Conjugate addition reactions of α-azoalkylcuprate reagents

Palladium-Catalyzed Synthesis of Aryl Ketones by Coupling of Aryl Bromides with an Acyl Anion Equivalent

Palladium-catalyzed couplings of aryl bromides with N-tert-butylhydrazones as acyl anion equivalents to form aryl ketones are reported. The coupling process occurs at the C-position of hydrazones to form N-tert-butyl azo compounds. Isomerization of these azo compounds to the corresponding hydrazones, followed by hydrolysis, gave the desired mixed alkyl aryl ketones. The selectivity of C- versus N-arylation was strongly influenced by the substituent on nitrogen. Arylation at carbon occurred with N-tert-butylhydrazones, whereas N-arylation occurred with N-arylhydrazones. The arylation of hydrazones containing primary and secondary alkyl groups, as well as aryl groups, gave the desired ketones in good yields after hydrolysis. Functional groups on the aromatic ring, such as alkoxy, cyano, trifluoromethyl, carboalkoxy, carbamoyl, and keto groups, were tolerated. This reaction likely occurs by C-C bond-forming reductive elimination from an intermediate containing an eta1-diazaallyl ligand.

A Study of factors affecting alpha-(N-carbamoyl)alkylcuprate chemistry

The effect of Cu(I) salt (i.e., CuCN, CuCN.2LiCl, CuI), cuprate reagent, sec-butyllithium quality, solvent, and temperature upon the chemical yields obtained in the reactions of alpha-(N-carbamoyl)alkylcuprates [i.e., N-Boc-protected alpha-aminoalkylcuprates] with (E)1-iodo-1-hexene, 5,5-dimethyl-2-cyclohexenone, methylvinyl ketone, crotonate esters, and an acid chloride has been examined. Cuprate conjugate addition and vinylation reactions can succeed with low-quality sec-butyllithium, presumably containing insoluble lithium hydride and lithium alkoxide impurities, although yields are significantly lower than those obtained with high-quality s-BuLi. alpha-(N-Carbamoyl)alkylcuprates prepared from high-quality sec-butyllithium are thermally stable for 2-3 h at room temperature and are equally effective when prepared from either insoluble CuCN or THF-soluble CuCN.2LiCl. Use of the latter reagent permits rapid cuprate formation at -78 degrees C, thereby avoiding the higher temperatures required for cuprate formation from THF-insoluble CuCN that are problematic with solutions containing thermally unstable alpha-lithiocarbamates.