Oxygenation of Trimethylsilylallenes Readily Obtainable from Organoboranes. Syntheses of 1-Trimethylsilyl-1-alkyn-3-ones and 1-Trimethylsilyl-1-alkyn-3-ols

Abstract

Recently we have reported that the reaction of sodium methoxide with ate-complexes (1) readily prepared from trimethyl-silylpropargyl phenyl ether and organoboranes gives trimethyl-silylallenes (2) selectively (eq. 1).¹ In an attempt to find a new synthetic application of such silylallenes (2), the oxidation of 2 was examined. Although the usual oxidants such as m-chloro-perbenzoic acid were found to be unsuitable for the oxidation of the silylallenes, it was discovered that 2 was autoxidized at room temperature to propargylic hydroperoxide (3) (eq. 2). For example, the acidified starch-iodine test² strongly suggested the presence of the organic hydroperoxide in the reaction mixture obtained from 1,2-heptadienyltrimethylsilane (2, R=Bu) and oxygen. The hydroperoxide (3, R=Bu) was isolated in a 40% yield by distillation, 45–48 [ddot]C/0.1 mmHg. In the infrared spectrum, the OH stretching frequency appears at 3430 cm⁻¹ and the C°C at 2180 cm,⁻¹