Mechanistic studies of the addition of carbonyl compounds to tetramesityldigermene.
The mechanism of the addition of carbonyl compounds to digermenes was investigated by examining the reaction between tetramesityldigermene and two mechanistic probes: trans-2-phenylcyclopropane carbaldehyde and trans,trans-2-methoxy-3-phenylcyclopropane carbaldehyde. In each reaction, two diastereomers of the formal [2+2] cycloadduct between the aldehyde and the digermene were obtained. These findings, together with the results of a recent theoretical study, indicate that the addition of carbonyl compounds to digermenes proceeds via a mechanism involving a zwitterionic intermediate.
Samuel
Mini S
MS
Department of Chemistry, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada N6A 5B7.
Baines
Kim M
KM