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. 2006 Feb 8;128(5):1472-3.
doi: 10.1021/ja058222q.

Umpolung of Michael acceptors catalyzed by N-heterocyclic carbenes

Christian Fischer  1 , Sean W Smith, David A Powell, Gregory C Fu
Affiliations

Umpolung of Michael acceptors catalyzed by N-heterocyclic carbenes

Christian Fischer et al. J Am Chem Soc. .

Abstract

N-Heterocyclic carbenes can catalyze beta-alkylations of a range of alpha,beta-unsaturated esters, amides, and nitriles that bear pendant leaving groups to form a variety of ring sizes. In this process, the nucleophilic catalyst transiently transforms the normally electrophilic beta carbon into a nucleophilic site through an unanticipated addition-tautomerization sequence.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Possible mechanism for carbene-catalyzed β-alkylations of Michael acceptors.
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References

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    1. For overviews of processes catalyzed by nucleophilic carbenes, see: Zeitler K. Angew. Chem., Int. Ed. 2005;44:7506–7510. Nair V, Bindu S, Sreekumar V. Angew. Chem., Int. Ed. 2004;43:5130–5135.

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