Benzoquinone monoacetals

Another synthesis using in situ-prepared o-benzoquinones has been reported by Liao and coworkers [45]. These authors observed that oxidation of 2-methoxy-phenols 7-92 with DAIB in the presence of unsaturated alcohols 7-93 furnish transient o-benzoquinone monoacetal intermediates, which easily undergo an intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction to provide bicyclo[2.2.2]octenones 7-94 with high regio- and stereoselectivity, as well as in acceptable yields (Scheme 7.25). 

In the case of benzoquinone monoacetals 61, the two substituents at the 4-position are equal, and side-selective addition Re versus Si face) creates a single stereocenter (Scheme 7.17(a)). In the (S, R, R)-18/Cu(OTf)2-catalyzed 1,4-addition, depending on the nature of the R2Zn reagent and the size of the acetal moiety, enantioselectivities ranging from 85-99% were found (Table 7.4). The highest ees are provided by a combination of a small acetal moiety and Me2Zn 99% ee was obtained with 4,4-dimethoxy-5-methyl-2-cyclohexenone, for example. 

A general and efficient synthesis of 5-oxygenated indoles 126 and 128 has been reported by Kita et al. (92H503). The method involves intramolecular imine formation from p-benzoquinones 125 and p-benzoquinone monoacetals 127 bearing the 2-aminoethyl side chain. Compounds 125 and 127 are prepared by the oxidation of 124 with IBTA in acetonitrile in the presence of water and methanol, respectively (Scheme 35). 

In 1987, Kita and co-workers first developed a general and high yielding (59% quant.) route to p-benzoquinone monoacetals (2a) and spirolactones from para-substituted phenols (la) with PIFA in MeCN in the presence of alcohols (R"OH) [27]. Similar methods for preparing quinone monoacetals and quinol ethers have been developed independently by Lewis et al. (PIDA/CH2C12-R"OH (11-65% yields)) [28] and Pelter et al. (PIDA/R"OH (65-99% yields)) [29] [Eq.(l)]. 

Cationic cycloadditions. Ionization of p-benzoquinone monoacetals is induced by MejSiOTf in highly polar media (LiClO /EtOAc) and the carbocations are captured in situ by alkenes to give bicyclo[3.2.1]octene derivatives. A synthesis of 2-(l -phenylethoxy)-8-oxabicyclo[3.2.1]oct-6-en-3-one in good enantiomeric purity from furan and a mixed acetal of 2-(triethylsiloxy)acrolein (prepared from pyruvaldehyde dimethylacetal in three steps) is promoted by MejSiOTf. 

Cycloadditions between naphthoquinones and a 1,2-dimethylidenecyclo-hexane derivative have been used to prepare pentacyclic compounds, e.g. (196), " while a related cycloaddition between isobenzofurans and benzoquinone monoacetal derivatives occurs regioselectively leading to anthracycline derivatives such as (197). ... 

The DA reaction of methacrolein with 1,3-dienol derivatives was catalyzed by BINOL derived titanium complexes, giving the endo adduct with high enantiose-lectivity [155]. The reaction was performed in the absence of MS, since MS can act as an achiral catalyst in this reaction and compromise the product enantiomeric excess. Similarly, the DA reaction of juglone with butadienyl acetate catalyzed by BINOL-Ti complex proceeds in only 9% ee in the presence of MS, whereas the reaction proceeds in 76-96% ee in the absence of MS to provide the endo adducts useful for the synthesis of anthracyclines and tetracycline [155,156). The drawback of the above method is the instability of the addition products, owing to their high tendency to aromatize. Corey improved this DA reaction with quinone monoacetal as a supplant of juglone or benzoquinone [157] (Scheme 14.64). 

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