Cobalt-catalyzed alder-ene reaction

Article abstract of DOI:10.1002/anie.200703180

(Chemical Equation Presented) Next reactant, new pathway: An inexpensive cobalt-diphosphine complex is able to catalyze the intermolecular Alder-ene reaction of internal alkynes with terminal alkenes. The products are functionalized 1,4-dienes (see scheme

Full text of DOI:10.1002/anie.200703180

Communications
DOI: 10.1002/anie.200703180
Homogeneous Catalysis
Cobalt-Catalyzed Alder–Ene Reaction**
Gerhard Hilt* and Jonas Treutwein
Avaluable preparative synthetic method is characterized by a
broad scope of substrates and high chemo- and regioselectiv-
ity in combination with an excellent yield. Many prominent
transition-metal-catalyzed reactions, such as the Grubbs
olefin metathesis[1] or the Sharpless epoxidation or bishy-
droxylation[2] fulfill these criteria.
Recently we reported the cyclotrimerization of alkynes
with simple cobalt–diimine complexes.[3] During this work we
found that cobalt–diphosphine complexes, such as [Co-
(dppe)Br2], which we successfully applied in the cobalt-
catalyzed Diels–Alder reaction of non-activated starting
materials, did not efficiently catalyze the cyclotrimerization
of terminal alkynes to form the aromatic product
1
Scheme 2. Mechanism of the cobalt-catalyzed Alder–ene reaction.
(Scheme 1). The transformation of internal alkynes to the
corresponding aromatic products could only be realized in
acceptable yields at elevated temperatures and prolonged
reaction times.
b-hydride elimination to 3 and a reductive elimination
complete the stepwise formal Alder–ene reaction under
very mild reaction conditions.
Over the course of the investigation we realized that the
transformation with a cobalt–dppm complex was very slow.
Good results had already been obtained with a cobalt–dppe[6]
complex, whereas the best results to date were with a cobalt–
dppp[6] catalyst system. When a longer carbon chain was used
in the diphosphine ligand, such as dppb,[6] the activity of the
cobalt complex was reduced considerably, thus for further
investigations the dppp ligand was used.
Scheme 1. Cobalt-catalyzed cyclotrimerization.[6]
Clearly, these results indicate that the starting materials
coordinate to the cobalt center and that the desired cyclo-
Some questions arise for this atom-economic intercon-
nection of two simple starting materials: a) is the cobalt
catalyzed Alder–ene reaction applicable to terminal alkynes?
b) can unsymmetrical alkynes be transformed regioselec-
tively? c) can the stereochemistry of the two newly formed
double bonds in the 1,4-diene be controlled by the catalyst?
and d) are a wide variety of functional groups accepted by the
cobalt catalyst?
The first question could be answered easily: terminal
alkynes prefer the formation of the cyclotrimerization
product of type 1 (R2 = H) and are unsuitable starting
materials for the cobalt-catalyzed Alder–ene reaction.
However, the transformation of internal alkynes naturally
leads to higher substituted 1,4-dienes which are the more
valuable targets in the first place. The results of the
investigation concerning the cobalt-catalyzed Alder–ene
reaction of symmetrical and unsymmetrical internal alkynes
(Scheme 3) are summarized in Table 1.
À
trimerization proceeds; however, with internal alkynes the C
C coupling step is relatively slow. Therefore, under milder
reaction conditions the coordination of alkynes should still be
possible while the reaction rate for the cyclotrimerization
should be further reduced. Additional substrates could then
be added leading to alternative reaction pathways and new
products. Thus, in addition to the internal alkynes, terminal
alkenes were added to the catalyst. The outcome of this
reaction was a formal intermolecular Alder–ene reaction[4]
(Scheme 2) to afford the 1,4-diene 4. This reaction is
mechanistically related to the transformations undertaken
by Trost with the [CpRu]+ (Cp = C5H5) fragment.[5] Therefore,
the cobalt-catalyzed reaction could also involve the coordi-
nation of the two starting materials in the coordination sphere
of the cobalt center to form the cobaltacycle 2 (Scheme 2). A
[*] Prof. Dr. G. Hilt, J. Treutwein
Fachbereich Chemie
Philipps-Universität Marburg
Hans-Meerwein-Strasse, 35043 Marburg (Germany)
Fax: (+49)6421-282-5677
E-mail: Hilt@chemie.uni-marburg.de
[**] This work was supported by the German Science Foundation
(Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft).
Scheme 3. 1,4-Diene syntheses by a cobalt-catalyzed Alder–ene reac-
tion.
8500
ꢀ 2007 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim
Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2007, 46, 8500 –8502

