Silylene transfer to allylic sulfides: formation of substituted silacyclobutanes.

Silylene transfer to allylic sulfides results in a formal 1,2-sulfide migration. The rearrangement yields substituted silacyclobutanes, not the expected silacyclopropanes. The silacyclobutanes were elaborated by insertions of carbonyl compounds selectively into one carbon-silicon bond. A mechanism for the 1,2-sulfide migration is proposed involving an episulfonium ion intermediate.

Palladium- and Nickel-Catalyzed Carbon-Carbon Bond Insertion Reactions with Alkylidenesilacyclopropanes.

Palladium and nickel catalysts promoted highly selective carbon-carbon bond insertion reactions with di-tert-butyl-alkylidenesilacyclopropanes. Pd(PPh(3))(4) was demonstrated to be the optimal catalyst, allowing for a variety of carbon-carbon pi-bond insertion reactions. Depending on the nature of the carbon-carbon pi bond, the insertion reaction proceeded with either direct insertion into the carbon(sp(2))-silicon bond or with allylic transposition. Ring-substituted alkylidenesilacyclopropanes required a nickel catalyst to afford insertion products. Using Ni(cod)(2) as the carbon-carbon bond insertion catalyst, new double alkyne insertion products and alkene isomerization products were observed.

Alkylidenesilacyclopropanes derived from allenes: applications to the selective synthesis of triols and homoallylic alcohols.

Several alkylidenesilacyclopropanes were prepared by silver-mediated silylene transfer to allenes. Oxasilacyclopentanes derived from allenes were prepared with high regio- and diastereoselectivity by a two-step, one-flask silacyclopropanation/carbonyl insertion reaction. Triols and homoallylic alcohols were formed diastereoselectively by functionalizing the oxasilacyclopentanes. An optically active allene (>98% ee) was utilized to synthesize an enantiopure homoallylic alcohol in 96% ee.