Direct Geminal Dialkylation of Ketones

An interesting example of an application of this method pertains to the synthesis of pharmacologically active synthetic A1 -tetrahydrocannabinoids 134) of the type 267 which have a lipophilic tertiary alkyl side-chain. Equation 84 shows that organo-titanium chemistry provides a versatile means to prepare the precursors 264 (65-80 %)133). Demethylation of 264 using trimethylsilyl chloride and sodium iodide affords the resorcinol derivatives 265 ( 95%)133 . Compounds of this type have been previously condensed with 266 in the presence of acids to form the A1(6)-isomers of 267, which in turn can be converted into 267135). It should be mentioned that the meta-substitution pattern of 265 prohibits simple Friedel-Crafts alkylation of resorcinol, which is the reason why alternative multistep syntheses of 264 have had to be developed l34 136 . 

The above C—C bond forming reaction is closely related to inethylation of tertiary alcohols and diols128), gem-dichlorides137 , ethers l37 and ketals 35 . It is also possible to convert acid chlorides directly into tert-butyl derivatives (85% conversion) (Equation 85) 35). 

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The above transformation has two different goals 21,22) 1) To increase chemo-, regio-, diastereo- and enantioselectivity in the reaction with carbonyl compounds (Sections C-E), and 2) to make certain reaction types amenable which do proceed readily with classical reagents, e.g., methylation of tertiary alkyl halides, alcohols and ethers, and direct geminal dialkylation of ketones (Section F). It turns out that organotitanium compounds are usually complementary to Li, Mg, Zn, Fe, Ni, Cu and Pd reagents. So far, experience in the above two areas points to the following positive aspects ... 

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