Cobalt(I)-Mediated Preparation of Polyborylated Cyclohexadienes: Scope, Limitations, and Mechanistic Insight

Cobalt Catalysts for [2+2+2] Cycloaddition Reactions: Isolated Precatalysts and in situ Generated Catalysts

[2+2+2] Cycloaddition reactions belong to the not even large class of reactions, which can be catalyzed or mediated by a significant number of different transition metals. Cobalt complexes belong to the catalysts that paved the way for the extensive use and profound mechanistic knowledge on this particular transformation. Beside the established role, cyclopentadienyl (Cp) cobalt complexes inherit in synthetic applications of the cyclotrimerization reaction, modification of the precatalysts opened up novel reactivities and versatility for such catalytic initiators. At the same time the development of in situ generated cobalt catalysts allowed the conversion of novel substrates as well as novel reaction modes to be realized. In this personal account recent developments will be presented and the possibilities of catalysts containing cobalt atoms in different oxidation states be discussed.

Acetylene and Ethylene: Universal C2 Molecular Units in Cycloaddition Reactions

Acetylene and ethylene are the smallest molecules that contain an unsaturated carbon–carbon bond and can be efficiently utilized in a large variety of cycloaddition reactions. In this review, we summarize the application of these C2 molecular units in cycloaddition chemistry and highlight their amazing synthetic opportunities.

1 Introduction

2 Fundamental Features and Differences of Cycloaddition Reactions Involving Acetylene and Ethylene

3 (2+1) Cycloaddition

4 [2+2] Cycloaddition

5 (3+2) Cycloaddition

6 [4+2] Cycloaddition

7 (2+2+1) Cycloaddition

8 [2+2+2] Cycloaddition

9 The Use of Acetylene and Ethylene Cycloaddition for Deuterium and 13C Labeling

10 Conclusions

Facile Synthesis of Dibenzotetracenedione Derivatives by Rhodium-Catalyzed [2+2+2] Cycloaddition/Spontaneous Aromatization

It has been established that a cationic rhodium(I)/SEGPHOS complex catalyzes the [2+2+2] cycloaddition of biphenyl-linked 1,7-diynes with 1,4-naphthoquinone and anthracene-1,4-dione. Conveniently, spontaneous aromatization proceeded upon removal of the rhodium complex by passing the reaction mixture through an alumina column, to give the corresponding dibenzotetracenediones and dibenzopentacenediones, respectively, in good yields. The obtained dibenzotetracenedione could be readily transformed into the corresponding dibenzotetracene in good yield. This dibenzotetracene showed blue fluorescence with a good quantum yield, which was significantly higher than those of tetracene, tetrabenzotetracene, and hexabenzotetracene.

N-Heterocyclic Carbene Adducts of Alkynyl Functionalized 1,3,2-Dithioborolanes

Alkynyl functionalized boron compounds are versatile intermediates in the areas of medicinal chemistry, materials science, and optical materials. In particular, alkynyl boronate esters [R¹−C≡C−B(OR²)₂] are of interest since they provide reactivity at both the alkyne entity, with retention of the B−C bond or alkyne transfer to electrophilic substrates with scission of the latter. The boron atom is commonly well stabilized due to (i) the extraordinary strength of two B−O bonds, and (ii) the chelate effect exerted by a bifunctional alcohol. We reasoned that the replacement of a B−O for a B−S bond would lead to higher reactivity and post-functionalization in the resulting alkynyl boronate thioesters [R¹−C≡C−B(S₂X)]. Access to this poorly investigated class of compounds starts form chloro dithioborolane cyclo-Cl−B(S₂C₂H₄) as a representative example. Whereas syntheses of three coordinate alkynyl boronate thioesters [R¹−C≡C−B(S₂X)] proved to be ineffective, the reactions of NHC-adducts (NHC = N-heterocyclic carbene) of cyclo-Cl-B(S₂C₂H₄) afforded the alkyne substituted thioboronate esters in good yield. The products NHC−B(S₂C₂H₄)(C≡C-R¹) are remarkably stable towards water and air, which suggests their use as boron-based building blocks for applications akin to oxygen-based boronate esters.

The Pauson-Khand reaction using alkynylboronic esters: solving a long-standing regioselectivity issue

The first intermolecular Pauson-Khand reaction, conducted using internal alkynylboronic esters, allows the installation of the boronic ester moiety at the β-position of the cyclopentenone with total regio- and stereoselectivity.

