Isotopic labelling studies for a gold-catalysed skeletal rearrangement of alkynyl aziridines
2011

Gold-Catalysed Rearrangement of Alkynyl Aziridines

publication Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Paul W. Davies, Nicolas Martin, Neil Spencer, F. Dean Toste

Primary Institution: University of Birmingham

Hypothesis

Can isotopic labelling validate the proposed 1,2-aryl shift mechanism in the gold-catalysed cycloisomerisation of alkynyl aziridines?

Conclusion

The study reveals two distinct pathways for the formation of 2,4-disubstituted pyrroles in gold-catalysed reactions.

Supporting Evidence

  • The study identified two isotopomers of the 2,4-disubstituted pyrrole product.
  • The results suggest that both a 1,2-aryl shift and a 1,2-(metal-stabilised)-vinyl shift are involved in the reaction.
  • Different substituents on the alkyne affect the pathway taken during the reaction.

Takeaway

Scientists used special labels to track how certain chemicals change during a reaction, helping them understand how to make new types of molecules.

Methodology

Isotopic labelling studies were performed using 13C and deuterium labels to investigate the reaction mechanism.

Limitations

The reaction of deuterated aziridine was less clean than its non-deuterated analogue, leading to unexpected results.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.3762/bjoc.7.96

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