Peterson olefination

The Peterson olefination (also called the Peterson reaction) is the chemical reaction of α-silyl carbanions (1 in diagram below) with ketones (or aldehydes) to form a β-hydroxysilane (2) which eliminates to form alkenes (3).

Several reviews have been published.

One attractive feature of the Peterson olefination is that it can be used to prepare either cis- or trans-alkenes from the same β-hydroxysilane. Treatment of the β-hydroxysilane with acid will yield one alkene, while treatment of the same β-hydroxysilane with base will yield the alkene of opposite stereochemistry.

The action of base upon a β-hydroxysilane (1) results in a concerted syn elimination of (2) or (3) to form the desired alkene. The penta-coordinate silicate intermediate (3) is postulated, but no proof exists to date.^[when?]

Potassium alkoxides eliminate quickly, while sodium alkoxides generally require heating. Magnesium alkoxides only eliminate in extreme conditions. The order of reactivity of alkoxides, K > Na >> Mg, is consistent with higher electron density on oxygen, hence increasing the alkoxide nucleophilicity.

The treatment of the β-hydroxysilane (1) with acid results in protonation and an anti elimination to form the desired alkene.

Unlike the Wittig reaction, Peterson-type olefinations tolerate nitriles.

When the α-silyl carbanion contains only alkyl, hydrogen, or electron-donating substituents, the stereochemical outcome of the Peterson olefination can be controlled, because at low temperature the elimination is slow and the intermediate β-hydroxysilane can be isolated.