Gold(I)-catalyzed intermolecular [2+2] cycloaddition of alkynes with alkenes

One-pot catalytic enantioselective synthesis of tetrahydropyridines via a nitro-Mannich/hydroamination cascade

The highly enantioselective preparation of synthetically useful tetrahydropyridine derivatives employing a one-pot nitro-Mannich/hydroamination cascade is reported. This approach utilizes an asymmetric organocatalytic nitro-Mannich reaction followed by a gold-catalyzed alkyne hydroamination/isomerization sequence that yields the desired tetrahydropyridines in good yields and high diastereo- and enantioselectivities.

Gold vinylidene complexes: intermolecular C(sp3)-H insertions and cyclopropanations pathways

Highly reactive gold vinylidene species are used for intermolecular C(sp(3))-H insertions into unactivated alkanes (see scheme). In addition, they can be regarded as synthons for alkylidene carbenes. Initiated by cyclopropanation of the vinylidene species/alkylidene carbenoide, cyclobutene derivatives are formed in a diastereoselective fashion by a ring-enlargement cascade in only one step.

Nickel-catalyzed intermolecular [2 + 2] cycloaddition of conjugated enynes with alkenes

A nickel-catalyzed intermolecular [2 + 2] cycloaddition of conjugated enynes with alkenes has been developed. A variety of electron-deficient alkenes as well as electronically neutral norbornene and 1-decene were applicable to this reaction. The use of conjugated enynes circumvented possible side rections, such as oligomerizations and cyclotrimerizations. The isolation of reaction intermediate complexes revealed that the η(3)-butadienyl coordination is the key for the selective formation of cyclobutene.

Ring expansion of alkynyl cyclopropanes to highly substituted cyclobutenes via a N-sulfonyl-1,2,3-triazole intermediate

Regioselective ring expansion of alkynyl cyclopropanes to highly substituted cyclobutenes was developed. The reaction involves a copper-catalyzed cycloaddition of an alkyne with an arylsulfonyl azide and a silver-catalyzed carbene formation followed by ring expansion of a cyclopropyl carbene intermediate.

The role of cyclobutenes in gold(I)-catalysed skeletal rearrangement of 1,6-enynes

1,6-Enynes with electron-donating substituents at the alkyne undergo gold(I)-catalysed single cleavage skeletal rearrangement, whereas substrates with electron-withdrawing substituents evolve selectively to double cleavage rearrangement. Theoretical calculations provide a qualitative rationale for these effects, and suggest that bicyclo[3.2.0]hept-5-enes are involved as intermediates. We provide the first X-ray structural evidence for the formation of a product of this class in a cycloisomerisation of a 1,6-enyne.

Formal intermolecular [2 + 2] cycloaddition reaction of allenamide [corrected] with alkenes via gold catalysis

An efficient method was developed to construct the densely functionalized cyclobutane[corrected] adducts through formal intermolecular cycloaddition of allenamides [corrected] with electron-rich olefins via gold catalysis, in which vinyl ethers/amides and electron-rich styrenes worked very well. In addition, a series of allenamide [corrected] dimerization products were prepared from the same allenamide [corrected] substrates.

Gold(I)-catalyzed formation of 3-pyrazolines through cycloaddition of diaziridine to alkynes

This work reports the high-yield formation of pyrazoline derivatives mediated by gold(I) catalysts. The reaction utilizes a diaziridine, which has seen only limited usage in organic methodology. Mechanistic studies suggest a gold-mediated opening of the diazridine ring, alkyne insertion, and finally an intramolecular hydroamination to furnish the product.

Recent developments in gold-catalyzed cycloaddition reactions

In the last years there have been extraordinary advances in the development of gold-catalyzed cycloaddition processes. In this review we will summarize some of the most remarkable examples, and present the mechanistic rational underlying the transformations.

Cyclobutanes in catalysis

The exploitation of ring strain as a driving force to facilitate chemical reactions is a well-appreciated principle in organic chemistry. The most prominent and most frequently used compound classes in this respect are oxiranes and cyclopropanes. For rather a long time, cyclobutanes lagged behind these three-membered-ring compounds in their development as reactive substrates, but during the past decade an increasing number of useful reactions of four-membered-ring substrates have emerged. This Minireview examines corresponding catalytic reactions ranging from Lewis or Brønsted acid catalyzed processes to enzymatic reactions. The main focus is placed on transition-metal-catalyzed C-C bond-insertion and β-carbon-elimination processes, which enable exciting downstream reactions that deliver versatile building blocks.

Cyclopropanation with gold(I) carbenes by retro-Buchner reaction from cycloheptatrienes

Cationic gold(I) promotes the retro-Buchner reaction of 7-substituted 1,3,5-cycloheptatrienes, leading to gold(I) carbenes that cyclopropanate alkenes.

Gold(I)-catalyzed diastereo- and enantioselective 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition and Mannich reactions of azlactones

Azlactones participate in stereoselective reactions with electron-deficient alkenes and N-sulfonyl aldimines to give products of 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition and Mannich addition reactions, respectively. Both of these reactions proceed with good to excellent diastereo- and enantioselectivity using a single class of gold catalysts, namely C(2)-symmetric bis(phosphinegold(I) carboxylate) complexes. The development of the azlactone Mannich reaction to provide fully protected anti-α,β-diamino acid derivatives is described. 1,3-Dipolar cycloaddition reactions of several acyclic 1,2-disubstituted alkenes and the chemistry of the resultant cycloadducts are examined to probe the stereochemical course of this reaction. Reaction kinetics and tandem mass spectrometry studies of both the cycloaddition and Mannich reactions are reported. These studies support a mechanism in which the gold complexes catalyze addition reactions through nucleophile activation rather than the more typical activation of the electrophilic reaction component.

Some Organometallic Chemistry of Tetracyanoethene: CN-displacement and Cycloaddition Reactions with Alkynyl - Transition Metal Complexes and Related Chemistry

The highly electron-deficient cyanocarbons tetracyanoethene (tcne) and, to a lesser extent, tetracyanoquinodimethane (tcnq), display a fascinating chemistry with transition metal substrates. In particular, the [2 + 2]-cycloadditions of the cyanocarbons with alkynyl- or poly-ynyl–metal complexes have been extensively studied by the author’s group. These reactions proceed via polar adducts to give σ-cyclobutenyl complexes, which then undergo facile ring-opening (retro-electrocyclic) reactions to form the corresponding butadienyl derivatives. In some cases, further reactions can occur by displacement of weakly bound ligands from the metal centre. The subsequent chemistry of these derivatives has been only cursorily investigated, while related studies of organic analogues have produced molecules with interesting electronic and optical properties.