Intercalation of multiple carbon atoms between the carbonyls of alpha-diketones

The reaction of open-chain or cyclic alpha-diketones with specific omega-alkenyl organometallics leads readily under the proper conditions to 1,2-diols bonded to terminal olefinic chains. With 1-phenyl-1,2-propanedione, biacetyl, and cyclohexane-1,2-dione, allylindation in aqueous THF proceeds readily at both adjacent carbonyls. For cyclododecane-1,2-dione, recourse must be made to allylmagnesium bromide for completing the second-stage condensation. Grignard reagents have also served well as reactants for biacetyl monoadducts. In contrast, monoallylated camphorquinone is reluctant to couple to Grignard reagents and reacts only when Barbier-type alkyllithium reactions are applied. The ring closing metatheses of these products have been examined. Where six-membered ring formation operates, cyclization can be performed directly on diols. When larger rings are involved, the diols will react only if structural preorganization capable of facilitating mutual approach of the two double bonds is at play. For this purpose, the prior conversion to a cyclic carbonate holds considerable utility. In the latter setting, saponification must precede the diol cleavage step which has been performed with lead tetraacetate. The latter reagent also exhibits the very beneficial effect of facilitating removal of ruthenium and phosphorus byproducts generated during the metathesis step. This chemistry conveniently lends itself to the controlled intercalation of multiple methylene groups between the carbonyl carbons of readily available alpha-diketones to deliver linear or cyclic products.