Enantioselectivity, carbene synthesis insertion reactions

Chapter 10 considers the role of reactive intermediates—carbocations, carbenes, and radicals—in synthesis. The carbocation reactions covered include the carbonyl-ene reaction, polyolefin cyclization, and carbocation rearrangements. In the carbene section, addition (cyclopropanation) and insertion reactions are emphasized. Recent development of catalysts that provide both selectivity and enantioselectivity are discussed, and both intermolecular and intramolecular (cyclization) addition reactions of radicals are dealt with. The use of atom transfer steps and tandem sequences in synthesis is also illustrated. 

In the area of carbocyclic nucleoside antibiotics, hydrolysis of the racemic esters 40 (R= n-Bu or ii-CeHis) by the lipase from Candida rugosa proceeds with very high enantiomeric selectivity, and from the resolved materials both enantiomers of aristeromydn were made by an established route. The authors report that a previous similar method (Vol.21, p. 182) is not as enantioselective. In a new synthesis of neplanocin A (43), the alcohol 41, derived from D-ribose, was converted to the cyclopentene 42 using an intramolecular insertion reaction of an alkylidene carbene. The new stereocentre in 42 was mostly of the wrong P-configuration, but could be corrected by a process of desilylation, oxidation and borohydride reduction. The biosynthesis of neplanocin A (43) and aristero-mycin has been reinvestigated, and the cyclopentenone 44 has been proposed as an intermediate, which is converted to aristeromycin via neplanocin A without any bifurcation. The 3-deaza-analogue 45 of 5 - or-aristeromydn has been prepared, and the antiviral activity of it and of the 7-deaza-compound (Vol.27, p. 235) are reported. ... 

So what is left to be accomplished During the current decade one can expect further asymmetric applications and catalyst designs for metathesis reactions, a maturing of chiral catalyst development for cyclopropanation and insertion with increasing synthetic applications, and decreased reliance on traditional Fischer carbenes in synthesis. Major changes remain for ylide applications, especially those that can be enantioselective, in catalytic carbene chemistry, and advances in nitrene chemistry that are comparable to those achieved over the years in carbene chemistry are in their infancy. 

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