Reactivity and selectivity in hydrovinylation of strained alkenes

Selective [1,4]-Hydrovinylation of 1,3-Dienes with Unactivated Olefins Enabled by Iron Diimine Catalysts

The selective, intermolecular [1,4]-hydrovinylation of conjugated dienes with unactivated α-olefins catalyzed by α-diimine iron complexes is described. Value-added "skipped" diene products were obtained with exclusive [1,4]-selectivity, and the formation of branched, ( Z)-olefin products was observed with no evidence for alkene isomerization. Mechanistic studies conducted with the well-defined, single-component iron precatalyst (^MesDI)Fe(COD) (^MesDI = [2,4,6-Me₃-C₆H₂-N═CMe]₂); COD = 1,5-cyclooctadiene) provided insights into the origin of the high selectivity. An iron diene complex was identified as the catalyst resting state, and one such isoprene complex, (^iPrDI)Fe(η⁴-C₅H₈), was isolated and characterized. A combination of single crystal X-ray diffraction, Mößbauer spectroscopy, magnetic measurements, and DFT calculations established that the complex is best described as a high-spin Fe(I) center ( S_Fe = 3/2) engaged in antiferromagnetic coupling to an α-diimine radical anion ( S_DI = -1/2), giving rise to the observed S = 1 ground state. Deuterium-labeling experiments and kinetic analyses of the catalytic reaction provided support for a pathway involving oxidative cyclization of an alkene with the diene complex to generate an iron metallacycle. The observed selectivity can be understood in terms of competing steric interactions in the transition states for oxidative cyclization and subsequent β-hydrogen elimination.

Mechanism and origins of chemo- and regioselectivities of (NHC)NiH-catalyzed cross-hydroalkenylation of vinyl ethers with α-olefins: a computational study

Density functional theory calculations were performed to investigate the (NHC)NiH-catalyzed cross-hydroalkenylation of vinyl ethers with α-olefins.

Zirconocene catalyzed diastereoselective carbometalation of cyclobutenes

The regio- and diastereoselective zirconocene-catalyzed carbomagnesiation of cyclobutenes is herein reported to afford configurationally stable cyclobutylmagnesium species that could subsequently react with a large variety of electrophiles to give polysubstituted cyclobutane species as a single diastereoisomer.

The mechanism and regioselectivities of (NHC)nickel(ii)hydride-catalyzed cycloisomerization of dienes: a computational study

Computation elucidates the mechanism and origins of regioselectivity of (NHC)Ni(ii)hydride-catalyzed cycloisomerization of dienes.

Cobalt-Catalysed Asymmetric Hydrovinylation of 1,3-Dienes

In the presence of bidentate 1,n-bis-diphenylphosphinoalkane-CoCl2 complexes {Cl2Co[P~P]} and Me3Al or methylaluminoxane, acyclic (E)-1,3-dienes react with ethylene (1 atmosphere) to give excellent yields of hydrovinylation products. The regioselectivity (1,4- or 1,2-addition) and the alkene configuration (E- or Z-) of the resulting product depend on the nature of the ligand and temperature at which the reaction is carried out. Cobalt(II)-complexes of 1,1-diphenylphosphinomethane and similar ligands with narrow bite angles give mostly 1,2-addition, retaining the E-geometry of the original diene. Complexes of most other ligands at low temperature (-40 °C) give almost exclusively a single branched product, (Z)-3-alkylhexa-1,4-diene, which arises from a 1,4-hydrovinylation reaction. A minor product is the linear adduct, a 5-alkyl-hexa-1,4-diene, also arising from a 1,4-addition of ethylene. As the temperature is increased, a higher proportion of the major 1,4-adduct appears as the (E)-isomer. The unexpectedly high selectivity seen in the Co-catalysed reaction as compared to the corresponding Ni-catalysed reaction can be rationalized by invoking the intermediacy of an η4-[(diene)[P~P]CoH]+-complex and its subsequent reactions. The enhanced reactivity of terminal E-1,3-dienes over the corresponding Z-dienes can also be explained on the basis of the ease of formation of this η4-complex in the former case. The lack of reactivity of the X2Co(dppb) (X = Cl, Br) complexes in the presence of Zn/ZnI2 makes the Me3Al-mediated reaction different from the previously reported hydroalkenylation of dienes. Electron-rich phospholanes, bis-oxazolines and N-heterocyclic carbenes appear to be poor ligands for the Co(II)-catalysed hydrovinylation of 1,3-dienes. An extensive survey of chiral ligands reveals that complexes of DIOP, BDDP and Josiphos ligands are quite effective for these reactions even at -45 °C and enantioselectivities in the range of 90-99 % ee can be realized for a variety of 1,3-dienes. Cobalt(II)-complex of an electron-deficient Josiphos ligand is especially active, requiring only <1 mol% catalyst to effect the reactions.

