Enantioselective synthesis of butadien-2-ylcarbinols via (silylmethyl)allenic alcohols from chromium-catalyzed additions to aldehydes utilizing chiral carbazole ligands

The synthesis of chiral, nonracemic butadienylcarbinols by employing intermediate (trimethylsilyl) methylallenic alcohols is described. Allenic alcohols are obtained by treatment of aldehydes with (4-bromobut-2-ynyl)trimethylsilane in the presence of a catalytic amount of CrCl3 or CrCl2. Several new tridentate bis(oxazolinyl)carbazole ligands were synthesized and evaluated as the source of chirality. The synthesis of chiral allenic alcohols can be achieved in good yields (58-88%) and enantioselectivities (55-78% ee). Allenic alcohols may be treated with TBAF or 2 M HCl to provide the desired dienes in 43-86% yields. Alternatively, the (trimethylsilyl)methyl allenic alcohols afford iodobutadienyl carbinols when treated with N-iodosuccinimide. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.