Ligand Effect in Platinum-Catalyzed Cycloisomerization of 1,6-Enynes: Water or Carbon Monoxide, a Similar Role despite Distinct Electronic Properties?

Skeletal diversity in Pt- and Au-catalyzed annulations of allenedienes: dissecting unconventional mechanistic pathways

We describe the discovery of unprecedented annulation processes of 1,7-allenedienes, promoted by Pt or Au catalysts. These transformations revealed mechanistic pathways that had not been previously observed in reactions involving carbophilic catalysis. In particular, we have found that allenedienes bearing a silyl ether in the carbon tether connecting the diene and the allene divergently afford cyclopropane-embedded tricyclic derivatives, 6,6-fused bicarbocyclic products or 5,6-fused bicarbocyclic systems, depending on the type of Au or Pt catalyst used. We have carried out experimental and computational studies that shed light on the mechanistic reasons behind this rich and unusual skeletal divergence, and provide new lessons on the drastic influence of platinum ancillary ligands on the reaction outcome.

C-C Bond Migration in the Cycloisomerization of 1,6-Enynes

A full account of our investigation of C-C bond migration in the cycloisomerization of oxygen-tethered 1,6-enynes is described. Under Pt(II) and/or Ir(I) catalysis, cyclic and acylic alkyl groups were found to undergo 1,2-shifts into metal carbenoid intermediates. Interestingly, this process does not appear to be driven by the release of ring strain, and thus provides access to large carbocyclic frameworks. The beneficial effect of CO on the Pt(II) and Ir(I) catalytic systems is also evaluated.

Platinum-Catalyzed Cascade Rearrangement Reaction of 1,5-Diynyl Esters: Unusual Regioselective 1,5-Hydride Migration

A highly regioselective sequential 1,3-acyloxy migration/pentannulation/1,5-hydride migration reaction is disclosed which provides an efficient access to (E)-2-vinyl-3-oxo-1-methyleneindenes under neutral and mild reaction conditions. The migrated hydrogen atom was derived from an unactivated alkyl group, and the long-range 1,5-H shift was confirmed through related deuterium experiments.

Platinum(II)-phosphole complexes: synthesis and evaluation as enyne cycloisomerisation catalysts

A series of platinum(II)-monophosphole complexes has been synthesized and used in enyne cycloisomerisations in order to study the effect of the ligand on the catalytic activity and selectivity. Reactions were performed on various N- or C-tethered 1,6-enynes and in the absence or in the presence of nucleophiles. For the most efficient cationic Pt(II)-complexes, it was also evidenced that the counterion and/or the solvent could have an influence on both the efficiency and the selectivity in the competition between the 5-exo-dig and the 6-endo-dig processes.

Synthesis of substituted azulenes via Pt(II)-catalyzed ring-expanding cycloisomerization

Substituted azulenes, valuable structures for electronic devices and pharmaceuticals, have been synthesized by the platinum(II)-catalyzed intramolecular ring-expanding cycloisomerization of 1-en-3-yne with ortho-disubstituted benzene. This novel method provides an alternative route for the efficient synthesis of substituted azulenes. The reaction mechanism of selected catalytic transformations was explored using density functional calculations.

Molecular complexity from polyunsaturated substrates: the gold catalysis approach

Over the last two decades, electrophilic catalysis relying on platinum(II), gold(I), and gold(III) salts has emerged as a remarkable synthetic methodology. Chemists have discovered a large variety of organic transformations that convert a great assortment of highly functionalized precursors into valuable final products. In many cases, these methodologies offer unique features, allowing access to unprecedented molecular architectures. Due to the mild reaction conditions and high function compatibility, scientists have successfully developed applications in total synthesis of natural products, as well as in asymmetric catalysis. In addition, all these developments have been accompanied by the invention of well-tailored catalysts, so that a palette of different electrophilic agents is now commercially available or readily synthesized at the bench. In some respects, researchers' interests in developing homogeneous gold catalysis can be compared with the Californian gold rush of the 19th century. It has attracted into its fervor thousands of scientists, providing a huge number of versatile and important reports. More notably, it is clear that the contribution to the art of organic synthesis is very valuable, though the quest is not over yet. Because they rely on the intervention of previously unknown types of intermediates, new retrosynthetic disconnections are now possible. In this Account, we discuss our efforts on the use of readily available polyunsaturated precursors, such as enynes, dienynes, allenynes, and allenenes to give access to highly original polycyclic structures in a single operation. These transformations transit via previously undescribed intermediates A, B, D, F, and H that will be encountered later on. All these intermediates have been determined by both ourselves and others by DFT calculations and in some cases have been confirmed on the basis of experimental data. In addition, dual gold activation can be at work in some of these transformations, for instance, from E to F. Strikingly, we have found propargyl acetates to be particularly productive precursors. In a preliminary step upon electrophilic activation (complex I), they can lead to oxonium J or a vinylcarbenoid species K after 1,2-migration or complexed allenylester M from a formal 1,3-migration. All of them can serve as versatile entries for multievent processes. The propargyl cycle, sometimes called the golden carousel, involves species I-N), which lie in a close equilibrium. The control of this merry-go-round and its offshoots depends on the energy barriers associated with the subsequent reactions of these intermediates. We illustrate these themes in this Account, focusing on the intriguing characteristics of gold catalysis.