LIGAND EFFECTS IN THE RHODIUM(II)-CATALYZED REACTIONS OF ALPHA-DIAZOAMIDES - OXINDOLE FORMATION IS PROMOTED BY THE USE OF RHODIUM(II) PERFLUOROCARBOXAMIDE CATALYSTS

An improved procedure for the preparation of ethyl 2-diazomalonyl chloride ws developed which involves the reaction of ethyl diazoacetate with triphosgene. Using this diazo acid chloride, it was possible to prepare a variety of diazoamides from substituted amines. The rhodium(II)-catalyzed decomposition of these diazoamides was studied in order to probe the chemoselectivity of the carbenoid intermediates in intramolecular insertion reactions. Rhodium(II) acetate decomposition of N-benzyl-2-diazo-N-phenylmalonamic acid ethyl ester resulted in intramolecular C-H insertion to give ethyl 1,4-diphenyl-2-oxoazetidine-3-carboxylate. By changing the catalyst ligand to trifluoroacetamide, beta-lactam formation was completely suppressed in favor of the aromatic C-H insertion which produces an oxindole as the only detectable product. The competition between aliphatic and aromatic carbon-hydrogen insertion of 2-diazo-N-phenylmalonamic acid ethyl ester provides another example of ligand effectiveness in controlling chemoselectivity in dirhodium(II)-catalyzed metal carbene reactions. Thus, treatment of the N-isobutyldiazoanilide with rhodium(II) acetate results in exclusive aliphatic C-H insertion giving 4,4-dimethyl-2-oxo-1-phenylpyrrolidine-3-carboxylic acid ethyl ester, while the perfluorobutyramide ligand promotes oxidinole formation by aromatic C-H insertion. Several other rhodium(II)-catalyzed reactions were studied and were found to be highly catalyst dependent, rhodium(II) perfluorocarboxamides promoting aromatic C-H insertion, and hence oxindole formation, over O-H insertion, cyclization onto adjacent triple bonds, or cyclization to generate 1,3-dipolar intermediates.