Benzylic ketones hydroxylation

The reaction of 2-hydroxyphenyl benzyl ketones with diiodomethane leads directly to isoflavanones (69IJC1059). It is necessary to protect free hydroxyl groups other than that involved in ring closure (Scheme 228). 

The acylated 3-(3,4-dimethoxybenzyl) substituted salts (86) or salts 81 can be directly obtained by the acid-catalyzed acylation of diveratryl-acetone (86UP1) or the corresponding hydroxyl-containing benzyl ketone... 

The principal substituent variations found naturally are hydroxyl functions (at locations denoted by arrows in (93)1 or benzylic ketone groups as in (-l-)-arborone (971. isolated from the heartwood of Gmelina arborea (92). 

Much emphasis has been placed on the selectivity of quaternary ammonium borohydrides in their reduction of aldehydes and ketones [18-20]. Predictably, steric factors are important, as are mesomeric electronic effects in the case of 4-substituted benzaldehydes. However, comparison of the relative merits of the use of tetraethyl-ammonium, or tetra-n-butylammonium borohydride in dichloromethane, and of sodium borohydride in isopropanol, has shown that, in the competitive reduction of benzaldehyde and acetophenone, each system preferentially reduces the aldehyde and that the ratio of benzyl alcohol to 1-phenylethanol is invariably ca. 4 1 [18-20], Thus, the only advantage in the use of the ammonium salts would appear to facilitate the use of non-hydroxylic solvents. In all reductions, the use of the more lipophilic tetra-n-butylammonium salt is to be preferred and the only advantage in using the tetraethylammonium salt is its ready removal from the reaction mixture by dissolution in water. 

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]. 

Removal of the amide function is much easier if the reaction is intramolecular, and —CONEt2 amides (sometimes even —CONPr-i2 amides) may be converted to lactones, lactams and other heterocycles in this way . Addition of an aldehyde or ketone as an electrophile generates a hydroxyl group (in some cases, atroposelectively, as it happens —though this is usually irrelevant to the stereochemistry of the product) which cyclizes to give a lactone via a benzylic cation in acid. This reaction has found wide use in the synthesis of polycyclic aromatics, particularly alkaloids. 

The benzyl hydroxyl containing API cyclandelate undergoes oxidation to the corresponding ketone, 3,3,5-trimethylcyclohexyl phenylglyoxalate (143). Low level benzylic oxidation is observed for the API ibuprofen. Oxidation to form the ketone derivatives at both benzylic sites to yield isobutyl acetophenone and 2-(4-isobutyrylphenyl)-propionic acid has been reported (144). 

A mixed oxide of ruthenium, copper, iron and alumnium has been developed as a catalyst for the synthesis of aldehydes and ketones from alcohols.258 Oxidation of chiral secondary 1,2-diols with 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-l,4-benzoquinone under ultrasound wave promotion leads to the selective oxidation of benzylic or allylic hydroxyl group. The configuration of the adjacent chiral centre is retained.259 The kinetics of oxidation of ethylbenzene in the presence of acetic anhydride have been studied.260... 

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