Substrates cyclopropanating

Scheme 6. Electrocatalytic carbene transfer to organic substrates cyclopropanation of olefins (a) initiated by mild chemical reductants such as Zn powder [34], and carbene dimerization (b) initiated by mild oxidants such as O2 from air [35].

Substrate Cyclopropane Isomer Ratio Yield" (%) Yield (%) of 2 ... 

Due to the high reactivity of sulfonium ylide 2 for a,P-unsaturated ketone substrates, it normally undergoes methylene transfer to the carbonyl to give the corresponding epoxides. However, cyclopropanation did take place when 1,1-diphenylethylene and ethyl cinnamate were treated with 2 to furnish cyclopropanes 53 and 54, respectively. 

Dimethylsulfoxonium methylide (1) is the reagent of choice for the cyclopropanation of a,p-unsaturated carbonyl substrates. The reaction is generally carried out at more elevated temperatures in comparison to that of 2, although exceptions exist. The method works for 0 ,P-unsaturated ketones, esters and amides. Representative examples are found in transformations of 2(5//)-furanone 55 to cyclopropane 56 and 0 ,P-unsaturated Weinreb amide 57 to cyclopropane 58. ... 

While generation of a Mn(V)oxo salen intermediate 8 as the active chiral oxidant is widely accepted, how the subsequent C-C bond forming events occur is the subject of some debate. The observation of frans-epoxide products from cw-olefins, as well as the observation that conjugated olefins work best support a stepwise intermediate in which a conjugated radical or cation intermediate is generated. The radical intermediate 9 is most favored based on better Hammett correlations obtained with o vs. o . " In addition, it was recently demonstrated that ring opening of vinyl cyclopropane substrates produced products that can only be derived from radical intermediates and not cationic intermediates. ... 

In 1963, Dauben and Berezin published the first systematic study of this syn directing effect (Scheme 3.15) [37]. They found that the cyclopropanation of 2-cyclohexen-l-ol 32 proceed in 63% yield to give the syn isomer 33 as the sole product. They observed the same high syn diastereoselectivity in a variety of cyclic allylic alcohols and methyl ethers. On the basis of these results, they reasonably conclude that there must be some type of coordinative interaction between the zinc carbenoid and the substrate. 

The discovery of viable substrate-direction represents a major turning point in the development of the Simmons-Smith cyclopropanation. This important phenomenon underlies all of the asymmetric variants developed for the cyclopropanation. However, more information regarding the consequences of this coordinative interaction would be required before the appearance of a catalytic, asymmetric method. The first steps in this direction are found in studies of chiral auxiliary-based methods. 

Although the rationalization of the reactivity and selectivity of this particular substrate is distinct from that for chiral ketals 92-95, it still agrees with the mechanistic conclusions gained throughout the study of Simmons-Smith cyclopropa-nations. StOl, the possibility of the existence of a bimetallic transition structure similar to v (see Fig. 3.5) has not been rigorously ruled out. No real changes in the stereochemical rationale of the reaction are required upon substitution of such a bimetallic transition structure. But as will be seen later, the effect of zinc iodide on catalytic cyclopropanations is a clue to the nature of highly selective reaction pathways. A similar but unexplained effect of zinc iodide on these cyclopro-panation may provide further information on the true reactive species. 

This chiral modifier provides one of the only methods for selective cyclopropa-nation of substrates which are not simple, allylic alcohols. In contrast to the catalytic methods which will be discussed in the following section, the dioxaborolane has been shown to be effective in the cyclopropanation of a number of allylic ethers [67]. This method has also been extended to systems where the double... 

For a reaction as complex as catalytic enantioselective cyclopropanation with zinc carbenoids, there are many experimental variables that influence the rate, yield and selectivity of the process. From an empirical point of view, it is important to identify the optimal combination of variables that affords the best results. From a mechanistic point of view, a great deal of valuable information can be gleaned from the response of a complex reaction system to changes in, inter alia, stoichiometry, addition order, solvent, temperature etc. Each of these features provides some insight into how the reagents and substrates interact with the catalyst or even what is the true nature of the catalytic species. 

The photochemical isomerization of 1,4-dienes 1, bearing substituents at C-3, leads to vinyl-cyclopropanes 2, and is called the di-n-methane rearrangement This reaction produces possible substrates for the vinylcyclopropane rearrangement. 

Yields are moderate to good. In addition to alkenes, the cyclopropanation also works with certain aromatic substrates. 

Additions to cyclopropanes can take place by any of the four mechanisms already discussed in this chapter, but the most important type involves electrophilic attack. For substituted cyclopropanes, these reactions usually follow Markovnikov s rule, though exceptions are known and the degree of regioselectivity is often small. The application of Markovnikov s rule to these substrates can be illustrated by the reaction of 1,1,2-trimethylcyclopropane with The rule predicts that the... 

Pyrazolines (51) can be converted to cyclopropane and N2 on photolysis""" or pyroiysis. The tautomeric 2-pyrazolines (52), which are more stable than 51 also give the reaction, but in this case an acidic or basic catalyst is required, the function of which is to convert 52 to 51." In the absence of such catalysts, 52 do not react/ In a similar manner, triazolines (53) are converted to aziridines." Side reactions are frequent with both 51 and 53, and some substrates do not give the reaction at all. However, the reaction has proved synthetically useful in many cases. In general, photolysis gives better yields and fewer side reactions than pyrolysis with both 51 and 53. S/Z-Pyrazoles" " (54) are stable to heat, but in some cases can be converted to... 

Since cyclopropane rings possess electronic properties similar to those of double bonds and are capable of stabilizing an adjacent positive charge, systems such as 247 are related to allenyl substrates. Therefore, solvolysis of such... 

The stereochemistry of the resulting cyclopropane product (.s vn vs anti) was rationalized from a kinetic study which implicated an early transition state with no detectable intermediates. Approach of the alkene substrate perpendicular to the proposed carbene intermediate occurs with the largest alkene substituent opposite the carbene ester group. This is followed by rotation of the alkene as the new C—C bonds begin to form. The steric effect of the alkene substituent determines... 

The cz5-aziridine substrate shows, as expected on the basis of this model, predominant formation of the trans-cyclopropane product. The starting materials for this MIRC reaction can readily be obtained from the aziridine esters by reduction to the corresponding aldehyde and a subsequent Knoevenagel reaction with malonate ester (Scheme 25) [34]. 

Iron porphyrins display pronounced substrate preferences for alkene cyclopro-panation with EDA. In general, electron-rich terminal alkenes in conjunction with aromatic moiety or heteroatoms can efficiently undergo cyclopropanation with high catalyst turnover and selectivity. In contrast, 1,2-disubstituted alkenes cannot undergo cyclopropanation with diazoesters. Alkyl alkenes are poor substrates, giving cyclopropanated products in low yields. In both cases, the dimerization product diethyl maleate was obtained in high yield [53]. 

Vinyl cyclopropanes tethered to an aUcyne chain 127 were also subjected to the cycloisomerisation reaction in presence of the NHC-Ni catalyst system (Scheme 5.34) [39], The product formation depends on the substrate used and the NHC hgand. When SIPr carbene is used, three different products were obtained depending on the size of the R group attached to the alkyne moiety. If R is small (like a methyl) product 128 is obtained exclusively. If R is Et or Pr a mixture of 128 and 129 is obtained in 3 2 to 1 2 ratio, respectively. However, when R is large groups such as Bu or TMS only product 130 is obtained. When IfBu carbene 131 is used as the ligand, cycloisomerisation of 127 afforded product 128 exclusively, regardless of substituent size (Scheme 5.34) [39]. 

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