A DFT study on the reaction pathways for carbon-carbon bond-forming reactions between propargylic alcohols and alkenes or ketones catalyzed by thiolate-bridged diruthenium complexes

Chem Asian J. 2009 Jan 5;4(1):81-8. doi: 10.1002/asia.200800236.

Abstract

The reaction pathways of two types of the carbon-carbon bond-forming reactions catalyzed by thiolate-bridged diruthenium complexes have been investigated by density-functional-theory calculations. It is clarified that both carbon-carbon bond-forming reactions proceed through a ruthenium-allenylidene complex as a common reactive intermediate. The attack of pi electrons on propene or the vinyl alcohol on the ruthenium-allenylidene complex is the first step of the reaction pathways. The reaction pathways are different after the attack of nucleophiles on the ruthenium-alkynyl complex. In the reaction with propene, the carbon-carbon bond-forming reaction proceeds through a stepwise process, whereas in the reaction with vinyl alcohol, it proceeds through a concerted process. The interactions between the ruthenium-allenylidene complex and propene or vinyl alcohol have been investigated by applying a simple way of looking at orbital interactions.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alkenes / chemical synthesis
  • Alkenes / chemistry*
  • Alkynes / chemical synthesis
  • Alkynes / chemistry*
  • Carbon / chemistry
  • Ketones / chemical synthesis
  • Ketones / chemistry*
  • Propanols / chemical synthesis
  • Propanols / chemistry*
  • Ruthenium / chemistry*
  • Sulfur / chemistry
  • Thermodynamics

Substances

  • Alkenes
  • Alkynes
  • Ketones
  • Propanols
  • Sulfur
  • Carbon
  • Ruthenium
  • propargyl alcohol