In
chemistry
Chemistry is the science, scientific study of the properties and behavior of matter. It is a natural science that covers the Chemical element, elements that make up matter to the chemical compound, compounds made of atoms, molecules and ions ...
a carbenoid is a
reactive intermediate
In chemistry, a reactive intermediate or an intermediate is a short-lived, high-energy, highly reactive molecule. When generated in a chemical reaction, it will quickly convert into a more stable molecule. Only in exceptional cases can these comp ...
that shares reaction characteristics with a
carbene. In the
Simmons–Smith reaction the carbenoid intermediate is a
zinc /
iodine
Iodine is a chemical element with the symbol I and atomic number 53. The heaviest of the stable halogens, it exists as a semi-lustrous, non-metallic solid at standard conditions that melts to form a deep violet liquid at , and boils to a vi ...
complex that takes the form of
:I-CH
2-Zn-I
This complex reacts with an
alkene to form a
cyclopropane
Cyclopropane is the cycloalkane with the molecular formula (CH2)3, consisting of three methylene groups (CH2) linked to each other to form a ring. The small size of the ring creates substantial ring strain in the structure. Cyclopropane itself ...
just as a carbene would do.
Carbenoids appear as intermediates in many other reactions. In one system a carbenoid chloroalkyllithium reagent is prepared in situ from a
sulfoxide
In organic chemistry, a sulfoxide, also called a sulphoxide, is an organosulfur compound containing a sulfinyl () functional group attached to two carbon atoms. It is a polar functional group. Sulfoxides are oxidized derivatives of sulfides. E ...
and
t-BuLi which reacts the boronic ester to give an ate complex. The ate complex undergoes a 1,2-metallate rearrangement to give the homologated product, which is then further oxidised to a secondary alcohol.
[Iterative Stereospecific Reagent-Controlled Homologation of Pinacol Boronates by Enantioenriched -Chloroalkyllithium Reagents Paul R. Blakemore and Matthew S. Burge J. Am. Chem. Soc.; 2007; 129(11) pp 3068 - 3069; (Communication) ]
:
The
enantiopurity
In chemistry, an enantiomer (Help:IPA/English, /ɪˈnænti.əmər, ɛ-, -oʊ-/ Help:Pronunciation respelling key, ''ih-NAN-tee-ə-mər''; from Ancient Greek language, Ancient Greek ἐνάντιος ''(enántios)'' 'opposite', and μέρος ''( ...
of the chiral sulfoxide is preserved in the ultimate product after oxidation of the boronic ester to the
alcohol
Alcohol most commonly refers to:
* Alcohol (chemistry), an organic compound in which a hydroxyl group is bound to a carbon atom
* Alcohol (drug), an intoxicant found in alcoholic drinks
Alcohol may also refer to:
Chemicals
* Ethanol, one of sev ...
indicating that a true carbene was never involved in the sequence.
See also
* The silicon pendant:
Silylenoids
References
{{reflist
Carbenes