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Allene Synthesis: History
Please note this is an old version of this entry, which may differ significantly from the current revision.
Subjects: Chemistry, Organic
Contributor: Helena Kang

Allenes are cumulenes containing two consecutive carbon–carbon double bonds (C=C=C) whose terminal substituents lie in orthogonal planes. Allene synthesis is the set of transformations that install this 1,2-diene array. One established route is the propargyl Claisen rearrangement, in which a propargylic vinyl ether undergoes a 3,3-sigmatropic reorganization to an allenic carbonyl derivative [1]. Radical processes generate the cumulene by addition–elimination or hydrogen-atom transfer sequences that terminate in an allenic radical or closed-shell allene [2]. Fragmentative constructions create the two double bonds by scission of a C–C bond in a suitably disposed precursor, releasing the allene as the unsaturated fragment [3]. SN2' displacement of a propargylic leaving group by an organometallic nucleophile likewise produces a substituted allene. The defining structural criterion is the cumulative C=C=C unit, which distinguishes allenes from isolated dienes, conjugated 1,3-dienes, and alkynes. Axial chirality arises when the four termini are appropriately substituted, so stereochemical control is an intrinsic feature of many allene-forming bond reorganizations.

  • allene synthesis
  • cumulene
  • SN2' substitution
  • C–C fragmentation

Advanced Synthetic Organic Chemistry • Organic Chemistry • Chemistry • Physical Sciences

References

  1. David Tejedor; Gabriela Méndez-Abt; Leandro Cotos; Fernando García-Tellado; Propargyl Claisen rearrangement: allene synthesis and beyond. Chem. Soc. Rev. 2012, 42, 458-471, 10.1039/c2cs35311c.
  2. Yajun Li; Hongli Bao; Radical transformations for allene synthesis. Chem. Sci. 2022, 13, 8491-8506, 10.1039/d2sc02573f.
  3. Robert V. Kolakowski; Madhuri Manpadi; Yue Zhang; Thomas J. Emge; Lawrence J. Williams; Allene Synthesis via C−C Fragmentation: Method and Mechanistic Insight. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2009, 131, 12910-12911, 10.1021/ja906189h.
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