Arene chromium complexes with functionalized anellated rings. Selective formation of highly substituted polycycles*

Tricarbonylchromium complexes of benzocyclobutenone, benzocyclobutenedione, and 1,3-indandione are readily prepared by hydrolysis of the complexes of the corresponding acetals. Reduction of the benzocyclobutenone complex gives rise to an oxyanion-driven ring opening to the corresponding ortho-quinodimethane intermediate, which can be trapped with dienophiles. Addition of 1-ethoxy-1-lithioethene allows a stereoselective ring expansion followed by an anionic ketol rearrangement with complete diastereoselectivity. Addition of 1-lithio-1-methoxyallene gives rise to a rare anionic 1-vinylcyclobutenol-cyclohexadienol rearrangement. Diaddition of alkenylmetal reagents at both keto groups in benzoyclobutenedione complexes causes dianionic oxy-Cope rearrangements to occur at –78 °C, which are followed by diastereoselective intramolecular aldol additions. In some cases, a completely regioselective mono hydrolysis of di(enolates) was observed. Dianionic oxy-Cope rearrangements can also be realized with unstrained benzil derivatives giving 1,6-hexanediones and the corresponding aldol adducts. The 1,2,3-indantrione complex is obtained by oxidation of the 1,3-indandione complex with dimethyldioxirane in good yield and reacts with its central ketone group in hetero Diels–Alder cycloadditions.