Allylation with ketones

In ( )-[2-(l-propenyl)-l, 3-dithian-2-yl]lithium, no problem of EjZ selectivity arises. It is easily prepared by deprotonation of the allylic dithiane87,88 with butyllithium in THF, whereas deprotonation of the 2-propylidene-l, 3-dithiane requires the assistance of HMPA. The addition to saturated aldehydes proceeds with excellent y-regioseleetivity and anti selectivity88,89. As often observed in similar cases, aldehydes which bear an, p2-carbon atom adjacent to the carbonyl group give lower selectivities. The stereoselectivity decreases with ketones (2-bu-tanone y/a 84 16, antiisyn 77 23)88. The reaction with ethyl 2-oxopropanoate is merely nonstereoselective90, but addition of zinc chloride improved the syn/anti ratio to 96 4, leading to an efficient synthesis of ( )-crobarbatic acid. 

The THF-soluble salt tetrabutylammonium fluoride (TBF) is a common source of fluoride. An alternative reagent is tetrabutylammonium triphenyldifluorosilicate (TBAF).115 Unsymmetrical allylic anions generated in this way react with ketones at their less-substituted terminus. 

As the nitro group is removed by radical denitration with Bu3SnH, allylic alkylation of a-nitro ketones with allyl carbonates in the presence of Pd(0) followed by denitration with Bu3SnH provides a new regio-selective allylation of ketones under neutral conditions (Eq. 5.55).79... 

Second, insertions are very selective, and the nature of the bond between organic groups and nickel determines the type of molecule which can be inserted. For example, allylic groups prefer to react with acetylene rather than with carbon monoxide (example 33, Table VII) but the opposite is true for benzyl or aryl groups. 7r-Lactonyl groups do not react either with carbon monoxide or acetylene, but they do react with ketones or aldehydes (example 39, Table VII). In this way sequential reactions take place on nickel with high selectivity. 

A series of bicyclo[3.3.0]octanols are accessible by electroreductive tandem cyclization of linear allyl pentenyl ketones 189, as shown by Kariv-Miller et al. [189]. The electrolyses are carried out with an Hg-pool cathode and a Pt-flag anode. As electrolyte, tetrabutylammonium tetrafluororborate is used. The reaction is stereoselective, yielding only two isomers 192 and 193. In a competing reaction, a small amount of the monocyclic alcohol is formed. Since all the monocycles have the 1-allyl and the 2-methyl group in trans geometry it is assumed that this terminates the reaction. The formation of a bicyclic product requires that the first cyclization provides the cis radical anion which leads to cis-ring juncture [190] (Scheme 37). 

There are only a few examples where chiral allylic boronates react successfully with ketones, and the enantioselectivities are modest. " A recent report, however,... 

Eq. 59), and even surprisingly high for aliphatic ketones such as 2-butanone, a substrate that offers very little steric discrimination (Eq. 60). Reagent 74 is less effective than 70 in allylations of aldehydes (e.g., 90% ee vs. >98% ee for 70 in the allylation of benzaldehyde). The superior reactivity and selectivity of 74 with ketones is ascribed in part to the lesser steric bulk of the phenyl substituent compared to the trimethylsilyl unit of reagent 70. The smaller phenyl substituent of 74 would provide a better fit for ketones in the chiral pocket of the reagent. 

Unsymmetrical allylic anions generated in this way react with ketones at their less substituted terminus. 

Aerobic Co(II) catalysed hydroperoxysiiyiation of allylic alcohols provides silyl peroxides that can be condensed with ketones to produce 1,2,4-trioxanes or 1,2,4-trioxepanes by a simple one-pot procedure (Scheme 35A). A recent improvement in the use of Co(acac)2 is the use of Co(thd)2 (thd = bis (2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-3,5-heptanedionato)). This more reactive catalyst allows cyclic allylic alcohols to be oxygenated and the resulting peroxysilyl alcohol can be transformed to spiro trioxanes, some of which have potent in vitro antimalarial activity (Scheme 35B). For example, compound 87 expresses activity around 20 nM (artemisinin = 10 nM). 

Palladium(0)-catalyzed a-allylation of silyl ethers is a reaction which can be carried out with ketones as well as with aldehydes91. It is highly regiospecific when applied to ketones. a-Allylations can also be performed with enol acetates using allyl carbonates in the presence of catalytic amounts of palladium(O) complexes and (tributyl)methoxytin92,93. The steric course of the reaction has not been studied systematically but a high level of diastereoselectivity is expected and possibilities for asymmetric induction by the use of chiral auxiliaries are envisaged. 

Allylic zinc bromides also generally couple with ketones and acid anhydrides. In the case of trifluoroprenyl bromide, the attempts were only successful with ethyl pyruvate. However, it appears that this reaction provides the transposition product in 50% yield (equation 20). 

Homoallylic alcohols. Allyl iodide reacts wth SnF2 to form in situ allyltin difluoroiodidc, which reacts with aldehydes to form homoallylic alcohols in yields of 80-90%. The reaction with ketones proceeds in lower yield. l,3-Dimethyl-2-imidazolidinone is the most satisfactory solvent. SnCl2 and SnBr2 can be used, but yields are somewhat lower. 

Copper(I) salts of enamines have been allylated with the 2-allyloxybenzimidazoles to give y,5-unsaturated ketones upon hydrolysis (79CL957). Primary allylic ethers react preferentially at their a-carbon with retention of double bond configuration whereas secondary allylic ethers react mainly at the y-carbon to afford alkenes of predominantly (E)-stereochemistry. 

Coupling ofallylic acetates with ketones homoallylic alcohols In the presence of Pd[P(C6H5)3]4, Sml2 effects reductive coupling of allylic acetates with ketones to form homoallylic alcohols in 50-95% yield. 

The preparation of a-lithio aldehydes, o -lithio ketones, and related compounds and their applications to organic synthesis has been reviewed.10 The Tsuji-Trost allylic alkylation with ketone enolates has been highlighted.11... 

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