Mitsumi Nishi

Rhenium-catalyzed regio- and stereoselective addition of two carbon units to terminal alkynes via carbon-carbon bond cleavage of β-keto sulfones

Treatment of β-keto sulfones with terminal alkynes gave unsaturated δ-keto sulfones in good to excellent yields under rhenium catalysis. In this reaction, the insertion of the alkynes into the nonstrained carbon-carbon single bond between the α- and β-positions of the β-keto sulfones proceeded smoothly, and (Z)-isomers were produced with high regio- and stereoselectivities.

Rhenium- and Manganese-Catalyzed Insertion of Alkynes into a Carbon–Carbon Single Bond of Cyclic and Acyclic 1,3-Dicarbonyl Compounds

Treatment of alkynes with cyclic and acyclic 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds in the presence of a catalytic amount of a rhenium or manganese complex gives ring-expanded and carbon-chain extension products, respectively. In these reactions, alkynes insert into a non-strained carbon-carbon single bond of 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds. The ring-expansion reaction is also promoted by the addition of 4-A molecular sieves instead of a catalytic amount of an isocyanide.

Iron-catalyzed synthesis of glycine derivatives via carbon–nitrogen bond cleavage using diazoacetate

Treatment of tertiary amines with diazoacetate in the presence of a catalytic amount of an iron salt, FeCl(3), in ethanol gave glycine derivatives. In this reaction, a carbon-nitrogen single bond of the amine was cleaved.

Manganese-Catalyzed Construction of Tetrasubstituted Benzenes from 1,3-Dicarbonyl Compounds and Terminal Acetylenes

Treatment of beta-keto esters with terminal acetylenes in the presence of a catalytic amount of a manganese complex, MnBr(CO)5, and molecular sieves, gave multisubstituted aromatic compounds in good to excellent yields. This reaction employs [2 + 2 + 2] cycloaddition of beta-keto esters and 2 equiv of terminal acetylenes with dehydration. In the case of a 1,3-diketone, the corresponding acetophenone derivative and its deacylated compound can be synthesized selectively.

Rhenium- and Manganese-Catalyzed Synthesis of Aromatic Compounds from 1,3-Dicarbonyl Compounds and Alkynes

We have succeeded in the development of three approaches to the synthesis of aromatic compounds from 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds and alkynes. The first approach is a manganese-catalyzed [2+2+2] cycloaddition between 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds, which have no substituents at the active methylene moiety, and terminal alkynes. This reaction proceeds with high regioselectivity when aryl acetylenes are employed as the alkyne component. The second approach is a rhenium- or manganese-catalyzed formal [2+1+2+1] cycloaddition between beta-keto esters and two kinds of alkynes. In this reaction, the aromatic compounds are obtained by the following reaction sequence: (1) insertion of the first alkyne into a carbon-carbon single bond of a beta-keto ester, (2) formation of 2-pyranones via intramolecular cyclization with the elimination of ethanol, and (3) Diels-Alder reaction between the formed 2-pyranone and the second alkyne. This reaction provides multisubstituted aromatic compounds in a regioselective manner. The third approach is a rhenium-catalyzed formal [2+2+1+1] cycloaddition reaction from two 1,3-diketones and one alkyne. In this reaction, the aromatic skeleton is constructed from three carbons of the first 1,3-diketone, two carbons of the alkyne, and one carbon of the second 1,3-diketone.

Rhenium-Catalyzed Formation of Bicyclo[3.3.1]nonene Frameworks by a Reaction of Cyclic β-Keto Esters with Terminal Alkynes

Treatment of cyclic beta-keto esters with terminal alkynes in the presence of a catalytic amount of a rhenium complex, [ReBr(CO)(3)(thf)](2), gave bicyclo[3.3.1]nonene derivatives. The reaction conditions and yields of the bicyclo[3.3.1]nonenes were improved by the sequential use of tetrabutylammonium fluoride (TBAF) after the rhenium-catalyzed reactions.

Rhenium-catalyzed regio- and stereoselective synthesis of γ-thio-α,β-unsaturated ketones via insertion of terminal alkynes into the C-S bond.

The reaction of α-thioketones and alkynes in the presence of a rhenium catalyst, [HRe(CO)(4)](n), gave γ-thio-α,β-unsaturated ketones in excellent yields. The alkynes were inserted into the carbon-sulfur bond of the α-thioketones, and isomerization of a double bond provided the products with high regio- and stereoselectivities. This reaction also proceeded in an intramolecular fashion.

Rhenium- and manganese-catalyzed carbon-carbon bond formation using 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds and alkynes*

A rhenium complex, [ReBr(CO)3(thf)]2, catalyzed insertion of terminal alkynes into a C–H bond of active methylene sites of 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds. When a catalytic amount of isocyanide or molecular sieves was added to the reaction mixture, the reaction course changed markedly, and insertion of alkynes into a C–C single bond between α- and β-positions of cyclic and acyclic β-keto esters occurred. The formed acyclic δ-keto esters could be converted to 2-pyranones, which were applied to the synthesis of multisubstituted aromatic compounds via the Diels–Alder reaction and successive elimination of carbon dioxide. In the case of the rhenium-catalyzed reactions between terminal alkynes and β-keto esters without substituent at the α-position, tetrasubstituted benzenes were produced regioselectively by two-to-one reaction of the components. The yields of tetrasubstituted benzenes were improved by using a manganese catalyst.