UCLA

The unique characteristics of 1,2-dienes have proven to be a dynamic and ever growing field of study in organic chemistry. Allenes have been manipulated into a myriad of transformations, and have offered their unique characteristics to a number of fields of study. Chapter 1 discusses a phosphine catalyzed annulation between allenoates and alkenes to form cyclohexenes. In Chapter 2 the new phosphine catalyzed β'-Addition of a Pronucleophile to an allenoate is examined. Chapter 3 presents the development of a proline derived phosphine catalyst and its application in asymmetric synthesis of dihydropyrroles. A review on allene complexes with transition metals is presented in Chapter 4. Chapter 5 explores the effect of allene ligands upon copper, and subsequent copper-mediated vinyl ether synthesis.