Intramolecular [2+2+2] Cycloaddition Reactions of Yne‐ene‐yne and Yne‐yne‐ene Enediynes Catalysed by RhI: Experimental and Theoretical Mechanistic Studies

AbstractN‐Tosyl‐linked open‐chain yne‐ene‐yne enediynes 1 and 2 and yne‐yne‐ene enediynes 3 and 4 have been satisfactorily synthesised. The [2+2+2] cycloaddition process catalysed by the Wilkinson catalyst [RhCl(PPh3)3] was tested with the above‐mentioned substrates resulting in the production of high yields of the cycloadducts. Enediynes 1 and 2 gave standard [2+2+2] cycloaddition reactions whereas enediynes 3 and 4 suffered β‐hydride elimination followed by reductive elimination of the Wilkinson catalyst to give cycloadducts, which are isomers of those that would be obtained by standard [2+2+2] cycloaddition reactions. The different reactivities of these two types of enediyne have been rationalised by density functional theory calculations.