Direct vinylation of alcohols or aldehydes employing alkynes as vinyl donors: a ruthenium catalyzed C-C bond-forming transfer hydrogenation

Gallium-assisted transfer hydrogenation of alkenes

We report a rare case of alkene transfer hydrogenation using a main-group compound instead of a transition-metal complex as catalyst. We disclosed that 1,4-cyclohexadiene can be used as H2 surrogate towards olefin reduction in the presence of [IPrGaCl2 ][SbF6 ]. Hydrogenative cyclizations have also been carried out because this cationic gallium complex is also a potent hydroarylation catalyst.

Alkynes as allylmetal equivalents in redox-triggered C-C couplings to primary alcohols: (Z)-homoallylic alcohols via ruthenium-catalyzed propargyl C-H oxidative addition

The cationic ruthenium catalyst generated upon the acid-base reaction of H2Ru(CO)(PPh3)3 and 2,4,6-(2-Pr)3PhSO3H promotes the redox-triggered C-C coupling of 2-alkynes and primary alcohols to form (Z)-homoallylic alcohols with good to complete control of olefin geometry. Deuterium labeling studies, which reveal roughly equal isotopic compositions at the allylic and distal vinylic positions, along with other data, corroborate a catalytic mechanism involving ruthenium(0)-mediated allene-aldehyde oxidative coupling to form a transient oxaruthenacycle, an event that ultimately defines (Z)-olefin stereochemistry.

Catalytic enantioselective C-H functionalization of alcohols by redox-triggered carbonyl addition: borrowing hydrogen, returning carbon

The use of alcohols and unsaturated reactants for the redox-triggered generation of nucleophile-electrophile pairs represents a broad, new approach to carbonyl addition chemistry. Discrete redox manipulations that are often required for the generation of carbonyl electrophiles and premetalated carbon-centered nucleophiles are thus avoided. Based on this concept, a broad, new family of enantioselective C-C coupling reactions that are catalyzed by iridium or ruthenium complexes have been developed, which are summarized in this Minireview.

Nickel-catalyzed redox-economical coupling of alcohols and alkynes to form allylic alcohols

We have developed a redox-economical coupling reaction of alcohols and alkynes to form allylic alcohols under mild conditions. The reaction is redox-neutral as well as redox-economical and thus free from any additives such as a reductant or an oxidant. This atom-economical coupling can be applied for the conversion of both aliphatic and benzylic alcohols to the corresponding substituted allylic alcohols in a single synthetic operation.

Redox-triggered C-C coupling of diols and alkynes: synthesis of β,γ-unsaturated α-hydroxyketones and furans by ruthenium-catalyzed hydrohydroxyalkylation

Direct ruthenium-catalyzed CC coupling of alkynes and vicinal diols to form β,γ-unsaturated ketones occurs with complete levels of regioselectivity and good to complete control over the alkene geometry. Exposure of the reaction products to substoichiometric quantities of p-toluenesulfonic acid induces cyclodehydration to form tetrasubstituted furans. These alkyne-diol hydrohydroxyalkylations contribute to a growing body of merged redox-construction events that bypass the use of premetalated reagents and, hence, stoichiometric quantities of metallic by-products.

Simplifying nickel(0) catalysis: an air-stable nickel precatalyst for the internally selective benzylation of terminal alkenes

The synthesis and characterization of the air-stable nickel(II) complex trans-(PCy(2)Ph)(2)Ni(o-tolyl)Cl is described in conjunction with an investigation of its use for the Mizoroki-Heck-type, room temperature, internally selective coupling of substituted benzyl chlorides with terminal alkenes. This reaction, which employs a terminal alkene as an alkenylmetal equivalent, provides rapid, convergent access to substituted allylbenzene derivatives in high yield and with regioselectivity greater than 95:5 in nearly all cases. The reaction is operationally simple, can be carried out on the benchtop with no purification or degassing of solvents or reagents, and requires no exclusion of air or water during setup. Synthesis of the precatalyst is accomplished through a straightforward procedure that employs inexpensive, commercially available reagents, requires no purification steps, and proceeds in high yield.

