Pi-nucleophile traps for metallonitrene/alkyne cascade reactions: a versatile process for the synthesis of alpha-aminocyclopropanes and beta-aminostyrenes.

The reaction of a sulfamate ester derived rhodium nitrenoid species with an alkyne produces a versatile intermediate, capable of cascading into a wide variety of secondary transformations. The nature of the intermediate has been probed by reactivity studies, and the synthetic utility of the cascade process, which facilitates the construction of complex heterocyclic structures from remarkably simple acyclic precursors, is highlighted.

Catalytic metallonitrene/alkyne metathesis: a powerful cascade process for the synthesis of nitrogen-containing molecules.

A conceptually novel metallonitrene/alkyne metathesis cascade reaction has been developed for the construction of nitrogen-containing compounds from simple alkyne starting materials. Rhodium(II) tetracarboxylate salts are efficient catalysts for this reaction, in which an electrophilic rhodium nitrene is trapped by an alkyne, resulting in the formation of a new C-N bond and the generation of a reactive metallocarbene for cascade reaction. The reaction is tolerant of both alkyl and aryl substituents on the alkyne, and proceeds at room temperature in a variety of common solvents. The modular nature of the reaction allows for the rapid construction of congested bicyclic systems from remarkably simple alkyne starting materials.

Copper-catalyzed olefin aminoacetoxylation.

A new catalyst system for intramolecular olefin aminoacetoxylation is described. In contrast to previously reported palladium- and copper-catalyzed systems, the conditions outlined in this communication favor piperdine formation with terminal olefin substrates and induce cyclization with traditionally less reactive disubstituted olefins.