An efficient and versatile synthesis of chiral tetralins has been developed using both inter- and intramolecular Friedel-Crafts alkylation as a key step. The readily available hydronaphthalene substrates were prepared via a highly enantioselective metal-catalyzed ring opening of meso-oxabicyclic alkenes followed by hydrogenation. A wide variety of complex tetracyclic compounds have been isolated with high levels of regio-, diastereo-, and enantioselectivity.
A highly enantioselective palladium-catalyzed carbozincation of cyclopropenes has been developed. The intermediate cyclopropylzinc species, after transmetalation with copper, were trapped with various electrophiles. This one-pot procedure furnished functionalizied cyclopropenes with excellent diastereo- and enantioselectivity.
Chelated amino acid ester enolates are excellent nucleophiles for palladium-catalyzed allylic alkylations. These enolates react rapidly at -78 degrees C and in general without isomerization of pi-allyl palladium complexes. Therefore, they are good candidates for mechanistic studies and regioselective reactions. Terminal pi-allyl palladium complexes are preferentially attacked at the least hindered position giving rise to linear products, as illustrated with several (E)-configured allylic substrates. Under isomerization free conditions the branched products are formed preferentially from the corresponding (Z)-allyl substrates. An interesting behavior is observed in the reaction of secondary allylic substrates. Aryl-substituted substrates show a significant memory effect which can be explained by an asymmetric pi-allyl complex. For alkyl-substituted substrates a strong dependence of the regioselectivity on the leaving group is observed, which can be explained by different conformations in the ionization step. Under isomerization free conditions the product ratio gives important information about this step.
Chelated enolates are versatile nucleophiles for palladium-catalysed allylic alkylations. Even with complex allylic substrates the reaction proceed without significant isomerisation. This allows the stereoselective introduction of polyhydroxylated allylic sidechains into amino acids and peptides with retention of the olefin geometry.
Chelated amino acid ester enolates are excellent nucleophiles for allylic alkylations. With these enolates, even terminal pi-allyl palladium complexes react without significant isomerization. This allows a transfer of the cis-olefin geometry from the substrate into the product. Chiral substrates also show a reasonably good 1,5-induction.
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