Stereoselective Synthesis of Trisubstituted Alkenes through Sequential Iron-Catalyzed Reductive anti-Carbozincation of Terminal Alkynes and Base-Metal-Catalyzed Negishi Cross-Coupling.

Abstract

The stereoselective synthesis of trisubstituted alkenes is challenging. Here, we show that an iron-catalyzed anti-selective carbozincation of terminal alkynes can be combined with a base-metal-catalyzed cross-coupling to prepare trisubstituted alkenes in a one-pot reaction and with high regio- and stereocontrol. Cu-, Ni-, and Co-based catalytic systems are developed for the coupling of sp-, sp(2) -, and sp(3) -hybridized carbon electrophiles, respectively. The method encompasses a large substrate scope, as various alkynyl, aryl, alkenyl, acyl, and alkyl halides are suitable coupling partners. Compared with conventional carbometalation reactions of alkynes, the current method avoids pre-made organometallic reagents and has a distinct stereoselectivity.