Seyferth-Gilbert homologation

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The Seyferth-Gilbert homologation is a the chemical reaction of an aryl ketone 1 (or aldehyde) with dimethyl (diazomethyl)phosphonate 2 and potassium tert-butoxide to give substituted alkynes 3.[1][2] Dimethyl (diazomethyl)phosphonate 2 is often called the Seyferth-Gilbert reagent.[3]

The Seyferth-Gilbert homologation

This reaction is called a homologation because the product has exactly one additional carbon more than the starting material.

Contents

[edit] Reaction mechanism

Deprotonation of the Seyferth-Gilbert reagent A give an anion B which reacts with the ketone to form the oxaphosphatane D. Elimination of dimethylphosphate E gives the vinyl diazo-intermediate Fa and Fb. The generation of nitrogen gas gives a vinyl carbene G which via a 1,2-migration forms the desired alkyne H.

The mechanism of the Seyferth-Gilbert homologation

[edit] Bestmann modification

Dimethyl (diazomethyl)phosphonate can be generated in situ from dimethyl-1-diazo-2-oxopropylphosphonate (also called Bestmann's reagent) by reaction with methanol and potassium carbonate. Reaction of Bestmann's reagent with aldehydes gives terminal alkynes often in very high yield.[4][5]

Bestmann's reagent

The use of the milder potassium carbonate makes this procedure much more compatible with a wide variety of functional groups.

[edit] References

  1.   Seyferth, D.; Marmor, R. S.; Hilbert, P. J. Org. Chem. 1971, 36, 1379-1386. (DOI:10.1021/jo00809a014)
  2.   Gilbert, J. C.; Weerasooriya, U. J. Org. Chem. 1982, 47, 1837-1845. (DOI:10.1021/jo00349a007)
  3.   Brown, D. G.; Velthuisen, E. J.; Commerford, J. R.; Brisbois, R. G.; Hoye, T. H. J. Org. Chem. 1996, 61(7), 2540-2541. (DOI:10.1021/jo951944n)
  4.   Müller, S.; Liepold, B.; Roth, G. J.; Bestmann, H. J. Synlett 1996, 521.
  5.   Roth, G. J.; Liepold, B.; Müller, S. G.; Bestmann, H. J. Synthesis 2004, 59-62. (Abstract)

[edit] See also