Synlett 2005(13): 2043-2046  
DOI: 10.1055/s-2005-871935
LETTER
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

An Unexpected Double-Bond Isomerization Catalyzed by Crabtree’s Iridium(I) Catalyst

Michael Krel, Jean-Yves Lallemand, Catherine Guillou*
Institut de Chimie des Substances Naturelles, Bt 27, CNRS Avenue de la Terrasse, 91198 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
Fax: +33(1)69077247; e-Mail: guillou@icsn.cnrs-gif.fr;
Further Information

Publication History

Received 2 May 2005
Publication Date:
12 July 2005 (online)

Abstract

The first iridium-catalyzed isomerization of an exocyclic into an endocyclic double bond is described. A mechanism is proposed for this reaction. Crabtree’s catalyst thus allows the migration of a double bond that does not occur under classical conditions.

8

Representative Procedures for the Synthesis of 3 and 1.1-(5-Methoxy-1-methyl-2-methylene-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalen-1-yl)ethanol ( 3).
To a solution of aldehyde 12 (83 mg, 0.38 mmol) in THF was added methyllithium (1.6 N solution in hexane, 0.53 mL, 0.85 mmol) at -78 °C. The solution was stirred at
-78 °C for 2 h. The reaction mixture was quenched with aq sat. NaHCO3 at -78 °C and extracted with CH2Cl2. The combined organic layers were washed with H2O, brine, and dried (Na2SO4), and the solvent was evaporated. Chromatography on preparative TLC (elution with heptane-EtOAc, 85:15) of the residue afforded 3 (77 mg, 87%) as a colorless oil. 1H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl3): δ = 7.19 (t, J = 7.9 Hz, 1 H, H7), 6.98 (d, J = 8,0 Hz, 1 H, H6), 6.73 (d, J = 8,0 Hz, 1 H, H8), 5.13 (s, 1 H, 15%, H14α), 5.11 (s, 1 H, 85%, H14α), 5.00 (s, 1 H, 85%, H14β), 4.91 (s, 1 H, 15%, H14β), 4.13 (q, J = 7.1 Hz, 1 H, 15%, H13), 4.06 (quad, J = 6.5 Hz, 1 H, 85%, H13), 3.83 (s, 3 H, H11), 3.10-2.95 (m, 1 H, H4α), 2.69-2.36 (m, 3 H, H4β-H3), 1.48 (s, 3 H, H12), 1.69 (d, J = 6.3 Hz, 3 H, 15%, H15), 1.02 (d, J = 6.4 Hz, 3 H, 85%, H15) ppm. 13C NMR (75 MHz, CDCl3): δ = 157.5 (C5), 151.0 (C2), 144.5 (C9), 127.2 (C7), 126.9 (C10), 119.6 (C8), 111.2 (C15), 108.1 (C6), 74.1 (C13), 56.1 (C11), 48.9 (C1), 32.7 (C3), 23.1 (C12), 19.5 (C14) ppm. IR (CHCl3): ν = 1577, 1461, 1251, 1047 cm-1. HRMS (ESI): m/z calcd for C15H20O2: 232.1463; found: 255.1374 [M + Na].
1-(5-Methoxy-1,2-dimethyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalen-1-yl)ethanol ( 1). A solution of alcohol 3 (28 mg, 0.12 mmol) in 2 mL of CH2Cl2 in a Schlenk apparatus was cooled at -180 °C and degassed under vacuum then filled with argon. Crabtree’s catalyst (10 mg, 0.012 mmol) was added and the solution degassed again under vacuum and filled with argon. The mixture was allowed to warm to r.t. and the Schlenk tube was linked to an hydrogenation apparatus. The system was flushed ten times with hydrogen and stirred 12 h at r.t. under an atmospheric pressure of hydrogen. The solvent was then removed under vacuum and the resulting slurry dissolved in Et2O and filtered on a short silica pad. Chromatography on preparative TLC (elution with heptane-EtOAc, 85:15) of the residue afforded 1 (26 mg, 92%) as a colorless oil. H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl3): δ = 7.19 (t, J = 7.9 Hz, 1 H, H7), 6.98 (d, J = 8.0 Hz, 1 H, H6), 6.73 (d, J = 8.0 Hz, 1 H, H8), 5.13 (s, 1 H, 15%, H14α), 5.11 (s, 1 H, 85%, H14α), 5.00 (s, 1 H, 85%, H14β), 4.91 (s, 1 H, 15%, H14β), 4.13 (quad, J = 7.1 Hz, 1 H, 15%, H13), 4.06 (quad, J = 6.5 Hz, 1 H, 85%, H13), 3.83 (s, 3 H, H11), 3.10-2.95 (m, 1 H, H4α), 2.69-2.36 (m, 3 H, H4β-H3), 1.48 (s, 3 H, H12), 1.69 (d, J = 6.3 Hz, 3 H, 15%, H15), 1.02 (d, J = 6.4 Hz, 3 H, H15) ppm. 13C NMR (75 MHz, CDCl3): δ = 157.5 (C5), 151.0 (C2), 144.5 (C9), 127.2 (C7), 16.9 (C10), 119.6 (C8), 111.2 (C15), 108.1 (C6), 74.1 (C13), 56.1 (C11), 48.9 (C1), 32.7 (C3), 25.1 (C4), 23.1 (C12), 19.5 (C14) ppm. IR (CHCl3): ν = 3453, 1579, 1459, 1254, 1062 cm-1. HRMS (ESI): m/z calcd for C15H22O2: 234.1620; found: 257.1492 [M + Na].

