Reduction with sponge nickel

The thiophene can be considered a four-carbon synthon via reductive desulfurization with Raney nickel. A strategy using the thiophene as a lynch-pin for the construction of complex building blocks was utilized in a total synthesis of the cytotoxic sponge metabolite haliclamine A <02JOC6474>. Thienyl cyclopropyl ketone (108) was elaborated into 109. Reduction of 109 with Raney Ni gave 110 which was taken on to haliclamine A. 

In atomization, a stream of molten metal is stmck with air or water jets. The particles formed are collected, sieved, and aimealed. This is the most common commercial method in use for all powders. Reduction of iron oxides or other compounds in soHd or gaseous media gives sponge iron or hydrogen-reduced mill scale. Decomposition of Hquid or gaseous metal carbonyls (qv) (iron or nickel) yields a fine powder (see Nickel and nickel alloys). Electrolytic deposition from molten salts or solutions either gives powder direcdy, or an adherent mass that has to be mechanically comminuted. 

There are few reports of oxidative addition to zerovalent transition metals under mild conditions three reports involving group 10 elements have appeared. Fischer and Burger reported the preparation of aTT -allylpalladium complex by the reaction of palladium sponge with allyl bromide(63). The Grignard-type addition of allyl halides to aldehydes has been carried out by reacting allylic halides with cobalt or nickel metal prepared by reduction of cobalt or nickel halides with manganese/iron alloy-thiourea(64). 

Cavallito (66) reports that neither it nor 3-benzoxypyridine was hydrogenated in the presence of Willstatter s palladium sponge catalyst (67). Under low pressure conditions in ether or dioxane Raney nickel and platinum oxide were ineffective. However, other examples show that reduction takes place readily under a variety of conditions. Biel used Raney nickel at 125° and 50 atm (68), excellent yield of 6-propyl-3-hydroxypiperidine resulted from reduction of the pyridine in acetic acid with platinum oxide (69). Ruthenium in the conversion of 3-hydroxypyridine in aqueous solution gave very high yield of the corre-... 

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