Kinetics and Mechanism of Allene Racemization Catalyzed by a Gold N-Heterocyclic Carbene Complex

Gold-Catalyzed Reaction of Propargyl Esters and Alkynylsilanes: Synthesis of Vinylallene Derivatives through a Twofold 1,2-Rearrangement

The reaction of propargyl esters with alkynylsilanes under gold catalysis provides vinylallene derivatives through consecutive [1,2]‐acyloxy/[1,2]‐silyl rearrangements. Good yields, full atom‐economy, broad substrate scope, easy scale‐up and low catalyst loadings are salient features of this novel transformation. Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations suggest a reaction mechanism involving initial [1,2]‐acyloxy rearrangement to generate a gold vinylcarbene intermediate which upon regioselective attack of the alkynylsilane affords a vinyl cation which undergoes a type II‐dyotropic rearrangement involving the silyl group and the metal fragment. Preliminary results on the enantioselective version of this transformation are also disclosed.

Asymmetric construction of pyrido[1,2-a]-1H-indole derivatives via a gold-catalyzed cycloisomerization

Pyrido[1,2-a]-1H-indoles are important scaffolds found in many biologically active compounds. Herein, we first developed an IPrAuCl/AgSbF₆-catalyzed cycloisomerization of N-1,3-disubstituted allenyl indoles affording pyrido[1,2-a]-1H-indoles. Then the axial-to-central chirality transfer starting from enantio-enriched N-1,3-disubstituted allenylindoles affording optically active pyrido[1,2-a]-1H-indoles has been realized in excellent yields and enantioselectivities. A mechanism has been proposed based on mechanistic studies. Synthetic applications have also been demonstrated.

Gold-Catalyzed Homogeneous (Cyclo)Isomerization Reactions

Gold is currently one of the most used metals in organometallic catalysis. The ability of gold to activate unsaturated groups in different modes, together with its tolerance to a wide range of functional groups and reaction conditions, turns gold-based complexes into efficient and highly sought after catalysts. Natural products and relevant compounds with biological and pharmaceutical activity are often characterized by complex molecular structures. (Cyclo)isomerization reactions are often a useful strategy for the generation of this molecular complexity from synthetically accessible reactants. In this review, we collect the most recent contributions in which gold(I)- and/or gold(III)-catalysts mediate intramolecular (cyclo)isomerization transformations of unsaturated species, which commonly feature allene or alkyne motifs, and organize them depending on the substrate and the reaction type.

Enantioselective Synthesis of Trisubstituted Allenyl-B(pin) Compounds by Phosphine-Cu-Catalyzed 1,3-Enyne Hydroboration. Insights Regarding Stereochemical Integrity of Cu-Allenyl Intermediates

Catalytic enantioselective boron-hydride additions to 1,3-enynes, which afford allenyl-B(pin) (pin = pinacolato) products, are disclosed. Transformations are promoted by a readily accessible bis-phosphine-Cu complex and involve commercially available HB(pin). The method is applicable to aryl- and alkyl-substituted 1,3-enynes. Trisubstituted allenyl-B(pin) products were generated in 52-80% yield and, in most cases, in >98:2 allenyl:propargyl and 92:8-99:1 enantiomeric ratio. Utility is highlighted through a highly diastereoselective addition to an aldehyde, and a stereospecific catalytic cross-coupling process that delivers an enantiomerically enriched allene with three carbon-based substituents. The following key mechanistic attributes are elucidated: (1) Spectroscopic and computational investigations indicate that low enantioselectivity can arise from loss of kinetic stereoselectivity, which, as suggested by experimental evidence, may occur by formation of a propargylic anion generated by heterolytic Cu-C cleavage. This is particularly a problem when trapping of the Cu-allenyl intermediate is slow, namely, when an electron deficient 1,3-enyne or a less reactive boron-hydride reagent (e.g., HB(dan) (dan = naphthalene-1,8-diaminato)) is used or under non-optimal conditions (e.g., lower boron-hydride concentration causing slower trapping). (2) With enynes that contain a sterically demanding o-aryl substituent considerable amounts of the propargyl-B(pin) isomer may be generated (25-96%) because a less sterically demanding transition state for Cu/B exchange becomes favorable. (3) The phosphine ligand can promote isomerization of the enantiomerically enriched allenyl-B(pin) product; accordingly, lower ligand loading might at times be optimal. (4) Catalytic cross-coupling with an enantiomerically enriched allenyl-B(pin) compound might proceed with high stereospecificity (e.g., phosphine-Pd-catalyzed cross-coupling) or lead to considerable racemization (e.g., phosphine-Cu-catalyzed allylic substitution).

Chirality transfer in metal-catalysed intermolecular addition reactions involving allenes

This review covers chirality transfer in metal-catalysed intermolecular addition reactions involving allenes, including axial-to-central chirality transfer, asymmetric catalysis and racemization.