Silyl enol ethers reaction with nitro olefins

The illustrative example is the synthesis of heptane-2,5-dione (Expt 5.105). A related reaction is the interaction of a silyl enol ether, derived from a ketone, with a nitro olefin in the presence of either titanium(iv) chloride or... 

In the early 1960s, Brannock et al. reported a thermal [2+2] cycloaddition of enamines. Enamines react with a variety of electron-deficient alkenes such as acrylates, nitro-olefines, acetonitriles, vinylsulfones, fumarates, and malei-mides to give aminocyclobutanes [4]. The reaction generally does not require the assistance of an acid catalyst. Narasaka et al. exploited asymmetric thermal [2+2] cycloaddition of vinyl and aUenyl sulfides with electron-deficient alkenes catalyzed by Lewis acid [5]. Yamazaki et al. have reported that a stoichiometric amount of Lewis acid activates [2+2] cycloaddition of vinylselenides with highly electron-deficient olefins [6]. These reactions proceed via a stepwise annulation to give mercapto- and seleno-cyclobutanes, respectively. However, cyclobutane formation from silyl enol ethers, which are one of the most easily prepared ketone... 

Synthesis of Keto-acids.—a-Keto-acids are obtained in moderate to good yields by the reaction of carboxylic acid dianions with conjugated nitro-olefins at — 100°C, followed by acidic work-up. Another route to these compounds involves the C-silylation of butyrolactone enolate, followed by a Peterson-type olefination to give the vinylic ether (20), which is then oxidized to the y-keto-acid (Scheme 12). Eight examples, with yields of between 50 and 83%, along with one failure are reported. 

As the accompanying equations illustrate, the reactions of enol silyl ethers are regarded as those of either electron-rich olefins or stable metal enolates. The treatments of eno/ silyl ethers with halogens, NBS, sulfenyl halides, and nitronium ions afford the corresponding a-halo, alkylthio, and nitro ketones, respectively (eq (22)) [19]. 

---