Stereospecific Synthesis of Alkenes by Eliminative Cross-Coupling of Enantioenriched sp3 -Hybridized Carbenoids

Isolation and Reactivity of Stannylenoids Stabilized by Amido/Imino Ligands

The reaction of the lithium aryl(silyl)amide Dipp(ⁱ Pr₃ Si)NLi (Dipp=2,6-ⁱ Pr₂ C₆ H₃ ) with one equivalent of SnCl₂ in THF gave a novel stannylenoid Dipp(ⁱ Pr₃ Si)NSnCl⋅LiCl(THF)₂ . Heating the solution of amidostannylenoid in toluene to 80 °C resulted in dimeric amido(chloro)stannylene [Dipp(ⁱ Pr₃ Si)NSnCl]₂ , which can be converted to bis(amido)stannylene Sn[N(Dipp)(ⁱ Pr₃ Si)]₂ and amido(imino)stannylene Sn[N(Dipp)(ⁱ Pr₃ Si)][IPrN] (IPrN=bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imidazolin-2-imino). Treatment of bis(imino)stannylenoid [IPrN]₂ Sn(Cl)Li with N₂ O resulted in the dimeric complex [IPrNSn(Cl)OLi]₂ . All compounds were characterized by NMR, elementary analysis, and X-ray structural determination.

Solvation Effects on the Structure and Stability of Alkali Metal Carbenoids

s-Block metal carbenoids are carbene synthons and applied in a myriad of organic transformations. They exhibit a strong structure-activity relationship, but this is only poorly understood due to the challenging high reactivity and sensitivity of these reagents. Here, we report on systematic VT and DOSY NMR studies, XRD analyses as well as DFT calculations on a sulfoximinoyl-substituted model system to explain the pronounced solvent dependency of the carbenoid stability. While the sodium and potassium chloride carbenoids showed high stabilities independent of the solvent, the lithium carbenoid was stable at room temperature in THF but decomposed at -10 °C in toluene. These divergent stabilities could be explained by the different structures formed in solution. In contrast to simple organolithium reagents, the monomeric THF-solvate was found to be more stable than the dimer in toluene, since the latter more readily forms direct Li/Cl interactions which facilitate decomposition via α-elimination.

Enantiodivergent Synthesis of Allenes by Point-to-Axial Chirality Transfer

An enantiodivergent method for the synthesis of multiply substituted allenes is described. Highly enantioenriched, point-chiral boronic esters were synthesized by homologation of α-seleno alkenyl boronic esters with lithiated carbamates and eliminated to form axially chiral allene products. By employing either oxidative or alkylative conditions, both syn and anti elimination could be achieved with complete stereospecificity. The process enables the synthesis of either M or P allenes from a single isomer of a point-chiral precursor and can be employed for the enantioselective assembly of di-, tri-, and tetrasubstituted allenes.

Formation of Olefins by Eliminative Dimerization and Eliminative Cross-Coupling of Carbenoids: A Stereochemical Exercise

Two carbenoids combine to generate an olefin by a mechanism involving formation of an ate complex, 1,2-metalate rearrangement, and β-elimination. As each stage of this eliminative coupling is stereospecific, the overall stereochemical outcome can be understood and, in principle fully controlled, providing that the absolute stereochemical configurations of the reacting carbenoid species are defined. In contrast to traditional alkene syntheses, the eliminative cross-coupling of carbenoids offers a connective approach to olefins capable of precisely targeting a given isomer regardless of the nature of the features distinguishing the isomers. The formation of olefins by the eliminative dimerization and eliminative cross-coupling of carbenoids is reviewed with a range of illustrative examples, including the reactions of α-lithiated haloalkanes, epoxides, and carbamates. An emphasis is placed on stereochemical analysis and methods to generate sp³ -hybridized carbenoids in stereodefined form are surveyed.

Stereodivergent Olefination of Enantioenriched Boronic Esters

A stereodivergent coupling reaction between vinyl halides and boronic esters is described. This coupling process proceeds without a transition-metal catalyst, instead proceeding by electrophilic selenation or iodination of a vinyl boronate complex followed by stereospecific syn or anti elimination. Chiral, nonracemic boronic esters could be coupled with complete enantiospecificity. The process enables the highly stereoselective synthesis of either the E or Z alkene from a single isomer of a vinyl coupling partner.