Cyclopropanes stereoselective cyclopropanation

The growing importance of cyclopropane derivatives (A. de Meijere, 1979), as synthetic intermediates originates in the unique, olefin-like properties of this carbocycle. Cyclopropane derivatives with one or two activating groups are easily opened (see. p. 69f.). Some of these reactions are highly regio- and stereoselective (E. Wenkert, 1970 A, B E. J. Corey, 1956 A, B, 1975 see p. 70). Many appropriately substituted cyclopropane derivatives yield 1,4-difunctional compounds under mild nucleophilic or reductive reaction conditions. Such compounds are especially useful in syntheses of cyclopentenone derivatives and of heterocycles (see also sections 1.13.3 and 4.6.4). 

The hydrogenolyaia of cyclopropane rings (C—C bond cleavage) has been described on p, 105. In syntheses of complex molecules reductive cleavage of alcohols, epoxides, and enol ethers of 5-keto esters are the most important examples, and some selectivity rules will be given. Primary alcohols are converted into tosylates much faster than secondary alcohols. The tosylate group is substituted by hydrogen upon treatment with LiAlH (W. Zorbach, 1961). Epoxides are also easily opened by LiAlH. The hydride ion attacks the less hindered carbon atom of the epoxide (H.B. Henhest, 1956). The reduction of sterically hindered enol ethers of 9-keto esters with lithium in ammonia leads to the a,/S-unsaturated ester and subsequently to the saturated ester in reasonable yields (R.M. Coates, 1970). Tributyltin hydride reduces halides to hydrocarbons stereoselectively in a free-radical chain reaction (L.W. Menapace, 1964) and reacts only slowly with C 0 and C—C double bonds (W.T. Brady, 1970 H.G. Kuivila, 1968). 

Chiral Alcohols and Lactones. HLAT) has been widely used for stereoselective oxidations of a variety of prochiral diols to lactones on a preparative scale. In most cases pro-(3) hydroxyl is oxidized irrespective of the substituents. The method is apphcable among others to tit-1,2-bis(hydroxymethyl) derivatives of cyclopropane, cyclobutane, cyclohexane, and cyclohexene. Resulting y-lactones are isolated in 68—90% yields and of 100% (164,165). 

Recently, Charette et al. have also demonstrated this behavior in the stereoselective cyciopropanations of a number of enantiopure acyclic allylic ethers [47]. The high degree of acyclic stereocontrol in the Simmons-Smith cyclopropanation has been extended to synthesis several times, most notably in the synthesis of small biomolecules. Schollkopf et al. utilized this method in their syntheses of cyclopropane-containing amino acids [48 a, b]. The synthesis of a cyclopropane-containing nucleoside was also preformed using acyclic stereocontrol [48c]. 

The powerful influence of an oxygen substituent on the rate and stereoselectivity of cyclopropanation augured well for the development of a chiral auxiliary based approach to asymmetric synthesis [54]. The design of the chiral auxiliary would take into account ... 

Hodgson very recently reported an efficient intramolecular and completely dia-stereoselective cyclopropanation of bisliomoallylic and trisliomoallylic epoxides based on the use of a-lithiated epoxides. In a seminal paper, Crandall and Lin had reported that the reaction between t-BuLi and l,2-epoxyhex-5-ene (100) gave, inter alia, small amounts oftrans-bicyclo[3.1.0]hexan-2-ol (102, 9%) (Eq. a, Scheme 8.28)... 

The stereoselectivity of conjugate addition and cyclopropanation of the chiral nitrovinyldioxolanes 17 can be effectively controlled <96TL6307>, and good selectivity is observed in the ultrasound-promoted cycloaddition of nitrile oxides to alkenyldioxolanes 18 <95MI877,95JOC7701 >. Asymmetric Simmons-Smith cyclopropanation of 19 proceeds with... 

The Oxygenation of Vinyl Cyclopropanes as an Entry Into Stereoselective 1,3-Diol Synthesis," Feldman. K.S. SvnletL 1995, 217... 

Chemo- and stereoselective reduction of (56) to (55) is achieved In highest yield by sodium borohydride in ethanol. The isolated ketone is reduced more rapidly than the enone and (55) is the equatorial alcohol. Protection moves the double bond out of conjugation and even the distant OH group in (54) successfully controls the stereochemistry of the Simmons-Smith reaction. No cyclopropanation occurred unless the OH group was there. Synthesis ... 

The complex [Fe(D4-TmAP)Cl] with Halterman s porphyrin ligand can effect asymmetric alkene cyclopropanation with diazoacetate in high product yield and high stereoselectivity [57]. The reaction occurs smoothly at room temperature without the need for addition of CoCp2, affording the cyclopropyl esters... 

Several catalytic systems have been reported for the enantioselective Simmons Smith cyclopropanation reaction and, among these, only a few could be used in catalytic amounts. Chiral bis(sulfonamides) derived from cyclo-hexanediamine have been successfully employed as promoters of the enantioselective Simmons-Smith cyclopropanation of a series of allylic alcohols. Excellent results in terms of both yield and stereoselectivity were obtained even with disubstituted allylic alcohols, as shown in Scheme 6.20. Moreover, this methodology could be applied to the cyclopropanation of stannyl and silyl-substituted allylic alcohols, providing an entry to the enantioselective route to stannyl- and silyl-substituted cyclopropanes of potential synthetic intermediates. On the other hand, it must be noted that the presence of a methyl substituent at the 2-position of the allylic alcohol was not well tolerated and led to slow reactions and poor enantioselectivities (ee<50% ee). ... 

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