Synlett 2000; 2000(11): 1697
DOI: 10.1055/s-2000-7939
synlett spotlight
© Georg Thieme Verlag, Rüdigerstr. 14, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany. All rights reserved. This journal, including all individual contributions and illustrations published therein, is legally protected by copyright for the duration of the copyright period. Any use, exploitation or commercialization outside the narrow limits set by copyright legislation, without the publisher's consent, is illegal and liable to criminal prosecution. This applies in particular to photostat reproduction, copying, cyclostyling, mimeographing or duplication of any kind, translating, preparation of microfilms, and electronic data processing and storage.

Methoxyallene

Robert Pulz*
  • *Institut für Chemie - Organische Chemie, Freie Universität Berlin, Takustr. 3, 14195 Berlin, Germany
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
31 December 2000 (online)

Since the first preparation of methoxyallene (3) by Hoff, Brandsma and Arens in 1968, this compound with cumulated C=C bonds has emerged as a useful and convenient C-3 building block for many transformations in preparative organic chemistry. This donor-substituted, electron-rich allene is easily accessible in high yield by a two step reaction from propargylic alcohol (1) which is methylated with dimethyl sulfate to give propargylic ether 2 followed by isomerisation of 2 with potassium tert-butoxide. The reactivity of 3 is determined by the enol ether functionality leading to electrophilic addition to C-2 or nucleophilic attack at C-1.

    >