Angewandte
Chemie
Table 1: Results of the formal cobalt-catalyzed Alder–ene reactions (see
Scheme 3).
transformed into a vinyl silane. These processes were also
exploited by Trost in the ruthenium-catalyzed reaction for the
synthesis of g,d-unsaturated ketones from allylic alcohols.[5]
Under the assumption that the [Co(dppp)]system exhibits a
similar tolerance toward functional groups as has been shown
for the [Co(dppe)]complex in the cobalt-catalyzed Diels–
Alder reaction,[7] many different allylic-substituted functional
groups can be envisaged as reactants in this Alder–ene
reaction. To test this assumption allyl silyl ether 6 and allyl
boronic ester 7 (Pin = pinacol) were tested so that after the
double-bond shift the corresponding silyl enol ether 8 and the
vinyl boronic ester 9 were generated (Scheme 4).[8]
Entry R1
R2
R3
Product (5)
Yield [%]
(E/Z)[a]
89
(89:11)
1
2
3
4
5
6
Et
Ph
Ph
Ph
Ph
Ph
Et
nPr
84
(89:11)
Et
nPen
nPr
90
(88:12)
nBu
nBu
nBu
Ph
99
(88:12)
nPen
SiMe3
Ph
20
(95:5)
85
(90:10)
95
(89:11)
7
Ph
Et
Ar[b]
8
Ph
M
M
Ph
nPr
<5[c]
88
(90:10)
100
9[d]
e
e
2Et COnPr
2Et COSiMe3
10[d]
Scheme 4. Conversion of functionalized alkenes. Pin=pinacol,
TMS=trimethylsilyl.
(>99:1)
74
(69:31)
11[d] CH2OMe CH2OMe nPr
The conversion of 6 and 7 into the products 8 and 9 was
detected by GC and GCMS. The products were obtained in
good yields considering the problems encountered during
separation of product 9 from the accompanying cyclotrime-
rization product by column chromatography. Surprisingly, the
double bond 4 in 9 was formed predominantly in the Z-
configuration. Utilizing Suzuki coupling conditions, 1,4-
dienes with an E,Z configuration become accessible. The
products are obtained in good chemo-, regio-, and stereose-
lectivities so that they can be used for follow-up reactions.[9]
In conclusion we were able to establish an intermolecular
cobalt-catalyzed Alder–ene reaction which connects two
simple starting materials in an atom-economic fashion with
a high degree of chemo- and regioselectivity for the gener-
ation of 1,4-dienes. The stereochemistry of the double bond 1
is controlled completely and that of the double bond 4 is
controlled to a useful level. The use of functionalized alkynes
and allyl components should lead to compounds that are
valuable for further synthetic reactions.
[a] The E/Z ratio is given for the double bond 4, see Scheme 3. [b] Ar=
3,4-dimethoxyphenyl. [c] Detected by GCMS analysis. [d] [Co(dppe)Br2]
was used as catalyst.
Fortunately internal unsymmetrical alkynes are converted
very regioselectively into 1,4-dienes where the newly formed
carbon–carbon single bond in the case of phenyl-alkyl-
alkynes (entries 1–7) is exclusively generated at the sterically
less-hindered side of the former alkynes. The cobalt-catalyzed
formal Alder–ene reaction leads exclusively to the formation
of the products where the substituents R1 and R2 of the alkyne
have the Z-configuration in the 1,4-diene. The stereochem-
istry of double bond 1 (see Scheme 3) is therefore uniform.
However, the steric demand of two phenyl groups, such as in
tolane (Table 1, entry 8), prohibits an efficient catalysis. For
allyl silane (Table 1, entries 5 and 10) the reactivity is also
somewhat reduced. Nevertheless, the desired product from
phenyl butyne can be isolated in moderate yield and when
ethyl butynoate is used the product is formed in quantitative
yield, with exclusive regioselectivity with respect to double
bond 1, and in excellent stereoselectivity for both newly
formed carbon–carbon double bonds. Also, in the case of the
alkyl-substituted reactants (R3 = alkyl) the configuration of
double bond 4 (see Scheme 3) is controlled in good to
excellent selectivities by the [Co(dppp)]catalyst system.
Additional functional groups, such as esters and ethers, are
also accepted (Table 1, entries 9–11) so that products with
excellent regioselectivity and, in some cases, very good
stereoselectivity regarding double bonds 1 and 4 are gener-
ated in good yields.
Experimental Section
Representative Procedure for the intermolecular cobalt-catalyzed
Alder–ene reaction (Table 1, entry 10): Allyl trimethylsilane (159 mL,
1.00 mmol) and ethyl 2-butynoate (175 mL, 1.50 mmol) were added to
a suspension of [Co(dppe)Br2](63 mg, 0.1 mmol, 10 mol%), zinc
iodide (64 mg, 0.2 mmol, 20 mol%), and zinc powder (13 mg,
0.2 mmol, 20 mol%) in anhydrous dichloromethane (1 mL) under
nitrogen atmosphere. The suspension was stirred for 16 h at ambient
temperature until complete conversion was detected by GC analysis.
The suspension was then filtered over a plug of silica gel (eluent:
methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE)) the solvent was removed under
reduced pressure and the resulting material purified by column
chromatography on silica gel (eluent: pentane/MTBE 20:1, Rf =
The postulated reaction mechanism involves a double-
bond shift in the alkene moiety so that the allyl silane is
Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2007, 46, 8500 –8502
ꢀ 2007 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim
www.angewandte.org
8501

