1.2- Diol oxidations, copper bromide

In the same year we achieved the synthesis of the enantiomers of 110, as shown in Figure 4.61.107 (5)-Citronellal was converted to olefinic ester A, which was epoxidized to give B. Treatment of B with isopropylmagnesium chloride in the presence of copper bromide furnished lactone C, which afforded diol D by treatment with methylmagnesium bromide. Finally, Dess-Martin oxidation of D yielded (S)-stigmolone (110), which was in equilibrium with (2R,3S)-1S. Similarly, (7 )-citronellal afforded (7 )-110. ... 

Caprolactone (CL) (Acros, 99%) was dried over calcium hydride at r.t. for 48h and then distilled under reduced pressure. 2-(N,N-dimethylamino)ethyl methaciylate (DMAEMA) (Aldrich, 98%) was deprived of its inhibitor by filtration through a basic alumina column, and depending on samples (see text) dried over calcium hydride at r.t. for 24h and then distilled under reduced pressme. Butane-1,4-diol (Acros, > 99%) was dried over calcium hydride for 48h at r.t. and distilled at 70°C under reduced pressure. Triethylamine (NEts, Fluka, 99%) was dried over barium oxide for 48h at r.t. and distilled under reduced pressure. Copper bromide (CuBr, Fluka, 98%) was purified in acetic acid and recrystallized in ethanol under inert atmosphere until a white powder is obtained. Tin(ll) bis-2-ethyl hexanoate (Sn(Oct)2, Aldrich, 95%), methacrylic anhydride (Aldrich, 94%), N,N-dimethylamino-4-pyridine (DMAP, Acros 99%), 1,1,4,7,10,10-hexamethyltriethylene tetramine (HMTETA, Aldrich, 97%), ethyl-2-bromoisobutyrate (E BBr, Aldrich, 98%), N,N-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCC, Acros, 99%), were used as received. Tetrahydrofuran (THF, Labscan, 99%) was dried over molecular sieves (4A) and distilled over polystyryl lithium (PS LC) complex under reduced pressure just before use. Toluene (Labscan, 99%) was dried by refluxing over CaH2. 

Alkynylepoxy alcohols of high enantiomeric purity, obtained via Sharpless oxidation of allylic alcohols (see Section D.4.5) react smoothly with excess dialkylcuprate/magnesium bromide to give (/Vf.25)-3.4-alkadiene-1.2-diols in reasonable overall yield and with high anti selectivity when performed at low temperature and by using the dimethyl sulfide complex of copper(I) bromide to synthesize the cuprates42. 

We protect one hydroxyl terminus of the commercially available 1,8-octane diol 1 by reaction with dihydropyran to give the monoalcohol, 8-tetrahydropyranyloxyoctanol 2. The protected alcohol 2 is oxidized to the aldehyde with pyridinium chlorochromate to give 8-tetrahydropyranyl-oxyoctanal 3. 1-Heptyne 4 is coupled with propargyl bromide 5 in a copper catalyzed reaction to produce the diacetylenic 1,4-decadiyne 6. 

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