Comparison of Stereoselectivity in the Reactions of Crotylmetal Reagents with Dicobalt Hexacarbonyl-Complexed and Uncomplexed Propynals

The diastereoselectivity of addition reaction of crotylmetal reagents to cobalt-complexed acetylenic aldehydes and metal-free aldehydes was examined. The anti-diastereomer was the predominant product when the crotyl metallics were Cr, Sn, and Zr. In THF, the uncomplexed aldehydes normally gave higher anti-diastereoselectivity. However, the cobalt-complex of silicon-substituted propynals with three bulky substituents produced increased proportions of syn-diastereomer. In DMF, the selectivity shifted towards syn-isomer except in the case of dimethylphenylsilyl substituent. When tributylstannane was used in the presence of BF3 etherate, moderate syn- selectivity was observed with uncomplexed aldehydes, but only decomposed products from complexed aldehydes.