1 -Difunctional compounds

The reactions described so far can be considered as alkylation, alkenylation, or alkynylation reactions. In principle all polar reactions in syntheses, which produce monofunctional carbon compounds, proceed in the same way a carbanion reacts with an electropositive carbon atom, and the activating groups (e.g. metals, boron, phosphorus) of the carbanion are lost in the work-up procedures. We now turn to reactions, in which the hetero atoms of both the acceptor and donor synthons are kept in a difunctional reaction produa. 

Before we start with a systematic discussion of the syntheses of difunctional molecules, we have to point out a formal difficulty. A carbon arbon multiple bond is, of course, considered as one functional group. With these groups, however, it is not clear, which of the two carbon atoms has to be named as the functional one. A 1,3-diene, for example, could be considered as a 1,2-, 1,3-, or 1,4-difunctional compound. An a, -unsaturated ketone has a 1.2- as well as a 1,3-difunctional structure. We adhere to useful, although arbitrary conventions. Dienes and polyenes are separated out as a special case. a, -Unsaturated alcohols, ketones, etc. are considered as 1,3-difunctional. We call a carbon compound 1,2-difunctional only, if two neighbouring carbon atoms bear hetero atoms. 

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.). 

After the umpolung of an aldehyde group by conversion to a l,3 dithian-2-ide anion (p. 17) it can be combined with a carbonyl group (D. Seebach, 1969, 1979 B.-T. GrO-bel, 1977 B). Analogous reagents are tosylmethyl isocyanide (TosMIC), which can be applied in the nucleophilic formylation of ketones (O.H. Oldenziel, 1974), and dichloromethyl lithium (G. KObrich, 1969 P. Blumbergs, 1972 H. Taguchi, 1973), 

Terminal alkyne anions are popular reagents for the acyl anion synthons (RCHjCO ). If this nucleophile is added to aldehydes or ketones, the triple bond remains. This can be con verted to an alkynemercury(II) complex with mercuric salts and is hydrated with water or acids to form ketones (M.M.T. Khan, 1974). The more substituted carbon atom of the al-kynes is converted preferentially into a carbonyl group. Highly substituted a-hydroxyketones are available by this method (J.A. Katzenellenbogen, 1973). Acetylene itself can react with two molecules of an aldehyde or a ketone (V. jager, 1977). Hydration then leads to 1,4-dihydroxy-2-butanones. The 1,4-diols tend to condense to tetrahydrofuran derivatives in the presence of acids. 

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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 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). 

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. 

Since 1,2- to 1,6-difunctional opengeneral procedures (see chapter 1), it is useful to consider them as possible starting materials for syntheses of three- to seven-membered heterocycies 1,2-heterocycles can be made from 1,2-difunctional compounds, e.g. olefins or dibromides 1,3-difunctional compounds, e.g. 1,3-dibromides or 1,3-dioxo compounds, can be converted into 1,3-heterocycles etc. 

Many successful regioselective syntheses of heterocydes, however, are more complex than the examples given so far. They employ condensation of two different carbonyl or halide compounds with one nitrogen base or the condensation of an amino ketone with a second difunctional compound. Such reactions cannot be rationalized in a simple way, and the literature must be consulted. 

Open-chain difunctional compounds containing no other elements than... 

Out first example is 2-hydroxy-2-methyl-3-octanone. 3-Octanone can be purchased, but it would be difficult to differentiate the two activated methylene groups in alkylation and oxidation reactions. Usual syntheses of acyloins are based upon addition of terminal alkynes to ketones (disconnection 1 see p. 52). For syntheses of unsymmetrical 1,2-difunctional compounds it is often advisable to look also for reactive starting materials, which do already contain the right substitution pattern. In the present case it turns out that 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-2-butanone is an inexpensive commercial product. This molecule dictates disconnection 3. Another practical synthesis starts with acetone cyanohydrin and pentylmagnesium bromide (disconnection 2). Many 1,2-difunctional compounds are accessible via oxidation of C—C multiple bonds. In this case the target molecule may be obtained by simple permanganate oxidation of 2-methyl-2-octene, which may be synthesized by Wittig reaction (disconnection 1). 

Arylamines contain two functional groups the amine group and the aromatic ring they are difunctional compounds The reactivity of the amine group is affected by its aryl substituent and the reactivity of the ring is affected by its amine substituent The same electron delocalization that reduces the basicity and the nucleophilicity of an arylamme nitrogen increases the electron density in the aromatic ring and makes arylamines extremely reactive toward electrophilic aromatic substitution... 

Elguero Reaction of hydrazines with 1,3-difunctional compounds 70BSF2717... 

The 3- or 5-aminopyrazoles are the synthons used most frequently. The second heterocyclic ring is created between the amino group and the 1-position (if unsubstituted) or between the amino group and the 4-position. Thus 3-substituted 5-aminopyrazoles react with 1,3-difunctional compounds to afford pyrazolo[l,5-a]pyrimidine derivatives (538) (Table 34). Aminopyrazolinones (R = OH) can be used instead of aminopyrazoles. Similarly 3-aminoin-dazole yields pyrimido[l,2-h]indazoles (539). 

The synthesis of pyrazoles, indazoles and their derivatives generally follows classical methods, the two most important methods for practical purposes being the reaction between hydrazines and /3-difunctional compounds, and 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions (Section 4.04.3.1.2). Both procedures are well documented (64HC(20)l, 66AHC(6)327, 67HC(22)l) and thus the length of the sections in this part of the chapter reflects not only the number of publications dealing with a particular method but also its interest and novelty. 

This ring closure is the final step of the reaction of hydrazines with 1,3-difunctional compounds (Section 4.04.3.1.2(ii)), and numerous examples in the literature of pyrazoles have been described. In some cases the N—C ring closure occurs by a concerted mechanism, classified by Huisgen (80AG(E)947) as 1,5-electrocyclizations. 

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