Alkylation or hydroxy alkylation (i.e., reaction with RCHO) of enolates derived from conjugate addition of organocuprates affords vicinal dialkylated products. However, the reaction is confined to highly reactive alkylating agents such as methyl, allyl, propargyl, benzyl, and a-halocarbonyl compounds or aldehydes. 

Organocuprates react rapidly with allylic halides (or acetates), propargyl halides (or acetates), and vinyloxiranes, frequently with 5 2 regioselectivity. The reaction ordinarily takes place with anti (with respect to the leaving group) stereochemistry. 

Reaction of the alkenyl iodide with a lithium organocuprate, or with an organometallic species in a palladium-catalysed coupling, gives the corresponding substituted allylic alcohol (in which the substituents originally present in the propargylic alcohol are trans to each other). This method is applicable to a variety of synthetic problems in which the stereoselective introduction of a trisubstituted carbon-carbon double bond is involved. For example, it formed a key step in a synthesis of juvenile hormone (2.64). 

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