Alkylation of alkenes: ethylaluminum sesquichloride-mediated hydro-alkyl additions with alkyl chloroformates and di-tert-butylpyrocarbonate.
A general method for the hydro-alkyl addition to the nonactivated C=C double bond of alkenes using alkyl chloroformates (primary, secondary), 12, and di-tert-butylpyrocarbonate, 52, mediated by ethylaluminum sesquichloride (Et(3)Al(2)Cl(3)) has been developed. Reaction of 12 and 52, respectively, with Et(3)Al(2)Cl(3) gives an alkyl cation which is added to the alkene; hydride transfer to the adduct carbenium ion or, if applicable, 1,2-H shift followed by hydride transfer from Et(3)Al(2)Cl(3) to the rearranged adduct carbenium ion gives the saturated addition product. The reaction has been applied to 1-alkenes, 2-methyl-1-alkenes, internal double bonds, and to three cyclic alkenes. Special interest has been focused on alkylations of unsaturated fatty compounds, such as oleic acid (2), which are important renewable feedstocks. 2-Methylalkanes, 3-methylalkanes, 2,4-dimethylalkanes, 2,3-dimethylalkanes, 2,2,4-trimethylalkanes, cyclohexylalkanes, and carboxylic acids and esters with the respective branched alkyl chain have been synthesized with good to moderate yields.
Contribution from the Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, University of Oldenburg, D-26111 Oldenburg, Germany.
Ursula
U
Biermann
Jürgen O
JO
Metzger