Divergent Geminal Alkynylation–Allylation and Acylation–Allylation of Carbenes: Evolution and Roles of Two Transition-Metal Catalysts

Abstract

Cooperative bimetallic catalysis to access novel reactivities is a powerful strategy for reaction development in transition-metal-catalyzed chemistry. Particularly, elucidation of the evolution of two transition-metal catalysts and understanding their roles in dual catalysis are among the most fundamental goals for bimetallic catalysis. Herein, a novel three-component reaction of a terminal alkyne, a diazo ester, and an allylic carbonate was successfully developed via cooperative Cu/Rh catalysis with Xantphos as the ligand, providing a highly efficient strategy to access 1,5-enynes with an all-carbon quaternary center that can be used as immediate synthetic precursors for complex cyclic molecules. Notably, a Meyer−Schuster rearrangement was involved in the reactions using propargylic alcohols, resulting in an unprecedented acylation−allylation of carbenes. Mechanistic studies suggested that in the course of the reaction Cu(I) species might aggregate to some types of Cu clusters and nanoparticles (NPs), while the Rh(II) 2 precursor can dissociate to mono-Rh species, wherein Cu NPs are proposed to be responsible for the alkynylation of carbenes and work in cooperation with Xantphos-coordinated dirhodium(II) or Rh(I)-catalyzed allylic alkylation.