Alkylation of alkenes:: Ethylaluminum sesquichloride-mediated hydro-alkyl additions with alkyl chloroformates and di-tert-butylpyrocarbonate

A general method for the hydro-alkyl addition to the nonactivated C=C double bond of alkenes using alkyl chloroformates (primary, secondary), 12, and di-tert-butylpyrocarbonate, 52, mediated by ethylaluminum sesquichloride (Et3Al2Cl3) has been developed. Reaction of 12 and 52, respectively, with Et3Al2Cl3 gives an alkyl cation which is added to the alkene; hydride transfer to the adduct carbeniurn ion or, if applicable, 1,2-H shift followed by hydride transfer from Et3Al2Cl3 to the rearranged adduct carbeniurn ion gives the saturated addition product. The reaction has been applied to 1-alkenes, 2-methyl-1-alkenes, internal double bonds, and to three cyclic alkenes. Special interest has been focused on alkylations of unsaturated fatty compounds, such as oleic acid (2), which are important renewable feedstocks. 2-Methylalkanes, 3-methylalkanes, 2,4-dimethylalkanes, 2,3-dimethylalkanes, 2,2,4-trimethylalkanes, cyclohexylalkanes, and carboxylic acids and esters with the respective branched alkyl chain have been synthesized with good to moderate yields.