9

When this reaction was conducted in the same conditions with shorter time (1 h) no isomerization of 3 was observed.

10

Representative Procedures for the Synthesis of 13, 14, 4 and 15.1-(1,4-Dimethoxybutyl)-5-methoxy-1-methyl-3,4-dihydro-1 H -naphthalen-2-one ( 13).
To a solution of 9 (68 mg, 0.26 mmol) in CH2Cl2 580 mL was added 1,1,4-trimethoxybutane (3.8 g, 26.2 mmol) at
-78 °C. The solution was stirred at -78 °C for 10 min then BF3·OEt2 (2.94 mL, 23.2 mmol) was added. The reaction mixture was stirred for 6 h at -78 °C. The residue was diluted with CH2Cl2 and washed with sat. aq NaHCO3. The combined organic layers were washed with H2O, brine, and dried (Na2SO4), and the solvent was evaporated. Flash chromatography on silica gel (elution with heptane-EtOAc, 90:10) of the residue afforded 13 (3.63 g, 76%) and 14 (907 mg, 19%) as white solids.
Compound 13: 1H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl3): δ = 7.21 (t, J = 8.0 Hz, 1 H, H7), 6.91 (d, J = 8.0 Hz, 1 H, H8), 6.80 (d, J = 8.1 Hz, 1 H, H6), 3.85 (s, 3 H, H11), 3.66 (dd, J = 10.4, 2.2 Hz, 1 H, H13), 3.33-3.15 (m, 3 H, H16-H4α), 3.31 (s, 3 H, H17), 3.17 (s, 3 H, H18), 2.94 (ddd, J = 16.1, 11.8, 5.5 Hz, 1 H, H4β), 2.73 (ddd, J = 16.2, 5.3, 3.3 Hz, 1 H, H3α), 2.44 (ddd, J = 16.2, 11.7, 6.9 Hz, 1 H, H3β), 1.70-1.45 (m, 2 H, H14), 1.43 (s, 3 H, H12), 1.35-1.20 (m, 2 H, H15) ppm. 13C NMR (75 MHz, CDCl3): δ = 213.9 (C2), 156.0 (C5), 142.2 (C9), 127.1 (C7), 125.1 (C10), 120.1 (C8), 107.8 (C6), 88.4 (C13), 72.7 (C16), 61.7 (C18), 58.5 (C17), 56.2 (C1), 55.4 (C11), 37.9 (C3), 29.5 (C14), 27.0 (C15), 23.4 (C12), 21.6 (C12) ppm. IR (CHCl3): ν = 3155, 2985, 2255, 1805, 1794, 1643, 1470, 1382, 1167, 1096, 926 cm-1. HRMS (ESI): m/z calcd for C18H26O4: 306.3966; found: 329.1734 [M + Na]. Anal. Calcd for C18H26O4 (%): C, 69.54; H, 7.30; O, 23.16. Found: C, 69.48; H, 7.37; O, 23.15.
Compound 14: 1H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl3): δ = 7.21 (t, J = 8.0 Hz, 1 H, H7), 6.91 (d, J = 8.0 Hz, 1 H, H8), 6.80 (d, J = 8.1 Hz, 1 H, H6), 3.85 (s, 3 H, H11), 3.66 (dd, J = 10.4, 2.2 Hz, 1 H, H13), 3.33-3.15 (m, 3 H, H16, H4α), 3.31 (s, 3 H, H17), 3.17 (s, 3 H, H18), 2.94 (ddd, J = 16.1, 11.8, 5.5 Hz, 1 H, H4β), 2.73 (ddd, J = 16.2, 5.3, 3.3 Hz, 1 H, H3α), 2.44 (ddd, J = 16.2, 11.7, 6.9 Hz, 1 H, H3β), 1.70-1.45 (m, 2 H, H14), 1.43 (s, 3 H, H12), 1.35-1.20 (m, 2 H, H15) ppm. 13C NMR (75 MHz, CDCl3): δ = 215.2 (C2), 156.1 (C5), 140.4 (C9), 126.6 (C7), 125.5 (C10), 120.6 (C8), 108.3 (C6), 88.5 (C13), 72.7 (C16), 61.2 (C18), 58.6 (C17), 56.3 (C1), 55.4 (C11), 37.8 (C3), 28.4 (C14), 26.9 (C15), 20.3 (C4), 20.2 (C12) ppm. IR (CHCl3): ν = 3155, 2984, 2254, 1794, 1706, 1642, 1469, 1382, 1261, 1167, 1096 cm-1.
1-(1,4-Dimethoxybutyl)-5-methoxy-1-methyl-2-methylene-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene ( 4).
