Esters, conjugated 1,4-reduction with

A direct asymmetric reductive Mannich-type reaction that allows for the formation of three contiguous stereocentres with high chemo-, diastereo-, and enantio-selectivity (10 1 to 50 1 dr, 96-99% ee ) has been presented (Scheme 4). The reaction commences with the formation of the corresponding iminium ion from aldehyde (122) and prolinol (g) catalyst (125), followed by conjugate reduction with Hantzsch ester (123) to generate an enamine, which then undergoes Mannich reaction with imine (124) to produce (126).179... 

Conjugate reductions. This combination (usually 1 3 ratio) effects conjugate reduction of a,p-acetylenic ketones or esters to a, 3-enones or unsaturated esters at -50° with moderate (E)-selectivity. The HMPT is believed to function as a ligand to aluminum and thus to promote hydroalumination to give a vinylaluminum intermediate, which can be trapped by an allylic bromide (equation I).1 The re-... 

Complex hydrides have been used rather frequently for the conjugate reduction of activated dienes92-95. Just and coworkers92 found that the reduction of a,ft-unsaturated ketene 5,5-acetals with lithium triethylborohydride provided mixtures of 1,4- and 1,6-reduction products which were transformed into enals by treatment with mercuric salts (equation 27). Likewise, tetrahydro-3//-naphthalen-2-ones can be reduced with L-Selectride to the 1,6-reduction products93 -95 this reaction has been utilized in the stereoselective synthesis of several terpenes, e.g. of (/ )-(—)-ligularenolide (equation 28)95. Other methods for the conjugate reduction of acceptor-substituted dienes involve the use of methylcopper/diisobutylaluminum hydride96 and of the Hantzsch ester... 

Zhu and Burgess have reported an asymmetric conjugate reduction of 1,3-enol ether esters (Table 9) and 1,3-enol ether alcohols (Table 10) [72]. Initial reaction conditions reached full conversion of E-l-methoxy-l-phenylethene using ligand 9 albeit with a very low enantioselectivity of 29%. 

Cordova has described a reductive Mannich protocol that proceeds with high chemo-, diastereo- and enantioselectivity [179]. Conjugate reduction of p,p-disub-stituted enal 118 with Hantzsch ester 119 in the presence of 30 (10 mol%) and benzoic acid (10 mol%) (63 h, -20 °C) followed by addition of a-iminoglyoxylate 120 and stirring for a further 24 h gave the product (121) with excellent levels of relative and absolute stereocontrol (10 1-50 1 dr 95-99% ee) (Scheme 49). 

The Reformatsky reagents, i.e. zinc enolates of esters, undergo Ni catalysed cross-coupling with aryl halides.53 The Ni catalysed reaction of arylzincs with a-bromoacetates also permits a-arylation of esters54 (Scheme 11.13). However, a-alkenylation of enolates of ketones, aldehydes, and esters has been less satisfactory. Its further development is clearly desirable. Alternatively, a-alkenylation of a-iodoenones in conjunction with conjugate reduction discussed earlier should be considered. 

Scheme 11.4 Catalytic reduction of conjugated aldehydes with ethyl Flantzsch ester [12].

In 2001, we reasoned that this catalysis strategy might be applicable to the conjugate reduction of a, 3-unsaturated carbonyl compounds if a suitable hydride donor could be identified (Scheme 18). Hantzsch ester 11 seemed to be particularly promising since its reaction with preformed a, 3-unsaturated iminium ions had already been established (Makino et al. 1977 Baba et al. 1980). 

Many other examples of chemoselective enone reduction in the presence of other reducible functionalities have been reported. For instance, the C—S bonds of many sulfides and thioketals are readily cleaved by dissolving metals. " Yet, there are examples of conjugate reduction of enones in the presence of a thioalkyl ether group." " Selective enone reduction in the presence of a reducible nitrile group was illustrated with another steroidal enone. While carboxylic acids, because of salt formation, are not reduced by dissolving metals, esters" and amides are easily reduced to saturated alcohols and aldehydes or alcohols, respectively. However, metal-ammonia reduction of enones is faster than that of either esters or amides. This allows selective enone reduction in the presence of esters"" and amides - -" using short reaction times and limited amounts of lithium in ammonia. 

The reaction of conjugated enones and dienones with trimethyl- and triethyl-silane in the presence of TiCU, followed by aqueous work-up produces the corresponding saturated ketones. This Lewis acid catalysis is particularly useful for conjugated reduction of sterically hindered systems (Scheme 46). " a,p-Unsaturated esters are not reduced under these conditions. 

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