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Alkyne migration in alkylidene carbenoid species: a new method of polyyne synthesis
Sara Eisler1, Navjot Chahal, Robert McDonald
1Department of Chemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2G2, Canada.
Abstract:
The synthesis of conjugated polyyne structures via a modification of the Fritsch-Buttenberg-Wiechell (FBW) rearrangement is reported. Our adaptation provides for the 1,2-migration of an alkyne in a carbene/carbenoid intermediate that is conveniently effected via lithium-halogen exchange with the appropriate dibromo-olefinic precursor. This rearrangement is quite rapidly accomplished under mild conditions (hexane solution, -78 degrees C), and the seemingly high migratory aptitude of the alkynyl moiety provides for efficient rearrangement. This, in turn, allows for multiple rearrangements in a single molecule, greatly facilitating the construction of highly unsaturated substrates. This procedure is exploited for the rapid synthesis of symmetrical and unsymmetrical 1,3,5-hexatriynes, extended polyynes, and aryl polyyne building blocks. Most significantly, many of these structures have been or would be difficult to access via more traditional transition metal catalyzed homo- or cross-coupling techniques.
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02:27Preparation of Alkynes: Alkylation Reaction
Alkylation of terminal alkynes with primary alkyl halides in the presence of a strong base like sodium amide is one of the common methods for the synthesis of longer carbon-chain alkynes. For example, treatment of 1-propyne with sodium amide followed by reaction with ethyl bromide yields 2-pentyne.
02:34Preparation of Alkynes: Dehydrohalogenation
Alkynes can be prepared by dehydrohalogenation of vicinal or geminal dihalides in the presence of a strong base like sodium amide in liquid ammonia. The reaction proceeds with the loss of two equivalents of hydrogen halide (HX) via two successive E2 elimination reactions.
02:38Electrophilic Addition to Alkynes: Halogenation
Halogenation is another class of electrophilic addition reactions where a halogen molecule gets added across a π bond. In alkynes, the presence of two π bonds allows for the addition of two equivalents of halogens (bromine or chlorine). The addition of the first halogen molecule forms a trans-dihaloalkene as the major product and the cis isomer as the minor product. Subsequent addition of the second equivalent yields the tetrahalide.
02:40Alkynes to Aldehydes and Ketones: Acid-Catalyzed Hydration
Analogous to alkenes, alkynes also undergo acid-catalyzed hydration. While the addition of water to an alkene gives an alcohol, hydration of alkynes produces different products such as aldehydes and ketones.
02:47Alkynes to Aldehydes and Ketones: Hydroboration-Oxidation
One of the convenient methods for the preparation of aldehydes and ketones is via hydration of alkynes. Hydroboration-oxidation of alkynes is an indirect hydration reaction in which an alkyne is treated with borane followed by oxidation with alkaline peroxide to form an enol that rapidly converts into an aldehyde or a ketone. Terminal alkynes form aldehydes, whereas internal alkynes give ketones as the final product.
02:24Reduction of Alkynes to cis-Alkenes: Catalytic Hydrogenation
Like alkenes, alkynes can be reduced to alkanes in the presence of transition metal catalysts such as Pt, Pd, or Ni. The reaction involves two sequential syn additions of hydrogen via a cis-alkene intermediate.