Deltamethrin synthesis

Particularly interesting applications of isopropylidenediphenylsulfuran [459, 464] have been reported. Improvements in its preparation and use led [465] to a claimed industrially viable stereoselective synthesis of Deltamethrin, the most potent commercially available insecticide, as well as to other stereoselective syntheses of cyclopropane derivatives [466]. 

The oxidation of 3-carene to 3-caren-5-one (Figure 3.46) is a key step in the synthesis of the pyrethroid ester insecticide Deltamethrin [162,163]. This reaction is performed with air as the oxidant, catalyzed by 2 mol% of a Cr-pyridine complex (the catalyst precursors are CrCl3 and pyridine). Table 3.1 shows the turnover frequencies obtained using various Cr/pyridine ratios. 

Tessier, J. Structure, Synthesis and Physical-Chemical Properties of Deltamethrin. In Deltamethrin Monograph Tessier, J., Ed. Roussel-Uclaf Paris, 1982 pp 37-66 translated by B. V. d. G. Walden. 

Asymmetric synthesis by means of a cyandiydrin is an imprvtant process in organic synthesis, because the cyanohydrin can be easily converted into a variety of valuable synthetic intermediates, such as a-hy-droxy ketones, a-hydroxy acids, y-diketones, p-amino alcohols, 4-oxocarboxylic esters, 4 xonitriles, a-amino acids and acyl cyanides. More specifically, the (S)-cyanohydrin of m-phenoxybenzaldehyde is a building block for the synthesis of the insecticide deltamethrin, or (IR)-cis-pyrethroids. ... 

Besides the more common reactions such as hydrogenation, isomerization, alkylation, and the Diels-Alder reaction. Sharpless epoxidation and dihydroxylation by asymmetrical catalysis are rapidly emerging as reactions with immense industrial potential. Table 9.7 lists some important syntheses based on asymmetric catalysis. These include processes for the pharmaceutical drugs (S)-naproxen, (S)-ibuprofen, (,S)-propranolol, L-dopa, and cilastatin, a fragrance chemical, L-menthol, and an insecticide (/ )-disparlure. Deltamethrin, an insecticide, is another very good example of industrial asymmetric synthesis. The total synthetic scheme is also given for each product. In general, the asymmetric step is the key step in the total synthesis, but this is not always so, as in the production of ibuprofen. Many of the processes listed in the table are in industrial production. 

In Table 3, we present the structures and names of the chrysanthemic acids that are used in the synthesis of allethrin, cyfluthrin, deltamethrin, permethrin, fenvalerate, phenothrin, resmethrin, and tetramethrin. These acids (isomers), depicted in Tables B31-B35, Appendix B, are released during metabolism and are excreted in the urine of exposed animals. A short discussion of each acid and their isomers is presented in the following paragraphs. 

The alcohol moieties used in the synthesis of the 15 pyrethroids are shown in Table 4. A discussion of the synthesis of each alcohol (i.e., stereochemistry, etc.) is beyond the scope of this review, although allethrone and 5-(phenylmethyl)-3-furanmethanol have been mentioned in the discovery section. Information oti the synthesis of ot-hydroxy-a-(3-phenoxyphenyl) acetonitrile (R, S forms) (cyanohydrin of phenoxyphenyl aldehyde) and the resolution of the desired S form that produces (IR, 3R, a-S) deltamethrin may be found in Chap. 2 of the Deltamethrin Monograph (1982). The alcohols and their metabolites are readily separated by partition chromatography on GC or HPLC columns. Ruzo and Casida (1977) and Ruzo et al. (1978, 1979) used TLC to separate and identify the alcohol metabolites. 

Hydrolysis of the pyrethroids may occur prior to hydroxylation. For dichloro groups (i.e., cyfluthrin, cypermethrin and permethrin) on the isobutenyl group, hydrolysis of the trans-isomers is the major route, and is followed by hydroxylation of one of the gem-dimethyls, the aromatic rings, and hydrolysis of the hydroxylated esters. The cis-isomers are not as readily hydrolyzed as the tran -isomers and are metabolized mainly by hydroxylation. Metabolism of the dibromo derivative of cypermethrin, deltamethrin, is similar to other pyrethroids (i.e., cyfluthrin, cypermethrin, and permethrin) that possess the dichloro group. Type 11 pyrethroid compounds containing cyano groups (i.e., cyfluthrin, cypermethrin, deltamethrin, fenvalerate, fenpropathrin, and fluvalinate) yield cyanohydrins (benzeneacetonitrile, a-hydroxy-3-phenoxy-) upon hydrolysis, which decompose to an aldehyde, SCN ion, and 2-iminothia-zolidine-4-carboxylic acid (TTCA). Chrysanthemic acid or derivatives were not used in the synthesis of fenvalerate and fluvalinate. The acids (i.e., benzeneacetic acid, 4-chloro-a-(l-methylethyl) and DL-valine, Af-[2-chloro-4-(trifluoromethyl) phenyl]-) were liberated from their esters and further oxidized/conjugated prior to elimination. Fenpropathrin is the oifly pyrethroid that contains 2,2,3,3-tetramethyl cyclopropane-carboxylic acid. The gem-dimethyl is hydroxylated prior to or after hydrolysis of the ester and is oxidized further to a carboxylic acid prior to elimination. 

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