Ruthenium-catalyzed intermolecular hydroacylation of internal alkynes: the use of ceria-supported catalyst facilitates the catalyst recycling

Versatile and practical: Intermolecular hydroacylation of internal alkynes takes place in the presence of Ru catalysts together with HCO(2)Na and Xantphos to give the corresponding conjugated enones. Aromatic aldehydes with or without coordinating groups could be used in the present catalytic system. The solid Ru/CeO(2) catalysts can be recycled for several times without significant decreases in yield (see scheme).

Formation of C-C bonds via ruthenium-catalyzed transfer hydrogenation()

Ruthenium-catalyzed transfer hydrogenation of diverse π-unsaturated reactants in the presence of aldehydes provides products of carbonyl addition. Dehydrogenation of primary alcohols in the presence of the same π-unsaturated reactants provides identical products of carbonyl addition. In this way, carbonyl addition is achieved from the alcohol or aldehyde oxidation level in the absence of stoichiometric organometallic reagents or metallic reductants. In this account, the discovery of ruthenium-catalyzed C-C bond-forming transfer hydrogenations and the recent development of diastereo- and enantioselective variants are discussed.

Alkyne-aldehyde reductive C-C coupling through ruthenium-catalyzed transfer hydrogenation: direct regio- and stereoselective carbonyl vinylation to form trisubstituted allylic alcohols in the absence of premetallated reagents

Nonsymmetric 1,2-disubstituted alkynes engage in reductive coupling to a variety of aldehydes under the conditions of ruthenium-catalyzed transfer hydrogenation by employing formic acid as the terminal reductant and delivering the products of carbonyl vinylation with good to excellent levels of regioselectivity and with complete control of olefin stereochemistry. As revealed in an assessment of the ruthenium counterion, iodide plays an essential role in directing the regioselectivity of C-C bond formation. Isotopic labeling studies corroborate reversible catalytic propargyl C-H oxidative addition in advance of the C-C coupling, and demonstrate that the C-C coupling products do not experience reversible dehydrogenation by way of enone intermediates. This transfer hydrogenation protocol enables carbonyl vinylation in the absence of stoichiometric metallic reagents.

Direct generation of acyclic polypropionate stereopolyads via double diastereo- and enantioselective iridium-catalyzed crotylation of 1,3-diols: beyond stepwise carbonyl addition in polyketide construction

Under the conditions of transfer hydrogenation employing the cyclometalated iridium catalyst (R)-I derived from [Ir(cod)Cl](2), allyl acetate, 4-cyano-3-nitrobenzoic acid, and the chiral phosphine ligand (R)-SEGPHOS, α-methylallyl acetate engages 1,3-propanediol (1a) and 2-methyl-1,3-propanediol (1b) in double carbonyl crotylation from the alcohol oxidation level to deliver the C(2)-symmetric and pseudo-C(2)-symmetric stereopolyads 2a and 3a, respectively, with exceptional control of anti-diastereoselectivity and enantioselectivity. Notably, the polypropionate stereopentad 3a is formed predominantly as 1 of 16 possible stereoisomers. Desymmetrization of 3a is readily achieved upon iodoetherification to form pyran 4. The direct generation of 3a enables a dramatically simplified approach to previously prepared polypropionate substructures, as demonstrated by the synthesis of C19-C27 of rifamycin S (eight steps, originally prepared in 26 steps) and C19-C25 of scytophycin C (eight steps, originally prepared in 15 steps). The present transfer hydrogenation protocol represents an alternative to chiral auxiliaries, chiral reagents, and premetalated nucleophiles in polyketide construction.

Diastereo- and enantioselective ruthenium-catalyzed hydrohydroxyalkylation of 2-silyl-butadienes: carbonyl syn-crotylation from the alcohol oxidation level

Exposure of alcohols 2a-2j to 2-silyl-butadienes in the presence of ruthenium complexes modified by (R)-SEGPHOS or (R)-DM-SEGPHOS results in redox-triggered generation of allylruthenium-aldehyde pairs, which combine to form products of carbonyl crotylation 4a-4j in the absence of stoichiometric byproducts and with high levels of syn-diastereo- and enantioselectivity. In the presence of isopropanol under otherwise identical conditions, aldehydes 3a-3j are converted to an equivalent set of adducts 4a-4j. Whereas reactions conducted using conventional heating require 48 h, microwave irradiation enables full conversion in only 4 h. Finally, as illustrated in the conversion of adduct 4a to compounds 6a and 6b, diastereoselective hydroboration-Suzuki cross-coupling with aryl and vinyl halides followed by Fleming-Tamao oxidation enables generation of anti,syn-stereotriads found in numerous polyketide natural products.

