Carboxylation synthesis, Knoevenagel reaction

Because of the mild reaction conditions, and its broad applicability, the Knoevenagel reaction is an important method for the synthesis of a ,/3-unsaturated carboxylic acids. Comparable methods are the Reformatsky reaction, the Perkin reaction, as well as the Claisen ester condensation. The Knoevenagel reaction is of greater versatility however the Reformatsky reaction permits the preparation of a ,/3-unsaturated carboxylic acids that are branched in a-position. 

Several strategies for the synthesis of polymer-bound enones have been described. One way is to start from immobilized [f-ketoesters, which can be prepared via transesterfica-tion of Wang resin with alkyl fl-keto carboxylates [31], or by treatment with diketene [16]. Knoevenagel reactions of these polymer-bound [f-ketoesters with aldehydes led to the formation of 2-alkylidene- or arylidene-P-ketoesters (Fig. 6.19 (A)). 

J,V-Unsaturated carboxylic acids and their derivatives are valuable synthetic intermediates for various natural products. Two typical multi-step processes for the synthesis of p.y-unsaturated acids, Knoevenagel reaction/isomerization with base and allylic cyanide/hydrolysis,3 are those most commonly used. Other new methods have been developed 4-7 however, there is a problem with E/Z stereoselectivity. One straightforward way to obtain p,y-unsaturated acids is by the carboxylation of an allyl metal Intermediate. In the substituted allylic series, the reaction usually occurs at the more sterically hindered terminus. A stereospecific route for the synthesis of homogeranlo acid and homoneric acid by carboxylation of the lithiated allylic sulfone... 

Chromone-2-carbaldehyde, 3-methyl-synthesis, 3, 709 Chromonecarbaldehydes Knoevenagel condensation, 3, 711 Chromone-3-carbaldehydes mass spectra, 3, 615 oxidation, 3, 709 reactions, 3, 712 Schiff bases, 3, 712 synthesis, 3, 821 Chromone-2-carbonyl chloride Grignard reaction, 3, 711 Chromonecarboxamide, N-tetrazolyl-antiallergic activity, 3, 707 Chromone-2-carboxylic acid, 3-chloro-ethyl ester... 

Finally, by placing the additional carbonyl in the carboxylic component, a synthesis of pyridinones 131 has been realized [115]. In this case, the nucleophilic carbon is not the one derived from the acid, but the one initially embedded in the starting aldehyde. Moreover, here a vinylogous Knoevenagel is operating, which is clearly favoured over the reaction involving the carbon a to the amide, thanks to the formation of a stable aromatic 6-membered ring. 

We have been particularly enamored with the development of experiments involving carbon-carbon bond formation, especially as part of tandem reactions occurring in a single container (see the Diels-Alder reaction. Figure 1). One such reaction is the synthesis of simple esters of coumarin-3-carboxylic acids via a Knoevenagel condensation between malonic esters and various a-hydroxybenzaldehydes, followed by intramolecular nucleophilic acyl substitution. This conversion, catalyzed by piperidine, has been carried out under a variety of conditions, for example, at room temperature without solvent... 

Usually the Knoevenagel condensation yields the unsaturated product, but, with appropriate aldehydes, 3-hydroxymalonates can be isolated. The unusual formation of an a-naphthol (74) has been reported from the reaction of diphenylacetaldehyde (73) with diethyl malonate under Knoevenagel conditions." Condensation of stdicyl dehydes and other aromatic o-hydroxy aldehydes with malonates is still in use for the synthesis of the corresponding coumarin-3-carboxylic esters (75). - " Reduction... 

The synthesis of phosphonate analogues of phosphates and carboxylic acids is becoming increasingly important. Intramolecular olefination of the diphosphonate (161), itself prepared by a Knoevenagel condensation of D-lyxose S-aldehyde with methylene[bis(diethyl phosphonate)], provides a novel synthesis of the phosphonate analogue (162) of shikimic acid.7 8 Olefination of the a-D-mannopyranoside (163) with methylene[bis(diethyl phosphonate)] has been used as a key step in the synthesis of the monophosphonate analogue (164) of L-myo-inositol-l,4,S-triphosphate.79 Attempts to carry out the olefination reaction directly on the diphosphate (165) failed. 

For example, Bazureau has used this approach to prepare imidazolium ions with appended carboxylic acid groups, which have been used as replacements for sohd polymer supports in the heterogeneous phase synthesis of small organic molecules via Knoevenagel and 1, 3-dipoIar cycloaddition reactions [12]. 

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