Carbonyl reduction 486 Subject

That molecule is then subjected to the standard carbonyl reduction, Birch reaction, oxidation, ethynylation and, finally, hydrolysis sequence (see 50 to 53). Hydrolysis of the enol ether under more strenuous conditions than was employed with 53 gives the conjugated ketone 65. The carbonyl group is then reduced to afford the corresponding 3p-alcohol (66). Exhaustive acetylation affords the potent oral progestin methynodiol diacetate (67). 

The two segments 282 and 287 were now joined by a Wadsworth-Emmons olefination producing trienone 288. This intermediate contains all of the required carbons and the proper stereochemical array for the completion of protomycinolide rv (273). Hydrolysis of the THP group followed by nonstereoselective C-9 carbonyl reduction and ester cleavage gave the seco acid 289 in 70% yield from 282. Separately, the C-9 diastereomeric alcohols were subjected to lactonization mediated by trichlorobenzoyl chloride followed by Swem oxidation and desilylation, each producing synthetic 273 in 19% overall yield. 

Both the carbonyl and the bromine a-to the carbonyl are subject to reduction under these conditions. The choice of catalyst and reaction conditions are important and should be specified, preferably with a leading reference. 

Pure piperitone was subjected to the action of purified hydrogen, in the presence of a nickel catalyst, for six hours, the temperature ranging between 175° to 180° C. The double bond in piperitone was readily opened out with the formation of menthone, but further action of the hydrogen under these conditions did not reduce the carbonyl group, even after continued treatment for two days. Under correct conditions, however, the reduction to menthol should take place. The ease with which menthone is formed in this way is of special interest, not only in connection with the production of this ketone, but also as a stage in the manufacture of menthol. 

The homology between 22 and 21 is obviously very close. After lithium aluminum hydride reduction of the ethoxycarbonyl function in 22, oxidation of the resultant primary alcohol with PCC furnishes aldehyde 34. Subjection of 34 to sequential carbonyl addition, oxidation, and deprotection reactions then provides ketone 21 (31% overall yield from (—)-33). By virtue of its symmetry, the dextrorotatory monobenzyl ether, (/ )-(+)-33, can also be converted to compound 21, with the same absolute configuration as that derived from (S)-(-)-33, by using a synthetic route that differs only slightly from the one already described. 

Et2Zn also participates in the reductive coupling as a formal hydride source. Results for the Ni-catalyzed, Et2Zn-promoted homoallylation of carbonyl compounds with isoprene are summarized in Table 7 [30]. Et2Zn is so reactive that for the reaction with reactive aromatic aldehydes it causes direct ethylation of aldehydes, and the yields of homoallylation are diminished (runs 1 and 2). Unsaturated aldehydes seem to be subject to the Michael addition of Et2Zn. Accordingly, for the reaction with cinnamaldehyde, none of the expected homoallylation product is produced instead, the 1,4-addition product of Et2Zn, 3-phenylpentanal is produced exclusively (run 3). 

To illustrate the overall magnitude of the mechanistic problem, let us consider the varied reactivity of a prototypical carbonyl compound such as acetone, which is subject to many diverse reactions such as addition, substitution, cycloaddition, oxidation, reduction, etc., as illustrated in Chart 2. 

Volume 75 concludes with six procedures for the preparation of valuable building blocks. The first, 6,7-DIHYDROCYCLOPENTA-l,3-DIOXIN-5(4H)-ONE, serves as an effective /3-keto vinyl cation equivalent when subjected to reductive and alkylative 1,3-carbonyl transpositions. 3-CYCLOPENTENE-l-CARBOXYLIC ACID, the second procedure in this series, is prepared via the reaction of dimethyl malonate and cis-l,4-dichloro-2-butene, followed by hydrolysis and decarboxylation. The use of tetrahaloarenes as diaryne equivalents for the potential construction of molecular belts, collars, and strips is demonstrated with the preparation of anti- and syn-l,4,5,8-TETRAHYDROANTHRACENE 1,4 5,8-DIEPOXIDES. Also of potential interest to the organic materials community is 8,8-DICYANOHEPTAFULVENE, prepared by the condensation of cycloheptatrienylium tetrafluoroborate with bromomalononitrile. The preparation of 2-PHENYL-l-PYRROLINE, an important heterocycle for the synthesis of a variety of alkaloids and pyrroloisoquinoline antidepressants, illustrates the utility of the inexpensive N-vinylpyrrolidin-2-one as an effective 3-aminopropyl carbanion equivalent. The final preparation in Volume 75, cis-4a(S), 8a(R)-PERHYDRO-6(2H)-ISOQUINOLINONES, il lustrates the conversion of quinine via oxidative degradation to meroquinene esters that are subsequently cyclized to N-acylated cis-perhydroisoquinolones and as such represent attractive building blocks now readily available in the pool of chiral substrates. 

Meerwein-Pondorf-Verley reduction, discovered in the 1920s, is the transfer hydrogenation of carbonyl compounds by alcohols, catalyzed by basic metal compounds (e.g., alkoxides) [56-58]. The same reaction viewed as oxidation of alcohols [59] is called Oppenauer oxidation. Suitable catalysts include homogeneous as well as heterogeneous systems, containing a wide variety of metals like Li, Mg, Ca, Al, Ti, 2r and lanthanides. The subject has been reviewed recently [22]. In this review we will concentrate on homogeneous catalysis by aluminium. Most aluminium alkoxides will catalyze MPV reduction. 

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