Esters, excess formation

It is essential to examine whether the uptake of retinyl esters in the respiratory mucosa might be associated with an excess formation of free retinol or RA in the cells with the formation exceeding the binding... 

In steroids, the carbonyl group at C-3 is generally the most reactive and that on C-ll the least reactive enabling chemoselective reductions of polyoxosteroids5. The following example demonstrates this chemoselectivity, as well as excess formation of the thermodynamically more stable alcohol by the Meerwein-Ponndorf-Verley reduction of a 7,11-diketone 21l82. The acetic ester is cleaved under these conditions. 

With strains of Saccharomyces the (25,35)-isomer is produced predominantly, accompanied by some of the (2/J,3,S )-isomer. Similar to ft-keto esters, the formation of the undcsired isomer can be decreased by the addition of an a,/i-unsaturatcd carbonyl compound, e.g.. methyl vinyl ketone, or an allylic alcohol. These additives probably act as inhibitors for the enzyme which produces the (2/ ,35)-isomer202 203. More recently, the microbial reduction of a variety of simple 2,2-disubstituted cyclic 1,3-diketones of various ring size has been investigated204 205 206. In most cases one of the substituents in the 2-position is methyl. The configuration of the hydroxy group in the reduced product is always S, and the enantiomeric excess is often high (Table 7). 

Amide formation Halide, ester + excess R NH2 RCONHR (20-2 to 4)... 

When esterification is the objective water is removed from the reaction mixture to encourage ester formation When ester hydrolysis is the objective the reaction is carried out m the presence of a generous excess of water Both reactions illustrate the applica tion of Le Chatelier s principle (Section 6 10) to organic synthesis... 

Transesterification of methyl methacrylate with the appropriate alcohol is often the preferred method of preparing higher alkyl and functional methacrylates. The reaction is driven to completion by the use of excess methyl methacrylate and by removal of the methyl methacrylate—methanol a2eotrope. A variety of catalysts have been used, including acids and bases and transition-metal compounds such as dialkjitin oxides (57), titanium(IV) alkoxides (58), and zirconium acetoacetate (59). The use of the transition-metal catalysts allows reaction under nearly neutral conditions and is therefore more tolerant of sensitive functionality in the ester alcohol moiety. In addition, transition-metal catalysts often exhibit higher selectivities than acidic catalysts, particularly with respect to by-product ether formation. 

Benzyl Chloride. Benzyl chloride is manufactured by high temperature free-radical chlorination of toluene. The yield of benzyl chloride is maximized by use of excess toluene in the feed. More than half of the benzyl chloride produced is converted by butyl benzyl phthalate by reaction with monosodium butyl phthalate. The remainder is hydrolyzed to benzyl alcohol, which is converted to ahphatic esters for use in soaps, perfume, and davors. Benzyl salicylate is used as a sunscreen in lotions and creams. By-product benzal chloride can be converted to benzaldehyde, which is also produced directiy by oxidation of toluene and as a by-product during formation of benzoic acid. By-product ben zotrichl oride is not hydrolyzed to make benzoic acid but is allowed to react with benzoic acid to yield benzoyl chloride. 

The equihbrium shown in equation 3 normally ties far to the left. Usually the water formed is removed by azeotropic distillation with excess alcohol or a suitable azeotroping solvent such as benzene, toluene, or various petroleum distillate fractions. The procedure used depends on the specific ester desired. Preparation of methyl borate and ethyl borate is compHcated by the formation of low boiling azeotropes (Table 1) which are the lowest boiling constituents in these systems. Consequently, the ester—alcohol azeotrope must be prepared and then separated in another step. Some of the methods that have been used to separate methyl borate from the azeotrope are extraction with sulfuric acid and distillation of the enriched phase (18), treatment with calcium chloride or lithium chloride (19,20), washing with a hydrocarbon and distillation (21), fractional distillation at 709 kPa (7 atmospheres) (22), and addition of a third component that will form a low boiling methanol azeotrope (23). 

A convenient laboratory method for the preparation of BCl is by the reaction of AlCl and BF or BF (47—49). More recently a patent describing the preparation of BCl by halogenating B(OH)2 or esters of B(OH)2 using an excess of the oxychloride of S or P in the presence of a dessicant and catalytic amounts of Fe, Co, or Ni, at temperatures below 100°C was issued (50). This process eliminates formation of carbonic dichloride [75-44-5] ... 

