Synthesis Fischer carbene complexes

The metal-carbene complexes are nowadays extensively used as reagents in organic synthesis. Fischer carbene complexes have become valuable building blocks in various stoichiometric reactions such as the aldol reaction, benzannu-lation, cycloaddition, cyclopropanation, and Michael reaction. In particular, Fischer alkenyl carbene complexes have been widely used in cycloadditions [2c,2f,5]. On the other hand, a typical reaction of Schrock carbene complexes is olefin metathesis (Figure 5.2) [6]. Schrock s olefin metathesis catalyst is a high reactivity, but air- and moisture-sensitive reagent. 

Synthesis of a,/MJnsatu rated Fischer Carbene Complexes... 

Scheme 1 Synthesis of a,/ -unsaturated Fischer carbene complexes 3 from (pentacarbonyl)-metallaacylates 2 [12-15]...

In 20 years of usage, a,/J-unsaturated Fischer carbene complexes demonstrated their multitalented versatility in organic synthesis, yet new reaction types are still being discovered every year. In view of their facile preparation and multifold reactivity, their versatile chemistry will undoubtedly be further developed and applied in years to come. The application of chirally modified Fischer carbene complexes in asymmetric synthesis has only begun, and it will probably be an important area of research in the near future. 

The cydopropanation reaction of an unsaturated substrate is one of the most important strategies to access three-membered ring derivatives. The use of Fischer carbene complexes to perform this kind of cyclisation has become an important tool in organic synthesis [4]. In the next few sections the most significant features of this chemistry are briefly described. 

Despite the fact that transition metal complexes have found wide application in the synthesis of carbo- and heterocycles, [3+3] cyclisation reactions mediated or assisted by transition metals remain almost unexplored [3, 86]. However, a few examples involving Fischer carbene complexes have been reported. In all cases, this complex is a,/J-unsaturated in order to act as a C3-synthon and it reacts with different types of substrates acting as C3-synthons as well. 

The potential of Fischer carbene complexes in the construction of complex structures from simple starting materials is nicely reflected in the next example. Thus, the reaction of alkenylcarbene complexes of chromium and tungsten with cyclopentanone and cyclohexanone enamines allows the di-astereo- and enantioselective synthesis of functionalised bicyclo[3.2.1]octane and bicyclo[3.3.1]nonane derivatives [12] (Scheme 44). The mechanism of this transformation is initiated by a 1,4-addition of the C -enamine to the alkenylcarbene complex. Further 1,2-addition of the of the newly formed enamine to the carbene carbon leads to a metalate intermediate which can... 

Another example of a [2s+2sh-1c+1co] cycloaddition reaction was observed by Barluenga et al. in the sequential coupling reaction of a Fischer carbene complex, a ketone enolate and allylmagnesium bromide [120]. This reaction produces cyclopentanol derivatives in a [2S+2SH-1C] cycloaddition process when -substituted lithium enolates are used (see Sect. 3.1). However, the analogous reaction with /J-unsubstituted lithium enolates leads to the diastereoselective synthesis of 1,3,3,5-tetrasubstituted cyclohexane- 1,4-diols. The ring skeleton of these compounds combines the carbene ligand, the enolate framework, two carbons of the allyl unit and a carbonyl ligand. Overall, the process can be considered as a for-... 

Alkylation of an anionic acylmetallate is the second step in the classic Fischer synthesis of carbene complexes. The same type of reaction can be performed with stable neutral acyl complexes, producing cationic carbene compounds. Compound 17 has been prepared from a ruthenium acetyl complex by direct methylation and by protonation with subsequent methylenation (45) ... 

The use of group 6 heteroatom stabilized carbene complexes (Fischer carbene complexes) in organic synthesis is relatively recent and, in spite of that, it has already produced impressive synthetic results [1]. These versatile organometallic reagents have an extensive chemistry, and they are probably one of the few systems that undergo cycloadditions of almost any kind. For instance, [1+2], [2+2], [3+2], [3+3], [4+1], [4+2], [4+3], [6+3]... 

Benzannulation reactions of Fischer carbene complexes have proved a useful route for the synthesis of benzene rings fused to one furan ring and one additional heteroaromatic ring (Equation 96) <2005TL2211>. Thus, reaction of chromium carbene complex 168 with the conjugated dienyne systems produces benzofuran derivatives (Table 7). 

One of the most unique applications of CM to reagent synthesis is described in a report by Zhang and Herndon, where catalysts 2 and 5 were used to effect the homologation of homoallylic Fischer carbene complexes (Equation (4)). The E/Z ratios observed in these reactions using catalyst 5 were typically 9 1. Highly reactive, electron-neutral olefins were... 

