Phosphazene Catalyzed Addition to Electron-Deficient Alkynes: The Importance of Nonlinear Allenyl Intermediates upon Stereoselectivity

An ONIOM(QM/MM) study on the mechanism of the Michael addition to triple bonds catalyzed by chiral diiminophosphorane catalysts has been performed to understand the stereoselectivity of the product olefin. Our results are consistent with the experimental enantioselectivity, but more importantly, reveal that the Z vs E preference depends on the influence of the catalyst upon the geometry of the allenyl enolate formed in the addition step. These intermediates show an innate preference for a (Z)-configuration, although this can be suppressed by steric interactions due to a catalyst. This leads to two distinct mechanisms in which the kinetic basis for (E) or (Z)-stereoselectivity is determined by a different step. Bifunctional iminophosphorane catalysts are found to use steric interactions to override innate stereoelectronic effects of the allenyl enolate reactive intermediate.