Computational Studies on Reaction Mechanism and Origins of Selectivities in Nickel-Catalyzed (2 + 2 + 2) Cycloadditions and Alkenylative Cyclizations of 1,6-Ene-Allenes and Alkenes

The reaction mechanism and origins of ligand-controlled selectivity, regioselectivity, and stereoselectivity of Ni-catalyzed (2 + 2 + 2) cycloadditions and alkenylative cyclizations of 1,6-ene-allenes and alkenes were studied by using density functional theory. The catalytic cycle involves intermolecular oxidative coupling and an intramolecular concerted 1,4-addition step to afford a stable metallacycloheptane intermediate; these steps determine both the regioselectivity and stereoselectivity. Subsequent C-C reductive elimination leads to the cyclohexane product, whereas the β-hydride elimination leads to the trans-diene product. The selectivity between (2 + 2 + 2) cycloadditions and alkenylative cyclizations is controlled by the ligand. Irrespective of the nature of the terminal substituents on the ene-allene and alkene, the P(o-tol)₃ ligand always favors the C-C reductive elimination, resulting in the cyclohexane product. On the other hand, the flexibility of the PBu₃ ligand means that electronic and steric factors play important roles. Electron-withdrawing groups such as CO₂Me in the ene-allene terminal substituent induce obvious substrate-ligand repulsion and destabilize the C-C reductive elimination, giving rise to the trans-diene product.

Catalytic and catalyst-free diboration of alkynes

The present review provides a comprehensive summary of the catalytic and catalyst-free diboration of alkynes.

Rhodium-Catalyzed Asymmetric [2 + 2 + 2] Cycloaddition of α,ω-Diynes with Unsymmetrical 1,2-Disubstituted Alkenes

It has been established that a cationic rhodium(I)/axially chiral biaryl bisphosphine complex catalyzes the asymmetric [2 + 2 + 2] cycloaddition of α,ω-diynes with electron-rich and unstrained unsymmetrical 1,2-disubstituted alkenes to give chiral multicyclic compounds with good yields and ee values. Interestingly, enantioselectivity highly depends on the structures of α,ω-diynes used presumably due to the presence of two distinct reaction pathways.

Boron-rich benzene and pyrene derivatives for the detection of thermal neutrons

A synthetic methodology is developed to generate boron rich aromatic small molecules based on benzene and pyrene moieties for the detection of thermal neutrons. The prepared aromatic compounds have a relatively high boron content up to 7.4 wt%, which is important for application in neutron detection as ¹⁰B (20% of natural abundance boron) has a large neutron induced reaction cross-section. This is demonstrated by preparing blends of the synthesized molecules with fluorescent dopants in poly(vinyltoluene) matrices resulting in comparable scintillation light output and neutron capture as state-of-the art commercial scintillators, but with the advantage of much lower cost. The boron-rich benzene and pyrene derivatives are prepared by Suzuki conditions using both microwave and traditional heating, affording yields of 40–93%. This new procedure is simple and straightforward, and has the potential to be scaled up.

Complementary regioselectivity in Rh(III)-catalyzed insertions of potassium vinyltrifluoroborate via C-H activation: preparation and use of 4-trifluoroboratotetrahydroisoquinolones

Potassium vinyltrifluoroborate was found to be an efficient partner with benzamide derivatives for Rh(III)-catalyzed annulations. 4-Trifluoroboratotetrahydroisoquinolones were generated under mild conditions, affording a regioisomerically complementary substitution pattern to other alkenes in related reactions. These new boron-containing building blocks were derivatized by N-arylations, retaining the boron substituent for further elaboration.

Multi-component regio- and diastereoselective cobalt-catalyzed hydrovinylation/allylboration reaction sequence

The combination of a regioselective cobalt-catalyzed 1,4-hydrovinylation and the diastereoselective allylboronation reaction leads to a wide scope of functionalized hydroxydienyl esters in a one-pot reaction in excellent yields. With catalytic amounts of base, these products are easily converted either into α,β,γ,δ-unsaturated hydroxyl esters or complex tetrasubstituted tetrahydropyrans in chemo- and diastereoselective fashions. In addition, a high-yielding four-component one-pot reaction involving an acrylate, two different and unsymmetrical 1,3-dienes, and an unsaturated aldehyde is presented.

NbCl3-catalyzed three-component [2 + 2 + 2] cycloaddition reaction of terminal alkynes, internal alkynes, and alkenes to 1,3,4,5-tetrasubstituted 1,3-cyclohexadienes

Three-component [2 + 2 + 2] cycloaddition of terminal alkynes, internal alkynes, and terminal alkenes is achieved using an NbCl(3)(DME) catalyst, leading to 1,3,4,5-substituted 1,3-cyclohexadienes in excellent yields with high chemo- and regioselectivity.