Butene asymmetric carbonylation

The double bonds in certain heterocyclic compounds, such as furans, Af-acylpyrroles and A-acylindoles are also susceptible to photoaddition of carbonyl compounds to form oxetanes (equation 106) (77JHC1777). A wide range of carbonyl compounds can be used, including quinones, a-diketones, acyl cyanides, perfluorinated aldehydes and ketones and esters. A remarkable case of asymmetric induction in oxetane formation has been reported from optically active menthyl phenylglyoxylate and 2,3-dimethyl-2-butene the oxetane product obtained after hydrolysis of the ester group had an optical purity of 53% (79AG(E)868). 

The first report concerning an asymmetric Paterno-Buchi reaction with a chiral carbonyl component was reported in 1979 by Gotthardt and Lenz [128]. The photocycloaddition of the enantiomerically pure menthyl ester of phenylglyoxylic acid 133 with 2,3-dimethyl-2-butene gave the oxetane 134 with a diastereomeric excess of only 37% (Sch. 45). 

By a similar method, the (Z)-crotylborate is synthesized from cA-2-butene in 70-75% yield with a 98% isomeric purity. The tartrate esters of allylboronic acids are an excellent reagent for asymmetric allylboration of carbonyl compounds. Allyl(diisopinocampheyl)borane [51] and the allylic boron derivatives of ester and amide, such as camphordiol [52], pinanediol [53], 1,2-diphenyl-1,2-ethylenediamine [54], have also been successfully used for asymmetric allylboration of carbonyls. 

---