Reagents, synthetic methods

Another important reaction via transmetallation is carbon-metal bond formation by reaction with bimetallic reagents. This is a useful synthetic method for various main group organometallic reagents. 

Best Synthetic Methods is now 10 years old, is a family of 16 volumes and has been well received by the majority of chemists as a valuable aid in their synthetic endeavours, be they academic or commercial. The focus of the series so far has been on special methods, reagents or techniques. This volume is the first of a new sub-series with a focus on heterocycles and their synthesis. It is amazing the extent to which each heterocyclic type has its own specialized synthetic methodology. Whether the chemist is endeavouring to make a heterocycle by ring synthesis or wishes to introduce specific substituents, it is the intention that this new development will serve their needs in a practical, authoritative, fully illustrative and compact manner. Richard Sundberg is an authority on indole chemistry and it is a pleasure to have such a noted heterocyclist to initiate this venture. 

The importance of quinones with unsaturated side chains in respiratory, photosynthetic, blood-clotting, and oxidative phosphorylation processes has stimulated much research in synthetic methods. The important alkyl- or polyisoprenyltin reagents, eg, (71) or (72), illustrate significant conversions of 2,3-dimethoxy-5-methyl-l,4-ben2oquinone [605-94-7] (73) to 75% (74) [727-81-1] and 94% (75) [4370-61-0] (71—73). 

Unsymmetrical functional tetraorganotins are generally prepared by tin hydride addition (hydrostaimation) to functional unsaturated organic compounds (88) (see Hydroboration). The realization that organotin hydrides readily add to atiphatic carbon—carbon double and triple bonds forming tin—carbon bonds led to a synthetic method which does not rely on reactive organometatiic reagents for tin—carbon bond formation and, thus, allows the synthesis of... 

Allyl Complexes. Allyl complexes of uranium are known and are usually stabilized by cyclopentadienyl ligands. AEyl complexes can be accessed via the interaction of a uranium halide and an allyl grignard reagent. This synthetic method was utilized to obtain a rare example of a "naked" homoleptic allyl complex, U(T -C2H )4 [12701 -96-17, which decomposes at 0°C. Other examples, which are more stable than the homoleptic allyl complex have been synthesized, ie, U(allyl)2(OR)2 (R = alkyl), U(allyl)2X (X = halide), and U(allyl)(bipy)2. 

General synthetic methods were developed after 1920 and extended to many new systems. Oxidative syntheses of dyes are primarily of historical interest (1), whereas nonoxidative syntheses are the most versatile and employ varied combinations of nucleophilic and electrophilic regents. One review Hsts references for the synthesis of dyes prepared before 1959 (12), and another review provides supplemental references to more recent compounds (13). Many nucleophilic and electrophilic reagents used to synthesize cyanine and related dyes are tabulated in Reference 16. 

Methyl ketones are important intermediates for the synthesis of methyl alkyl carbinols, annulation reagents, and cyclic compounds. A common synthetic method for the preparation of methyl ketones is the alkylation of acetone derivatives, but the method suffers limitations such as low yields and lack of regioselectivity. Preparation of methyl ketones from olefins and acetylenes using mercury compounds is a better method. For example, hydration of terminal acetylenes using HgSO gives methyl ketones cleanly. Oxymercuration of 1-olefins and subsequent oxidation with chromic oxide is... 

Aziridines can best be obtained by ring closure of amine derivatives which contain a tm 5-oriented leaving group at the -position, see (89). The variable conformational and steric influences in the steroid skeleton limit the generality of a particular synthetic method and necessitate a selection of reagents based on the position of fusion of the aziridine ring. 

The synthetic method used to accomplish this is an indirect one known as hydroboration-oxidation. It was developed by Professor Herbert C. Brown and his coworkers at Purdue University in the 1950s as part of a broad progran designed to apply boron-containing reagents to organic chemical synthesis. The number of applications is so large (hydroboration-oxidation is just one of them) and the work so novel that Brown was a corecipient of the 1979 Nobel Prize in chemistry. 

A variety of complexes of the thionyl imide anion [NSO] with both early and late transition-metal complexes have been prepared and structurally characterized. Since both ionic and covalent derivatives of this anion are readily prepared, e.g., K[NSO], McsMNSO (M = Si, Sn) or Hg(NSO)2, metathetical reactions of these reagents with transition-metal halide complexes represent the most general synthetic method for the preparation of these complexes (Eq. 7.10 and 7.11). ... 

The classical Vilsmeier-Haack reaction is one of the most useful general synthetic methods employed for the formylation of various electron rich aromatic, aliphatic and heteroaromatic substrates. However, the scope of the reaction is not restricted to aromatic formylation and the use of the Vilsmeier-Haack reagent provides a facile entry into a large number of heterocyclic systems. In 1978, the group of Meth-Cohn demonstrated a practically simple procedure in which acetanilide 3 (R = H) was efficiently converted into 2-chloro-3-quinolinecarboxaldehyde 4 (R = H) in 68% yield. This type of quinoline synthesis was termed the Vilsmeier Approach by Meth-Cohn. ... 

This volume of Organic Syntheses contains twenty-seven checked procedures of value to the modern practicing chemist. One hopes it will also serve to attract students to the charms of skillfully planned and executed experimental work. The majority of the preparations represent specific examples of important, often recently discovered synthetic methods with general applicability. As in previous volumes the preparation of a number of reagents and widely used starting materials is also included. 

Phase-transfer catalysis is another modern synthetic method that is currently receiving much attention. This method tends to have several advantages over traditional methods, such as higher yields, the requirement of milder reaction conditions, simplicity and the use of relatively inexpensive reagents. 

Recent volumes of Organic Syntheses have laid emphasis on widely applicable, model procedures that illustrate important types of reactions. This volume continues this policy, and many of the procedures selected here have major significance in the synthetic method, rather than in the product that results. However preparations of reagents and products of special interest are also included, as in previous volumes. 

Metal-polysulfido complexes have been synthesized by a variety of methods using various reagents as sulfur sources, e.g., Ss, M2S (M=alkali metal), P2S5, H2S, organic polysulfanes, etc. The nature of the resulting polysulfido complexes often depends on the reaction conditions such as the ratio of starting materials, solvents, reaction temperature, and reaction time. In addition, the use of different ligands leads to the different results in most cases. This section shows typical synthetic methods for metal-polysulfido complexes based on recent reports on their syntheses. 

The conversion of diarylthallium trifluoroacetates to aromatic iodides by treatment with molecular iodine is thus analogous to the well-known conversion of diarylmercury derivatives with iodine to a mixture of an aromatic iodide and an arylmercury iodide (134), but it is much more effective as a synthetic tool because of the spontaneous disproportionation to product of the intermediate arylthallium trifluoroacetate iodide. The present procedure thus provides a practical synthetic method for the ultimate conversion of aryl Grignard reagents to aromatic iodides. 

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