To a solution of ketone 12 (3.3 g, 10.7 mmol) in THF were successively added at r.t. methyltriphenylphosphonium bromide (19.1g, 54 mmol) and potassium tert-butoxide (6 g, 54 mmol). The reaction mixture was stirred at r.t. for 48 h. The reaction mixture was diluted with Et2O and washed with sat. aq NaHCO3. The combined organic layers were washed with H2O, brine, and dried (Na2SO4), and the solvent was evaporated. Flash chromatography on silica gel (elution with heptane-EtOAc, 90:10) of the residue afforded 4 (3.17g, 97%) as a white solid. 1H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl3): δ = 7.22-7.15 (m, 2 H, H7, H8), 6.69 (dd, J = 7.3, 1.8 Hz, 1 H, H6), 5.03 (q, J = 1.3 Hz, 1 H, H19α), 4.85 (d, J = 1.3 Hz, 1 H, H19β), 3.82 (s, 3 H, H11), 3.39 (dd, J = 10.2, 2.0 Hz, 1 H, H13), 3.34 (t, J = 6.7 Hz, 2 H, H16), 3.31 (s, 3 H, H18), 3.17 (s, 3 H, H18), 2.95-2.80 (m, 1 H, H4α), 2.80-2.55 (m, 2 H, H3α, H4β), 2.50-2.40 (m, 1 H, H3β), 1.85-1.70 (m, 2 H, H15), 1.44 (s, 3 H, H12), 1.35-1.15 (m, 2 H, H14) ppm. 13C NMR (75 MHz, CDCl3): δ = 156.3 (C5), 151.8 (C2), 143.6 (C9), 127.2 (C10), 125.9 (C7), 119.9 (C8), 109.1 (C9), 107.0 (C6), 90.8 (C13), 73.0 (C16), 61.5 (C18), 58.5 (C17), 55.4 (C11), 48.1 (C1), 32.7 (C3), 28.2 (C14), 27.2 (C15), 26.2 (C12), 24.6 (C4) ppm. Anal. Calcd for C19H28O3 (%): C, 74.96; H, 9.27; O, 15.77. Found: C, 74.75; H, 9.09; O, 16.01. IR (CHCl3): ν = 1577, 1461, 1433, 1367, 1254, 1047 cm-1. HRMS (ESI): m/z calcd for C19H28O3: 304.2038; found: 327.1894 [M + Na].
1-(1,4-Dimethoxybutyl)-5-methoxy-1,2-dimethyl-1,4-dihydronaphthalene ( 15).
A solution of alkene 4 (98 mg, 0.32 mmol) in 3 mL of CH2Cl2 in a Schlenk apparatus was cooled at -180 °C and degassed under vacuum then filled with argon. Crabtree’s catalyst (11 mg, 0.012 mmol) was added and the solution degassed again under vacuum and filled with argon. The mixture was allowed to warm to r.t. and the Schlenk tube was linked to an hydrogenation apparatus. The system was flushed ten times with hydrogen and stirred 12 h at r.t. under an atmospheric pressure of hydrogen. The solvent was then removed under vacuum and the resulting slurry dissolved in Et2O and filtered on a short silica pad. Chromatography on preparative TLC (elution with heptane-EtOAc, 85:15) of the residue afforded 1 (90 mg, 92%) as a colorless oil. 1H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl3): δ = 7.27 (dd, J = 8.0, 1.1 Hz, 1 H, H8), 7.17 (t, J = 8.0 Hz, 1 H, H7), 6.71 (dd, J = 7.9, 1.0 Hz, 1 H, H6), 5.59 (dqd, J = 2.7, 1.7, 0.6 Hz, 1 H, H3), 3.83 (s, 3 H, H11), 3.51 (s, 3 H, H18), 3.26 (s, 3 H, H18), 3.30-3.20 (m, 4 H, H4α, H13, H16), 3.08 (dq, J = 22.4, 2.6 Hz, 1 H, H4β), 1.88 (dd, J = 2.6, 1.7 Hz, 3 H, H19), 1.65-1.60 (m, 2 H, H14), 1.55 (s, 3 H, H12), 1.45-1.38 (m, 1 H, H15), 1.00-0.90 (m, 1 H, H15) ppm. 13C NMR (75 MHz, CDCl3): δ = 155.9 (C5), 141.3 (C9), 136.2 (C2), 125.9 (C7), 124.0 (C10), 122.6 (C3), 120.5 (C8), 106.9 (C6), 88.4 (C13), 73.1 (C16), 61.8 (C18), 58.5 (C17), 55.2 (C11), 47.1 (C1), 28.9 (C15), 27.2 (C14), 25.1 (C4), 23.3 (C12), 20.5 (C19). IR (CHCl3): ν = 1582, 1462, 1423. HRMS (ESI): m/z calcd for C19H28O3: 304.2038; found: 327.1950 [M + Na].