Tungsten(II)−Carbene Complex Functions as a Dicationic Synthon: Efficient Constructions of Furan and Pyran Frameworks from Readily Available α,δ- and α,ε-Alkynols

Transition Metal Vinylidene- and Allenylidene-Mediated Catalysis in Organic Synthesis

With their mechanistic novelty and various modalities of reactivity, transition metal unsaturated carbene (alkenylidene) complexes have emerged as versatile intermediates for new reaction discovery. In particular, the past decade has witnessed remarkable advances in the chemistry of metal vinylidenes and allenylidenes, leading to the evolution of a diverse array of new catalytic transformations that are mechanistically distinct from those developed in the previous two decades. This review aims to provide a survey of the recent achievements in the development of organic reactions that make use of transition metal alkenylidenes as catalytic intermediates and their applications to organic synthesis.

Gold-catalyzed oxidative couplings of two indoles with one aryldiazo cyanide under oxidant-free conditions

In the absence of external oxidants, gold-catalyzed oxidative couplings of two indoles with one phenyldiazo cyanide are described; these annulations work well with a good range of diazo and indole species.

CO2-activation for γ-butyrolactones and its application in the total synthesis of (±)-heteroplexisolide E

An efficient nickel(0)-catalyzed highly regio- and stereoselective hydrocarboxylation of homopropargylic alcohols with ZnEt(2) in the presence of CO(2) (1 atm, balloon) to synthesize α-alkylidene-γ-butyrolactones is described. The catalyst is highly active and can be applied for the synthesis of (optically active) mono- or bicyclic α-alkylidene-γ-butyrolactones with excellent regio- and stereoselectivity and good functional group tolerance. The potential of the reaction has been demonstrated in the first synthesis of (±)-heteroplexisolide E.

Tandem cyclization of alkynes via rhodium alkynyl and alkenylidene catalysis

A rhodium(I)-catalyzed tandem cyclization of alkynes has been developed. The reaction allows for multiple bond formations to occur at both the alpha- and beta-positions of alkynes under mild conditions to yield a variety of fused ring systems as the products. In the presence of triethylamine and the complex derived from [Rh(COD)Cl]2 and P(4-F-C6H4)3, a terminal alkyne is converted to a rhodium alkynyl species which reacts with a tethered alkyl halide at the beta-position to provide a beta,beta-disubstituted alkenylidene complex. The rhodium alkenylidene species then undergoes additional ring closures with a range of pendent functional groups such as alkene, hydroxyl, and phenyl groups through [2 + 2] cycloaddition, nucleophilic addition, and 6pi-electrocyclization processes, respectively.

Pt- and Au-catalyzed oxidative cyclization of 2-ethenyl-1-(prop-2′-yn-1′-ol)benzenes to naphthyl aldehydes and ketones: catalytic oxidation of metal-alkylidene intermediates using H2O and H2O2

2-Ethenyl-1-(prop-2'-yn-1'-ol)benzenes was cyclized through catalytic oxidation with PtCl(2)/CO/H(2)O and PEt(3)AuCl/H(2)O(2); the metal-naphthylidene intermediates were identified and oxygenated with water and H(2)O(2), respectively; for the efficiency of cyclization, the Au catalytic system is superior to that of the PtCl(2)-catalysis because of its compatibility toward diverse alcohol substrates including both internal alkynes and terminal alkynes.

Stereocontrolled synthesis of bicyclic lactone derivatives via tungsten-mediated [3 + 2] cycloaddition of epoxides with a tethered alkynyl group

In the presence of BF3*Et2O, alkynyltungsten complexes underwent [3 + 2] cycloaddition with tethered epoxides to give bicyclic -lactones efficiently. Only one diastereomeric product was formed despite the presence of three stereogenic centers. A mechanism is proposed that involves formation of a tungsten-vinylidenium species via an SN2 attack of the epoxide carbon by an alkynyltungsten group to give a tungsten-enol ether species via counterattack at the central tungsten-vinylidenium carbon by the OBF3- terminus. Most of the tungsten enol ether species were too unstable for isolation and underwent hydrolysis to give only cis-fused -bicyclic lactones. This cyclization works for both cis- and trans-epoxides and tolerates various functional groups. In the case of trans-phenyl epoxide, the reaction led to an addition product via a 6-endo attack of epoxide by the tungsten fragment. This method provides a simple enantiospecific synthesis of complex bicyclic lactones if a chiral epoxide is used in the cyclization. It is also applicable to the one-pot synthesis of bicyclic unsaturated gamma-lactones if a suitable alkynyltungsten functionality is used.

