ja8b08739_si_006.cif (32.53 kB)
Unveiling the Takai Olefination Reagent via Tris(tert-butoxy)siloxy Variants
dataset
posted on 2018-09-14, 00:00 authored by Daniel Werner, Reiner AnwanderThe elusive Takai
olefination reagent, namely, the iodo-methylidene
Cr(III) complex [Cr2Cl4(CHI)(thf)4], has been isolated by careful handling of the reaction between
CrCl2 and CHI3 in THF at −35 °C.
Alternatively, treatment of [Cr(OSi(OtBu)3)2] with CHI3 gave the mixed-valent dihalido-methanide
complex [CrII/III2I2(OSi(OtBu)3)2(CHI2)], featuring
a Cr(III)–CHI2 moiety. In the presence of TMEDA
nucleophilic attack at CHI2 occurred generating the zwitterionic
species [CrIII(OSi(OtBu)3)2(tmeda-CHI)][I]. Complexes [Cr2Cl4(CHI)(thf)4] and [CrII/III2I2(OSi(OtBu)3)2(CHI2)] were screened
for their ability to induce monohalido olefination of benzaldehyde.
Remarkably, both complexes promote olefination, with [Cr2Cl4(CHI)(thf)4] accomplishing the same E selectivity as Takai’s original
mixture. Complex [CrII/III2I2(OSi(OtBu)3)2(CHI2)], however,
appeared to give preferentially Z isomer, corroborating
the monoiodo-methylidene species Cr(III)–CHI–Cr(III)
as the active olefination component of the original in situ generated Takai reagent mixture.