Ester reactions with organometallic

As already mentioned, unsaturated sugars, particularly glycals, are readily available compounds. Perrier rearrangement of glycals in the presence of Lewis acids and alcohols easily takes place to provide 2,3-unsaturated carbohydrates. The allylic esters obtained this way can be engaged in different reactions with organometallic reagents. 

Diphenylphosphinic mixed anhydrides have been utilized to form peptide bonds. Peptides are easier to isolate by this method than by employing 1,3-Dicyclohexylcarbodiimide. These anhydrides are the method of choice for the formation of amides of 2-alkenoic acids (eq 1 ). Carbodiimide and acyl carbonate methods proved to be inferior. Primary amines result in better yields than secondary amines. This activation protocol can be employed to form thiol esters (eq 2) p-Amino acids are readily converted to p-lactams with chlorodiphenylphosphine oxide (eq 3). Secondary amines work best. This activation protocol has been utilized to convert acids to amines via a Curtius rearrangement. Phenols have been generated from diene acids, presumably via base-induced elimination of diphenylphosphinic acid from the mixed anhydrides to form ketenes which spontaneously cyclize. Acids have been converted to ketones via activation followed by reaction with organometallic reagents (eq 4)."... 

Preparation of the appropriate optically active sulfmate ester is initially required for reaction with a Grignard or other organometallic reagent. If the method is to produce homochiral sulfoxides, the precursor sulfmate ester must be optically pure. An exception to this statement occurs if the reaction yields a partially racemic sulfoxide which can be recrystallized to complete optical purity. 

For a list of preparations of ketones by the reaction of organometallic compounds with carboxylic esters, salts, anhydyrides, or amides, with references, see Ref. 568, pp. 685, 693. 

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