Ligand-Effect in Gold(I)-Catalyzed Rautenstrauch Rearrangement: Regio- and Stereoselective Synthesis of Bicyclo[3.2.1]octa-3,6-dienes through Cyclodimerization of 1-Ethynyl-2-propenyl Esters

Gold(I) complexes bearing sterically demanding phosphine ligands such as ^tBuXphos catalyze the cascade Rautenstrauch rearrangement/[4 + 3] cycloaddition of 1-ethynyl-2-propenyl esters. The reaction provides an efficient and straightforward route to bicyclo[3.2.1]octa-3,6-dienes with high regio- and stereoselectivity. The formation of the [4 + 3] cycloadducts likely proceeds through the cycloaddition of a gold(I) carbenoid/gold-stabilized allyl cation intermediate with cyclopentadiene arising from Rautenstrauch rearrangement.

Rhodium-Catalyzed Intermolecular Carbonylative [2 + 2 + 1] Cycloaddition of Alkynes Using Alcohol as the Carbon Monoxide Source for the Formation of Cyclopentenones

A highly regioselective rhodium-catalyzed intermolecular carbonylative [2 + 2 + 1] cycloaddition of alkynes using alcohol as a CO surrogate to access 4-methylene-2-cyclopenten-1-ones has been developed. In this transformation, the alcohol performs multiple roles, including generating the Rh-H intermediate, functioning as the CO source, and assisting in the isomerization of the alkyne. Alkynes can act as both the olefin and the alkyne partner in the cyclopentenone core.

Novel carbocationic rearrangements of 1-styrylpropargyl alcohols

The dehydration and subsequent cyclization reactions of 1-styrylpropargyl alcohols was examined. In the course of these studies, numerous scaffolds were synthesized, including a furan, a cyclopentenone, an acyclic enone and even a naphthalenone. The diversity of these structural motifs lies in novel cascades of reactions originating from a common carbocationic manifold.

Direct coupling of unactivated alkynes and C(sp3)–H bonds catalyzed by a Pt(ii, iv)-centered catalyst: a computational study

Direct coupling of unactivated alkynes and C(sp³)–H bonds catalyzed by a Pt(ii, iv)-centered catalyst X (X = PtCl₂, PtBr₂, PtI₂ and PtI₄) (J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2009, 131, 16525) have been theoretically investigated with density functional theory (DFT).

Platinum(II)-catalyzed cyclization sequence of aryl alkynes via C(sp3)-H activation: a DFT study

The mechanism and intermediates of hydroalkylation of aryl alkynes via C(sp(3))-H activation through a platinum(II)-centered catalyst are investigated with density functional theory at the B3LYP/[6-31G(d) for H, O, C; 6-31+G(d,p) for F, Cl; SDD for Pt] level of theory. Solvent effects on reactions were explored using calculations that included a polarizable continuum model for the solvent (THF). Free energy diagrams for three suggested mechanisms were computed: (a) one that leads to formation of a Pt(II) vinyl carbenoid (Mechanism A), (b) another where the transition state implies a directed 1,4-hydrogen shift (Mechanism B), and (c) one with a Pt-aided 1,4-hydrogen migration (Mechanism C). Results suggest that the insertion reaction pathway of Mechanism A is reasonable. Through 4,5-hydrogen transfer, the Pt(II) vinyl carbenoid is formed. Thus, the stepwise insertion mechanism is favored while the electrocyclization mechanism is implausible. Electron-withdrawing/electron-donating groups substituted at the phenyl and benzyl sp(3) C atoms slightly change the thermodynamic properties of the first half of Mechanism A, but electronic effects cause a substantial shift in relative energies for the second half of Mechanism A. The rate-limiting step can be varied between the 4,5-hydrogen shift process and the 1,5-hydrogen shift step by altering electron-withdrawing/electron-donating groups on the benzyl C atom. Additionally, NBO and AIM analyses are applied to further investigate electronic structure changes during the mechanism.