Transition metal complexes cyclization-hydrosilylation

Dienes are less reactive toward transition metals than enynes and diynes, and perhaps for this reason, the development of effective catalyst systems for the cyclization/hydrosilylation of dienes lagged behind development of the corresponding procedures for enynes and diynes. The transition metal-catalyzed cyclization/hydrosilylation of dienes was first demonstrated by Tanaka and co-workers in 1994. Reaction of 1,5-hexadiene with phenyl-silane catalyzed by the highly electrophilic neodymium metallocene complex Cp 2NdCH(SiMe2)3 (1 mol%) in benzene at room temperature for 3 h led to 5- ///76 -cyclization and isolation of (cyclopentylmethyl)phenylsilane in 84% yield (Equation (15)). In comparison, neodymium-catalyzed reaction of 1,6-heptadiene with phenylsilane led to 5- X(9-cyclization to form (2-methylcyclopentylmethyl)phenylsilane in 54% yield as an 85 15 mixture of trans. cis isomers (Equation (16)). 

Especially noteworthy is the field of asymmetric catalysis. Asymmetric catalytic reactions with transition metal complexes are used advantageously for hydrogenation, cyclization, codimerization, alkylation, epoxidation, hydroformylation, hydroesterification, hydrosilylation, hydrocyanation, and isomerization. In many cases, even higher regio- and stereoselectivities are required. Fundamental investigations of the mechanism of chirality transfer are also of interest. New chiral ligands that are suitable for catalytic processes are needed. 

Recent advances in the cyclizations catalyzed by transition metals and their complexes are reviewed. The catalytic cyclizations discussed here include various carbocyclizations, for example, cycloisomerization, cycloaddition, reductive cyclization, and so on cascade carbocyclizations, for example, cyclotrimerization, silylcarbocyclization, and Heck reaction carbonylative carbocyclizations cyclohy-drocarbonylations intramolecular hydrosilylations intramolecular silylformyla-tions and aldol cyclizations. These reactions serve as efficient and useful methods for the syntheses of a variety of heterocycles and carbocycles that are important... 

A review on the industrial applications of homogeneous catalysts is particularly welcome. The proceedings of recent symposia and a general text have been published in addition to reviews on metal cluster catalysts, activation of saturated hydrocarbons by metal complexes in solution, catalysis by arene Group-VIB tricarbonyls, titanocene-catalysed reactions ofalkenes, transition-metal hydrides in catalysis, the mechanisms of the catalytic cyclization of aliphatic, hydrocarbons, asymmetric hydrosilylation and asymmetric synthesis. A n.m.r. study of the conformations of chelated Diop and a MO study of organo-metallic migration reactions are also of interest. Polymer supported catalysts have been reviewed and the relationship between cross-linking of the polymer and catalytic activity has been discussed. ... 

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