Yves Gimbert

Tracking gold acetylides in gold(I)-catalyzed cycloisomerization reactions of enynes

The intermediacy of gold acetylides in the gold(I)-catalyzed cycloisomerization of enynes was questioned. While dinuclear gold complexes are observed under electrospray ionization conditions, the solution reactivity of gold acetylides also leads to the conclusion of their high affinity for the second coordination of a gold moiety, leading to dinuclear gold complexes. However, the involvement of gold acetylides and the corresponding diaurated species in the elementary steps of cycloisomerization mechanisms of enynes appears unlikely.

A Regio- and Diastereoselective Platinum-Catalyzed Tandem [2+1]/[3+2] Cycloaddition Sequence†

Platinum complexes bearing phosphinous acids have efficiently promoted a tandem intermolecular sequence of [2+1]/[3+2] cycloaddition reactions. This process gave access to novel tricyclic systems and the cascade reactions were regio- and diastereoselective (see scheme; Cy=cyclohexyl). The [3+2] cycloaddition reaction was investigated further and two different alkyne partners were used.

An Opportunity for Mg-Catalyzed Grignard-Type Reactions: Direct Coupling of Benzylic Halides with Pinacolborane with 10 mol % of Magnesium

Mg in catalytic amounts as the only metal permits the reductive coupling between benzyl halides and pinacolborane. HBpin acts both as an electrophile and as a reducing agent to regenerate an organomagnesium species in situ. An hydride oxidation mechanism is proposed on the basis of DFT calculations.

The Role of Water in Platinum‐Catalyzed Cycloisomerization of 1,6‐Enynes: A Combined Experimental and Theoretical Gas Phase Study

PtII‐catalyzed cycloisomerization of a 1,6‐enyne proceeds quickly in CHCl3 at room temperature, and also in the gas phase. However, calculations predict a slow reaction, because of the formation of a very stable chelate that undergoes oxidative cyclization at a high energy cost. The electrophilic activation of the alkyne followed by nucleophilic attack of the double bond to generate a cyclopropyl carbene would lead to a faster reaction, but the decomplexation of the double bond to generate an unsaturated platinum species is also energetically disfavored. However, decomplexation can be envisaged if an adventitious molecule of water enters the coordination sphere of the metal. This crucial role of water in PtII‐catalyzed cycloisomerization of enynes, initially sensed some years ago (Echavarren et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2001, 123, 10511) is now supported by mass spectrometry studies.

Application of cooperative iron/copper catalysis to a palladium-free borylation of aryl bromides with pinacolborane.

A new cooperative copper/iron catalysis for the borylation of various aryl bromides with pinacolborane, at -10 °C, is reported. Use of the toxic, precious metal Pd is avoided. The mechanism of the protodebromination side reaction is discussed.

Tandem mass spectrometric analysis of a mixture of isobars using the survival yield technique.

Collision induced dissociation tandem mass spectrometry experiments were performed to unequivocally separate compounds from an isobaric mixture of two products. The Survival Yield curve was obtained and is shown to consist in a linear combination of the curves corresponding to the two components separately. For such a mixture, a plateau appears on the diagram in lieu of the continuous decrease expected allowing for the structural study of the two components separately. The width of the plateau critically relates to the fragmentation parameters of the two molecular ions, which need to be sufficiently different structurally for the plateau to be observed. However, at constant fragmentation parameters, we have observed the width significantly increases at large m/z. This makes the separation more and more efficient as isobars have larger m/z and the technique complementary to those applicable at low m/z only. We have observed that the vertical position of the plateau relates linearly to the relative concentration of the two compounds that may be useful for quantification. Repeatability was estimated at 2% on a quadrupole ion trap. An advantage of using survival yield curves only, is that a priori knowledge of the respective fragmentation patterns of the two isobars becomes unnecessary. Consequently, similar performances are obtained if fragments are isobaric, which is also demonstrated in our study. The critical case of reverse peptides, at low m/z and similar fragmentation parameters, is also presented as a limitation of the method.

Docetaxel (taxotere) derivatives: novel NbCl3-based stereoselective approach to 2′-methyldocetaxel

The C-2 methylated 2S,3R and 2R,3S side chains of docetaxel have been enantioselectively prepared and esterified with protected 10-deacetylbaccatin III to provide novel analogues of docetaxel.

Reaction of nitrones with silyl ketene acetals: A DFT study

Theoretical calculations at the DFT level indicate that the reaction of a nitrone with a silyl ketene acetal proceeds, contrary to previous suggestions, through a classical 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition, followed by a silyl group transfer step to give the open‐chain product. Introduction of a diffuse basis set is necessary to describe properly nitrones. The influence of a Lewis acid has been studied.

The Pauson–Khand Mechanism Revisited: Origin of CO in the Final Product†

The mechanism of the Pauson-Khand reaction has been studied by mass spectrometry and it has been found, through ion-molecule reaction with (13) CO, that the carbon monoxide incorporated into the product cyclopentenone is one that has been retained within the complex. Theoretical and kinetic calculations support this finding, which provides a complementary explanation for the effect of Pauson-Khand promoters.

Lithium Amide Protected against Hydrolysis by Aggregated Lithium Halides: An MS + DFT Investigation

Supported by mass spectrometry experiments, DFT computations indicate that the lithium amide of a 3-aminopyrrolidine (lithium benzhydryl(1-benzylpyrrolidin-3-yl)amide, 1-Li) is protected, up to a certain limit, against hydrolysis when it is aggregated with a strongly polar partner such as LiCl, LiBr, or MeLi.