The stereoselective reactions in Scheme 2.10 include one example that is completely stereoselective (entry 3), one that is highly stereoselective (entry 6), and others in which the stereoselectivity is modest to low (entries 1,2,4, 5, and 7). The addition of formic acid to norbomene (entry 3) produces only the exo ester. Reduction of 4-r-butylcyclohexanone (entry 6) is typical of the reduction of unhindered cyclohexanones in that the major diastereomer produced has an equatorial hydroxyl group. Certain other reducing agents, particularly sterically bulky ones, exhibit the opposite stereoselectivity and favor the formation of the diastereomer having an axial hydroxyl groi. The alkylation of 4-t-butylpiperidine with benzyl chloride (entry 7) provides only a slight excess of one diastereomer over the other. 

Ester functions are not saponified under these ring opening conditions. However, a trans-a-acetoxy function hinders the epoxide opening reaction and a noticeable decrease in yield is observed in comparison to the cw-a-acetoxy isomer. The ring opening reaction is also dependent on the concentration of sulfuric acid. Polymer formation results when the acid concentration is too low and the reaction is markedly slower with excessive concentrations of acid. A 0.5% (vol./vol.) concentration of acid in DMSO is satisfactory. Ring opening does not occur when ethanol, acetone, or dioxane are used as solvent. 

Some workers avoid delay. Pai)adium-on-carbon was used effectively for the reductive amination of ethyl 2-oxo-4-phenyl butanoate with L-alanyl-L-proline in a synthesis of the antihyperlensive, enalapril maleate. SchifTs base formation and reduction were carried out in a single step as Schiff bases of a-amino acids and esters are known to be susceptible to racemization. To a solution of 4,54 g ethyl 2-oxO 4-phenylbutanoate and 1.86 g L-alanyl-L-proline was added 16 g 4A molecular sieve and 1.0 g 10% Pd-on-C The mixture was hydrogenated for 15 hr at room temperature and 40 psig H2. Excess a-keto ester was required as reduction to the a-hydroxy ester was a serious side reaction. The yield was 77% with a diastereomeric ratio of 62 38 (SSS RSS)((55). 

The mandelic acid formate ester obtained as a syrup as described above Is stirred for 2 hours with 2.9 kg ( 1.75 ) of thionyl chlorideat a temperature of about 70°C. The excess thionyI chloride is removed by evaporation and the residual green solution is vacuum distilled. The product, 0-formyl mandeloyl chloride, distills over at 127°C to 130°C (15 mm) or at 108°C to 112°C (7 mm). 

The net effect of Fischer esterification is substitution of an -OH group by —OR. Aii steps are reversible, and the reaction can be driven in either direction by choice of reaction conditions. Ester formation is favored when a large excess of alcohol is used as solvent, but carboxylic acid formation is favored when a large excess of water is present. 

Intermediate 10 must now be molded into a form suitable for coupling with the anion derived from dithiane 9. To this end, a che-moselective reduction of the benzyl ester grouping in 10 with excess sodium borohydride in methanol takes place smoothly and provides primary alcohol 14. Treatment of 14 with methanesulfonyl chloride and triethylamine affords a primary mesylate which is subsequently converted into iodide 15 with sodium iodide in acetone. Exposure of 15 to tert-butyldimethylsilyl chloride and triethylamine accomplishes protection of the /Mactam nitrogen and leads to the formation of 8. Starting from L-aspartic acid (12), the overall yield of 8 is approximately 50%, and it is noteworthy that this reaction sequence can be performed on a molar scale. 

Benzothiepins synthesized by a double Knoevenagel condensation (see Section 2.1.1.2.) contain free carboxylic acid groups if the reaction product is isolated under acidic conditions. Rcesterification can be performed by two methods via formation of the acid chloride and subsequent alcoholysis, or by reaction with diazomethane, e.g. the conversion of 3-benzo-thiepin-2,4-diearboxylic acid (5, R = C02H) with thionyl chloride and methanol gives the dimethyl ester 5 (R = C02Me) in 47% yield, while the diazomethane pathway provides 60% of the dimethyl ester.65 Use of excess diazomethane leads to cycloadducts (see Section 2.2.4.). 

Since 1,4-butanediol (BD) undergoes dehydration side reaction in the presence of acid resulting in THF formation, the hydroxy-ester interchange reaction is the preferred method for the preparation of PBT. The first stage of reaction is carried out at 150-200°C and consists of a hydroxy-ester interchange between DMT and excess butanediol with elimination of methanol. In the second stage, temperature is raised to 250°C and BD excess is eliminated under vacuum. Tetraisopropoxy-and tetrabutoxytitanium are efficient catalysts for bodi stages (Scheme 2.20). 

The Claisen condensation of t-butyl acetate with a methyl ester is a general route for the preparation of complex P-ketoesters.4 The reaction requires an excess of the enolate of t-butyl acetate to rapidly deprotonate the product and prevent tertiary alcohol formation. Some workers have also used excess LDA or t-butoxide for this purpose. 

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