Hydroaminoalkylation of Allenes

The first examples of early-transition-metal-catalyzed hydroaminoalkylation reactions of allenes are reported. Initial studies performed with secondary aminoallenes led to the identification of a suitable titanium catalyst and revealed that under the reaction conditions, the initially formed hydroaminoalkylation products undergo an unexpected titanium-catalyzed rearrangement to form the thermodynamically more stable allylamines. The assumption that this rearrangement involves a reactive allylic cation intermediate provides a simple explanation of the fact that no successful early-transition-metal-catalyzed hydroaminoalkylations of allenes have previously been reported. As a result of the generation of the corresponding cation, the titanium-catalyzed intermolecular hydroaminoalkylation of propa-1,2-diene unexpectedly gives an aminocyclopentane product formed by incorporation of two equivalents of propa-1,2-diene.

Synthesis of gold allyloxysulfonium complexes and elimination to form an α,β-unsaturated aldehyde

Reaction of a cationic gold vinyl carbene/allylic cation complex with sulfoxides forms gold allyloxysulfonium complexes that undergo thermal elimination to form aldehyde.

Ionization of gold (γ-methoxy)vinyl complexes generates reactive gold vinyl carbene complexes

Highly reactive cationic gold vinyl carbene/allylic cation complexes are generated in solution via γ-ionization of gold vinyl complexes.

BF3·Et2O-Promoted Decomposition of Cyclic α-Diazo-β-Hydroxy Ketones: Novel Insights into Mechanistic Aspects

We report novel insights into the cascade rearrangement of destabilized vinyl cations deriving from the BF3·Et2O-induced decomposition of cyclic α-diazo-β-hydroxy ketones in turn prepared by aldol-type condensation of cycloalkanones with diazoacetone. Complexation of the hydroxy group of the α-diazo-β-hydroxy compound with the Lewis acid is the first event, followed by the generation of the cycloalkanylidenediazonium salt that, after nitrogen loss, produces the highly reactive vinyl cation. The subsequent ring expansion results in the formation of a cycloalkenyl vinyl cation that affords the allylic cation by 1,2-methylene shift and ring contraction. The cation can then trap the solvent, the fluoride or the hydroxide released from the [BF3OH]− to afford different reaction products. The effect of both solvent and substrate ring size on products types and ratios were analyzed and discussed from a mechanistic point of view.

A catalytic allylic cation-induced intermolecular allylation-semipinacol rearrangement

A catalytic intermolecular semipinacol rearrangement induced by allylic carbocations has been realized and used in the synthesis of α-homoallyl ketones.

Gold-catalyzed [5+2] cycloaddition of quinolinium zwitterions and allenamides as an efficient route to fused 1,4-diazepines

Herein, we demonstrate a new catalytic cycloaddition of quinolinium zwitterions involving a gold-bound allylic cation intermediate.

Gold-Catalyzed Rearrangement of (Silylcyclopropenyl)methyl Ethers into (Silylmethylene)cyclopropanes

Methoxymethyl ethers derived from 2-(dimethylphenylsilyl)cycloprop-1-enyl carbinols undergo gold-catalyzed rearrangement leading to [(Z)-(dimethylphenylsilyl)methylene]cyclopropanes in moderate to high yields with methyl formate as a byproduct. This transformation proceeds by initial regioselective ring opening of the three-membered ring leading to an α-silyl vinyl gold carbenoid. This latter organogold species evolves by 1,5-hydride transfer, which triggers subsequent rearrangement involving loss of methyl formate, 2π-electrocyclization of the resulting allylic cation, and elimination of the metal to regenerate the catalyst.

Synthesis of carotenoid-cysteine conjugates.

Isozeaxanthin under acidic conditions forms an allylic cation which reacts readily with thiol nucleophiles. With N-acetylcysteine as a nucleophile the products obtained are carotenoid-cysteine conjugates in which the amino acid moiety is attached to the carotenoid via sulphur in position 4. The water solubility of the products can be increased by deprotection of the amino group. The antioxidant activity of the products were examined on human liver cells under conditions of hydrogen-peroxide induced oxidative stress.