Carboxylic acids, functional derivatives reduction

This chapter is concerned with the cathodic reduction of carboxylic acids and their derivatives, that is, esters, amides, anhydrides, acyl halides, hydrazides, nitriles, and corresponding thio derivatives. Cyclic derivatives of substituted carboxylic and polycarboxylic acids, such as lactones, lactams, imides, and anhydrides, are also included. Only those transformations in which the functional group itself is involved are discussed. Reductive coupling of carboxylic acids and derivatives is covered in Chapter 22, and there is some overlap with reduction of heterocycles in Chapter 18. 

The electrochemical incorporation of CO2 into perfluoroalkyl derivatives has been explored in the case of (perfluoroalkyl)alkyl iodides and (perfluoroalkyl)alkenes, with an electrochemical system based on the use of consumable anodes combined with organometallic catalysis by nickel complexes. Iodide derivatives have been functionalized to the corresponding carboxylic acids by reductive carboxylation. Interesting and new results have been obtained from the fixation of CO2 into perfluoroalkyl olefins. Good yields of carboxylic acids could be reached by a carefull control of the reaction conditions and of the nature of the catalytic system. The main carboxylic acids are derived from the incorporation of carbon dioxide with a double bond migration and loss of one fluorine atom from the CF2 in a position of the double bond. 

The glucuronic acid residue at C-3 does not seem to play an essential role in adjuvanticity. Derivatization of the carboxylic acid function of the glucuronic acid of QS-21 with glycine produces a derivative with adjuvant activity similar to that of QS-21, albeit with less potency [92]. In strong contrast, reductive amination of the C-4 aldehyde of QS-21 eliminates adjuvant activity. These results again stress the pivotal role that the aldehyde group plays in the adjuvant properties of quillaja saponins, and presumably also in the saponins from gypsophila and saponaria. 

Reductive amination of 5-azido-2,3-di-0-benzyl-5-deoxy-D-arabinofuranose afforded 2,3-di-0-benzyl-l,5-dideoxy-l,5-imino-D-arabinitol from which the hydroxymethyl derivative 37 has been prepared (via hydroboration of the 4-C-methylene analogue) together with its C-4 epimer as a minor constituent. The hydroxymethyl group in 37 was further oxidized to a carboxylic acid function and the resulting product was found to be a good inhibitor of P-glucosidase. ... 

The process of substitution undertaken on carboxylic acids and the derivatives of carboxylic acids (anhydrides, acid halides, esters, amides, and nitriles) generally involves a series of replacement processes. Thus, individually, substitution may involve replacement of (a) the proton attached to oxygen of the -OH group (i.e., ionization of the acid) (b) the hydroxyl (-OH) portion of the carboxylic acid (or derivative) (e.g., esterification) (c) the carbonyl oxygen and the hydroxyl (-OH) (e.g., orthoester formation, vide infra) (d) the entire carboxylic acid functionality (e.g., the Hunsdiecker reaction, already discussed Scheme 9.101) and the decarboxylation of orotic acid (as orotidine monophosphate) to uracil (as uridine monophosphate)—catalyzed by the enzyme orotidine monophosphate decarboxylase (Scheme 9.115) or (e) the protons (if any) on the carbon to which the carboxylic acid functional group is attached (e.g., the Dieckman cycUzation, already discussed earlier, c Equation 9.91). Indeed, processes already discussed (i.e., reduction and oxidation) have also accomplished some of these ends. Some additional substitutions for the carboxylic acid group itself are presented in Table 9.6, while other substitutions for derivatives of carboxylic acids are shown in Tables 9.7-9.10 and discussed subsequently. 

Double bonds conjugated with aromatic rings and with carbonyl, carboxyl, nitrile and other functions are readily reduced by catalytic hydrogenation and by metals. These reductions are discussed in the appropriate sections aromatics, unsaturated aldehydes and ketones, unsaturated acids, their derivatives, etc. 

Dissolving metal reductions of the benzene rings are especially important with functional derivatives of benzene such as phenols, phenol ethers and carboxylic acids (pp. 80, 82,93 and 140). 

Types of compounds are arranged according to the following system hydrocarbons and basic heterocycles hydroxy compounds and their ethers mercapto compounds, sulfides, disulfides, sulfoxides and sulfones, sulfenic, sulfinic and sulfonic acids and their derivatives amines, hydroxylamines, hydrazines, hydrazo and azo compounds carbonyl compounds and their functional derivatives carboxylic acids and their functional derivatives and organometallics. In each chapter, halogen, nitroso, nitro, diazo and azido compounds follow the parent compounds as their substitution derivatives. More detail is indicated in the table of contents. In polyfunctional derivatives reduction of a particular function is mentioned in the place of the highest functionality. Reduction of acrylic acid, for example, is described in the chapter on acids rather than functionalized ethylene, and reduction of ethyl acetoacetate is discussed in the chapter on esters rather than in the chapter on ketones. 

Aldehydes are intermediate ill oxidation level, and thus the aldehyde functional group can be installed by either reduction of carboxylic acid derivatives or oxidation of alcohols. Aldehydes are rarely installed without a change of oxidation level. One difficulty is that they undergo both oxidation and reduction readily. Special methods are required to stop at the aldehyde stage rather than proceeding by further reduction or oxidation. 

Alcohols are at a fairly low oxidation level compared to other oxygen-containing functional groups and consequently are readily prepared by reduction. Large numbers of reductive methods have been reported for the preparation of alcohols. Carboxylic acids and esters react vigorously with lithium aluminum hydride (LAH) to produce primary alcohols. Carboxylic acids, but not esters, are also reduced easily by borane, which is die only reducing agent diat reacts faster widi carboxylic acids dian widi esters or odier acid derivatives. 

Compared to other direct reductions of carboxylic acids or carboxylic acid derivates such as using DIBAL-H or Rosenmund conditions, the Fukuyama Reduction is a mild alternative, offering outstanding functional group tolerance. 

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