Z-selective dimerization of terminal alkynes by a (PNNP)FeII complex

A tetradentate bis(amido)bis(phosphine) FeII complex, (PNNP)Fe, is shown to activate the terminal C-H bond of aryl alkynes across its Fe-Namide bonds. (PNNP)Fe is also shown to catalytically dimerize terminal aryl alkynes to produce 1,3-enynes with Z : E ratios as high as 96 : 4 with yields up to 95% and loadings as low as 1 mol% at 30 °C in 2 h. A plausible metal-ligand cooperative mechanism invoking a vinylidene intermediate is proposed.

Selective Manganese-Catalyzed Dimerization and Cross-Coupling of Terminal Alkynes

Herein, efficient manganese-catalyzed dimerization of terminal alkynes to afford 1,3-enynes is described. This reaction is atom economic, implementing an inexpensive, earth-abundant nonprecious metal catalyst. The precatalyst is the bench-stable alkyl bisphosphine Mn(I) complex fac-[Mn(dippe)(CO)₃(CH₂CH₂CH₃)]. The catalytic process is initiated by migratory insertion of a CO ligand into the Mn–alkyl bond to yield an acyl intermediate that undergoes rapid C–H bond cleavage of alkyne, forming an active Mn(I) acetylide catalyst [Mn(dippe)(CO)₂(C≡CPh)(η²-HC≡CPh)] together with liberated butanal. A range of aromatic and aliphatic terminal alkynes were efficiently and selectively converted into head-to-head Z-1,3-enynes and head-to-tail gem-1,3-enynes, respectively, in good to excellent yields. Moreover, cross-coupling of aromatic and aliphatic alkynes selectively yields head-to-tail gem-1,3-enynes. In all cases, the reactions were performed at 70 °C with a catalyst loading of 1–2 mol %. A mechanism based on density functional theory (DFT) calculations is presented.

Highly regio- and stereoselective phosphinylphosphination of terminal alkynes with tetraphenyldiphosphine monoxide under radical conditions

The homolytic cleavage of the P^V(O)–P^III bond in tetraphenyldiphosphine monoxide simultaneously provides both pentavalent and trivalent phosphorus-centered radicals with different reactivities. The method using V-40 as an initiator is successfully investigated for the regio- and stereoselective phosphinylphosphination of terminal alkynes giving the corresponding trans-isomers of 1-diphenylphosphinyl-2-diphenylthiophosphinyl-1-alkenes in good yields. The protocol can be applied to a wide variety of terminal alkynes including both alkyl- and arylalkynes.

Late 3d Metal-Catalyzed (Cross-) Dimerization of Terminal and Internal Alkynes

This review will outline the recent advances in chemo-, regio-, and stereoselective (cross-) dimerization of terminal alkynes to generate 1,3-enynes using different types of iron and cobalt catalysts with altering oxidation states of the active species. In general, the used ligands have a crucial effect on the stereoselectivity of the reaction; e.g., bidentate phosphine ligands in cobalt catalysts can generate the E-configured head-to-head dimerization product, while tridentate phosphine ligands can generate either the Z-configured head-to-head dimerization product or the branched head-to-tail isomer. Furthermore, the hydroalkynylation of silyl-substituted acetylenes as donors to internal alkynes as acceptors will be discussed using cobalt and nickel catalysts.

Organic synthesis with the most abundant transition metal–iron: from rust to multitasking catalysts

The promising aspects of iron in synthetic chemistry are being explored for three-four decades as a green and eco-friendly alternative to late transition metals. This present review unveils these rich iron-chemistry towards different transformations.

