Gold-Catalyzed Intermolecular Reactions of Alkynes with Alkenes: Novel Reactivities and Global Mechanistic Picture

Identifier:  TDX:2831

Handle: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11797/TDX2831

Authors:  de Orbe Izquierdo, María Elena

Abstract:
Gold catalysis is a powerful tool to build C–C bonds and create molecular complexity via selective activation of alkynes. Despite the advances in intramolecular reactions of alkynes with alkenes, the intermolecular version remains challenging and sparse, since the final products are also alkenes which compete with the initial substrates leading to oligomerizations. In this Doctoral Thesis, we explored intermolecular reactions of a wide range of alkynes with alkenes and investigated the mechanisms by experiments and DFT calculations. Our group developed the gold(I)-catalyzed [2+2] cycloaddition of arylalkynes with alkenes to furnish regioselectively cyclobutenes. Now we found that ortho-substituted arylalkynes react with alkenes to give 1,3-dienes by a metathesis-type process, whereas less sterically demanding 1,3-butadiynes react with alkenes leading to 1-alkynylcyclobutenes. A comprehensive theoretical study showed that key intermediates in these transformations are cyclopropyl gold(I) carbenes, whose electronic and steric effects determine their evolution through divergent pathways close in energy. Thus, they undergo a stepwise rearrangement to form butadienes or a ring expansion to forge cyclobutenes. To support the involvement of these intermediates, they were independently generated and their reactivity was examined. As cyclobutenes are important features in natural and pharmaceutical products, we focused on expanding the scope of the gold-catalyzed [2+2] cycloaddition to synthesize more functionalized cyclobutenes. 1,3-Enynes and polyenes were found to be suitable substrates to construct 1-vinyl-, 3-vinyl- or 3-alkynylcyclobutenes. This methodology is complementary to the previously reported metal-catalyzed [2+2] cycloadditions. Furthermore, we developed one-pot transformations of the versatile cyclobutenes into diverse architectures via cycloaddition, ring opening, expansion or contraction. Finally, we discovered novel intermolecular reactions of bromoalkynes with allylsilanes catalyzed by gold which render a totally different outcome: skipped enynes via a cross-coupling type process or skipped dienes via allylation/cyclization cascade. Based on experiments and computations, the reaction mechanism was proposed to proceed via an unprecedented rearrangement.