Diastereoselective Addition of Allyl- and Crotylstannanes to Dicobalt-Complexed Acetylenic Aldehydes

In an endeavor to utilize metal carbonyl complexes of acetylenic aldehydes and ketones to control the stereoselectivity of nucleophilic acyl addition, the dicobalt hexacarbonyl and dicobalt pentacarbonyl(triphenylphosphine) complexes of 3-phenylpropynal and 2-hexynal were conveniently prepared. Crotyl transfer from either (E)- or (Z)-crotyltributylstannane to Co2(CO)6-complexed 3-phenylpropynal and 2-hexynal produced 3,4-disubstituted-1,5-enynes with high syn diastereoselectivity. Allyl and 2-methylallyl transfer to Co2(CO)5PPh3-complexed aldehydes was also accomplished with high yields and diastereoselectivities. In all cases, decomplexation of the metal carbonyl moiety was effected, selectively, under very mild oxidative conditions. Exchange of a CO by PPh3 led to decreased overall reactivity. Two competing kinetic processes were observed: stereoselective allylation was observed at low temperature, but at higher temperatures, the first formed allylic alcohol preferentially underwent elimination leading to dienynes.