Subtle electronic effects in metal-free rearrangement of allenic alcohols

Deciphering the Chameleonic Chemistry of Allenols: Breaking the Taboo of a Onetime Esoteric Functionality

The allene functionality has participated in one of the most exciting voyages in organic chemistry, from chemical curiosities to a recurring building block in modern organic chemistry. In the last decades, a special kind of allene, namely, allenol, has emerged. Allenols, formed by an allene moiety and a hydroxyl functional group with diverse connectivity, have become common building blocks for the synthesis of a wide range of structures and frequent motif in naturally occurring systems. The synergistic effect of the allene and hydroxyl functional groups enables allenols to be considered as a unique and sole functionality exhibiting a special reactivity. This Review summarizes the most significant contributions to the chemistry of allenols that appeared during the past decade, with emphasis on their synthesis, reactivity, and occurrence in natural products.

Selectivity for Alkynyl or Allenyl Imidamides and Imidates in Copper-Catalyzed Reactions of Terminal 1,3-Diynes and Azides

Copper-catalyzed reactions of terminal 1,3-diynes with electron-deficient azides to generate either 3-alkynyl or 2,3-dienyl imidamides and imidates are described. The selectivity depends on the diyne substituents and the nucleophile that reacts with the ketenimide intermediate generated from the corresponding triazole precursor. Reactions of 1,3-diynes containing a propargylic acetate afford [3]cumulenyl imidamides, while reactions using methanol as the trapping agent selectively generate 2,3-dienyl imidates. Five-membered heterocycles were obtained from 1,3-diynes containing a homopropargylic hydroxyl or amine substituent.

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.

TfOH-Catalyzed Phosphinylation of 2,3-Allenols into γ-Ketophosphine Oxides

The first facile and efficient acid-catalyzed direct coupling of a wide range of unprotected 2,3-allenols with arylphosphine oxides was developed, offering a general, one-step approach for the synthesis of structurally diverse γ-ketophosphine oxides accompanied by concurrent C-P/C═O bond formation with remarkable functional group tolerance and complete atom-economy under metal- and additive-free conditions. Mechanistic studies showed that this transformation involved a rearrangement and a phospha-Michael reaction.

Oxidative selenofunctionalization of allenes: convenient access to 2-(phenylselanyl)-but-2-enals and 4-oxo-3-(phenylselanyl)pent-2-enoates

The controlled preparation of two types of α-seleno-α,β-unsaturated carbonyls, namely, α-selenoenals and α-selenoenones, have been accomplished.

Reaction of silylallenes with triplet molecular oxygen

A facile formal ene reaction of trisubstituted silylallenes with triplet molecular oxygen involving the cleavage of a C(sp²)–H bond has been described.

Transition-Metal-Catalyzed Cross-Couplings through Carbene Migratory Insertion

Transition-metal-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions have been well-established as indispensable tools in modern organic synthesis. One of the major research goals in cross-coupling area is expanding the scope of the coupling partners. In the past decade, diazo compounds (or their precursors N-tosylhydrazones) have emerged as nucleophilic cross-coupling partners in C-C single bond or C═C double bond formations in transition-metal-catalyzed reactions. This type of coupling reaction involves the following general steps. First, the organometallic species is generated by various processes, including oxidative addition, transmetalation, cyclization, C-C bond cleavage, and C-H bond activation. Subsequently, the organometallic species reacts with the diazo substrate to generate metal carbene intermediate, which undergoes rapid migratory insertion to form a C-C bond. The new organometallic species generated from migratory insertion may undergo various transformations. This type of carbene-based coupling has proven to be general: various transition metals including Pd, Cu, Rh, Ni, Co, and Ir are effective catalysts; the scope of the reaction has also been extended to substrates other than diazo compounds; and various cascade processes have also been devised based on the carbene migratory insertion. This review will summarize the achievements made in this field since 2001.

[3,3]-Sigmatropic rearrangement of allenic alcohols: stereoselective synthesis of 1,3-diene-2-ol sulfonates

An efficient synthetic pathway to 1,3-diene-2-ol sulfonates involving the [3,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement of allenic alcohols with sulfonic acids under mild reaction conditions is described. These products can easily undergo reduction or transition-metal catalyzed cross-coupling reactions to yield a series of stereodefined multisubstituted 1,3-dienes.

Organo-manganese η2-auxiliary directed reactions: a diastereoselective approach to 2,3-allenols

Propargyl aldehydes underwent isomerization to allenyl aldehydes under mildly basic conditions when complexed to an organo-manganese auxiliary using methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl (MMT). This traceless auxiliary magnifies the axial chirality of the allene moiety, allowing for highly diastereoselective additions to the aldehyde carbonyl and subsequent access to an array of 2,3-allenols. Using this strategy, a nitrile-substituted 2,3-allenol was prepared and efficiently converted to Hagen's gland lactone.

Dehydrative thiolation of allenols: indium vs gold catalysis

Intermolecular additions of thiols to allenols via formal S(N)2' selectivity to produce functionalized dienes are described. Although this dehydrative reaction was initially developed using gold(I) catalysis, indium(III) proves to be a far superior catalyst in terms of selectivity and substrate scope.

Regio- and stereoselective synthesis of 2-amino-dienes via decarboxylative amination of 4-(ethoxycarbonyl)-2,3-allenols by TsNCO

A metal-free decarboxylative amination of 4-(ethoxycarbonyl)-2,3-allenols by TsNCO via base-induced aza-Michael addition/elimination has been developed. A variety of substituted N-tosyl 1,3-dien-2-yl amines were obtained in good yields and excellent regio- and stereoselectivity. Moreover, this transformation could be applied in preparation of 2-amino-trienes.

Nitration of silyl allenes to form functionalized nitroalkenes

An efficient nitration of silyl allenes with nitrogen dioxide radical, generated from NaNO2 and AcOH, to form α-nitro-α,β-unsaturated silyl oximes has been developed. A similar nitration could be achieved by using Fe(NO3)3·9H2O and FeCl3·6H2O, but different from the regioselective oxime formation, two regioisomeric chloride-trapped products were isolated with varying ratios depending on the steric bulk of the silyl group. A novel ring-closure reaction of α-nitro-α,β-unsaturated silyl oximes upon treating with TBAF to form isooxazolidinone derivatives was also developed.