Cyclopropylcarbene complexes of the type L M=C(XR )R2 (X = O, S R1 = alkyl, aryl R2 = cyclopropyl) having a stabilizing heteroalkyl (XR1) group on the electrophilic carbene ligand (Scheme 3) have found widespread application in organic synthesis. These so-called Fischer carbene complexes are best known via their group 6 transition metal carbonyl complexes (CO)5M=(OR )R2(M = Cr, Mo, W)132. Much less abundant are the Schrock-type cyclopropylcarbene complexes L M=CR R2 where no heteroatom is bound to the carbene carbon atom133. 

Reviews have appeared on the absolute kinetics of intramolecular alkylcarbene reactions,1 the reactions between carbenes and the O—H bond,2 carbenes and carboranes,3 die use of carbenes and carbenoids in the synthesis of heterocycles,4 and die physical organic chemistry of Fischer carbene complexes.5... 

A novel synthesis of allyl sulfoxides has been developed by the reaction of primary o -lithiosulfinyl carbanions with group 6 Fischer carbene complexes (Scheme 9).49 The Fischer carbene complex experiments involve a 1,2-addition of two molecules of sulfinyl carbanion to give an intermediate that, after a -elimination, furnishes the mentioned product. 

A Fischer carbene complex containing an w-silyl group like 115 underwent a facile 1,2-silyl migration to the corresponding vinylsilane 116 (equation 79)186. Herndon and Patel applied the reaction to the synthesis of a dienol ether 117 (equation 80)187. 

A bidirectional benzannulation strategy allows the extension of an existing biaryl skeleton. The BINOL-derived bis-carbene complex 69, accessible through a sequence of regioselective double ortfio-lithiation/Fischer carbene complex synthesis, undergoes bidirectional benzannulation to give the dinuclear biphenanthrene complex 70. The optical induction exerted by the binaphthyl core is, however, only moderate a mixture of C2- and Cj-symmetrical bis(phenanthrohydroquinone) bis-chromium complexes is formed, in which the C2-... 

H. Fischer, The Synthesis of Carbene Complexes, in Transition Metal Carbene Complexes (Eds. K. H. Dotz, H. Fischer, P. Hofmann, F. R. Kreissl, U. Schubert, and K. Weiss, Verlag Chemie, Weinheim, 1983, pp. 4-8). 

A concise synthesis of highly substituted furans, pyrroles, butenolides, and 2-butene-4-lactam esters starts from alkynyl adducts of a Fischer carbene complex 21 (Scheme 27) < 1998JOC3164>. Incorporation of an aldehyde yields a reactive vinyl tungstencarbonyl complex 22 that can be oxidatively transformed to an ester group, furnishing the furan carboxylic ester 23. 

Summary The synthesis of various Fischer carbene complexes of manganese bearing a diazomethylsilyl group in a-position to the carbene carbon atom is described. 

After their discovery by E. O. Fischer and A. Maasbdl in 1964 [1], a large number of carbene complexes with various transition metals such as Cr, Mo, W, Mn, and Fe were prepared [2]. Their synthetic applications in organometallic and organic chemistry increased rapidly, especially with respect to annelation reactions (Ddtz reaction). Among all known Fischer carbene complexes there is no example featuring a diazo functionality. In this contribution we describe the synthesis of a new class of Fischer-type carbene complexes with a diazomethylsilyl substituent in a-position to the carbene carbon-atom. 

A very rapid growth of novel and synthetically usefiil reactions of Fischer-type carbene complexes see Fischer-type Carbene Complexes) has occurred over the last decade. Reactions leading to cychc and polycyclic compounds of high complexity and reactions wherein chirahty has been transferred from the starting material to the product are of particular importance. A number of recent reviews on the chemistry of Fischer carbene complexes and their application in organic synthesis are avaUable. ... 

Intramolecular cyclopropanations of pendant alkenes are more favorable. Heteroatom-substituted 2-aza- and 2-oxabicyclo[3.1.0]hexanes, together with 2-oxabicyclo[4.1.0] heptanes, can be prepared from chromium and tungsten Fischer carbenes having a tethered alkene chain. An interesting carbene formation via a cationic alkylidene intermediate, nucleophilic addition (see Nucleophilic Addition Rules for Predicting Direction), and intramolecular cyclopropanation is shown in Scheme 59. An intramolecular cyclopropanation via reaction of alkenyl Fischer carbene complex (28) andpropyne was used in a formal synthesis of carabrone (Scheme 60). 

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