Transmetallation copper

Copper(I) salts sometimes have a dual role in the Stille coupling. In the reaction of 3-methyltio-l,2,4-triazine and 2-tributylstannylthiophene (6.33.), for example, besides facilitating the transmetalation copper(I) is also crucial to activate the methyltio group to undergo oxidative addition46 The established Stille coupling conditions also worked well with other substrates, such as 2-methyltio-pyrimidine or 2-methyltio-benzthiazole.47... 

All studies related to the mechanism of the Cu(I)-catalysed ACA of organometallics postulate the transmetalation between the organometallic compounds and the copper species as the first step in the catalytic cycle, but only few studies attempted to characterise the transmetalated copper intermediates derived from the addition of organometallics. 

Terminal alkynes react with propargylic carbonates at room temperature to afford the alka-l, 2-dien-4-yne 14 (allenylalkyne) in good yield with catalysis by Pd(0) and Cul[5], The reaction can be explained by the transmetallation of the (7-allenylpailadium methoxide 4 with copper acetylides to form the allenyKalk-ynyl)palladium 13, which undergoes reductive elimination to form the allenyl alkyne 14. In addition to propargylic carbonates, propargylic chlorides and acetates (in the presence of ZnCb) also react with terminal alkynes to afford allenylalkynes[6], Allenylalkynes are prepared by the reaction of the alkynyl-oxiranes 15 with zinc acetylides[7]. 

A further improvement in the cuprate-based methodology for producing PGs utilizes a one-pot procedure (203). The CO-chain precursor (67) was first functionalized with zirconocene chloride hydride ia THF. The vinyl zirconium iatermediate was transmetalated direcdy by treatment with two equivalents of / -butyUithium or methyUithium at —30 to —70° C. Sequential addition of copper cyanide and methyUithium eUcited the /V situ generation of the higher order cyanocuprate which was then reacted with the protected enone to give the PG. 

In the reactions of 10.13a with alkali metal terr-butoxides cage expansion occurs to give the sixteen-atom cluster 10.15, in which two molecules of MO Bu (M = Na, K) are inserted into the dimeric structure. The cluster 10.13a also undergoes transmetallation reactions with coinage metals. For example, the reactions with silver(I) or copper(I) halides produces complexes in which three of the ions are replaced by Ag" or Cu" ions and a molecule of lithium halide is incorporated in the cluster. ... 

The lithium enolate 2a (M = Li ) prepared from the iron propanoyl complex 1 reacts with symmetrical ketones to produce the diastercomers 3 and 4 with moderate selectivity for diastereomer 3. The yields of the aldol adducts are poor deprotonation of the substrate ketone is reported to be the dominant reaction pathway45. However, transmetalation of the lithium enolate 2a by treatment with one equivalent of copper cyanide at —40 C generates the copper enolate 2b (M = Cu ) which reacts with symmetrical ketones at — 78 °C to selectively produce diastereomer 3 in good yield. Diastereomeric ratios in excess of 92 8 are reported with efficient stereoselection requiring the addition of exactly one equivalent of copper cyanide at the transmetalation step45. Small amounts of triphcnylphosphane, a common trace impurity remaining from the preparation of these iron-acyl complexes, appear to suppress formation of the copper enolate. Thus, the starting iron complex must be carefully purified. 

Reaction of the lithium enolate 2 with prochiral aldehydes at low temperature proceeds with little selectivity, producing all four possible diastereomers 3, 4, 5, and 6 in similar amounts50. Transmetalation of the lithium enolate by treatment with three equivalents of diethylaluminum chloride or with one equivalent of copper cyanide generates the corresponding cthylaluminum and copper enolates which react at — 100°C with prochiral aldehydes to produce selectively diastereomers 1 and 2, respectively50. The reactivity of tin enolates of iron- propanoyl complexes has not been described. 

In contrast, transmetalation of the lithium enolate at —40 C by treatment with one equivalent of copper cyanide generated a species 10b (M = Cu ) that reacted with acetaldehyde to selectively provide a 25 75 mixture of diastereomers 11 and 12 (R = CH3) which are separable by chromatography on alumina. Other diastereomers were not observed. Similar transmetalation of 10a (M = Li0) with excess diethylaluminum chloride, followed by reaction with acetaldehyde, produced a mixture of the same two diastereomers, but with a reversed ratio (80 20). Similar results were obtained upon aldol additions to other aldehydes (see the following table)49. 

Stannane 6a underwent facile transmetalation in tetrahydrofuran at — 78 °C on treatment with butyllithium to afford 6b. Addition of the lithium reagent 6b to a solution of 1.1 equivalents of copper(I) bromide-dimethyl sulfide in 1 1 diisopropyl sulfide/tetrahydrofuran at — 78 °C gave the copper reagent 6c, which reacted with methyl vinyl ketone at —78 "C in the presence of boron trifluoride-diethyl ether65, producing 7 in 55% yield65. 

The coupling of terminal alkynes with aryl or alkenyl halides catalysed by palladium and a copper co-catalyst in a basic medium is known as the Sonogashira reaction. A Cu(I)-acetylide complex is formed in situ and transmetallates to the Pd(II) complex obtained after oxidative addition of the halide. Through a reductive elimination pathway the reaction delivers substituted alkynes as products. 

More recently, a study with di- and mono-carbene Pd(II) complexes has demonstrated that the Sonogashira coupling of activated and non-activated aryl iodides can be carried out in an aqueous, aerobic medium and in the absence of amines. These results suggest that the moisture-sensitive copper-acetylide may not be present in this particular transformation, and that a Pd-acetyhde could be formed by deprotonation of the coordinated alkyne instead of transmetallation [130]. 

The mechanism of carbometallation has been explored computationally.77 The reaction consists of an oxidative addition to the triple bond forming a cyclic Cu(m) intermediate. The rate-determining step is reductive elimination to form a vinyl magnesium (or zinc) reagent, which then undergoes transmetallation to the alkenyl-copper product. 

The copper salt is believed to function by promoting the transmetallation stage. 

The involvement of organocopper intermediates in various cross-coupling reactions carried out in the presence of Cu1 is often suggested, although in the majority of cases no experimental proof is provided, and the actual role of Cu1 may be different (Section 9.6.3.2.1). The potential of copper-mediated cross-coupling can be shown by the stereospecific reaction of 3-trimethylsilylallylic alcohols, which takes place via a prior transmetalation of Si to Cu (37).157... 

Alternatively, copper salts can themselves be engaged in transmetalation with a nucleophilic coupling partner to give organocopper intermediates, which then either enter the Pd-catalyzed... 

It is believed that the copper salts facilitate transmetalation by generating a highly reactive organocuprate intermediate. 

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