Xiyan Lu

The development of some new synthetic reactions derived from nucleophilic addition of phosphines to electron-deficient carbon-carbon triple bonds is described. These reactions show that the phosphine plays the role of a nucleophile as well as an excellent leaving group. The central problem is to generate a 1,3-dipole from alkynoates or allenoates (2,3-butadienoates) by interaction with various phosphines. This study illuminates the unusual phenomena and shows how this understanding allows control of the reaction.

The reactivity of a new three carbon synthon, generated in situ from the reaction of 2,3-butadienoates or 2-butynoates with an appropriate phosphine as the catalyst, toward the electron-deficient imines is described. Triphenylphosphine-catalyzed reaction of methyl 2,3-butadienoate with N-sulfonylimines gave the single [3+2] cycloadduct in excellent yield; tributylphosphine-catalyzed reaction of methyl 2,3-butadienoate or 2-butynoate with N-tosylimines afforded the corresponding [3+2] cycloadduct as the major product along with a small amount of the three components adduct. Aliphatic N-tosylimines gave moderate yield for this reaction. In addition, a new phosphine-catalyzed cyclization reaction of dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate with N-tosylimines is also described. A reaction mechanism is proposed. Further elaborations of the cycloaddition products and the synthesis of pentabromopseudilin using this method are exemplified.

Give it a tweak: A novel oxidizing directing group was developed for a rhodium(III)-catalyzed CH functionalization of N-phenoxyacetamides with alkynes. A small change in the reaction conditions leads to either ortho-hydroxyphenyl-substituted enamides or cyclization to deliver benzofurans with high selectivity (see scheme; Cp*=C5Me5). As a service to our authors and readers, this journal provides supporting information supplied by the authors. Such materials are peer reviewed and may be re-organized for online delivery, but are not copy-edited or typeset. Technical support issues arising from supporting information (other than missing files) should be addressed to the authors. Please note: The publisher is not responsible for the content or functionality of any supporting information supplied by the authors. Any queries (other than missing content) should be directed to the corresponding author for the article.

Readily available starting materials and high selectivity: These are two appealing features of the phosphane-catalyzed carbon–phosphorus ylide reaction described. Bromide, acetate, or tert-butyl carbonate derivatives of adducts formed by the Morita–Baylis–Hillman reaction react with PPh3 to form an allylic ylide. Phosphane-catalyzed annulation of the ylides with electron-deficient alkenes results in the facile construction of cyclopentenes [Eq. (1)]. X=Br, OAc, OBoc; E=CO2Et.