Cuprate reagents preparation

Scheme 9.3 Reactions of organocalcium and calcium cuprate reagents prepared from chloromethylated polystyrene and Rieke calcium.

In a related reaction but using deuterium instead of tritium, epoxide 354 was treated with the cuprate reagent prepared from in situ generated [ H3]methyllithium and copper(I) cyanide to provide 355 (major isomer, 65% yield), an intermediate in the preparation of L-(25,35)-[4,4,4-2H3]valine l... 

The methodology used in the preparation of RU 486 (84) and other ll -steroids is shown. Conjugate addition of a cuprate reagent to the a,P-unsaturated epoxide (85) provides the liP-substituted steroid (86) stereospecificaHy (131). Subsequent steps lead to the synthesis of RU 486 (84). 

Since this original synthesis, a great number of improvements (191—201) have been made in the stereoselective preparation and derivatization of the CO-chain precursor, in cuprate reagent composition and preparation, in protecting group utilization, and in the preparation and resolution of hydroxycyclopentenones. Illustration of some of the many improvements are seen in a synthesis (202) of enisoprost, a PGE analogue. The improvements consist of a much more efficient route to the enone as well as modifications in the cuprate reactions. Preparation of the racemic enone is as follows ... 

The optically active iodide 153 (Scheme 43) can be conveniently prepared from commercially available methyl (S)-(+)-3-hydroxy-2-methylpropionate (154) (see Scheme 41). At this stage of the synthesis, our plan called for the conversion of 153 to a nucleophilic organometallic species, with the hope that the latter would combine with epoxide 152. As matters transpired, we found that the mixed higher order cuprate reagent derived from 153 reacts in the desired and expected way with epoxide 152, affording alcohol 180 in 88% yield this regioselective union creates the C12-C13 bond of rapamycin. 

The procedure described here illustrates the preparation of mixed lithium arylhetero(alkyl)cuprate reagents and their reactions with carboxylic acid chlorides,4 These mixed cuprate reagents also react with a,a -dibromoketones,12 primary alkyl halides,4 and a,/3-unsaturated ketones,4 with selective transfer of only the alkyl group. 

For use of other organocopper reagents in converting carboxylic acid chlorides to ketones, see G. H. Posner and C. E. Whitten, Tetrahedron Lett., 1815 (1973) G. H. Posner, C. E. Whitten, and P. E. McFarland, J. Amer. Chem. Soc., 94, 5106 (1972). For a recent report on direct and convenient preparation of lithium phenylthio (alkyl)-cuprate reagents, see G H Posner, D J Brunelle, and L. Sinoway, Synthesis, 662 (1974). 

In Entry 5, the carbanion-stabilizing ability of the sulfonyl group enables lithiation and is then reductively removed after alkylation. The reagent in Entry 6 is prepared by dilithiation of allyl hydrosulfide using n-bulyl lithium. After nucleophilic addition and S-alkylation, a masked aldehyde is present in the form of a vinyl thioether. Entry 7 uses the epoxidation of a vinyl silane to form a 7-hydroxy aldehyde masked as a cyclic acetal. Entries 8 and 9 use nucleophilic cuprate reagents to introduce alkyl groups containing aldehydes masked as acetals. 

Vinyl cuprates.17 Vinyl cuprates can be prepared conveniently by in situ trans-metallation of vinylstannanes, available by hydrostannylation of alkynes, with a cuprate such as (CH3)2Cu(CN)Li2 (equation I). Reagents prepared in this way effect conjugate addition of the vinyl group to an enone with essentially no transfer of the methyl group. 

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