A series of nitrogen-tethered allenynes (‘5-aza-1,2-dien-7-ynes’) 1 were transformed to the corresponding 3-acyl-4-alkenylpyrrolidines 3 when treated with a catalytic amount of PtCl2 in MeOH at 70°. Initial Pt-promoted cyclization forms a nonclassical carbocationic intermediate. In contrast to the cycloisomerization in toluene, which produced the bicyclic cyclobutenes 2, the intermediate is intercepted
Wilkinson’s catalyst [RhCl(PPh3)3] catalyzed a cycloisomerization of allenynes which possess geminal methyls on the allene terminus and an intramolecular ene-type reaction proceeded to give various cross-conjugated trienes. Thermal Diels-Alder reaction of the obtained triene was examined to give a bicyclic compound in a high yield.
Vaska’s complex [IrCl(CO)(PPh3)2] efficiently catalyzes the intramolecular carbonylative [2+2+1] cycloaddition of allenynes. A dimethyl substituent on the allene terminus and a low partial pressure of carbon monoxide realize the selective engagement of the internal Ï-bond of allene.
Allenynes underwent cycloisomerization in the presence of a catalytic amount of platinum(II) chloride at 80 °C to give bicyclic cyclobutenes. A mechanism involving non-classical carbocationic intermediates was proposed for the formation of cyclobutenes.