Communications
0.37). The product was obtained as a colorless oil (226 mg, 1.00 mmol,
3937; O. Buisine, C. Aubert, M. Malacria, Chem. Eur. J. 2001, 7,
3517.
100%). 1H NMR (CDCl3, 300 MHz): d = 6.24 (dt, J = 14.0, 7.4 Hz,
1H), 5.71–5.66 (m, 2H), 4.14 (q, J = 7.1 Hz, 2H), 2.95 (d, J = 7.4 Hz,
2H), 2.16 (d, J = 1.3 Hz, 3H), 1.27 (t, J = 7.1 Hz, 3H), 0.13 ppm (s,
9H). 13C NMR (CDCl3, 75 MHz): d = 166.7, 157.8, 143.4, 132.7, 116.4,
59.5, 44.0, 19.0, 14.3, 0.1 ppm. IR: n˜ = 2957, 2904, 1719, 1651, 1605,
1446, 1383, 1368, 1350, 1282, 1250, 1218, 1144, 1051, 839, 764,
691 cmÀ1. MS (EI): m/z: 226 (M+, 2), 211(12), 193(3), 181(35),
165(100), 108(38), 103(43), 91(12), 80(20), 73(75), 59(20). HRMS:
calcd: m/z 226.1389; found: m/z 226.1382. The ratios of the
stereoisomers were obtained by integration of GC- and NMR signals.
[5]Selected references: B. M. Trost, J. A. Martinez, R. J. Kulawiec,
A. F. Indolese, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1993, 115, 10402; B. M. Trost, M.
Machacek, M. J. Schnaderbeck, Org. Lett. 2000, 2, 1761; B. M.
Trost, Acc. Chem. Res. 2002, 35, 695; B. M. Trost, H. C. Shen,
A. B. Pinkerton, Chem. Eur. J. 2002, 8, 2341; B. M. Trost, M. U.
Frederiksen, M. D. Rudd, Angew. Chem. 2005, 117, 6788; Angew.
Chem. Int. Ed. 2005, 44, 6630.
[6]dppm = 1,1-bis(diphenylphosphanyl)methane; dppe = 1,2-bis(di-
phenylphosphanyl)ethane; dppp = 1,3-bis(diphenylphosphanyl)-
propane; dppb = 1,4-bis(diphenylphosphanyl)butane.
[7]Selected references for functionalized building blocks: boron: G.
Hilt, K. I. Smolko, Angew. Chem. 2003, 115, 2901; Angew. Chem.
Int. Ed. 2003, 42, 2795; silicon: G. Hilt, K. I. Smolko, Synthesis
2002, 686; nitrogen: G. Hilt, F. Galbiati, Synlett 2005, 829;
phosphorus: G. Hilt, C. Hengst, Synlett 2006, 3247; oxygen: G.
Hilt, K. I. Smolko, B. V. Lotsch, Synlett 2002, 1081; sulfur: G. Hilt,
S. Lꢀers, K. Harms, J. Org. Chem. 2004, 69, 624.
[8]Products 8 and 9 could be detected and characterized by GCMS
analysis. After column chromatography of 8 the corresponding
aldehyde could be obtained in 79% yield. See also: B. M. Trost, J.-
P. Surivet, F. D. Toste, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2001, 123, 2897; B. M.
Trost, A. F. Indolese, T. J. J. Mꢀller, B. Treptow, J. Am. Chem. Soc.
1995, 117, 615.
[9]Selected examples for the ruthenium-catalyzed Alder–ene reac-
tion and their application in total synthesis of natural products,
see: B. M. Trost, G. D. Probst, A. Schoop, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1998,
120, 9228; B. M. Trost, J. L. Gunzner, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2001, 123,
9449; B. M. Trost, S. T. Wrobleski, J. D. Chrisholm, P. E. Harring-
ton, M. Jung, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2005, 127, 13589.
Received: July 16, 2007
Published online: September 26, 2007
Keywords: Alder-ene reaction · alkenes · alkynes · cobalt ·
.
stereoselectivity
[1]R. H. Grubbs, Angew. Chem. 2006, 118, 3845; Angew. Chem. Int.
Ed. 2006, 45, 3760; R. R. Schrock, Angew. Chem. 2006, 118, 3832;
Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2006, 45, 3748; Y. Chauvin, Angew. Chem.
2006, 118, 3824; Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2006, 45, 3740.
[2]K. B. Sharpless, Angew. Chem. 2002, 114, 2126; Angew. Chem. Int.
Ed. 2002, 41, 2024.
[3]G. Hilt, T. Vogler, W. Hess, F. Galbiati, Chem. Commun. 2005,
1474; G. Hilt, W. Hess, T. Vogler, C. Hengst, J. Organomet. Chem.
2005, 690, 5170.
[4]References for intramolecular cobalt-catalyzed Alder–ene reac-
tions, see: M. Petit, C. Aubert, M. Malacria, Org. Lett. 2004, 6,
8502 www.angewandte.org
ꢀ 2007 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim
Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2007, 46, 8500 –8502