Ester, amide Intramolecular aldol

Galatsis group [14] reported a study on an NARC sequence involving (i) aldol reactions of enolates derived from the kinetic deprotonation of unsaturated esters, such as 25 and 28, to ketones (Fig. 9) and aldehydes (Fig. 10) followed by (ii) endo-cyclisation via intramolecular iodoetherification. As the enolates used in the study were racemic and the aldol reactions stereorandom, it would be interesting to repeat this work using a chiral auxiliary (e.g. a chiral amide). This should ensure high levels of enantio- and diastereo-selectivity. 

I, 5-dicarbonyl compounds and their interesting and varied chemistry, e.g., the formation of cyclohexenones from aldol condensation of the products. As an extension of the de Mayo reaction (the photocycloaddition of enolated /i-diketones to double bonds) enol esters, enol ethers, vinylogous esters and amides, and dioxinone have been employed as the enone components. Some intermolecular examples have already been discussed in Section 1.6.1.4.2.1.6. (cf. Table 4, entries 2 and 3) and some intramolecular systems are collected in Table 5, entries 10,... 

These four examples do not seem to comply with a consistent mechanistic model. The dilithioprolinol amide enolate in Scheme 5.31a is attacked on the enolate Si face, in accord with the sense of asymmetric induction observed in alkylations of this enolate [166,167]. On the other hand, the structurally similar dilithiovalinol amide enolate, while being attacked on the same face (as expected), reverses top-icity. Furthermore, the S,S-pyrrolidine enolate in Scheme 5.31c is attacked from the Si face by Michael acceptors, but from the Re face by alkyl halides [168] and acid chlorides [169]. The titanium imide enolate in Scheme 5.31d adds Michael acceptors from the Si face, consistent with the precedent of aldol additions of titanium enolates (c/. Table 5.4, entry 2, [88]). An intramolecular addition (Scheme 5.3le) seems to follow a clear mechanistic path [165] the Si face is attacked by the electrophile, and the cis geometry of the product implicates intramolecular complexation of the acceptor carbonyl. This coordination of the acceptor carbonyl is probably a function of the metal recall the lithium ester enolates illustrated in Scheme 5.30c and d, but also metal chelation in titanium aldol additions (Table 5.4, entry 2). 

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