Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 13, 2026

Facile Preparation of (2Z,4E)-Dienamides by the Olefination of Electron-deficient Alkenes with Allyl Acetate
Published on: June 21, 2017
Transition metal-catalyzed/mediated reaction of allenes with a nucleophilic functionality connected to the
1State Key Laboratory of Organometallic Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 354 Fenglin Lu, Shanghai 200032, People's Republic of China.
Abstract:
Allenes with a nucleophilic functionality connected to the alpha-carbon atom have been shown to be versatile building blocks for the syn-thesis of gamma-butenolides, gamma-lactams, gamma-iminolactones, vinylic epoxides, 4-amino-2-alkenols, 2-amino-3-alkenols, 2,5-dihydrofurans, furans, vinylic cyclopropanes, and cyclopentenes, depending on the nature of the nucleophilic centers. The reaction may proceed via the carbometalation-nucleophilic attack mechanism or nucleometallation-reductive elimination. The stereochemical outcomes by these two pathways are different.
Related Concept Videos
Reduction of Alkenes: Asymmetric Catalytic Hydrogenation
The metal catalyst used can be either heterogeneous or homogeneous. When hydrogenation of an alkene generates a chiral center, a pair of enantiomeric products is expected to form. However, an enantiomeric excess of one of the products can be facilitated using an enantioselective reaction or an...
Preparation 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.
Electrophilic 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.
Reduction 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.
Reduction of Alkynes to trans-Alkenes: Sodium in Liquid Ammonia
When dissolved in liquid ammonia, an alkali metal, such as sodium, dissociates into a...
Radical Reactivity: Nucleophilic Radicals

