M. Uemura, Kazunari Yagi, M. Iwasaki
Apr 10, 2006
Citations
0
Influential Citations
9
Citations
Journal
Tetrahedron
Abstract
Abstract Lithium pentamethylcyclopentadienide (C5Me5Li, Cp*Li) reacted with aromatic aldehyde to provide the corresponding carbinol in excellent yield. The carbinol returns to the parent aldehyde and pentamethylcyclopentadiene upon exposure to acid or due to heating. Chlorodimethylaluminum is essential as an additive to attain the nucleophilic addition of Cp*Li to aliphatic aldehyde. The carbinol derived from aliphatic aldehyde returns to the parent aldehyde and pentamethylcyclopentadiene by the action of a catalytic amount of 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyanobenzoquinone (DDQ). The reversible addition/elimination of the Cp* group can represent a protection of aldehyde. Mechanistic details of the carbon–carbon bond cleavage are also disclosed.