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Three representative 6,7-dihydro-5 H -cyclopenta[ b ]pyridin-4-amines were synthesized using an intramolecular inverse electron demand hetero–Diels–Alder/retro–Diels–Alder sequence between pyrimidines (acting as azadienes) and ynamides (acting as dienophiles). Two solvents of this reaction, sulfolane and trifluorotoluene, were compared at 210 °C and the former consistently led to higher yields. In addition, these studies confirmed the importance of the steric bulk of the C5-position of the pyrimidinyl cycloaddition precursor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The catalytic transformations of functional alkynes with diazoalkanes in the presence of the catalyst precursor RuCl(COD)Cp* are presented. They show the unique role played by the Ru(X)Cp* moiety in catalysis and that the nature of the formed products strongly depends on the alkyne functionality. Simple alkynes generate dienes via double diazoalkane carbene addition to the triple bond. Enynes with terminal triple bond lead to alkenyl bicyclo[x.1.0]alkanes, including bicyclic aminoacid derivatives. 1,6-enynes with disubstituted propargylic carbon produce in priority alkenyl alkylidene cyclopentanes. 1,6-Allenynes offer the direct access to alkenyl alkylidene bicyclo[3.1.0]hexanes. Propargylic carboxylates lead to conjugated dienes by coupling of the diazoalkane carbene with the alkyne terminal carbon and 1,2-shift of the carboxylate. All catalytic reactions can be explained by the initial formation of the 16 electron RuCl(oiety giving first a 2+2 cycloaddition with the alkyne triple bond. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]