Ni(II) salts and 2-propanol effect catalytic reductive coupling of epoxides and alkynes

A Ni-catalyzed reductive coupling of alkynes and epoxides using Ni(II) salts and simple alcohol reducing agents is described. Whereas previously reported conditions relied on Ni(cod)(2) and Et(3)B, this system has several advantages including the use of air-stable and inexpensive Ni(II) precatalysts (e.g., NiBr(2)·3H(2)O) as the source of Ni(0) and simple alcohols (e.g., 2-propanol) as the reducing agent. Deuterium-labeling experiments are consistent with oxidative addition of an epoxide C-O bond that occurs with inversion of configuration.

Formation of C-C Bonds via Iridium-Catalyzed Hydrogenation and Transfer Hydrogenation

The formation of C-C bonds via catalytic hydrogenation and transfer hydrogenation enables carbonyl and imine addition in the absence of stoichiometric organometallic reagents. In this review, iridium-catalyzed C-C bond-forming hydrogenations and transfer hydrogenations are surveyed. These processes encompass selective, atom-economic methods for the vinylation and allylation of carbonyl compounds and imines. Notably, under transfer hydrogenation conditions, alcohol dehydrogenation drives reductive generation of organoiridium nucleophiles, enabling carbonyl addition from the aldehyde or alcohol oxidation level. In the latter case, hydrogen exchange between alcohols and π-unsaturated reactants generates electrophile-nucleophile pairs en route to products of hydro-hydroxyalkylation, representing a direct method for the functionalization of carbinol C-H bonds.

Amplification of anti-diastereoselectivity via Curtin-Hammett effects in ruthenium-catalyzed hydrohydroxyalkylation of 1,1-disubstituted allenes: diastereoselective formation of all-carbon quaternary centers

Under the conditions of ruthenium-catalyzed transfer hydrogenation, 1,1-disubstituted allenes 1a-c and alcohols 2a-g engage in redox-triggered generation of allylruthenium-aldehyde pairs to form products of hydrohydroxyalkylation 3a-g, 4a-g, and 5a-g with complete branched regioselectivity. By exploiting Curtin-Hammett effects, good to excellent levels of anti-diastereoselectivity (4:1 to >20:1) are obtained. Thus, all carbon quaternary centers are formed in a diastereoselective fashion upon carbonyl addition from the alcohol oxidation level in the absence of premetalated nucleophiles or stoichiometric byproducts. Exposure of allene 1b to equimolar quantities of alcohol 2a and aldehyde 6b under standard reaction conditions delivers adducts 4a and 4b in a 1:1 ratio. Similarly, exposure of allene 1b to equimolar quantities of aldehyde 6a and alcohol 2b provides adducts 4a and 4b in an identical equimolar ratio. Exposure of allene 1b to d(2)-p-nitrobenzyl alcohol, deuterio-2a, under standard reaction conditions delivers the product of hydrohydroxyalkylation, deuterio-4a, which incorporates deuterium at the carbinol position (>95% (2)H) and the interior vinylic position (34% (2)H). Competition experiments involving exposure of allene 1b to equimolar quantities of benzylic alcohols 2a and deuterio-2a reveal no significant kinetic effect. The collective data corroborate rapid, reversible alcohol dehydrogenation, allene hydrometalation, and (E)-, (Z)-isomerization of the transient allylruthenium in advance of turnover-limiting carbonyl addition. Notably, analogous allene-aldehyde reductive C-C couplings employing 2-propanol as the terminal reductant display poor levels of anti-diastereoselectivity, suggesting that carbonyl addition is not turnover-limiting in reactions conducted from the aldehyde oxidation level.

