Double osmium-catalyzed oxidation reaction

C=C double bonds are cleaved by alkene metathesis reactions [1]. In addition, oxidation of C=C double bonds can also induce their cleavage [48]. For example, an osmium-catalyzed oxidation reaction of fraws-stilbene with oxone produced... 

Unlike palladium(II), osmium tetraoxide and ruthenium tetraoxide catalyze the dihydroxylation of one or both double bonds of an allene. The osmium tetraoxide-catalyzed dihydroxylation of unsymmetrically substituted allenes 45 can lead to two different a-ketols, 46 and 47, depending on which of the double bonds is oxidized. David et al. studied this reaction using NMO as a stoichiometric oxidant and found good product selectivity in a few cases, but the yields were only moderate (Scheme 17.15) [16]. They showed that the most substituted double bond was oxidized preferably when the bulkiness of the allene substituents did not interfere. 

Allylic and propargylic 3-keto sulfoxides could be reduced as well as saturated compounds. Optically active allylic 3-hydroxy sulfoxides present some specific interest because of the possible hydroxylation of the double bond leading to vicinal triols. The osmium tetroxide catalyzed hydroxylation reaction of the double bond in the presence of trimethylamine N-oxide is highly stereoselective the (/ ,/ )-3-hydroxy sulfoxide gave only one diastereoisomeric triol as a result of a cis hydroxylation of the double bond and a symbiotic effect of the two chiral centers in the asymmetric induction (the (S,/ )-isomer gave a lower de). 

With careful choice of reagent and reaction conditions, alkenes containing other functionalities can be selectively hydroxylated without complicating side reactions. For example, the oxidation may be carried out in the presence of ester, ether, sulfide, carboxylic acid, acetal, carbonyl, halo, alcohol and aryl groups. Regioselective hydroxylation is also possible in dienes in which one center is electron poor, and some selectivity is also found between isolated double bonds. For example, syn hydroxylation of diene (5) with a catalytic amount of osmium tetroxide and N-methylmorpholine N-oxide as the secondary oxidant gives diol (6) in 46% yield, and phase transfer catalyzed permanganate oxidation of diene (7) affords diol (8) in 83% yield. 

Epoxidation and Dihydroxylation of Alkenes There are several ways to convert alkenes to diols. Some of these methods proceed by syn addition, but others lead to anti addition. An important example of syn addition is osmium tetroxide-catalyzed dihydroxylation. This reaction is best carried out using a catalytic amount of OSO4, under conditions where it is reoxidized by a stoichiometric oxidant. Currently, the most common oxidants are f-butyl hydroperoxide, potassium ferricyanide, or an amine oxide. The two oxygens are added from the same side of the double bond. The key step in the reaction mechanism is a [3 + 2] cycloaddition that ensures the syn addition. 

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