Titanocene(II)-Promoted Stereoselective Alkenylation Utilizing (Z)-Alkenyl Sulfones

A Metallacycle Fragmentation Strategy for Vinyl Transfer from Enol Carboxylates to Secondary Alcohol C-H Bonds via Osmium- or Ruthenium-Catalyzed Transfer Hydrogenation

A strategy for catalytic vinyl transfer from enol carboxylates to activated secondary alcohol C-H bonds is described. Using XPhos-modified ruthenium(0) or osmium(0) complexes, enol carboxylate-carbonyl oxidative coupling forms transient β-acyloxy-oxametallacycles, which eliminate carboxylate to deliver allylic ruthenium(II) or osmium(II) alkoxides. Reduction of the metal(II) salt via hydrogen transfer from the secondary alcohol reactant releases the product of carbinol C-H vinylation and regenerates ketone and zero-valent catalyst.

Recent advances in stereoselective synthesis of 1,3-dienes

The aim of this review is to present the latest developments in the stereoselective synthesis of conjugated dienes, covering the period 2005-2010. Since the use of this class of compounds is linked to the nature of their appendages (aryls, alkyls, electron-withdrawing, and heterosubstituted groups), the review has been categorized accordingly and illustrates the most representative strategies and mechanisms to access these targets.

Regio- and stereoselective synthesis of 1,4-dienes

Titanocene(II)-promoted cross-coupling between (Z)-alkenyl methyl sulfones and terminal allenes produced 1,4-dienes regioselectively via the formation of 2-alkylidenetitanacyclopentanes. Preferential formation of E,Z-dienes was observed in the reaction using aryl-, amino-, and phosphinylallenes.

Catalytic highly enantioselective alkylation of aldehydes with deactivated grignard reagents and synthesis of bioactive intermediate secondary arylpropanols

Because of the high reactivity of Grignard reagents, a direct, highly enantioselective Grignard reaction with aldehydes has rarely been disclosed. In this report, Grignard reagents were introduced with bis[2-(N,N'-dimethylamino)ethyl] ether (BDMAEE) to effectively deactivate their reactivity; thus, a highly enantioselective alkylation of aldehydes with Grignard reagents resulted from catalysis by (S)-BINOL-Ti(O(i)Pr)(2). It is thought that BDMAEE chelates the in situ generated salts MgBr(2) from a Schlenk equilibrium of RMgBr and Mg(O(i)Pr)Br from transmetalation of RMgBr with Ti(O(i)Pr)(4). The Mg salts can actively promote the undesired background reaction to give the racemate. The chelation definitely inhibits the catalytic activity of the Mg salts, suppresses the unwanted background reaction, and enables the highly enantioselective addition catalyzed by (S)-BINOL-Ti(O(i)Pr)(2). Consequently, the Mg salt byproducts were not removed, less Ti(O(i)Pr)(4) than RMgBr was used, and extremely low temperature was avoided in this catalytic asymmetric reaction in comparison with the research disclosed before. Various alkyl Grignard reagents were investigated in the asymmetric addition, and (i)BuMgBr resulted in the highest enantioselectivity, >99%. Furthermore, important intermediate secondary arylpropanols for chiral drug synthesis were effectively synthesized with high enantioselectivity, up to 97%, in one step.