Vinylidene cycloadditions

Two recent publications feature metal vinylidenes functioning as 1,3-dipole equivalents, as in the Cu-catalyzed Huisgen cyclization (Section 9.4.5). Fiirstner and coworkers described intramolecular Diels-Alder reactions of unactivated die-nynes catalyzed via a proposed [4+3]-diene/copper vinylidene cycloaddition [59]. 

It should also be mentioned that very recently, a new cycloisomerization of enynes has been shown to proceed via a rhodium-vinylidene complex,187 which, after [2 + 2]-cycloaddition and ring opening of a rhodacyclobutane, furnishes versatile cyclic dienes (Scheme 47).188 Not only does this constitute a fifth mechanistic pathway, but it also opens new opportunites for C-C bond constructions. 

As exemplified in Eq. 8.38, thermal [2 + 2] cycloadditions of 4-vinylidene-2-oxazoli-dinone 287 and alkynes such as phenylacetylene result in the formation of 3-phenyl-substituted methylenecyclobutene 288 [149]. The authors confirmed by NMR analysis that only the Z-configuration isomer was formed. It is worth noting that the [2 + 2] cycloaddition of allenes 287 is not restricted to alkynes even olefins such as acrylic esters or silyl enol ethers furnish the corresponding methylenecyclobutanes... 

On the other hand, 4-vinylidene-l,3-oxazolidin-2-one 26 undergoes a facile [2 + 2]-cycloaddition with electron-deficient olefins regioselectively at the terminal double bond to furnish methylenecyclobutane derivatives [25]. 

Terminal alkynes readily react with coordinatively unsaturated transition metal complexes to yield vinylidene complexes. If the vinylidene complex is sufficiently electrophilic, nucleophiles such as amides, alcohols or water can add to the a-carbon atom to yield heteroatom-substituted carbene complexes (Figure 2.10) [129 -135]. If the nucleophile is bound to the alkyne, intramolecular addition to the intermediate vinylidene will lead to the formation of heterocyclic carbene complexes [136-141]. Vinylidene complexes can further undergo [2 -i- 2] cycloadditions with imines, forming azetidin-2-ylidene complexes [142,143]. Cycloaddition to azines leads to the formation of pyrazolidin-3-ylidene complexes [143] (Table 2.7). 

The alternating electronic properties of the Co, and Cp atoms in the vinylidene ligand enable dipolar molecules to enter into cycloaddition reactions. Intramolecular [2 + 2]-... 

In 2003, Gimeno, Bassetti and coworkers reported an unusual diastereoselective [2 + 2] cycloaddition of two C=C bonds under mild thermal conditions (Scheme 4.18) [128]. Heating the vinylidene complexes Rul leads to the bicyclic alkylidene complexes Ru2. In 2004, Sordo and coworkers investigated the mechanism of this [2 + 2] cycloaddition theoretically [25]. With model complexes in which the indenyl ligand was modeled with a Cp ligand, two different pathways (paths a and b) were studied, shown in Scheme 4.19. Path a considers a concerted process. In the stepwise pathway (path b), the vinylidene-to-alkyne tautomerization of R1 followed by... 

Cycloaddition ofTitanocene Vinylidene Complexes with Unsaturated Molecules... 

Another focus of this chapter is the alkynol cycloisomerization mediated by Group 6 metal complexes. Experimental and theoretical studies showed that both exo- and endo- cycloisomerization are feasible. The cycloisomerization involves not only alkyne-to-vinylidene tautomerization but alo proton transfer steps. Therefore, the theoretical studies demonstrated that the solvent effect played a crucial role in determining the regioselectivity of cycloisomerization products. [2 + 2] cycloaddition of the metal vinylidene C=C bond in a ruthenium complex with the C=C bond of a vinyl group, together with the implication in metathesis reactions, was discussed. In addition, [2 + 2] cycloaddition of titanocene vinylidene with different unsaturated molecules was also briefly discussed. 

Ruthenium vinylidene species can be transformed into small carbocyclic rings via carbocyclization reactions. Ruthenium vinylidene complex 2, generated from the electrophilic reaction of alkyne complex 1 with haloalkanes, was deprotonated with "BU4NOH to give the unprecedented neutral cyclopropenyl complex 3 (Scheme 6.2) [5]. Gimeno and Bassetti prepared ruthenium vinylidene species 4a and 4b bearing a pendent vinyl group when these complexes were heated in chloroform for a brief period, cyclobutylidene products 5a and Sb formed via a [2 + 2] cycloaddition between the vinylidene Ca=Cp bond and olefin (Scheme 6.3) [6]. 

Catalytic Carbocyclization via Cycloaddition of Ruthenium Vinylidene Intermediates... 

Aryl acetylenes undergo dimerization to give 1-aryl naphthalenes at 180 °C in the presence of ruthenium and rhodium porphyrin complexes. The reaction proceeds via a metal vinylidene intermediate, which undergoes [4 + 2]-cycloaddition vdth the same terminal alkyne or another internal alkyne, and then H migration and aromatization furnish naphthalene products [28] (Scheme 6.29). 

The working mechanism involves a [2 + 2] cycloaddition between the Ru=C bond of ruthenium vinylidene and olefin to form the metallacyclobutane 92, which subsequently undergoes P-hydride elimination leading to the 7i-allyl hydride complex 93 and reductive elimination to furnish the conjugated trienes 89 (Scheme 6.31), and eventually to give the observed aromatic product 90. 

The authors proposed mechanism for dimerization involves initial formation of metal vinylidene complex 9 via 1,2-H-migration. A second molecule of arylacetylene acts as a dienophUe in a formal [4 + 2] Diels-Alder cycloaddition with 9. A subsequent... 

Lee and coworkers envisaged engaging metal vinylidene intermediates derived from simple enynes (16) in formal intramolecular 47t-cycloaddition (Scheme 9.4) [8]. 

Double cyclization of iodoenynes is proposed to occur through a Rh(I)-acetylide intermediate 106, which is in equilibrium with vinylidene lOS (Scheme 9.18). Organic base deprotonates the metal center in the course of nucleophilic displacement and removes HI from the reaction medium. Once alkenylidene complex 107 is generated, it undergoes [2 + 2]-cycloaddition and subsequent breakdown to release cycloisomerized product 110 in the same fashion as that discussed previously (Scheme 9.4). Deuterium labeling studies support this mechanism. 

The authors proposed mechanism, outlined in Scheme 9.19, was tested using a deuterium-labeling experiment. H-migration consistent with initial formation of a Pd-vinylidene was observed. The key intermediate of Buono s mechanism is a palladacyclobutane (125) resulting from [2 + 2]-cycloaddition. Direct C—C reductive elimination from intermediate 125 proceeds to give highly strained products (123), despite the apparent availability of a (l-hydride elimination pathway [39]. 

On the basis of DFT calculations, a catalytic cycle involving a copper vinylidene intermediate has been proposed (Scheme 9.22) [44]. The reaction is initiated by copper acetylide (138) formation. Sharpless and coworkers next invoke an unusual [3 + 3]-cycloaddition that would be forbidden by orbital symmetry, were it not stepwise. Coordination of an azide to complex 138 generates a zwitterionic complex (139). Internal nucleophilic attack of the acetylide moiety of 139 on the electrophilic... 

The homologous cumulene 44 prepared by an analogous vinylidene insertion reaction is spontaneously transformed to the dimer 45.46 By contrast the stable tert-butyl derivative 46 undergoes thermal cycloaddition at one of the inner double bonds giving 47. The structure of this dimer was confirmed by X-ray diffraction.47... 

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