Benzylic hydroxyl, hydrogenolysis

Condensation of normeperidine (81) with 3-chloropropan-l-ol affords the compound possessing the alcohol side chain (88). The hydroxyl is then converted to chlorine by means of thionyl chloride (89) displacement of the halogen by aniline yields pimino-dine (90). ° Condensation of the secondary amine, 81, with styrene oxide affords the alcohol, 91 removal of the benzyllic hydroxyl group by hydrogenolysis leads to pheneridlne (92). ... 

Extreme differences between 5% palladium-on-carbon and platinum oxide were found on reduction of the 5-aryl substituted oxazole 14. Over palladium, 15 was formed in quantitative yield by hydrogenolysis of the benzyl hydroxyl, whereas over Pt, scission of the oxazole occurred to give 13 quantitatively (48). Hydrogenation of 15 over platinum oxide gave the phenethylamide 16. 

In contrast to phenolic hydroxyl, benzylic hydroxyl is replaced by hydrogen very easily. In catalytic hydrogenation of aromatic aldehydes, ketones, acids and esters it is sometimes difficult to prevent the easy hydrogenolysis of the benzylic alcohols which result from the reduction of the above functions. A catalyst suitable for preventing hydrogenolysis of benzylic hydroxyl is platinized charcoal [28], Other catalysts, especially palladium on charcoal [619], palladium hydride [619], nickel [43], Raney nickel [619] and copper chromite [620], promote hydrogenolysis. In the case of chiral alcohols such as 2-phenyl-2-butanol hydrogenolysis took place with inversion over platinum and palladium, and with retention over Raney nickel (optical purities 59-66%) [619]. 

It was felt that the reactivity of the benzylic hydroxyl group needed to be increased under the reduction conditions. Benzylic hydrogenolysis using a variety of transition metal catalysts has revealed this to be a... 

Hydrogenolysis of the benzylic hydroxyl group occurs simultaneously with reduction of the double bond in the catalytic hydrogenation of lycorenine and no saturated dihydrolycorenine has been reported. Instead, the major products of the catalytic reduction of both lycorenine and deoxylycorenine were two isomeric dihydrodeoxy derivatives (LXXXVIII) which differ in the manner of C D ring fusion. The a-, m.p. 168-169°, and /S-derivatives, m.p. 125-127°, were called d- and... 

The blocking and deblocking of carboxyl groups occurs by reactions similar to those described for hydroxyl and amino groups. The most important protected derivatives are /-butyl, benzyl, and methyl esters. These may be cleaved in this order by trifluoroacetic acid, hydrogenolysis, and strong acid or base (J.F.W. McOmie, 1973). 2,2,2-Trihaloethyl esters are cleaved electro-lytically (M.F. Semmelhack, 1972) or by zinc in acetic acid like the Tbeoc- and Tceoc-protected hydroxyl and amino groups. 

The 4-(dimethylaminocarbonyl)benzyl ether has been used to protect the phenolic hydroxyl of tyrosine. It is stable to CF3CO2H (120 h), but not to HBr/AcOH (complete cleavage in 16 h). It can also be cleaved by hydrogenolysis (H2/Pd-C). ... 

A benzyl carbonate was prepared in 83% yield from the sodium alkoxide of glycerol and benzyl chloroformate (20°, 24 h). It was also prepared by a lipase-catalyzed ester exchange with allyl benzyl carbonate. It is cleaved by hydrogenolysis (H2/Pd-C, EtOH, 20°, 2 h, 2 atm, 76% yield) and electrolytic reduction (—2.7 V, R4N X, DMF, 70% yield). A benzyl carbonate was used to protect the hydroxyl group in lactic acid during a peptide synthesis." ... 

From intermediate 28, the construction of aldehyde 8 only requires a few straightforward steps. Thus, alkylation of the newly introduced C-3 secondary hydroxyl with methyl iodide, followed by hydrogenolysis of the C-5 benzyl ether, furnishes primary alcohol ( )-29. With a free primary hydroxyl group, compound ( )-29 provides a convenient opportunity for optical resolution at this stage. Indeed, separation of the equimolar mixture of diastereo-meric urethanes (carbamates) resulting from the action of (S)-(-)-a-methylbenzylisocyanate on ( )-29, followed by lithium aluminum hydride reduction of the separated urethanes, provides both enantiomers of 29 in optically active form. Oxidation of the levorotatory alcohol (-)-29 with PCC furnishes enantiomerically pure aldehyde 8 (88 % yield). 

The completion of the synthesis of gilvocarcin V (2) only requires a few functional group manipulations. Hydrogenolysis of the four benzyl groups, followed by acetylation of the liberated hydroxyl groups, provides 30 in 68 % overall yield. After cleavage of the MOM ether in 30 with bromotrimethylsilane, application... 

The oxirane ring in 175 is a valuable function because it provides a means for the introduction of the -disposed C-39 methoxy group of rapamycin. Indeed, addition of CSA (0.2 equivalents) to a solution of epoxy benzyl ether 175 in methanol brings about a completely regioselective and stereospecific solvolysis of the oxirane ring, furnishing the desired hydroxy methyl ether 200 in 90 % yield. After protection of the newly formed C-40 hydroxyl in the form of a tert-butyldimethylsilyl (TBS) ether, hydrogenolysis of the benzyl ether provides alcohol 201 in 89 % overall yield. 

Hydrogenolysis of the C-7 benzyl ether, followed sequentially by selective triethylsilylation of the newly liberated C-7 hydroxyl and mesylation of the C-5 secondary hydroxyl, provides compound 34 in 60% overall yield (see 33—>34, Scheme 6). On the basis of Potier s studies,35 it was hoped that the C 20 hydroxyl group,... 

Vinylogs of benzylic alcohols, e.g. cinnamyl alcohol, undergo easy saturation of the double bond by catalytic hydrogenation over platinum, rhodium-platinum and palladium oxides [39] or by reduction with lithium aluminum hydride [609]. In the presence of acids, catalytic hydrogenolysis of the allylic hydroxyl takes place, especially over platinum oxide in acetic acid and hydrochloric acid [39]. 

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