Total synthesis of (±)-hippolachnin A

The first total synthesis of the marine polyketide (±)-hippolachnin A has been achieved in nine linear steps and an overall yield of 9%. Rapid access to the oxacyclobutapentalene core structure was secured by strategic application of an ene cyclization.

Triarylphosphine Ligands with Hemilabile Alkoxy Groups. Ligands for Nickel(II)-Catalyzed Olefin Dimerization Reactions. Hydrovinylation of Vi-nylarenes, 1,3-Dienes, and Cycloisomerization of 1,6-Dienes

Substitution of one of the phenyl groups of triphenylphosphine with a 2-benzyloxy-, 2-benzyloxymethyl- or 2-benzyloxyethyl-phenyl moiety results in a set of simple ligands, which exhibit strikingly different behaviour in various nickel(II)-catalyzed olefin dimerization reactions. Complexes of ligands with 2-benzyloxyphenyl-, 2-benzyloxymethylphenyl-diphenylphosphine (L5 and L6 respectively) are most active for hydrovinylation (HV) of vinylarenes, with the former leading to extensive isomerization of the primary 3-aryl-1-butenes into the conjugated 2-aryl-2-butenes even at -55 °C. However, 2-benzyloxymethyl-substituted ligand L6 is slightly less active, leading up to quantitative yields of the primary products of HV at ambient temperature with no trace of isomerization, thus providing the best option for a practical synthesis of these compounds. In sharp contrast, hydrovinylation of a variety of 1,3-dienes is best catalyzed by nickel(II)-complexes of 2-benzyloxyphenyldiphenylphosphine, L5. The other two ligands, 2-benzyloxymethyl-(L6) and 2-benzyloxyethyl-diphenylphosphine (L7) are much less effective in the HV of 1,3-dienes. Nickel(II)-catalyzed cycloisomerization of 1,6-dienes into methylenecyclopentanes, a reaction mechanistically related to the other hydrovinylation reactions, is also uniquely effected by nickel(II)-complexes of L5, but not of L6 or L7. In an attempt to prepare authentic samples of the methylencyclohexane products, nickel(II)-complexes of N-heterocyclic carbene-ligands were examined. In sharp contrast to the phosphines, which give the methylenecyclopentanes, methylenecyclohexanes are the major products in the (N-heterocyclic carbene)nickel(II)-mediated reactions.

Transition-metal-catalyzed laboratory-scale carbon-carbon bond-forming reactions of ethylene

Ethylene, the simplest alkene, is the most abundantly synthesized organic molecule by volume. It is readily incorporated into transition-metal-catalyzed carbon-carbon bond-forming reactions through migratory insertions into alkylmetal intermediates. Because of its D2h symmetry, only one insertion outcome is possible. This limits byproduct formation and greatly simplifies analysis. As described within this Minireview, many carbon-carbon bond-forming reactions incorporate a molecule (or more) of ethylene at ambient pressure and temperature. In many cases, a useful substituted alkene is incorporated into the product.

Ruthenium-catalyzed hydrovinylation of N-acetylenamines leading to amines with a quaternary carbon center

A catalytic hydrovinylation of N-acetylenamines with ethylene is reported. This new hydrovinylation reaction is catalyzed by a ruthenium hydride complex, RuHCl(CO)(PCy(3))(2), providing a series of N-acetylamines with a quaternary carbon center with up to 99% yield.