Alkyl compounds, conjugate synthesis

The synthesis of alkylating agent conjugates of steroidal hormones led to compounds with enhanced selectivity due to improved transport properties of the hormone to particular... 

A first literature precedent describes the reaction of y-thiobutyrolactone with propiolic acid under basic hydrolysis conditions, generating the corresponding acrylic acid 4 (Scheme 3a) [113]. As an alternative to this sequential hydrolysis and conjugate addition (thio-Michael addition), the lysis of thiolactones under basic conditions is often carried out in the presence of an alkylating agent. Because of the high nucleophilic character of the liberated thiol, 5-alkylated compounds are the final products of these reactions [108]. Methanolysis of homocysteine-y-thiolactone hydrochloride l.HCI and subsequent alkylation by treatment with an alkyl halide in a one-pot fashion has been reported as a simple method for the synthesis of S-alkylhomocysteines 5 (Scheme 3b) [114, 115]. 

The formation of the above anions ("enolate type) depend on equilibria between the carbon compounds, the base, and the solvent. To ensure a substantial concentration of the anionic synthons in solution the pA" of both the conjugated acid of the base and of the solvent must be higher than the pAT -value of the carbon compound. Alkali hydroxides in water (p/T, 16), alkoxides in the corresponding alcohols (pAT, 20), sodium amide in liquid ammonia (pATj 35), dimsyl sodium in dimethyl sulfoxide (pAT, = 35), sodium hydride, lithium amides, or lithium alkyls in ether or hydrocarbon solvents (pAT, > 40) are common combinations used in synthesis. Sometimes the bases (e.g. methoxides, amides, lithium alkyls) react as nucleophiles, in other words they do not abstract a proton, but their anion undergoes addition and substitution reactions with the carbon compound. If such is the case, sterically hindered bases are employed. A few examples are given below (H.O. House, 1972 I. Kuwajima, 1976). 

The synthesis in Scheme 13.21 starts with a lactone that is available in enantiomer-ically pure form. It was first subjected to an enolate alkylation that was stereocontrolled by the convex shape of the cis ring junction (Step A). A stereospecific Pd-mediated allylic substitution followed by LiAlH4 reduction generated the first key intermediate (Step B). This compound was oxidized with NaI04, converted to the methyl ester, and subjected to a base-catalyzed conjugation. After oxidation of the primary alcohol to an aldehyde, a Wittig-Horner olefination completed the side chain. 

Aldol addition and condensation reactions involving two different carbonyl compounds are called mixed aldol reactions. For these reactions to be useful as a method for synthesis, there must be some basis for controlling which carbonyl component serves as the electrophile and which acts as the enolate precursor. One of the most general mixed aldol condensations involves the use of aromatic aldehydes with alkyl ketones or aldehydes. Aromatic aldehydes are incapable of enolization and cannot function as the nucleophilic component. Furthermore, dehydration is especially favorable because the resulting enone is conjugated with the aromatic ring. 

The most common method for the synthesis of phosphinopeptides is the addition of a nucleophilic, trivalent phosphorus species to a carbon electrophile, including conjugated double bonds, alkylating agents, imines, and carbonyl compounds. By analogy with the phosphite ester additions described above, the nucleophilic form of a phosphinic acid is the trivalent species, generated from the more stable, pentavalent PH derivative by deprotonation or by silylation (cf. Scheme 2). 

Unfortunately, alkylation reactions analogous to the base-catalyzed alkylation of carbonyl compounds generally are not useful for the synthesis of higher nitro compounds, because C-alkylation of the conjugate bases of primary nitro compounds is slower than O-alkylation. 

---