Transition metal-carbene rearrangements

Olefin metathesis is a rearrangement reaction that includes a transition metal carbene and an olefin. After the catalytic cycle, a new olefin and a new active metal carbene are formed (Scheme 3.5) [90],... 

Metallocyclobutanes from cyclopropanes have been frequently invoked in transition metal-catalyzed rearrangements of strained ring hydrocarbons, and this body of chemistry is quite rich and diverse, as evidenced in the excellent review by Bishop (72). Because of this diversity, the significance of isolated observations should not be overstated nevertheless, certain reactions outlined by Bishop are closely related to the carbene retroadditions reported by Gassman and co-workers using metathesis catalysts. 

Besides dissociation of ligands, photoexcitation of transition metal complexes can facilitate (1) - oxidative addition to metal atoms of C-C, C-H, H-H, C-Hal, H-Si, C-0 and C-P moieties (2) - reductive elimination reactions, forming C-C, C-H, H-H, C-Hal, Hal-Hal and H-Hal moieties (3) - various rearrangements of atoms and chemical bonds in the coordination sphere of metal atoms, such as migratory insertion to C=C bonds, carbonyl and carbenes, ot- and P-elimination, a- and P-cleavage of C-C bonds, coupling of various moieties and bonds, isomerizations, etc. (see [11, 12] and refs, therein). 

Initiation involves coordination of the double bond of monomer with the transition metal (imino and OR ligands not shown), cleavage of the 7t-bond with formation of a 4-membered metallocyclobutane intermediate, followed by rearrangement to form a metal-carbene propagating center ... 

CO formation on copper electrodes appears to be accompanied by hydride formation as well [103]. In Sch. 3, the surface bound CO is reduced by a hydride transfer reaction to form a formyl species as shown in step 2. There are precedents in organometallic chemistry for late transition metal hydrides reducing bound CO [105-109]. Protonation of the adsorbed formyl in step 3 results in the formation of a hydroxy carbene species [110, 111]. This hydroxycarbene species could be considered to be an adsorbed and rearranged form of formaldehyde, and the reduction of formaldehyde at a copper electrode has been reported to form hydrocarbons [102]. However, reduction of... 

The role of carbenes and metal carbene complexes in transition metal-catalyzed processes is suspected of being quite extensive (61). For example, the role of carbenes in the olefin metathesis reaction as described in the previous section is probably important (55, 60). It is quite possible that the o-v rearrangement is important in these reactions also, but this has not been investigated in detail. 

The photolyses of several transition metal-substituted silyldiazoalkanes have recently been described As indicated by the examples given in Scheme 50 the silyldiazoalkane 281 initially formed the carbene 282, which underwent a phosph ne 1,2-rearrangement from the transition metal to the carbene-carbon yieldina the vlideP283 which subsequently dimerized to form the product 284. The related mckefcompoS ako gave a dimer when photolyzed (Scheme 50). Kel comPound also... 

Reactions of alkynyliodonium salts 119 with nucleophiles proceed via an addition-elimination mechanism involving alkylidenecarbenes 120 as key intermediates. Depending on the structure of the alkynyliodonium salt, specific reaction conditions, and the nucleophile employed, this process can lead to a substituted alkyne 121 due to the carbene rearrangement, or to a cyclic product 122 via intramolecular 1,5-carbene insertion (Scheme 50). Both of these reaction pathways have been widely utilized as a synthetic tool for the formation of new C-C bonds. In addition, the transition metal mediated cross-coupling reactions of alkynyliodonium salts are increasingly used in organic synthesis. 

Abstract Major advances in transition-metal catalyzed reactions have taken place since the discovery of N-heterocydic carbenes (NHCs). This review provides a summery of recent M-NHC catalyzed reactions including cycloadditions, rearrangements, coupling reactions, polymerizations, and the additions of H-X. 

Chloro(methoxy)- and chloro(phenoxy)carbenes, which are generated from the diazirine precursors, behave as ambiphiles in additions to alkenes, exhibiting high reactivities toward both electron-poor and electron-rich olefins. Methoxy(phenyl)- and ferrocenyl(methoxy)methylenes have been transferred in a stereospecific manner from transition metal complexes of these species to electron-deficient alkenes. Irradiation of benzocyclobutanedione with UV light induces a rearrangement of the cyclic a-diketone to 17, which has been trapped by alkenes in good yields " . Thermolysis of 18 gives rise to nucleophilic dimethoxycarbene, which has been intercepted by electron-deficient olefins or by styrene derivatives. 

The use of transition metal species can lower appreciably the decomposition temperature of ot-diazo-carbonyl compounds they can also alter the reactivity of the carbene intermediate (resulting from the initial nitrogen elimination see Section 3.9.2.1) by complex formation. Hence, the Wolff rearrangement may occur with difficulty or, usually, not at all. Thus, some copper species (excepting, for example, Cul), or Rh and Pd catalysts are inappropriate. Freshly prepared silver(I) oxide has been used most frequently, but silver salts (especially silver benzoate) are sometimes preferred.Silver-based catalysts are usually employed in combination with an alkaline reagent e.g. sodium carbonate or a tertiary amine). Even under silver catalysis competing reactions may be observed, and sometimes the products of Wolff rearrangement may not be obtained (see Section 3.9.2.3). 

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