Potassium tert-butoxide mediated C-C, C-N, C-O and C-S bond forming reactions

Potassium tertiary butoxide (KO^tBu) mediated constructions of C-C, C-O, C-N, and C-S bonds are reviewed with special emphasis on their synthetic applications. KO^tBu can be used to perform reactions already known to be carried out using transition metals, but it has advantages in terms of environmental congruence and economic cost. KO^tBu is widely employed in organic synthesis to mediate the construction of C-C, C-O, C-N, C-S and miscellaneous bonds in good to excellent yields. Synthetic uses of KO^tBu in coupling, alkylation, arylation, α-phenylation, cyclization, Heck-type, annulation, photo-arylation, aromatic-substitution, amidation, and silylation reactions are summarized and discussed. The mechanisms through which KO^tBu carries out a specific reaction are also discussed. One of the goals of this review is to attract the attention of chemists as to the benefits of using KO^tBu as an environmentally benign alternative to transition metals and its applications in the construction of chemical bonds with predominant importance in organic synthesis. This review completely covers the synthetic protocols that have been performed using KO^tBu in the last two decades.

Dimerization of terminal alkynes promoted by a heterobimetallic Zr/Co complex

Enynes are important synthetic intermediates that are also found in a variety of natural products and other biologically relevant molecules. The most atom economical synthetic route to enynes is via the direct coupling of readily available terminal alkyne precursors. Towards this goal, we demonstrate the formation of 1,3-enynes from terminal alkynes facilitated by a reduced ZrIV/Co-I heterobimetallic complex. An intermediate is trapped as a tBuNC adduct, revealing that bimetallic activation of the terminal C-H bond of the alkyne is an essential mechanistic step.

Iron catalyzed stereoselective alkene synthesis: a sustainable pathway

Replacing expensive or toxic transition metals with iron has become an important trend. This article summarises the recent progresses of a wide range of Fe-catalyzed reactions for accessing various stereodefined alkenes.

Cobalt-Catalyzed E-Selective Cross-Dimerization of Terminal Alkynes: A Mechanism Involving Cobalt(0/II) Redox Cycles

A highly E-selective cross-dimerization of terminal alkynes with either terminal silylacetylenes, tert-butylacetylene, or 1-trimethylsilyloxy-1,1-diphenyl-2-propyne in the presence of a dichlorocobalt(II) complex bearing a sterically demanding 2,9-bis(2,4,6-triisopropylphenyl)-1,10-phenanthroline, activated with two equivalents of EtMgBr, gives a variety of (E)-1,3-enynes. A well-characterized diolefin/cobalt(0) complex, with divinyltetramethyldisiloxane, acted as a catalytically active species without any activation, clearly indicating that a cobalt(0) species is involved in the catalytic cycle.

Metal-Free Synthesis of Functionalized Tetrasubstituted Alkenes by Three-Component Reaction of Alkynes, Iodine, and Sodium Sulfinates

An operationally simple, efficient, and metal-/peroxide-free three-component reaction of alkynes, iodine, and sodium sulfinates has been developed for the construction of highly functionalized tetrasubstituted alkenes. Iodo- and sulfonyl-containing tetrasubstituted alkenes, such as vinyl ketones, allylic alcohols, and conjugated enynes, could be obtained regio- and stereoselectively in up to 96% yield.

Pseudo-tetrahedral Rhodium and Iridium Complexes: Catalytic Synthesis of E-Enynes

The reactions of the rhodium(I) and iridium(I) complexes [M(PhBP₃ )(C₂ H₄ )(NCMe)] (PhBP₃ =PhB(CH₂ PPh₂ )₃ ^- ) with alkynes have resulted in the synthesis of a new family of pseudo-tetrahedral complexes, [M(PhBP₃ )(RC≡CR')] (M=Rh, Ir), which contain the alkyne as a four-electron donor. The reactions of these unusual compounds with two-electron donors (L=PMe₃ , CNtBu) produced a change in the "donicity" of the alkyne from a 4e^- to a 2e^- donor to give five-coordinate complexes. These were the final products with the iridium complexes, whereas further reactions took place with the rhodium complexes. In particular, C(sp)-H bond activation of the alkyne occurred leading to hydrido alkynyl complexes. This process is essential for the further reactivity of the alkynes, and if the alkyne itself was used as reagent, E-enyne complexes were obtained. As a consequence of this chemistry, we show that the complex [Rh(PhBP₃ )(C₂ H₄ )(NCMe)] is a very efficient pre-catalyst for the regioselective di- and trimerization of terminal alkynes to E-enynes and benzene derivatives, respectively. Interestingly, acetonitrile significantly enhanced the catalytic activity by facilitating the C(sp)-H bond activation step. A hydrometalation mechanism to account for these experimental observations is proposed.