A facile synthesis of enantiopure tricyclic furanyl and pyranyl derivatives via tungsten-mediated cycloalkenation and Diels-Alder reaction

We report the synthesis of chiral furanyl and pyranyl dienes 1 and 2 based on cycloalkenation of chiral tungsten alkynol complexes. These two dienes bear a chiral 1,3-dioxolane group to control diastereoselective Diels-Alder reactions with electron-deficient olefins. The chiral 1,3-dioxolane substituents of the cycloadducts were degraded into hydrogen atoms to make these molecules possess common furan and pyran rings. Dienes 1 and 2 are good building blocks for enantiopure forms of tricyclic oxygen compounds.

A novel stereocontrolled synthesis of cis-fused bicyclic lactams via [3 + 2]-cycloaddition of alkynyltungsten complexes with tethered aziridines

Treatment of alkynyltungsten complexes with tethered aziridines in the presence of BF(3).Et(2)O led to [3 + 2]-cycloaddition reactions, affording bicyclic tungsten-enamine species stereoselectively. The stereochemistry of the resulting product reveals that ring opening of aziridine is initiated by S(N)2 attack of the tungsten fragment. Decomplexation of these organometallics with I(2) in CH(2)Cl(2), followed by hydrolysis, afforded only cis-fused bicyclic lactams efficiently. [reaction: see text]

Total synthesis of (+)-blastmycinone, (-)-litsenolide C1, and related natural trisubstituted lactones via alkynyltungsten compounds

A general method for total synthesis of natural trisubstituted gamma-lactones is developed on the basis of the chemistry of alkynyltungsten compounds. The key step in this approach involves the cycloalkenation of tungsten-eta1-(3R,4S)-pent-1-yne-3,4-diol with aldehydes to give tungsten-oxacarbenium salts, further leading to 3-alkylidene-4-hydroxy-5-methyl-gamma-lactones upon demetalation. This synthetic sequence proceeds well for alkynylaldehydes and the MOM derivative of tungsten-eta1-(3R,4S)-pent-1-yne-3,4-diol. The resulting butyrolactone products are transformed into natural trisubstituted butyrolactones including (+)-blastmycinone, (+)-blastmycinolactol, (+)-antimycinone, NFX-2, and (+)-isodihydromahubanolide A. By using the same approach based on (R)-ethyl lactate, the natural (-)-litsenolide C1 can be prepared in a few steps.

Facile synthesis of oxa- and azacyclic dienes via cycloalkenation of alkynyltungsten compounds. Stereoselective construction of tricyclic furan and pyran derivatives via intramolecular diels-alder reaction

A convenient and short synthesis of functionalized oxacyclic and azacyclic dienes is developed on the basis of organotungsten chemistry. Alkynyltungsten compounds bearing a tethered alcohol and amine are treated with aldehydes and BF(3).Et(2)O in cold diethyl ether to give tungsten-heterocyclic carbenium salts, further leading to tungsten-heterocyclic dienes via deprotonation with Et(3)N. Hydrodemetalation of these tungsten-heterocyclic dienes is performed by the action of anhydrous Me(3)NO in CH(3)CN. This method is applicable to the synthesis of a number of oxa- and azacyclic dienes, including those tethered with an electron-deficient olefin. The oxacyclic 1,3,8-nonatrienes and 1,3,9-decatrienes undergo intramolecular Diels-Alder reactions upon heating in toluene, yielding tricyclic tetrahydropyran and -furan derivatives with excellent diastereoselectivities.

Efficient Synthesis of Bicyclic Lactones via Tungsten-Mediated Intramolecular Cycloalkenation

A series of tungsten-eta(1)-alkynols tethered with a dimethylacetal, methyl ketone, or trimethoxymethane group are prepared. Treatment of these functionalized tungsten-alkynols with BF(3).Et(2)O leads to intramolecular cycloalkenation, producing bicyclic tungsten-oxacarbeniums in high yields. Air oxidation of these oxacarbenium salts produces unsaturated bicyclic lactones in good yields. The lactone products include delta- and epsilon-lactones fused with five-, six- and seven-membered carbocyclic rings. The preceding bicyclic tungsten-eta(1)-oxacarbeniums are highly reactive toward organocuprates, Grignard reagents, and diazomethane, leading to demetalation to give various derivatives of bicyclic lactones. A short synthesis of (+/-)-mitsugashiwalactone is developed based on this method.