Epoxides, reaction with cyanide

A completely different way of preparing isocyanides involves the reaction of epoxides or oxetanes with trimethylsilyl cyanide and zinc iodide, for example, ... 

By studying the NMR spectra of the products, Jensen and co-workers were able to establish that the alkylation of (the presumed) [Co (DMG)2py] in methanol by cyclohexene oxide and by various substituted cyclohexyl bromides and tosylates occurred primarily with inversion of configuration at carbon i.e., by an 8 2 mechanism. A small amount of a second isomer, which must have been formed by another minor pathway, was observed in one case (95). Both the alkylation of [Co (DMG)2py] by asymmetric epoxides 129, 142) and the reduction of epoxides to alcohols by cobalt cyanide complexes 105, 103) show preferential formation of one isomer. In addition, the ratio of ketone to alcohol obtained in the reaction of epoxides with [Co(CN)5H] increases with pH and this has been ascribed to differing reactions with the hydride (reduction to alcohol) and Co(I) (isomerization to ketone) 103) (see also Section VII,C). 

Isomerization has been observed with many a,j3-unsaturated carboxylic acids such as w-cinnamic 10), angelic, maleic, and itaconic acids (94). The possibility of catalyzing the interconversion of, for example, 2-ethyl-butadiene and 3-methylpenta-l,3-diene has not apparently been explored. The cobalt cyanide hydride will also catalyze the isomerization of epoxides to ketones (even terminal epoxides give ketones, not aldehydes) as well as their reduction to alcohols. Since the yield of ketone increases with pH, it was suggested that reduction involved reaction with the hydride [Co" (CN)jH] and isomerization reaction with [Co (CN)j] 103). A related reaction is the decomposition of 2-bromoethanol to acetaldehyde... 

Sodium cyanide in DMF at 120 °C has been used for the decarboxylation of 1-substituted-4-oxoquinoline-3-carboxylic acids <94TL(35)8303>. Quinoline Reissert adducts have been epoxidized at the 3,4-bond. Its reaction with amine nucleophiles gave regiospecifically substituted 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinolines <95H(41)897>. Successive Claissen rearrangements of 2-(8-quinolinoxymethyl)-3-(8-quinolinoxy)-l-propene gave a product which shows excellent ability to extract heavy metal ions <95TL(36)5567>. An Eschenmoser approach has been used in a facile synthesis of monofunctional and difunctional A -substituted-4-alkylidenequinolines (54) (Scheme 39) <95S(St)56>. 

Reactions with —OH Groups and Epoxides.—The formation of A -l,2-oxaphos-pholen derivatives from propargylic alcohols and phosphorus trichloride has been studied in detail. Intermediate phosphites (24) and allenic phosphonates (25) are described, and the A -l,2-oxaphosphoIen is produced in the final stage, as shown. Improved conditions have been outlined for the preparation of allylic bromides (26) from allylic alcohols and phosphorus tribromide. Related reactions of primary alcohols with the complex of phosphorus trichloride and DMF lead to the chloride (27) 22 addition of zinc bromide to the reaction results in the formation of alkyl bromides, but an attempt to extend this exchange to the preparation of cyanides was not successful. ... 

Construction of the suitably substituted geranic acid for making the furan ring has been effected too. For example, Poulter et al. have prepared the substituted geranate 865 by reaction of 4-methyl-3-pentenylcopper with the acetylenic ester 866. The ester 865 then underwent cyclization in the presence of acid to the lactone 867, related to scobinolide (161), and the action of acid on the lactol produced from 867 with diisobutylaluminum hydride gave perillene (849). The lactone 867 has also been prepared by a slightly different method the C9 alcohol 868 was made (in poor yield) from isobutenol and prenyl chloride with butyllithium. The extra carbon atom was introduced by the action of sodium cyanide on the epoxide of 868, and hydrolysis of the cyano group followed by dehydration yielded the lactone 867. The dimethylthioacetal of 867 has been used to synthesize perillene (849). This thioacetal was made from the suitably substituted ketene thioacetal 869 and dimethylsulfonium methylide. Thus the ketene thioacetal 870 (readily prepared from acetone, carbon disulfide, and sodium amylate, followed by methylation °) can be prenylated with lithium... 

Regioselective opening of Sharpless epoxides, that is those (enantio-enriched) derived from allylic alcohols, has major synthetic significance. The usual outcome is opening at C-3, but the reaction with nucleophiles such as azide, cyanide and thiophenoxide, in the presence of trialkyl borates, can be highly selective for attack at C-2. ... 

TETRINE ACID (60-00-4) CioH.sNjOg A weak organic (carboxylic) acid. Reaction with dithiocarbamates, isocyanates, mercaptans, nitrides, nitrites, sulfides, forms flammable and/or toxic gases + heat. Incompatible with acids, azo compounds, epoxides and other polymerizable compounds oxidizers, sulfuric acid, reducing agents bases, ammonia, aliphatic amines alkanolamines, alkylene oxides cyanide salts and cyanide solutions (forms... 

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