Synlett 2019; 30(06): 674-684
DOI: 10.1055/s-0037-1610315
account
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Transition-Metal-Catalyzed Ketone α-Alkylation and Alkenylation with Simple Alkenes and Alkynes through a Dual Activation Strategy

a   Eco-Friendly New Materials Research Center, Therapeutics and Biotechnology Division, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology (KRICT), 141 Gajeong-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34114, Republic of Korea
,
Dong Xing
b   Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Molecular Therapeutics and New Drug Development, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200062, P. R. of China
,
Guangbin Dong*
c   Department of Chemistry, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA   Email: gbdong@uchicago.edu
› Author Affiliations
Financial supports from NSF (CAREER: CHE-1254935) on this project is acknowledged.
Further Information

Publication History

Received: 21 September 2018

Accepted after revision: 12 October 2018

Publication Date:
21 November 2018 (online)


Abstract

In this personal account, we summarize our investigations on the α-alkylation and α-alkenylation reactions of ketones with nonactivated alkenes and alkynes, respectively. The serendipitous discovery of C–H alkylation/alkenylation of cyclic 1,2-diketones provided a proof of concept for a dual activation strategy. Extension to the α-alkylation and α-alkenylation of regular ketones was achieved by using 7-azaindoline as a bifunctional ligand. Subsequently, intramolecular coupling ­between ketones and olefins was achieved with Rh- and Ru-based systems, respectively. Finally, branched-selective α-alkylation was achieved through an Ir-catalyzed enamide-mediated C–H alkylation.

1 Introduction

2 Serendipitous Discovery of α-Alkylation and α-Alkenylation of 1,2-Diketones through Enamine-Mediated C–H Activation

3 Intermolecular Ketone α-Alkylation of Regular Ketones with Nonactivated Olefins

4 Intermolecular Ketone α-Alkenylation of Regular Ketones with Nonactivated Alkynes

5 Intramolecular Ketone α-Alkylation of Regular Ketones with Nonactivated Olefins

6 Branched-Selective α-Alkylation of Regular Ketones with Non­activated Olefins

7 Conclusions and Outlook