Stereoselective synthesis of (2Z,4E)-2,4-pentadien-1-ols via sequential 1,4-elimination reaction and [1,2]-Wittig rearrangement starting from (E)-4-alkoxy-2-butenyl benzoates

Cobalt-catalysed [1,2]-Wittig rearrangement of ethers to secondary alcohols

Stable ethers are successfully transformed into secondary alcohols via C-O bond activation using a simple cobalt pincer catalyst. Mechanistic studies indicate the involvement of radical pairs, and their sequential recombination and the subsequent hydrolysis results in the formation of secondary alcohols.

Access to Diarylmethanols by Wittig Rearrangement of ortho-, meta-, and para-Benzyloxy-N-Butylbenzamides

The N-butyl amide group, CONHBu, has been found to be an effective promoter of the [1,2]-Wittig rearrangement of aryl benzyl ethers and thus allow the two-step synthesis of isomerically pure substituted diarylmethanols starting from simple hydroxybenzoic acid derivatives. The method is compatible with a wide range of functional groups including methyl, methoxy, and fluoro, although not with nitro and, unexpectedly, is applicable to meta as well as ortho and para isomeric series.

Modern Synthetic Methods for the Stereoselective Construction of 1,3-Dienes

The 1,3-butadiene motif is widely found in many natural products and drug candidates with relevant biological activities. Moreover, dienes are important targets for synthetic chemists, due to their ability to give access to a wide range of functional group transformations, including a broad range of C-C bond-forming processes. Therefore, the stereoselective preparation of dienes have attracted much attention over the past decades, and the search for new synthetic protocols continues unabated. The aim of this review is to give an overview of the diverse methodologies that have emerged in the last decade, with a focus on the synthetic processes that meet the requirements of efficiency and sustainability of modern organic chemistry.

Mechanistic investigation in the [1,4] and [1,2] Wittig rearrangement reactions: a DFT study

The mechanistic pathways for the [1,4] and [1,2] Wittig rearrangements of 2-silyl-6-aryl-5,6-dihydro-(2H)-pyrans have been studied at the M06-2X/6-31+G(d,p), 6-311++G(d,p) and cc-pVTZ level of theory. The crucial C-O bond cleavage step in the mechanism has been analysed initially, using two model reactions covering aliphatic as well as cyclic allylic ethers. The barriers for the one-step as well as two-step pathways have been calculated and the mechanisms for both the [1,4] and [1,2] Wittig rearrangement reactions are predicted to occur through a two-step mode. An energetic analysis of the reaction pathways reveals that the [1,4]-rearrangement has a lower barrier than the [1,2]-Wittig rearrangement. The C-O cleavage transition state was found to have the highest barrier and is thus the rate determining transition state for all of the studied molecules. This is in agreement with the previously published experimental studies. The role of the allylic trimethylsilane group in the stabilization of the intermediate anions of the Wittig reactants has also been investigated while comparing it with the phenyl and allylic t-butyl groups through Natural Bond Orbital (NBO) calculations.

Chemoselective Palladium-Catalyzed Deprotonative Arylation/[1,2]-Wittig Rearrangement of Pyridylmethyl Ethers

Control of chemoselectivity is one of the most challenging problems facing chemists and is particularly important in the synthesis of bioactive compounds and medications. Herein, the first highly chemoselective tandem C(sp3)-H arylation/[1,2]-Wittig rearrangement of pyridylmethyl ethers is presented. The efficient and operationally simple protocols enable generation of either arylation products or tandem arylation/[1,2]-Wittig rearrangement products with remarkable selectivity and good to excellent yields (60-99%). Choice of base, solvent, and reaction temperature play a pivotal role in tuning the reactivity of intermediates and controlling the relative rates of competing processes. The novel arylation step is catalyzed by a Pd(OAc)2/NIXANTPHOS-based system via a deprotonative cross-coupling process. The method provides rapid access to skeletally diverse aryl(pyridyl)methanol core structures, which are central components of several medications.

(Z)-Selective Enol Triflation of α-Alkoxyacetoaldehydes: Application to Synthesis of (Z)-Allylic Alcohols via Cross-Coupling Reaction and [1,2]-Wittig Rearrangement

The stereoselective transformation of α-alkoxyacetoaldehydes to the corresponding (Z)-vinyl triflates was achieved by treatment with phenyl triflimide and DBU. The stereochemistry was explained by the "syn-effect," which was attributed primarily to an σ → π* interaction. The β-alkoxy vinyl triflates obtained were applied to the stereoselective synthesis of structurally diverse (Z)-allylic alcohols via transition metal-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction and [1,2]-Wittig rearrangement.

Base-promoted [1,4]-Wittig rearrangement of chalcone-derived allylic ethers leading to aromatic β-benzyl ketones

Strong base promoted [1,4]-Wittig rearrangement of allylic ethers was developed in this work, in which the reaction provided a facile approach to the synthesis of aromatic β-benzyl ketones under controllable radical reaction conditions.

Construction of an all-substituted pyrrolidine derivative with multiple stereogenic centers and Betti-base-derived γ-amino alcohols by [1,2]-Wittig rearrangement

The construction of Betti base-derived γ-amino alcohols and all-substituted pyrrolidine derivative with multiple stereogenic centers has been developed successfully through neighboring lithium-assisted [1,2]-Wittig rearrangement (NLAWR).