Reduction organocopper-mediation

Spino and Frechette reported the synthesis of non-racemic allenic alcohol 168 by a combination of Shi s asymmetric epoxidation of 166 and its organocopper-mediat-ed ring-opening reaction (Scheme 4.43) [74]. Reduction of the ethynyl epoxide 169 with DIBAL-H stereoselectively gave the allenic alcohol 170, which was converted to mimulaxanthin 171 (Scheme 4.44) [75] (cf. Section 18.2.2). The DIBAL-H reduction was also applied in the conversion of 173 to the allene 174, which was a synthetic intermediate for peridinine 175 (Scheme 4.45) [76], The SN2 reduction of ethynyl epoxide 176 with DIBAL-H gave 177 (Scheme 4.46) [77]. 

Int. Ed. 2000, 39, 4355—4356 they also reported the organocopper-mediated 1,3-sub-stitution of a chiral propargyl mesylate, prepared by Baker s yeast reduction, to afford an optically active allene with 89% ... 

Synthesis of Boc-Phei/ [(Z)-CF=CH]Gly-OEt (64) utilizing organocopper-mediated reduction of y,y-difluoro-ot, -enoates... 

Otaka et al. reported the synthesis of (Z)-fluoroalkene dipeptide isosteres utilizing an organocopper-mediated reduction (Scheme 23) [69,70]. Reduction of 65 with Me2Cu(CN)Li2 2 LiBr-2 LiCI (4 equiv.) in THF-Et20 at -78°C for 15 min, proceeded unequivocally to yield the desired (Z)-fluoroalkene dipeptide isostere, eoc-Phei/r[(Z)-CF=CH]Gly-OEt (64) in 85% isolated yield. 

A. Niida, M. Mizumoto, T. Narumi, E, Inokuchi, S. Oishi, H. Ohno, A. Otaka, K. Kitaura, N. Fujii, Synthesis of (Z)-alkene and ( )-fluoroalkene-containing diketopiperazine mimetics utilizing organocopper-mediated reduction-alkylation and diastereoselectiv-ity examination using DFT calculations, J. Org. Chem. 71 (2006) 4118-4129. 

Copper(I) catalysis is very well established to promote intramolecular [2+2] photocycloaddition reactions of l,n-dienes (review [351]). The methodology recently enjoyed a number of applications [352-354], It is assumed that CuOTf, which is commonly applied as the catalyst, coordinates the diene and in this way mediates a preorganization. The Ghosh group recently reported a number of CuOTf-catalyzed photochemical [2+2] cycloaddition reactions, in which an organocopper radical complex was proposed as a cyclization intermediate (which should, however, have a formal Cu(II) oxidation state) (selected references [355-357]). A radical complex must, however, not be invoked, since the process may either proceed by a [2+2] photocycloaddition in the coordination sphere of copper without changing the oxidation state or according to a cycloisomerization/reductive elimination process. 

Many of the copper-mediated transformations summarized in the previous sections of this chapter can also be performed efficiently with catalytic amounts of copper salts or reagents. Indeed, some of the copper-catalyzed reactions have been discovered before the development of stoichiometric organocopper reagents. The focus of the last decade has been put on new copper-catalyzed transformations (e.g., conjugate reductions) and in particular on the discovery of chiral copper catalysts for highly enantioselective 1,4-addition and S -substitution reactions of prochiral substrates. 

Oxidative Dimerization of Arylboronic Acids. Cu(OAc)2 was shown to mediate dimerization of various arylboronic acids forming symmetric biaryls in good yields. The oxidative homocoupling proceeds smoothly at rather elevated temperatures with Cu(OAc)2 present in catalytic or stoichiometric amounts. In an earlier case air was employed as an oxidant. The mechanism presumably involves transmetallation of arylboronic acids by copper followed by dimerization of the organocopper intermediate, followed by reductive elimination to give the product. ... 

Lipshutz BH (2002) Copper(I)-mediated 1,2- and 1,4-Reductions. In Krause N (ed) Modem organocopper chemistry. Wiley-VCH, Weinheim, pp 167-187... 

Transmetalation from Zr to Cu is a highly beneficial process as it combines the ease of preparation of organozirconocenes from alkenes and alkynes with the wide scope of organocopper reagents in organic synthesis. Schwartz and coworkers were first to demonstrate transmetalation to Cu in their report on the reductive dimerization of alkenylzirconocenes [94]. Virgili et al. used this transformation to prepare dialkoxy-1,3-butadienes [95]. The copper-mediated coupling of alkenylzirconocene 85 and phenethynyl bromide was reported to yield 86 [96] (Scheme 19). The latter two reactions can also be mediated by ox-ovanadium complexes [97]. 

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