Allenic zinc reagents
(R1R2CCC(R3)ZnL)
are efficiently prepared by the reaction of propargylic
substrates (R1R2C(X)C⋮CH, X =
MeSO2O, Cl, R2NCO2) with a
variety of triorganozincates ((R3)3ZnM;
R3 =
alkyl, alkenyl, aryl, M = Li, MgCl). Treatment of the allenic
zinc reagents with D2O gives the corresponding
deuteroallenes with high deuterium incorporation. The allenic zinc
reagents thus prepared undergo a coupling reaction
with a variety of electrophiles (aldehydes, acyl chlorides,
I2, NCS, and chlorosilanes) regioselectively at the γ
position
to afford the corresponding propargylic derivatives
(R1R2C(El)C⋮CR3, El = RCH(OH),
RCO, I, Cl, R3Si) in high
yields. Silicon containing allenic zinc reagents
R1CHCC(CH2SiMe3)ZnL
and R1CHCC(SiPhMe2)ZnL
are
readily prepared by the reaction of propargylic carbamates
(R1CH(OCONPh2)C⋮CH) with
(TMSCH2)3ZnLi and by
the reaction of bromoproparglic mesylates
R1CH(OSO2Me)C⋮CBr with
(PhMe2Si)3ZnLi, respectively.
Successive
treatment of these reagents with electrophiles affords functionalized
organosilicon compounds of high synthetic utility.