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A diastereoselective synthesis of borylated bicyclic 5‐5 fused ring systems by a domino Ni‐catalyzed hydroborylative polycyclization of allenynes has been developed. The reaction provides two new C−C and one C−B bonds and constitutes an atom‐economical method. It occurs rapidly, in absence of inert atmosphere, with an inexpensive Ni‐based catalyst and HBpin as boron source. The procedure showed excellent tolerance to functional groups and a wide scope. Derivatization of the borylated bicycles has been performed to explore the synthetic utility of the products. Experimental and DFT‐calculation results suggest that the process starts by an oxidative cyclometallation involving Ni(0) and both the allene and the alkyne moieties, followed by a stereoselective σ‐metathesis with HBpin. Formation of the second ring takes place through a non‐fully coplanar 1,2‐insertion into the Ni−H bond to give a nickelacyclohexene which finally evolves by reductive elimination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The formation of catalytically active alkyl-Ni(I) complexes by comproportionation of diorgano-Ni(II) precursors and Ni(0) species proceeds easily through triplet states by alkyl ligand exchange. The process involves inversion of the configuration at the carbon that is transferred. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New (triflyl)cyclobutenes have been prepared by palladium-catalyzed hydrodetriflylation reaction using water and deuterium oxide as convenient hydrogen and deuterium sources. In addition, an investigation of the possible mechanism for this Tsuji–Trost type reaction of bis(triflyl)cyclobutenes has been facilitated by labelling studies and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An iron‐catalysed Kumada‐type cross‐coupling reaction between aryl substituted propargylic bromides and arylmagnesium reagents has been developed. Propargylic coupling products were the main or only outcome, and propargyl/allene regioselectivity was shown to depend on the electronic nature of the substituents on the triple bond of the substrate and on the arylmagnesium halide. Best selectivities were observed when electron donating substituents were present in either reagent. The process is stereoespecific, occurs with configuration inversion and no carbon‐based radicals seem to be involved in the mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report a novel atom‐economical Ni‐catalyzed cyclization reaction of enynes with alkynylboronates. The reaction employs a non‐expensive Ni salt, a phosphine‐based ligand and easy‐handling alkynylboronates as boron–carbon source. The reaction provides complex fused‐bicyclic compounds containing borylated 1,4‐cyclohexadienes in high yields in short reaction times, involving the formation of two C−C bonds in one step. A reasonable reaction mechanism is proposed based on mechanistic experimental results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have synthesised and characterised the complex Ni(tpy)2 (tpy = 2,2′:6′,2′′-terpyridine). This formally Ni(0) complex is paramagnetic both in the solid state and in solution (S = 2). The crystal structure shows an octahedral geometry, with molecules arranged in independent dimers involving π-stacking between pairs of complexes. Magnetic measurementes and DFT calculations suggest the existence of temperature-dependent intermolecular antiferromagnetic coupling in the solid state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report the Ni‐catalyzed cycloisomerization of 1,5‐allenynes. Substrates containing terminal alkynes afford cyclopentene derivatives, whereas internal alkynes lead to the formation of two consecutive C−C bonds to give fused 5–5 bicyclic compounds. The reaction shows a wide scope. Experimental and computational mechanistic studies suggest a Ni(0)−Ni(II) catalytic cycle. The reaction starts with an oxidative cyclometallation followed by a β‐hydrogen elimination. The trans arrangement of alkenyl and hydride ligands is key to allow formation of the second carbocycle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Classic (dynamic exchange line-shape analysis) and novel (SSTD NMR) NMR techniques have been applied in order to obtain the kinetic and thermodynamic parameters of the three main processes occurring in the fluxional behavior of Pt-allene complexes with N-containing ligands, in four and five coordination mode, in solution. Our results show intramolecular helical and rotational movements closely related to each other, confirming η¹-staggered structures as possible intermediates. The ligand exchange in these complexes seems to occur via a ligand-independent dissociative mechanism, where coordinating solvents might be involved in the stabilization of the intermediates. The differences observed in the interaction of allenes with other metals could be the basis to explain the divergent reactivity observed in platinum-catalyzed processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report here the Initial Growth Rates SSTD NMR method, as a new powerful tool to obtain the kinetic parameters of intramolecular chemical exchange in challenging small organic and organometallic molecules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A straightforward metal-mediated method for the synthesis of bis(dihydrofuryl) cyclophane scaffolds from carbonyl compounds has been developed. The combination of the dihydrofuran moiety with different heterocycles such as β-lactams and sugars allows high levels of skeletal diversity. The process comprises indium-promoted one-pot carbonyl bis(allenylation) and gold- or palladium-catalyzed double cyclization in the resulting bis(allenols), followed by selective ruthenium-catalyzed macrocyclization. In some cases, the method has been successfully applied to the synthesis of the challenging Z-isomers. The E- versus Z-stereochemistry of the metathesis-formed double bonds could not be assigned taking into consideration the usual coupling constants criteria, but a diagnostic based on the chemical shifts of the two olefinic protons located at the macrocyclic double bond was established. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The gold-acid-co-catalyzed synthesis of nine series of fused azaheterocycles with structural diversity starting from the same synthons as readily available propargylic hydroperoxides and aromatic amines has been achieved. The overall tandem process consists in a gold-catalyzed hydroperoxide rearrangement/Michael reaction followed by a final acid-catalyzed cyclization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Controlled gold-catalyzed reactions of primary and secondary propargylic hydroperoxides with a variety of nucleophiles including alcohols, phenols, 2-hydroxynaphthalene-1,4-dione, and indoles allow the direct and efficient synthesis of β-functionalized ketones. Moreover, the utility of some of the resulting products for the selective preparation of fused polycycles has been demonstrated. In addition, density functional theory (DFT) calculations and 18O-labeling experiments were performed to obtain an insight into various aspects of the controlled reactivity of propargylic hydroperoxides with external nucleophiles under gold catalysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Controlled preparation of 2,5-dihydro-1H-pyrroles, 3,6-dihydro-2H-pyrans, and pyrroles has been achieved through switchable chemo- and regioselectivity in the metal-catalyzed heterocyclization reactions of allenic amino alcohols. The gold-catalyzed cycloisomerization reaction of α-amino-β-hydroxyallenes was effective as 5-endo cyclization by addition of amino functionality to the distal allene carbon to yield enantiopure 2,5-dihydro-1H-pyrroles, whereas their palladium-catalyzed cyclizative coupling reactions furnished 3,6-dihydro-2H-pyrans through a chemo- and regioselective 6-endo cycloetherification. Conversely, the gold-catalyzed heterocyclization reaction of β-amino-γ-hydroxyallenes generated exclusively pyrrole derivatives. These results could be explained through a chemo- and regioselective 5-exo aminocyclization to the central allene carbon followed by aromatization. Chemo- and regioselectivity depend on both linker elongation as well as the type of catalyst. This behavior can be justified by means of density functional theory calculations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Starting from β,γ-allendiols and α-allenic acetates, a chemo- and regiocontrolled palladium-catalyzed methodology has provided access to enantiopure 3,6-dihydropyrans that bear a buta-1,3-dienyl moiety. Thus, it has been demonstrated for the first time that the preparation of six-membered heterocycles through cross-coupling reactions of two different allenes can be accomplished. These heterocyclization/cross-coupling reactions have been developed experimentally and their mechanisms have additionally been investigated by a computational study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report herein full details of the first example of a Cope rearrangement in which the C3-C4 bond of the β-lactam nucleus is the central bond of the 1,5-hexadiene system, thus providing an easy and efficient entry to novel, and in some cases optically pure functionalized azocinones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]