Acetals, from ortho esters

Later investigators alcoholyzed imidate salts of other monobasic acids to obtain ortho esters of acetic [13, 14], propionic [15], butyric, valeric, caproic, isocaproic, benzoic [16], and phenylacetic acids [17]. For the latter alcoholysis reactions, the reaction time varies from a few days for the production of methyl orthopropionate to six weeks for ethyl orthobenzoate. McElvain reported that the reaction time is drastically cut by carrying out the reaction in boiling ether [18] or petroleum ether [19]. These conditions provide a reaction temperature below the decomposition point of the imidate salt to the amide. 

One can also acetalize carbonyl compounds completely without using the alcohol in excess. This is the case when one prepares dimethyl or diethyl acetals from carbonyl compounds with the help of the ortho formic acid esters trimethyl ortho formate HC(OCH3)3 or triethyl ortho formate HC(OC2H5)3, respectively. In order to understand these reactions, one must first clearly understand the mechanism for the hydrolysis of an orthoester to a normal ester (Figure 9.13). ft corresponds nearly step by step to the mechanism of hydrolysis of 0,0-acetals, which was detailed in Figure 9.12. The fact that the individual steps are analogous becomes very clear (see Figure 9.13) when one takes successive looks at... 

Title Bioerodible Poly (Ortho Esters) from Dioxane-Based Di(Ketene Acetals) and Block Copolymers Containing Them... 

Bioerodible poly(ortho ester) copolymers containing hydrophilic and hydrophobic blocks have been prepared from di(ketene acetals) and oligomeric diols. These materials form micelles in aqueous solution making them useful as hydrophobic encapsulation agents or as bioerodible matrices for the sustained release of medicaments. 

The action of zinc and alcohol on dibromo acetals, CHBtjCH(OR)2, gives olefinic halo ethers, BrCH CHOR (50-78%). A similar elimination from a-halo ortho esters by means of sodium sand in boiling benzene leads to ketene acetals. 

The reagents used for the completion of the purine heterocycle are essentially the same as those used for the Traubc synthesis. The purine ring is formed by condensation with derivatives of formic acid or other carboxylic acids. Alternatively, formylation of the amino group is accomplished by a mixture of formic acid and acetic anhydride followed by cyclization. Alkyl esters or trialkyl ortho esters are also versatile synthons for ring closure. Moreover, heating in formamide or cyclization with urea or thiourea provides a satisfactory route. Condensations with isothiocyanates show unusual versatility leading to 2-sulfanylpurin-6-ols. From carbonic acid derivatives, cyclization is reported with chlorocarbonic esters, diethyl carbonate or carbon disulfide. 

Although acetals, ketals, and ortho esters are easily hydrolyzed by acids, they are extremely resistant to hydrolysis by bases. An aldehyde or ketone can therefore be protected from attack by a base by conversion to the acetal or ketal (16-5), and then can be cleaved with acid. Pyridine-HF has also been used for this conver-sion. Thioacetals, thioketals, gem-diamines, and other compounds that contain any two of the groups OR, OCOR, NR2, NHCOR, SR, and halogen on the same carbon can also be hydrolyzed to aldehydes or ketones, in most cases, by acid treatment. Several ArCH(OAc)2 derivatives were hydrolyzed to the aldehyde using Montmoril-... 

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