Propargylic derivatives

Propargylic (or 2-alkynyl) compounds are derivatives of alkynes. However, Pd-catalyzed reactions of propargylic derivatives, particularly esters and halides, are very different mechanistically from those of simple alkynes, except in a few cases. Therefore, the reactions of propargylic esters and halides are treated in this section separately from those of other alkynes. However, some reactions of propargylic alcohols, which behave similarly to simple alkynes, are treated in Section 6. 

Among several propargylic derivatives, the propargylic carbonates 3 were found to be the most reactive and they have been used most extensively because of their high reactivity[2,2a]. The allenylpalladium methoxide 4, formed as an intermediate in catalytic reactions of the methyl propargylic carbonate 3, undergoes two types of transformations. One is substitution of cr-bonded Pd. which proceeds by either insertion or transmetallation. The insertion of an alkene, for example, into the Pd—C cr-bond and elimination of/i-hydrogen affords the allenyl compound 5 (1.2,4-triene). Alkene and CO insertions are typical. The substitution of Pd methoxide with hard carbon nucleophiles or terminal alkynes in the presence of Cul takes place via transmetallation to yield the allenyl compound 6. By these reactions, various allenyl derivatives can be prepared. 

The reaction of 3-substituted 3-haloallenes with various cuprates, the converse reaction of propargyl derivatives, proceeds in an SN2 manner to form alkynes 69b. Very high anti stereoselectivity is achieved693. 

A general method for the synthesis of highly substituted styrenes as 6/4-91, vinyl-cyclohexadienes and related compounds was developed by Xi, Takahashi and coworkers [301] by reacting an intermediately formed five-membered zirconacycle 6/4-89 with propargyl derivatives 6/4-90 or allyl bishalides in the presence of CuCl (Scheme 6/4.21). 

Some examples of the lateral cyclization of suitable O-allyl and O-propargyl derivatives were discussed in CHEC-11(1996) <1996CHEC-II(8)747>. Thermal reaction of silyl diazoacetate 303 in xylene provides unspecific decomposition and a minor amount (about 2%) of a colorless solid can be precipitated with ether. The X-ray diffraction analysis identified the structure 305, which is a product of the lateral criss-cross cycloaddition of primarily formed azine 304 (Scheme 43) <2000T4139>. 

The formation of solvent-incorporated products 8 suggested that triarylallenyl cations 7 are formed by photolysis of the corresponding chloroallenes 6 (equation 2). However, the products 8 obtained by photolysis were attributed to attack by nucleophiles at /-positions of the allenyl cation. Although allenyl cations are ambident cations and can produce allenyl or propargyl derivatives by attack at the a- or /-position, respectively, only /-attack was observed in this photolysis of triarylchloroallenes. This result is parallel to that observed by Schiavelli and coworkers9 in the solvolysis of these systems (vide infra) which therefore supports the formation of allenyl cations in the photolysis. 

All of the reactions discussed above are cyclic carbometallation reactions of metallacycles. Very recently, an interesting Cr-catalyzed carboalumination of propargyl derivatives producing allenes via a carbometallation-elimina-tion sequence has been studied. This reaction provides an asymmetric synthesis of chiral allenes (Scheme 57). 

Scheme 57 Cr-catalyzed synthesis of chiral allenes via carboalumination-elimination of chiral propargyl derivatives.

The high-valent metal species required for activation of an alkyne has also been generated by the oxidative addition to an allylic or propargylic system. For example, with an allyl aryl ether as the substrate, this type of reaction achieves a cycloisomerization that occurs through an 0- to C-allyl migration (Equation (92)) 323,324 similarly, (9-propargyl derivatives lead to a mixture of allenyl and propargyl products (Equation (93)).325,326... 

One of the most popular methods for the synthesis of allenes is the Sn2 reaction of propargylic derivatives with organocopper reagents [1, 2], Most probably a study published in 1968-69 by Rona and Crabbe represents the first example of the Cu(I)-mediated SN2 reaction of propargylic electrophiles giving allenic products (Scheme 3.32) [69, 70], Since then, many researchers have used modified organocopper reagents with stoichiometric or catalytic amounts of Cu(I) salt. 

Nucleophilic Substitution with Rearrangement of Propargylic Derivatives... 

A/ -ally derivative + /V4-allyf (4.5%) derivative.r /V -prop-l-cnyl derivative. /V -propargyl derivative. Unstable N-azolylallene formed. bis-l,2,4,-triazol-I-yImethanc. Addition of alumina increases yield (81%)and totally inhibits isomerism.w Af -allyl (61%) + A -allyl (24%) derivatives. With K CO, (20 mmol) and RX (10 mmol) at 80°C for... 

The thio analogue behaves similarly, whereas the propargylic derivative is converted into the corresponding stable vinylic telluride. 

Metal-catalyzed substitution reactions involving propargylic derivatives have not been studied in much detail until recently [311, 312]. In this context, the ability shown by transition-metal allenylidenes to undergo nucleophilic additions at the Cy atom of the cumulenic chain has allowed the development of efficient catalytic processes for the direct substitution of the hydroxyl group in propargylic alcohols [313]. These transformations represent an appealing alternative to the well-known and extensively investigated Nicholas reaction, in which stoichiometric amounts of [Co2(CO)g] are employed [314-317]. 

In 1998 it was revealed that allenylidene-ruthenium complexes, arising simply from propargylic alcohols, were efficient precursors for alkene metathesis [12], This discovery first initiated a renaissance in allenylidene metal complexes as possible alkene metathesis precursors, then it was observed and demonstrated that allenylidene-ruthenium complexes rearranged into indenylidene-ruthenium intermediates that are actually the real catalyst precursors. The synthesis of indenylidene-metal complexes and their efficient use in alkene metathesis are now under development. The interest in finding a convenient source of easy to make alkene metathesis initiators is currently leading to investigation of other routes to initiators from propargylic derivatives. 

The objective of this chapter is to report on these various aspects allenylidenes in alkene metathesis, their transformation into indenylidenes, alkene metathesis with indenylidene complexes, other propargylic derivatives as alkene metathesis initiators and their application in alkene metathesis. 

S.2 Propargyl Derivatives as Aikene Metathesis Initiator Precursors 255... 

In parallel, since the first preparation of allenylidene-metal complexes in 1976, the formation of these carbon-rich complexes developed rapidly after the discovery, in 1982, that allenylidene-metal intermediates could be easily formed directly from terminal propargylic alcohols via vinylidene-metal intermediates. This decisive step has led to regioselective catalytic transformations of propargylic derivatives via carbon(l)-atom bond formation or alternately to propargylation. Due to their rearrangement into indenylidene complexes, metal-allenylidene complexes were also found to be catalyst precursors for olefin and enyne metathesis. 

Displacement rearrangements involving propargyl derivatives allenes from a-acetoxyalkynes [136]. 

Cuprates are known to react with propargylic derivatives to give allenes58. The allene formation is also observed in the reaction with zincates (equation 34). However, the reaction course is different. As demonstrated by deuterium incorporation in D20 quench... 

A CH-group, which bears vinyl and sulfide substituents, is acidic enough to be metallated by strong bases. Other d3-synthons may contain two activating functional groups in Imposition ( homoenolate -equivalents). Only one of the a-carbons is deprotonated under appropiate conditions (e.g. succinic diesters). Ano ther possibility is an acidic carbon and a non-acidic functional group in 1,3-positions (e.g. propargyl derivatives). Silyl ethers of a, -unsaturated alcohols can also be converted to anions, which react as d3-synthons (W. Oppolzer, 1976). 

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