Acylation regioselectivity

Cuprates derived from the reaction of ketone a,/S-dianions with CuCN were shown to be acylated regioselectively by acyl chlorides at the /3-carbon atom to give 1,4-diketones... 

The salt effects of alkali metal salts on reactivity and selectivity in acylation reactions were systematically studied by Kobayashi and coworkers [98]. In the presence of excess LiClO4 the Friedel-Crafls reaction proceeded most effectively with a catalytic amount of Al(OTf)3 to give acylation regioselectively at the 6 position of the naphthalene ring (Scheme 6.76). 

Regioselectivity becomes important, if unsymmetric difunctional nitrogen components are used. In such cases two different reactions of the nitrogen nucleophile with the open-chain educt may be possible, one of which must be faster than the other. Hydrazone formation, for example, occurs more readily than hydrazinoLysis of an ester. In the second example, on the other hand, the amide is formed very rapidly from the acyl chloride, and only one cyclization product is observed. 

Akylsilanes undergo highly regioselective acylation to give P,y-unsaturated ketones (177). Acylation of y,y-dialkylallyltrialkylsilane provides a route to the constmction of difficulty accessible quaternary carbon centers. 

Regioselective Acylation of Hydroxy Compounds. AUphatic diols can be selectively acylated at the primary position by a number of Upases in nonaqueous solvents. For example, PPL suspended in solutions of various diols in ethyl carboxylates catalyzes transesterification in a highly regioselective manner, producing primary monoesters in up to 97% yield (93). Similarly, chloramphenicol [56-75-7] (72) (R = NO2) can be acylated by a number of Upases to produce optically pure, water-insoluble 3-0-palmitate in a highly selective manner (94). 

A number of steroids have been regioselectively acylated ia a similar manner (99,104). Chromobactenum viscosum hpase esterifies 5a-androstane-3P,17P-diol [571-20-0] (75) with 2,2,2-triduoroethyl butyrate ia acetone with high selectivity. The hpase acylates exclusively the hydroxy group ia the 3-position giving the 3P-(monobutyryl ester) of (75) ia 83% yield. In contrast, bacillus subtilis protease (subtihsia) displays a marked preference for the C-17 hydroxyl. Candida iylindracea]i 2Lse (CCL) suspended ia anhydrous benzene regioselectively acylates the 3a-hydroxyl group of several bile acid derivatives (104). 

By taking advantage of the remarkable abihty of subtihsia [9014-01-1] to remain catalyticahy active ia anhydrous dimethylformamide, a number of carbohydrates and other sugar-related compounds have been regioselectively acylated with trichloroethyl butyrate (100). In the case of maltose [69-79-4] (76) and sahcia [138-52-3] (77), for example, acylation occurs exclusively at the C-6 positions. 

One particular feature of ionic liquids lies in their solvation properties, not only for hydrophobic compounds but also for hydrophilic compounds such as carbohydrates. Park and Kazlauskas reported the regioselective acylation of glucose in 99 % yield and with 93 % selectivity in [MOEMIM][BF4] (MOE = CH3OCH2CH2), values much higher than those obtained in the organic solvents commonly used for this purpose (Entry 18) [22] (Scheme 8.3-4). 

Scheme 12.20 Influence of the nitrogen substituent (sulfonyl, acyl) on the regioselectivity of aziridine opening.

Chromium carbene complexes having electron-rich arenes tethered to the car-bene oxygen or carbon underwent photodriven intramolecular Friedel-Crafts acylation in the presence of zinc chloride (Eqs. 32 and 33) [118]. The process was highly regioselective, undergoing acylation exclusively para to the activating group. 

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