Contrasteric Regiocontrol in Rhodium-Catalyzed Hydrogenative Couplings of Nonsymmetric 1,3-Diynes to Ethyl Glyoxalate

Mechanism and origins of regio- and enantioselectivities in RhI-catalyzed hydrogenative couplings of 1,3-diynes and activated carbonyl partners: intervention of a cumulene intermediate

The mechanism of the rhodium-catalyzed reductive coupling of 1,3-diynes and vicinal dicarbonyl compounds employing H(2) as reductant was investigated by density functional theory. Oxidative coupling through 1,4-addition of the Rh(I)-bound dicarbonyl to the conjugated diyne via a seven-membered cyclic cumulene transition state leads to exclusive formation of linear adducts. Diyne 1,4-addition is much faster than the 1,2-addition to simple alkynes. The 1,2-dicarbonyl compound is bound to rhodium in a bidentate fashion during the oxidative coupling event. The chemo-, regio-, and enantioselectivities of this reaction were investigated and are attributed to this unique 1,4-addition pathway. The close proximity of the ligand and the alkyne substituent distal to the forming C-C bond controls the regio- and enantioselectivity: coupling occurs at the sterically more demanding alkyne terminus, which minimizes nonbonded interaction with the ligand. A stereochemical model is proposed that accounts for preferential formation of the (R)-configurated coupling product when (R)-biaryl phosphine ligands are used.

The regio- and stereochemical course of reductive cross-coupling reactions between 1,3-disubstituted allenes and vinylsilanes: Synthesis of (Z)-dienes

In investigations aimed at exploring the potential of disubstituted allenes in stereoselective synthesis, we report studies that explore the reductive cross-coupling reaction of vinylsilanes with a range of substituted allenes. Regiochemical control is attained by employing allenic alkoxides, where the proximal heteroatom dictates the site-selectivity in a process that proceeds by net formal metallo-[3,3] rearrangement (directed carbometalation/elimination). Stereoselectivity in these reactions is complex, with both the nature of allene substitution and relative stereochemistry of the substrate impacting the stereoselective generation of each alkene of a substituted 1,3-diene. 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Origins of regioselectivity and alkene-directing effects in nickel-catalyzed reductive couplings of alkynes and aldehydes

The origins of reactivity and regioselectivity in nickel-catalyzed reductive coupling reactions of alkynes and aldehydes were investigated with density functional calculations. The regioselectivities of reactions of simple alkynes are controlled by steric effects, while conjugated enynes and diynes are predicted to have increased reactivity and very high regioselectivities, placing alkenyl or alkynyl groups distal to the forming C-C bond. The reactions of enynes and diynes involve 1,4-attack of the Ni-carbonyl complex on the conjugated enyne or diyne. The consequences of these conclusions on reaction design are discussed.

ESI-MS, DFT, and synthetic studies on the H(2)-mediated coupling of acetylene: insertion of C=X bonds into rhodacyclopentadienes and Brønsted acid cocatalyzed hydrogenolysis of organorhodium intermediates

The catalytic mechanism of the hydrogen-mediated coupling of acetylene to carbonyl compounds and imines has been examined using three techniques: (a) ESI-MS and ESI-CAD-MS analyses, (b) computational modeling, and (c) experiments wherein putative reactive intermediates are diverted to alternate reaction products. ESI-MS analysis of reaction mixtures from the hydrogen-mediated reductive coupling of acetylene to alpha-ketoesters or N-benzenesulfonyl aldimines corroborate a catalytic mechanism involving C horizontal lineX (X = O, NSO(2)Ph) insertion into a cationic rhodacyclopentadiene obtained by way of acetylene oxidative dimerization with subsequent Brønsted acid cocatalyzed hydrogenolysis of the resulting oxa- or azarhodacycloheptadiene. Hydrogenation of 1,6-diynes in the presence of alpha-ketoesters provides analogous coupling products. ESI mass spectrometric analysis again corroborates a catalytic mechanism involving carbonyl insertion into a cationic rhodacyclopentadiene. For all ESI-MS experiments, the structural assignments of ions are supported by multistage collisional activated dissociation (CAD) analyses. Further support for the proposed catalytic mechanism derives from experiments aimed at the interception of putative reactive intermediates and their diversion to alternate reaction products. For example, rhodium-catalyzed coupling of acetylene to an aldehyde in the absence of hydrogen or Brønsted acid cocatalyst provides the corresponding (Z)-butadienyl ketone, which arises from beta-hydride elimination of the proposed oxarhodacycloheptadiene intermediate, as corroborated by isotopic labeling. Additionally, the putative rhodacyclopentadiene intermediate obtained from the oxidative coupling of acetylene is diverted to the product of reductive [2 + 2 + 2] cycloaddition when N-p-toluenesulfonyl-dehydroalanine ethyl ester is used as the coupling partner. The mechanism of this transformation also is corroborated by isotopic labeling. Computer model studies based on density functional theory (DFT) support the proposed mechanism and identify Brønsted acid cocatalyst assisted hydrogenolysis to be the most difficult step. The collective studies provide new insight into the reactivity of cationic rhodacyclopentadienes, which should facilitate the design of related rhodium-catalyzed C-C couplings.

Regioselective Reductive Cross-Coupling Reactions of Unsymmetrical Alkynes

The present microreview summarizes our progress over the last few years in defining regioselective reductive cross-coupling reactions of unsymmetrical alkynes with terminal- and internal alkynes, aldehydes, and imines. We begin with a brief historical perspective of metal-mediated reductive dimerization reactions of aromatic alkynes and discuss the challenges associated with "crossed" versions of this mode of reactivity. Next, a collection of available methods that allow for regioselective reductive cross-coupling of internal alkynes with terminal and internal alkynes, aldehydes, and imines is summarized. After an examination of the requirements for regioselectivity in these cases, the logic behind our design of alkoxide-directed titanium-mediated reductive cross-coupling reactions is presented. A nomenclature is introduced to delineate the presumed mechanistic origin of regioselection associated with each reaction design, and a presentation of alkoxide-directed regioselective reductive cross-coupling reactions of alkynes follows. Throughout, principal issues related to reactivity and selectivity are discussed to assess scope and limitations of available methods and to describe the broad challenges that exist for defining complex fragment union reactions based on reductive cross-coupling chemistry.

Convergent synthesis of piperidines by the union of conjugated alkynes with imines: a unique regioselective bond construction for heterocycle synthesis

A two-step process is described for the union of aromatic imines, conjugated alkynes, and aldehydes that results in a stereoselective synthesis of highly substituted piperidines. This synthetic process has been made possible by defining a unique regioselective functionalization of conjugated alkynes that establishes a suitably functionalized substrate for subsequent heterocycle-forming cationic annulation. Given the flexibility of the coupling process, heterocycles can be accessed through a process that establishes up to four stereogenic centers and four fused rings.