Ru-catalyzed decarbonylative addition of aliphatic aldehydes to terminal alkynes

A novel method for the formation of isolated C=C bonds was developed via a ruthenium-catalyzed decarbonylative addition of aliphatic aldehydes and alkynes. An unprecedented complete switch of chemoselectivity from aromatic aldehydes to aliphatic aldehydes was observed simply by using tri(2,4,6-trismethoxyphenyl)phosphine as ligand. A synthesis by this method of an insect sex pheromone was demonstrated.

Iridium Catalyzed Hydro-hydroxyalkylation of Butadiene: Carbonyl Crotylation

Exposure of alcohols 1a-1i to butadiene in the presence of a cyclometallated iridium catalyzed derived from allyl acetate, 4-methoxy-3-nitrobenzoic acid and BIPHEP (2,2'-bis(diphenylphosphino)biphenyl) results in hydrogen transfer to generate aldehyde-allyliridium pairs, which engage in C-C coupling to form products of carbonyl crotylation. Under related conditions using 1,4-butanediol as hydrogen donor, butadiene reductively couples to aldehydes 2e-2g and 2i to furnish carbonyl crotylation products 3e-3g and 3i. Thus, butadiene mediated carbonyl crotylation occurs with equal facility from the alcohol or aldehyde oxidation level with complete levels of branched regioselectivity.

Allenamide hydro-hydroxyalkylation: 1,2-amino alcohols via ruthenium-catalyzed carbonyl anti-aminoallylation

Exposure of alcohols to allenamides in the presence of RuHCl(CO)(PPh(3))(3) and dippf [dippf = bis(diisopropylphosphino)ferrocene] results in hydrogen transfer to generate aldehyde-allylruthenium pairs, which engage in C-C coupling to form products of carbonyl aminoallylation as single anti-diastereomers.

The regio- and stereochemical course of reductive cross-coupling reactions between 1,3-disubstituted allenes and vinylsilanes: Synthesis of (Z)-dienes

In investigations aimed at exploring the potential of disubstituted allenes in stereoselective synthesis, we report studies that explore the reductive cross-coupling reaction of vinylsilanes with a range of substituted allenes. Regiochemical control is attained by employing allenic alkoxides, where the proximal heteroatom dictates the site-selectivity in a process that proceeds by net formal metallo-[3,3] rearrangement (directed carbometalation/elimination). Stereoselectivity in these reactions is complex, with both the nature of allene substitution and relative stereochemistry of the substrate impacting the stereoselective generation of each alkene of a substituted 1,3-diene. 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Direct ruthenium-catalyzed C-C coupling of ethanol: diene hydro-hydroxyethylation to form all-carbon quaternary centers

Under ruthenium-catalyzed transfer hydrogenation conditions, direct C-C coupling of ethanol and 2-substituted dienes occurs to furnish products of hydro-hydroxyethylation: anti-configured neopentyl homoallylic alcohols. Identical adducts are generated from acetaldehyde under related conditions employing isopropanol as reductant.

Evolution of efficient strategies for enone-alkyne and enal-alkyne reductive couplings

Strategies for the reductive coupling of enones or enals with alkynes have been developed. The reducing agents employed include organozincs, organoboranes, organosilanes, and methanol. The latter of these strategies is simple, cost-effective, and tolerant of many functional groups. Isotopic labeling strategies have provided supporting evidence for the mechanistic proposals.

Cooperativity of regiochemistry control strategies in reductive couplings of propargyl alcohols and aldehydes

The nickel-catalyzed reductive coupling of propargyl alcohols and alkynes proceeds with excellent regiochemical control with an underlying electronic preference that can be supplemented by ligand size effects. The products obtained may be readily converted to substructures that are not directly available by an aldehyde-alkyne reductive coupling. A simple model for how steric and electronic factors are both important in governing regiochemistry in couplings of this type is presented, along with examples of how the effects can combine in either a constructive or destructive manner.

