Amdt-Eistert synthesis Wolff rearrangement

The Wolff rearrangement is the third step of the Amdt-Eistert homologation of carboxylic acids. Figure 14.27 picks up an example that was discussed in connection with Figure 8.13, that is, the homologation of trifluoroacetic acid to trifluoropropionic acid. The first step of the Amdt-Eistert synthesis consists of the activation of the carboxylic acid via the acid chloride. The Cj elongation to an a-diazoketone occurs in the second step. 

A straight chain diazomethyl ketone will also undergo Wolff rearrangement on irradiation. Such diazomethyl ketones are readily prepared from the corresponding acid chloride (150) by exposure to diazomethane or, more conveniently, trimethylsilyldiazomethane (Petrarch). Tlie net one-carbon homologation so effected is known as the Amdt-Eistert synthesis. 

Since ketene is probably the intermediate of the Wolff rearrangement, the choice of solvents dictates the nature of the product. Indeed, water gave carboxylic acids, whereas alcohols or amines led to esters and amides, respectively. These combinations have been applied to the synthesis of more complex molecules. For example, the total synthesis of carbonolide B, a 16-membered macrolide antibiotic, relied on Amdt-Eistert homologation. In this sequence, a protected furanuronic acid was transformed to the corresponding a-diazoketone, which was then converted to its homologous carboxylic ester. The reaction was achieved using catalytic amounts of silver benzoate and excess of triethylamine in methanol (Scheme 3.4).11... 

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