Multicomponent reactions based on nucleophilic carbenes and their applications in organic synthesis*
Vijay Nair, Rajeev S. Menon, and V. Sreekumar
Organic Chemistry Division, Regional Research Laboratory (CSIR), Trivandrum 695019, India
Abstract: Zwitterionic intermediates generated from the addition of nonprotic nucleophiles to activated acetylenes are intercepted with various third components constituting novel multicomponent organic transformations. Catalytic amounts of an organic base like pyridine were found to trigger reactions between an electrophilic acetylene and a variety of electrophiles. The reactions proceed through dipolar intermediates and show high stereoselectivity.
Keywords: Carbenes; multicomponent reactions; isocyanides; dipoles; zwitterions.
*An issue of reviews and research papers based on lectures presented at the 15th International Conference on Organic Synthesis (ICOS-15), held in Nagoya, Japan, 1-6 August 2004, on the theme of organic synthesis. Other presentations are published in this issue, pp. 1087-1296.