Organic Letters
Letter
system, Cu(cod)(tfacac) was examined, and 3aa was obtained
in 56% yield with 92% ee (entry 18).
Subsequently, the scope of the reaction with respect to
alkynes 1 was investigated (Scheme 4). Various alkynes
Under the optimal reaction conditions, the scope of diazo
compounds was then evaluated (Scheme 3). A range of α-aryl
a b
,
Scheme 4. Scope of Alkyne
a b
,
Scheme 3. Scope of Diazo Compounds
a
Reaction conditions: 1 (0.1 mmol), 2a (0.15 mmol), Cu(tfacac)2
(0.005 mmol), L4 (0.0055 mmol), 4 Å MS (60 mg), DCM (4 mL),
b
c
40 °C. Yields of isolated products. ee was determined by chiral
d
e
HPLC analysis. Performed at 50 °C. Cu(tfacac)2 (0.01 mmol) and
f
L4 (0.011 mmol) were used. Performed at 60 °C.
bearing either electron-donating or electron-withdrawing
groups at different positions of the aromatic ring were
smoothly reacted with diazoacetate 2a, providing the
corresponding exocyclic α-allenols (3ba−3ia) in 61−91%
yield, 90−96% ee, and 9:1 to >19:1 dr. Replacing the aldehyde
moiety with ketone in the alkyne substrate, the product 3ja
containing a tetrasubstituted stereocenter was obtained in 63%
yield, 80% ee, and 8:1 dr. However, the reaction of 2-(but-3-
yn-2-yl)benzaldehyde with 2a led to poor diastereoselectivity
(1.3:1), of which the major isomer 3ka was isolated in 45%
yield and 87% ee. The minor isomer was isolated in 20% yield
and 97% ee. The comparatively lower yield for 3fa, 3ia, and 3la
is attributed to the self-coupling of diazoacetates. For 2-(but-3-
yn-1-yl)benzaldehyde, the desired product was obtained in
30% yield and 66% ee. With respect to 2-ethynylbenzaldehyde,
the desired product 3ma was not observed, but the diazo self-
coupling product was detected.
The synthetic utility of this protocol was then demonstrated
(Scheme 5). A gram-scale synthesis of 3ae was performed
(Scheme 5a). Under the optimal reaction conditions, the
reaction with 3 mmol of 1a and 4.5 mmol of 2e afforded 1.04 g
of 3ae (87% yield) with 95% ee. With the reduction of 3ae
with DIBAL-H followed by AgNO3-promoted cyclization,
chiral spiro compound 5 was isolated in 35% yield and 96%
ee.14 Moreover, iodolactonization of 3ae with I2 led to the
corresponding spiro-iodobutenolide 6 in 55% yield and 94%
ee.15 Finally, the reaction of 2-acetaldehyde phenylacetylene 7
with 2a gave the corresponding product 8 in 93% yield, 83%
ee, and 6:1 dr (Scheme 5b).
a
Reaction conditions: 1a (0.1 mmol), 2 (0.15 mmol), Cu(tfacac)2
(0.005 mmol), L4 (0.0055 mmol), 4 Å MS (60 mg), DCM (4 mL),
b
c
40 °C. Yields of isolated products. ee was determined by chiral
HPLC analysis. Cu(tfacac)2 (0.01 mmol) and L4 (0.011 mmol)
were used. Combined yield.
d
e
diazoacetates containing either electron-donating or electron-
withdrawing substituents on the phenyl ring reacted smoothly
with 1a to give the corresponding exocyclic α-allenols (3ab−
3al) in 55−92% yield, 87−96% ee, and an excellent dr value
(>19:1). Typically, the strong electron-withdrawing substitu-
ents, such as OCF3 (3af) and CF3 (3ag), were tolerated. The
absolute configuration of 3ad was assigned as (R, Sa) by X-ray
diffraction analysis. α-Heteroaryl diazoacetates, such as α-
thienyl diazoacetate and α-indole diazoacetate, reacted well
with 1a, providing the corresponding products 3am and 3an in
moderate yields and excellent enantioselectivities. The ester
moiety of phenyl diazoacetate was also examined. The methyl
ester gave the product 3ao in almost the same yield but with a
diminished enantioselectivity (83% ee) and relatively poor
diastereoselectivity (8:1). The tert-butyl ester afforded 3ap in a
slightly higher yield (90%) and 96% ee. However, the benzyl
ester led to both lower yield and enantioselectivity, and also a
poor dr value (3aq). Unfortunately, for α-alkyl diazoacetate,
the reaction was messy, and the corresponding product 3ar
was not obtained.
Control experiments were conducted to understand the
reaction mechanism (Scheme 6). Under the optimal reaction
conditions, the reaction of terminal alkyne 9 with 2a produced
5177
Org. Lett. 2021, 23, 5175−5179