Absolute stereochemistry, Sharpless

An intramolecular diastereoselective Refor-matsky-type aldol approach was demonstrated by Taylor et al. [47] with an Sm(II)-mediated cy-clization of the chiral bromoacetate 60, resulting in lactone 61, also an intermediate in the synthesis of Schinzer s building block 7. The alcohol oxidation state at C5 in 61 avoided retro-reaction and at the same time was used for induction, with the absolute stereochemistry originating from enzymatic resolution (Scheme II). Direct re.solution of racemic C3 alcohol was also tried with an esterase adapted by directed evolution [48]. In other, somewhat more lengthy routes to CI-C6 building blocks, Shibasaki et al. used a catalytic asymmetric aldol reaction with heterobimetallic asymmetric catalysts [49], and Kalesse et al. used a Sharpless asymmetric epoxidation [50]. 

The first enantioselective total synthesis of ( )-7,8-epoxycembrene C (33) was achieved via a general approach by employing an intramolecular McMurry coupling and Sharpless asymmetric epoxidation as key steps from readily available starting material. The syntheses presented here verified the absolute stereochemistry assignment of the epoxy configuration of 33 as assumed (1R,8R) (Scheme 6-20). °... 

Based on the structural diversity of the many congeners originating from Laurencia, the elucidation of a bios5mthetic mechanism for the likely development of these metabolites is of much interest. The isolation and characterization of monoepoxide 30 (Scheme 1) from Laurencia okamurai [15] has allowed investigators to postulate that this compound (30) may be a common precursor for the biosynthesis of all other secondary metabolites derived from squalene [3]. Its absolute stereochemistry was verified via asymmetric synthesis utilizing a Sharpless asymmetric epoxidation [16] of trans, trara-famesol,... 

Hydroxyalkylphosphonates have been prepared by reduction of the corresponding ketones. These include phosphonomalate esters by highly diastereose-lective reduction of 3-phosphonopyruvates with NHs.BHa and both 2-hydroxyalkyl-phosphonates, e.g. 178, and thiophosphonates by asymmetric hydrogenation using chiral ruthenium catalysts. An enantioselective synthesis, from 179, of both enantiomers of phosphonothrixin 180 and their absolute stereochemistry have been reported.The epoxide 179 was prepared from 2-methy -3-hydroxymethyl-1,3-butadiene via a Sharpless epoxidation. 

In contrast, using the Achmatowicz approach, only pyranoses were formed. This approach began with the Sharpless dihydroxylation of achiral vinylfuran 5.6 to install the C-5 D-absolute stereochemistry as in 5.7. The fiirfuryl alcohol 5.7 can be stereoselectively converted into the a-spiroketal 5.8 by Achmatowicz oxidation, spiroketalization, Luche reduction and TBS-protection. Upjohn dihydroxylation of 5.8 was used to prepare both the manno-S.9 and allo-SAl isomers, with the manno-isomer being formed as the major isomer (4 1) (14). 

There are several efficient methods available for the synthesis of homochiral sulfoxides [3], such as asymmetric oxidation, optical resolution (chemical or bio-catalytic) and nucleophilic substitution on chiral sulfinates (the Andersen synthesis). The asymmetric oxidation process, in particular, has received much attention recently. The first practical example of asymmetric oxidation based on a modified Sharpless epoxidation reagent was first reported by Kagan [4] and Modena [5] independently. With further improvement on the oxidant and the chiral ligand, chiral sulfoxides of >95% ee can be routinely prepared by these asymmetric oxidation methods. Nonetheless, of these methods, the Andersen synthesis [6] is still one of the most widely used and reliable synthetic route to homochiral sulfoxides. Clean inversion takes place at the stereogenic sulfur center of the sulfinate in the Andersen synthesis. Therefore, the key advantage of the Andersen approach is that the absolute configuration of the resulting sulfoxide is well defined provided the absolute stereochemistry of the sulfinate is known. 

Aldehyde 73 was prepared from aldehyde 70 using a Brown Allylation to control absolute stereochemistry in the preparation of 72. Bromide 68 was prepared using a Sharpless epoxidation to control absolute stereochemistry. Conversion of 73 to the corresponding enolate, alkylation with 68, and addition of more LDA to generate a new enolate (74) gave a reasonable yield of 75 (see Histrionicotoxin-8/9). 

More than a decade of experience on Sharpless asymmetric epoxidation has confirmed that the method allows a great structural diversity in allylic alcohols and no exceptions to the face-selectivity rules shown in Fig. 10.1 have been reported to date. The scheme can be used with absolute confidence to predict and assign absolute configurations to the epoxides obtained from prochiral allylic alcohols. However, when allylic alcohols have chiral substituents at C(l), C(2) and/or C(3), the assignment of stereochemistry to the newly introduced epoxide group must be done with considerably more care. 

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