Epoxide reduction complex

Arene oxides show the characteristic reactions of epoxides (isomerization to ketones, reductions to alcohols, nucleophilic additions, deoxygenations) and olefins or conjugated dienes (catalytic hydrogenation, photochemical isomerization, cycloaddition, epoxidation, metal complexation). Where a spontaneous, rapid equilibration between the arene oxide and oxepin forms exists, reactivity typical of a conjugated triene is also found. 

The hydrogenolyaia of cyclopropane rings (C—C bond cleavage) has been described on p, 105. In syntheses of complex molecules reductive cleavage of alcohols, epoxides, and enol ethers of 5-keto esters are the most important examples, and some selectivity rules will be given. Primary alcohols are converted into tosylates much faster than secondary alcohols. The tosylate group is substituted by hydrogen upon treatment with LiAlH (W. Zorbach, 1961). Epoxides are also easily opened by LiAlH. The hydride ion attacks the less hindered carbon atom of the epoxide (H.B. Henhest, 1956). The reduction of sterically hindered enol ethers of 9-keto esters with lithium in ammonia leads to the a,/S-unsaturated ester and subsequently to the saturated ester in reasonable yields (R.M. Coates, 1970). Tributyltin hydride reduces halides to hydrocarbons stereoselectively in a free-radical chain reaction (L.W. Menapace, 1964) and reacts only slowly with C 0 and C—C double bonds (W.T. Brady, 1970 H.G. Kuivila, 1968). 

Some instances of incomplete debromination of 5,6-dibromo compounds may be due to the presence of 5j5,6a-isomer of wrong stereochemistry for anti-coplanar elimination. The higher temperature afforded by replacing acetone with refluxing cyclohexanone has proved advantageous in some cases. There is evidence that both the zinc and lithium aluminum hydride reductions of vicinal dihalides also proceed faster with diaxial isomers (ref. 266, cf. ref. 215, p. 136, ref. 265). The chromous reduction of vicinal dihalides appears to involve free radical intermediates produced by one electron transfer, and is not stereospecific but favors tra 5-elimination in the case of vic-di-bromides. Chromous ion complexed with ethylene diamine is more reactive than the uncomplexed ion in reduction of -substituted halides and epoxides to olefins. ... 

J. K. Kochi, D. M. Singleton u. L. J. Andrews, Alkenes from Halides and Epoxides by Reductive Eliminations with Cr(lI)-Complexes, Tetrahedron 24, 3503 (1968). 

By studying the NMR spectra of the products, Jensen and co-workers were able to establish that the alkylation of (the presumed) [Co (DMG)2py] in methanol by cyclohexene oxide and by various substituted cyclohexyl bromides and tosylates occurred primarily with inversion of configuration at carbon i.e., by an 8 2 mechanism. A small amount of a second isomer, which must have been formed by another minor pathway, was observed in one case (95). Both the alkylation of [Co (DMG)2py] by asymmetric epoxides 129, 142) and the reduction of epoxides to alcohols by cobalt cyanide complexes 105, 103) show preferential formation of one isomer. In addition, the ratio of ketone to alcohol obtained in the reaction of epoxides with [Co(CN)5H] increases with pH and this has been ascribed to differing reactions with the hydride (reduction to alcohol) and Co(I) (isomerization to ketone) 103) (see also Section VII,C). 

In spite of these limitations, three examples of (salen)-metal complex adsorption have been described. In the first one, Jacobsen s complex (la-MnCl) was adsorbed on Al-MCM-41 [27] by impregnation with a solution of the complex in dichloromethane, an approach that prevents the possible cationic exchange. The results in the epoxidation of 1,2-dihydronaphthalene with aqueous NaOCl were comparable to those obtained in solution, with only a slight reduction in enantioselectivity (55% ee instead of 60% ee). However, recycling of this catalyst was not described. 

By combining several click reactions, click chemistry allows for the rapid synthesis of useful new compounds of high complexity and combinatorial libraries. The 2-type reaction of the azide ion with a variety of epoxides to give azido alcohols has been exploited extensively in click chemistry. First of all, azido alcohols can be converted into amino alcohols upon reduction.70 On the other hand, aliphatic azides are quite stable toward a number of other standard organic synthesis conditions (orthogonality), but readily undergo 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition with alkynes. An example of the sequential reactions of... 

Before turning to epoxide opening with low valent metal complexes, the reduction of epoxides under Birch conditions [10-13] will be discussed very briefly for historical reasons. The initially formed radical is reduced further to give carbanionic species, that do not display the reactivity of radicals. No C - C bond-forming reactions have initially been reported. 

Since the seminal contributions by Nugent and RajanBabu the field of reductive C - C bond formation after epoxide opening via electron transfer has developed at a rapid pace. Novel catalytic methodology, enantio- and stereoselective synthesis and numerous applications in the preparation of biologically active substances and natural products have evolved. In brief, a large repertoire of useful and original reactions is available. These reactions are waiting to be applied in a complex context ... 

In the following, some selected classes of reactions and applications of Ni11 polyazamacrocyclic complexes are discussed. Other applications include, inter alia, the electrochemical reduction of allyl ethers1613 and the epoxidation of alkenes.1614... 

The insoluble polymer-supported Rh complexes were the first immobilized chiral catalysts.174,175 In most cases, however, the immobilization of chiral complexes caused severe reduction of the catalytic activity. Only a few investigations of possible causes have been made. The pore size of the insoluble support and the solvent may play important roles. Polymer-bound chiral Mn(III)Salen complexes were also used for asymmetric epoxidation of unfunctionalized olefins.176,177... 

Jacobsen et al. reported enhanced catalytic activity by cooperative effects in the asymmetric ring opening (ARO) of epoxides.[38] Chiral Co-salen complexes (Figure 4.27) were used, which were bound to different generations of commercial PAMAM dendrimers. As a direct consequence of the second-order kinetic dependence on the [Co(salen)] complex concentration of the hydrolytic kinetic resolution (HKR), reduction of the catalyst loading using monomeric catalyst leads to a sharp decrease in overall reaction rate. 

Bis(pyrazolyl)borate copper complex 47 has been employed as a catalyst in the homogeneous and heterogeneous styrene epoxidation reactions <00JCS(CC)1653>. Pyrazole palladacycles 48 have proven to be stable and efficient catalysts for Heck vinylations of aryl iodides <00JCS(CC)2053>. An asymmetric borane reduction of ketones catalyzed by N-hydroxyalkyl-/-menthopyrazoles has been reported <00JHC983>. 

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