ESI-MS, DFT, and synthetic studies on the H(2)-mediated coupling of acetylene: insertion of C=X bonds into rhodacyclopentadienes and Brønsted acid cocatalyzed hydrogenolysis of organorhodium intermediates

The catalytic mechanism of the hydrogen-mediated coupling of acetylene to carbonyl compounds and imines has been examined using three techniques: (a) ESI-MS and ESI-CAD-MS analyses, (b) computational modeling, and (c) experiments wherein putative reactive intermediates are diverted to alternate reaction products. ESI-MS analysis of reaction mixtures from the hydrogen-mediated reductive coupling of acetylene to alpha-ketoesters or N-benzenesulfonyl aldimines corroborate a catalytic mechanism involving C horizontal lineX (X = O, NSO(2)Ph) insertion into a cationic rhodacyclopentadiene obtained by way of acetylene oxidative dimerization with subsequent Brønsted acid cocatalyzed hydrogenolysis of the resulting oxa- or azarhodacycloheptadiene. Hydrogenation of 1,6-diynes in the presence of alpha-ketoesters provides analogous coupling products. ESI mass spectrometric analysis again corroborates a catalytic mechanism involving carbonyl insertion into a cationic rhodacyclopentadiene. For all ESI-MS experiments, the structural assignments of ions are supported by multistage collisional activated dissociation (CAD) analyses. Further support for the proposed catalytic mechanism derives from experiments aimed at the interception of putative reactive intermediates and their diversion to alternate reaction products. For example, rhodium-catalyzed coupling of acetylene to an aldehyde in the absence of hydrogen or Brønsted acid cocatalyst provides the corresponding (Z)-butadienyl ketone, which arises from beta-hydride elimination of the proposed oxarhodacycloheptadiene intermediate, as corroborated by isotopic labeling. Additionally, the putative rhodacyclopentadiene intermediate obtained from the oxidative coupling of acetylene is diverted to the product of reductive [2 + 2 + 2] cycloaddition when N-p-toluenesulfonyl-dehydroalanine ethyl ester is used as the coupling partner. The mechanism of this transformation also is corroborated by isotopic labeling. Computer model studies based on density functional theory (DFT) support the proposed mechanism and identify Brønsted acid cocatalyst assisted hydrogenolysis to be the most difficult step. The collective studies provide new insight into the reactivity of cationic rhodacyclopentadienes, which should facilitate the design of related rhodium-catalyzed C-C couplings.

Regioselective Reductive Cross-Coupling Reactions of Unsymmetrical Alkynes

The present microreview summarizes our progress over the last few years in defining regioselective reductive cross-coupling reactions of unsymmetrical alkynes with terminal- and internal alkynes, aldehydes, and imines. We begin with a brief historical perspective of metal-mediated reductive dimerization reactions of aromatic alkynes and discuss the challenges associated with "crossed" versions of this mode of reactivity. Next, a collection of available methods that allow for regioselective reductive cross-coupling of internal alkynes with terminal and internal alkynes, aldehydes, and imines is summarized. After an examination of the requirements for regioselectivity in these cases, the logic behind our design of alkoxide-directed titanium-mediated reductive cross-coupling reactions is presented. A nomenclature is introduced to delineate the presumed mechanistic origin of regioselection associated with each reaction design, and a presentation of alkoxide-directed regioselective reductive cross-coupling reactions of alkynes follows. Throughout, principal issues related to reactivity and selectivity are discussed to assess scope and limitations of available methods and to describe the broad challenges that exist for defining complex fragment union reactions based on reductive cross-coupling chemistry.

Convergent synthesis of piperidines by the union of conjugated alkynes with imines: a unique regioselective bond construction for heterocycle synthesis

A two-step process is described for the union of aromatic imines, conjugated alkynes, and aldehydes that results in a stereoselective synthesis of highly substituted piperidines. This synthetic process has been made possible by defining a unique regioselective functionalization of conjugated alkynes that establishes a suitably functionalized substrate for subsequent heterocycle-forming cationic annulation. Given the flexibility of the coupling process, heterocycles can be accessed through a process that establishes up to four stereogenic centers and four fused rings.

Iridium-catalyzed coupling reaction of primary alcohols with 1-aryl-1-propynes leading to secondary homoallylic alcohols

We report iridium-catalyzed coupling of 2-alkynes such as 1-aryl-1-propynes with primary alcohols leading to secondary homoallylic alcohols as products. This reaction involves an iridium-catalyzed novel catalytic transformation of 2-alkynes and primary alcohols through the formation of hydrido(pi-allyl)iridium as a possible key intermediate.