The electrophilic cyanation of allylic boranes, a process that is applicable to the construction of allylic quaternary carbon centers, is reported. The reaction has a broad substrate scope with a high functional group tolerance. The results represent an unprecedented and powerful tool for preparing synthetically useful β,γ-unsaturated nitriles, including derivatives that have been difficult to access
Catalytic Michael additionreaction represents a fundamental importance in organic synthetic chemistry. Whereas corresponding conversions toward intrinsically low reactive enamide remains an ongoing challenging. We herein report a copper-catalyzed conjugate addition of allenes to β-substituted alkenyl amides, one of the most challenging Michael acceptors. The present method utilizes readily available
A convenient preparative protocol for the synthesis of various 3-arylcyclopropenes in a multigram, scale is disclosed. Optimization of the reaction conditions and isolation procedures allowed for significant improvement of the chemical yields of these strained products. The described protocol was used for efficient preparation of a series of 3-methyl-3-arylcyclopropenes possessing different substituents in the aromatic ring. The effect of substitution in the aryl group on the stability of 3-arylcyclopropenes, as well as the corresponding precursors, is discussed. (c) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.