Preparation of multisubstituted allenes from allylsilanes

J Org Chem. 2005 May 13;70(10):3871-6. doi: 10.1021/jo050142h.

Abstract

[reaction: see text] A three-step route of converting allylsilanes to functionalized allenes was developed. Thermal decomposition of 1,1-dibromo-2-(silylmethyl)cyclopropanes, which were quantitatively prepared by treatment of allylsilane derivatives with CHBr3/KO(t)Bu, afforded substituted 2-bromo-1,3-butadienes with elimination of bromosilanes. The Pd-catalyzed reaction of the bromodienes with soft nucleophiles gave the allene derivatives. Previously inaccessible tri- and tetrasubstituted allenes can be prepared by this method as well.