Transition metal-catalyzed intramolecular internal alkynes

The hydroamination of alkynes catalyzed by group 4 complexes were some of the first transition-metal-catalyzed hydroamination reactions. One example of these reactions is shown in Equation 16.84. The reactions only occur with hindered amines and are slow. Nevertheless, the reactions occur m high yield and, in the absence of air, the catalysts are stable indefinitely. An early intramolecular reaction catalyzed by CpTiClj to form a cyclic enamine is shown in Equation 16.85. Reactions with internal alkynes occur to form products with Markovnikov regiochemistry. ° As described in more detail below, tliese reactions occur by [2+2] additions of the alkyne to an intermediate metal-imido complex. 

An interesting cyclodimerization of internal alkynes is apparently proceeding via metallation in the propargylic position, followed by an insertion of a second alkyne molecule, intramolecular carbometallation and o-bond metathetical protonolysis (Fig. 24) [65]. The reaction is slow even at elevated temperatures and the insertion is not regioselective in case of unsymmetrical alkynes. More hindered substituents such as Bu are not tolerated as the reaction stops at the metallation step. The reaction is more of a fundamental interest, as the cyclization pattern is different from the most common [2 + 2] route of existing protocols of transition-metal (in particular cobalt)-catalyzed alkyne cyclodimerization, which are significantly more versatile and synthetically applicable [194],... 

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