Epoxides Regioselective synthesis

Starting with picrotoxinin (1) Yoshikoshi developed an improved synthesis of ( )-picrotin (2). Epoxidation of picrotoxinin (1) with peracid at room temperature led to a 5 2 mixture of the epimeric epoxides. Regioselective cleavage of the epoxide was achieved with sodium phenylselenyl triethoxy boronate. Radical reduction of the phenyl selenides 414 with stannane completed this three-step sequence to picrotin (2) in 87% overall yield. 

The regioselective synthesis of the unnatural cuparenone isomer (C, Scheme 98) has also been performed 135) (Scheme 98b) from the same oxaspirohexane by a two-steps sequence which involves the selective (100%) — opening of the epoxide ring leading to the corresponding 1-(1-hydroxy)-l-(chloromethyl)cyclobutane (BeCl2/ THF, 20 °C, 20 hr) and its further transformation to the cyclopentanone C is achieved 13S) with silver tetrafluoroborate on alumina. 

A three-component regioselective synthesis of -hydroxy-1,2,3-triazole 23 uses the epoxide 22, phenylacetylene and sodium azide in water at room temperature. ... 

Aerobic photooxidation of epoxides to carbo grlic acids has been achieved in the presence of magnesium bromide. Visible light photoredox catalysis has been applied to the regioselective synthesis of a-brominated (di)ketones from electron-rich epoxides. ... 

The method has been applied in asymmetric and regioselective syntheses of several natural compounds. Two simple examples are the commercial syntheses of the gipsy moth hydrophobic sex attractant, disparlure (RE. Rossiter, 1981, 1985) and < mono-epoxidation of a diene in a leukotriene B4 synthesis (L.S. Mills, 1983). 

Regioselectivity of C—C double bond formation can also be achieved in the reductiv or oxidative elimination of two functional groups from adjacent carbon atoms. Well estab llshed methods in synthesis include the reductive cleavage of cyclic thionocarbonates derivec from glycols (E.J. Corey, 1968 C W. Hartmann, 1972), the reduction of epoxides with Zn/Nal or of dihalides with metals, organometallic compounds, or Nal/acetone (seep.lS6f), and the oxidative decarboxylation of 1,2-dicarboxylic acids (C.A. Grob, 1958 S. Masamune, 1966 R.A. Sheldon, 1972) or their r-butyl peresters (E.N. Cain, 1969). 

The optically active iodide 153 (Scheme 43) can be conveniently prepared from commercially available methyl (S)-(+)-3-hydroxy-2-methylpropionate (154) (see Scheme 41). At this stage of the synthesis, our plan called for the conversion of 153 to a nucleophilic organometallic species, with the hope that the latter would combine with epoxide 152. As matters transpired, we found that the mixed higher order cuprate reagent derived from 153 reacts in the desired and expected way with epoxide 152, affording alcohol 180 in 88% yield this regioselective union creates the C12-C13 bond of rapamycin. 

A reiterative application of a two-carbon elongation reaction of a chiral carbonyl compound (Homer-Emmonds reaction), reduction (DIBAL) of the obtained trans unsaturated ester, asymmetric epoxidation (SAE or MCPBA) of the resulting allylic alcohol, and then C-2 regioselective addition of a cuprate (Me2CuLi) to the corresponding chiral epoxy alcohol has been utilized for the construction of the polypropionate-derived chain ]R-CH(Me)CH(OH)CH(Me)-R ], present as a partial structure in important natural products such as polyether, ansamycin, or macro-lide antibiotics [52]. A seminal application of this procedure is offered by Kishi s synthesis of the C19-C26 polyketide-type aliphatic segment of rifamycin S, starting from aldehyde 105 (Scheme 8.29) [53]. 

This strategy can be applied to the synthesis of vinylepoxides, since high enantioselectivity and good regioselectivity can often be obtained in asymmetric dihydroxylation of dienes, resulting in vinylic diols [24, 25], Transformation of the diols into epoxides thus represents an alternative route to vinylepoxides. This strategy was recently employed in the synthesis of (+)-posticlure (Scheme 9.6) [26]. 

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