Dimerization of Terminal Aryl Alkynes Catalyzed by Iron(II) Amine-Pyrazolyl Tripodal Complexes with E/Z Selectivity Controlled by tert-Butoxide

The catalytic activity of iron(II) complexes with functionalized amine-pyrazolyl tripodal ligands toward dimerization of terminal alkynes in the presence a base (KO ^t Bu or NaO ^t Bu) has been studied. An unusual E/Z selectivity of the reaction determined by tert-butoxide was observed.

Stereoselective preparation of conjugated (Z)-1,3-enynes by dehydration reactions of allenic bromohydrins and the use of the enynes in base-mediated tandem allylation ene-carbocyclization reactions with β-ketoesters

A procedure has been developed for the concise, stereoselective synthesis of (Z)-5-bromo-4-aryl-pent-3-en-1-ynes through Sc(OTf)₃ catalyzed dehydration reactions of allenic bromohydrins. (Z)-1,3-Enynes are transformed to methylenecyclopentenes when subjected to a sequential, one-pot process involving base mediated allylation reactions with ethyl acetoacetate followed by ene-carbocyclization reactions. An unprecedented rearrangement reaction involving 1,5-acyl migration takes place when the methylenecyclopentenes are treated with acid to form highly substituted cyclopentadienes.

Transition-metal-free hydration of nitriles using potassium tert-butoxide under anhydrous conditions

Potassium tert-butoxide acts as a nucleophilic oxygen source during the hydration of nitriles to give the corresponding amides under anhydrous conditions. The reaction proceeds smoothly for a broad range of substrates under mild conditions, providing an efficient and economically affordable synthetic route to the amides in excellent yields. This protocol does not need any transition-metal catalyst or any special experimental setup and is easily scalable to bulk scale synthesis. A single-electron-transfer radical mechanism as well as an ionic mechanism have been proposed for the hydration process.

Meso enyne substituted BODIPYs: synthesis, structure and properties

We report the synthesis of meso enyne substituted BODIPYs by the reaction of 8-chloro BODIPY with terminal alkynes under Sonogashira coupling conditions, and by Pd–Cu catalyzed hydroalkynylation reaction of terminal alkynes, across the –CC– bond of meso alkynylated BODIPYs.

Computational insight into the mechanism of the Pd(0)–Brønsted acid cooperatively catalysed head-to-tail dimerization of terminal alkynes

The Pd(0)–Brønsted acid cooperatively catalysed head-to-tail dimerization of terminal alkynes was computationally studied to gain a mechanistic insight.

Carboxylate switch between hydro- and carbopalladation pathways in regiodivergent dimerization of alkynes

Experimental and theoretical investigation of the regiodivergent palladium-catalyzed dimerization of terminal alkynes is presented. Employment of N-heterocyclic carbene-based palladium catalyst in the presence of phosphine ligand allows for highly regio- and stereoselective head-to-head dimerization reaction. Alternatively, addition of carboxylate anion to the reaction mixture triggers selective head-to-tail coupling. Computational studies suggest that reaction proceeds via the hydropalladation pathway favoring head-to-head dimerization under neutral reaction conditions. The origin of the regioselectivity switch can be explained by the dual role of carboxylate anion. Thus, the removal of hydrogen atom by the carboxylate directs reaction from the hydropalladation to the carbopalladation pathway. Additionally, in the presence of the carboxylate anion intermediate, palladium complexes involved in the head-to-tail dimerization display higher stability compared to their analogues for the head-to-head reaction.