Diverse Reactivity of Zirconacyclocumulenes Derived from Coupling of Benzynezirconocenes with 1,3-Butadiynes towards Acyl Cyanides: Synthesis of Indeno[2,1-b]pyrroles or [3]Cumulenones

Insertion of nitriles into zirconocene 1-aza-1,3-diene complexes: chemoselective synthesis of N-H and N-substituted pyrroles

The direct insertion of nitriles into zirconocene-1-aza-1,3-diene complexes provides an efficient, chemoselective, and controllable synthesis of N-H and N-substituted pyrroles upon acidic aqueous work-up. The outcome of the reaction (that is, the formation of N-H or N-substituted pyrroles) results from the different cyclization patterns, which depend on the relative stability and reactivity of the enamine-imine tautomers formed by hydrolysis of the diazazirconacycles.

Unexpected zirconium-mediated multicomponent reactions of conjugated 1,3-butadiynes and monoynes with acyl cyanide derivatives

Going ber(zirc): zirconium-butadiyne complexes react with acyl cyanide derivatives through diverse reaction pathways. The complexes react with two molecules of carbamoyl cyanide to form 1,4-benzodiazepin-2-one-derivatives containing azazirconacycles. Reactions with either aroyl cyanides or alkyl cyanoformates lead to azazirconacyclopentenes containing a quaternary carbon center.

Efficient one-pot synthesis of N-containing heterocycles by multicomponent coupling of silicon-tethered diynes, nitriles, and isocyanides through intramolecular cyclization of iminoacyl-Zr intermediates

An efficient multicomponent synthesis of 5-azaindoles and dihydropyrrolo[3,2-c]azepines was achieved by zirconocene-mediated coupling of silicon-tethered diynes, nitriles, and isocyanides. The synthesis, structures, and intramolecular cyclization of mono- and bis(iminoacyl)--Zr intermediates were investigated to elucidate the reaction process. Upon hydrolysis, the isolated mono(iminoacyl)--Zr intermediates underwent intramolecular cyclization to afford tetrasubstituted 5-azaindoles, whereas intramolecular cyclization of bis(iminoacyl)--Zr intermediates led to the formation of dihydropyrrolo[3,2-c]azepines. The structure of a bis(iminoacyl)--Zr intermediate, formed through insertion of two molecules of CyNC into the Zr--C bond, and structures of two dihydropyrrolo[3,2-c]azepines were characterized by single-crystal X-ray structural analysis.