Inter/Intramolecular Cascade of 1,6-Enynes Catalyzed by All-Metal Aromatic Tripalladium Complexes and Carboxylic Acids

Trinuclear all-metal aromatic clusters are an original class of molecules with a cyclic and planar metal core. Characterized by peculiar metal-metal delocalized bonds, they represent a new frontier in transition-metal catalysis. We report a study on C-C-forming reactions of polyunsaturated substrates catalyzed by trinuclear all-metal aromatic palladium clusters. The synthesis of two new families of tricyclic compounds was obtained with a broad functional group tolerance under mild reaction conditions. A peculiar regio- and diastereoselectivity characterized the method, demonstrating that trinuclear palladium complexes are complementary to their popular mononuclear peers. Furthermore, preliminary studies on the mechanism of these polycyclization reactions revealed unique features of the homogeneous catalytic system.

Carbometalation and Heterometalation of Carbon-Carbon Multiple-Bonds Using Group-13 Heavy Metals: Carbogallation, Carboindation, Heterogallation, and Heteroindation

Organogallium and -indium compounds are useful reagents in organic synthesis because of their moderate stability, efficient reactivity and high chemoselectivity. Carbogallation and -indation of a carbon-carbon multiple bond achieves the simultaneous formation of carbon-carbon and carbon-metal bonds. Heterogallation and -indation construct carbon-heteroatom and carbon-metal bonds. Therefore, these reaction systems represent a significant synthetic method for organogalliums and -indiums. Many chemists have attempted to apply various types of unsaturated compounds such as alkynes, alkenes, and allenes to these reaction systems. This minireview provides an overview of carboindation and -gallation as well as heteroindation and -gallation.

Direct use of 1,3-dienes for the allylation of ketones via catalytic hydroindation

In this study, in situ catalytically generated allylic indium from 1,3 dienes and InCl₂H was developed for use in the allylation of ketones.

Mechanistic Aspects and Synthetic Applications of Radical Additions to Allenes

More than 50 years have passed since Haszeldine reported the first addition of a trifluoromethyl radical to an allene; in the intervening years, both the chemistry of allenes and the reactivity of single-electron species have become topics of intense interest. In this Review, we provide an overview of the fundamentals of radical additions to allenes and highlight the emergence of theoretical and experimental evidence that reveals unique reactivity patterns for radical additions to allenes as compared with other unsaturated compounds. Factors capable of exerting control over the chemo-, regio-, and stereoselectivities of the attack of carbon- and heteroatom-based radicals at each of the three potential reactive sites in an allene substrate are described. These include reaction conditions, the nature of the attacking radical, the substitution pattern of the allene, and the length of the linker between the radical center and the proximal allene carbon in the substrate. Cycloaddition reactions between allenes and partners containing π-bonds, which are likely to proceed through radical pathways, are presented to highlight their ability to rapidly access complex polycyclic scaffolds. Finally, the synthetic utility of the products arising from these chemistries is described, including their applications to the construction of complex molecules.

Regio- and Stereoselective Allylindation of Alkynes Using InBr₃ and Allylic Silanes: Synthesis, Characterization, and Application of 1,4-Dienylindiums toward Skipped Dienes

Regioselective anti-allylindation of alkynes was achieved using InBr₃ and allylic silanes. Various types of alkynes and allylic silanes were applicable to the present allylindation. This sequential process used the generated 1,4-dienylindiums to establish novel synthetic methods for skipped dienes. The 1,4-dienylindiums were characterized by spectral analysis and treated with I₂ to stereoselectively give 1-iodo-1,4-dienes. The Pd-catalyzed cross coupling of 1,4-dienylindium with iodobenzene successfully proceeded in a one-pot manner to afford the corresponding 1-aryl-1,4-diene.

Formal alkylation of allenes through highly selective radical cyclizations of allene-enes

Something radical: the first example of alkene-to-allene radical cyclization of allene-enes is reported. The highly chemoselective intermolecular radical addition reaction of the alkene and subsequent, exclusive exo-radical addition to the allene was realized with perfluoroalkyl radicals. A subsequent TBAF-promoted dehydroiodination of the cyclization products forms cyclopentanes and regenerates an allene moiety (TBAF=tetra-n-butylammonium fluoride).