D* synthon

The combination of two reagents corresponding to one d-synthon and one a-synthon under appropriate conditions yields an additional carbon-carbon bond (exception d°-synthons). The following obvious rules apply to the arrangement offunctionality in the product ("target molecule") ... 

A saturated alkyl group does not exhibit functionality. It is not a d -synthon, because the functional groups, e.g. halide or metal ions, are lost in the course of the reaction. It functions as an alkyl synthon. Alkenyl anions (R. West, 1961) on the other hand, constitute d -synthons, because the C = C group remains in the product and may be subject to further synthetic operations. 

There exist a number of d -synthons, which are stabilized by the delocalization of the electron pair into orbitals of hetero atoms, although the nucleophilic centre remains at the carbon atom. From nitroalkanes anions may be formed in aqueous solutions (e.g. CHjNOj pK, = 10.2). Nitromethane and -ethane anions are particularly useful in synthesis. The cyanide anion is also a classical d -synthon (HCN pK = 9.1). 

In sulfoxides and sulfones an adjacent CH group is also deprotonated by strong bases. If one considers the sulfinyl (—SO—) or sulfonyl (—SOj—) groups to be functional groups, then these carbanions are d -synthons. It will be shown later (p. 48f. and 65f.), that these anions may either serve as nonfunctional, d -, d - or d -synthons. 

Dioxo compounds are deprotonated at C-2 and C-4 by two equivalents of strong bases (e.g. LDA or BuLi). Carbon atom C-4 of those dianions is much more nucleophilic than the less basic center C-2 (Hauser s rule C.R. Hauser, 1958 K.G. Hampton, 1965). The formation of some typical d -synthons and their pA values are given below. 

Benzylic anions, ArCHj, are of little importance in the construction of carbon skeletons, and allylic anions, R C—CR—CR", are discussed in the d -synthons section below. 

In the synthesis of complex organic molecules d -synthons have not become as important as their d and d counterparts. 

The most general methods for the syntheses of 1,2-difunctional molecules are based on the oxidation of carbon-carbon multiple bonds (p. 117) and the opening of oxiranes by hetero atoms (p. 123fl.). There exist, however, also a few useful reactions in which an a - and a d -synthon or two r -synthons are combined. The classical polar reaction is the addition of cyanide anion to carbonyl groups, which leads to a-hydroxynitriles (cyanohydrins). It is used, for example, in Strecker s synthesis of amino acids and in the homologization of monosaccharides. The ff-hydroxy group of a nitrile can be easily substituted by various nucleophiles, the nitrile can be solvolyzed or reduced. Therefore a large variety of terminal difunctional molecules with one additional carbon atom can be made. Equally versatile are a-methylsulfinyl ketones (H.G. Hauthal, 1971 T. Durst, 1979 O. DeLucchi, 1991), which are available from acid chlorides or esters and the dimsyl anion. Carbanions of these compounds can also be used for the synthesis of 1,4-dicarbonyl compounds (p. 65f.). 

Aldol additions and ester condensations have always been and still are the most popular reactions for the formation of carbon-carbon bonds (A.T. Nielsen, 1968). The earbonyl group acts as an a -synthon, the enoi or enolate as a d -synthon. Both reactions will be treated together here, and arguments, which are given for aldol additions, are also valid for ester condensations. Many famous name reactions belong to this category ). The products of aldol additions may be either /J-hydroxy carbonyl compounds or, after dehydration, or, -unsaturated carbonyl compounds. 

A classical reaction leading to 1,4-difunctional compounds is the nucleophilic substitution of the bromine of cf-bromo carbonyl compounds (a -synthons) with enolate type anions (d -synthons). Regio- and stereoselectivities, which can be achieved by an appropiate choice of the enol component, are similar to those described in the previous section. Just one example of a highly functionalized product (W.L. Meyer, 1963) is given. 

The last group of reactions uses ring opening of carbonyl or 1-hydroxyalkyl substituted cyclopropanes, which operate as a -synthons. d -Synthons, e.g. hydroxide or halides, yield 1,4-disubstituted products (E. Wenkert, 1970 A). (1-Hydroxyalkyl)- and (1-haloalkyl)-cyclopropanes are rearranged to homoallylic halides, e.g. in Julia s method of terpene synthesis (M. Julia, 1961, 1974 S.F. Brady, I968 J.P. McCormick, 1975). 

Conventional synthetic schemes to produce 1,6-disubstituted products, e.g. reaction of a - with d -synthons, are largely unsuccessful. An exception is the following reaction, which provides a useful alternative when Michael type additions fail, e. g., at angular or other tertiary carbon atoms. In such cases the addition of allylsilanes catalyzed by titanium tetrachloride, the Sakurai reaction, is most appropriate (A. Hosomi, 1977). Isomerization of the double bond with bis(benzonitrile-N)dichloropalladium gives the y-double bond in excellent yield. Subsequent ozonolysis provides a pathway to 1,4-dicarbonyl compounds. Thus 1,6-, 1,5- and 1,4-difunctional compounds are accessible by this reaction. 

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