Ethers, alkyl methyl synthesis

When primary alkyl phenyl tellurium or secondary alkyl phenyl tellurium compounds in methanol were treated with an excess of 3-chloroperoxybenzoic acid at 20, the phenyltelluro group was eliminated and replaced by a methoxy group. This reaction, which converts alkyl halides used in the synthesis of alkyl phenyl telluriums to alkyl methyl ethers, produced the ethers in yields as high as 90%3-4 Olefins are by-products in these reactions4 With ethanol as the solvent, ethyl ethers were formed. Other oxidizing agents (hydrogen peroxide, ozone, (ert.-butyl hydroperoxide, sodium periodate) did not produce alkyl methyl ethers. 

Phenols substituted by the 2-hydroxymethyl group represent the monomers of phenol/formaldehyde polymers and their regio specific synthesis has received extensive experimental study. A number of preparations are Used in Table 6.3 (refs.27-33). The alkyl methyl ether of o-methylsalicyl alcohol [2-(1 -methoxyethyl)phenol] has been formed in a yield of 12% from a mixture of phenol and 1,1-dimethoxyethane (1 10) by passage at 250 C with helium as carrier gas through a fixed bed catalyst of an H-ZSM-5 zeolite proton exchangeable) supported on glass wool with a contact time of 6.9 secs. (ref.34). 

Reactions.—New methods for the synthesis and cleavage of benzyl and trityl ethers, and for the cleavage of allyl ethers have been discussed in an earlier section (Protection of Alcohols). Primary and secondary alkyl methyl ethers have been demethylated by the combination boron tribromide-sodium iodide-15-crown-5 The reagent methyltrichlorosilane-sodium iodide is a new combination for regioselective ether cleavage for example aliphatic methyl ethers undergo predominant demethylation to alcohols (for primary or secondary alkyl groups) or iodides (in tertiary cases). 

Oxidative dealkylation Phenyl ethers Phenol, aldehyde Synthesis of phenols dealkylation of methyl or other alkyl ethers Monooxygenase, peroxidase... 

Preparation of ethers by the Williamson ether synthesis is most successful with methyl and primary alkyl halides... 

The Williamson ether synthesis (Sec tion 16 6) An alkoxide ion displaces a halide or similar leaving group in an Sn2 reaction The alkyl halide cannot be one that is prone to elimination and so this reaction is limited to methyl and primary alkyl halides There is no limitation on the alkoxide ion that can be used... 

Ethers are formed under conditions of the Williamson ether synthesis Methyl ethers of carbohydrates are efficiently prepared by alkylation with methyl iodide m the presence of silver oxide... 

Quaternary ammonium alkyl ethers are prepared similarly an alkaline starch is reacted with a quaternary ammonium salt containing a 3-chloto-2-hydtoxyptopyl or 2,3-epoxyptopyl radical. Alternatively, such derivatives can be prepared by simple quaternization of tertiary aminoalkyl ethers by reaction with methyl iodide. Sulfonium (107) and phosphonium (108) starch salts have also been prepared and investigated. Further work has explained the synthesis of diethyl aminoethyl starch (109) as well as the production of cationic starches from the reaction of alkaline starch with... 

Reference may also be made to the synthesis of various alkylated laudanosolines by Schopf, Jackh and Perrey, e.g., laudanosoline 6 7 3 -tribenzyl-4 -methyl ether and laudanosoline 4 -methyl ether, to the preparation of the 3 7-dimethyl ether by Schopf and Thierfelder (1939), and to Robinson and Sugasawa s synthesis of proiosinomenine (4 7-dimethyl ether of laudanosoline). 

Alkylation of enamines with epoxides or acetoxybromoalkanes provided intermediates for cyclic enol ethers (668) and branched chain sugars were obtained by enamine alkylation (669). Sodium enolates of vinylogous amides underwent carbon and nitrogen methylation (570), while vicinal endiamines formed bis-quaternary amonium salts (647). Reactions of enamines with a cyclopropenyl cation gave alkylated imonium products (57/), and 2-benzylidene-3-methylbenzothiazoline was shown to undergo enamine alkylation and acylation (572). A cyclic enamine was alkylated with methylbromoacetate and the product reduced with sodium borohydride to the key intermediate in a synthesis of the quebrachamine skeleton (57i). 

Notable examples of general synthetic procedures in Volume 47 include the synthesis of aromatic aldehydes (from dichloro-methyl methyl ether), aliphatic aldehydes (from alkyl halides and trimethylamine oxide and by oxidation of alcohols using dimethyl sulfoxide, dicyclohexylcarbodiimide, and pyridinum trifluoro-acetate the latter method is particularly useful since the conditions are so mild), carbethoxycycloalkanones (from sodium hydride, diethyl carbonate, and the cycloalkanone), m-dialkylbenzenes (from the />-isomer by isomerization with hydrogen fluoride and boron trifluoride), and the deamination of amines (by conversion to the nitrosoamide and thermolysis to the ester). Other general methods are represented by the synthesis of 1 J-difluoroolefins (from sodium chlorodifluoroacetate, triphenyl phosphine, and an aldehyde or ketone), the nitration of aromatic rings (with ni-tronium tetrafluoroborate), the reductive methylation of aromatic nitro compounds (with formaldehyde and hydrogen), the synthesis of dialkyl ketones (from carboxylic acids and iron powder), and the preparation of 1-substituted cyclopropanols (from the condensation of a 1,3-dichloro-2-propanol derivative and ethyl-... 

Schemes 3-7 describe the synthesis of cyanobromide 6, the A-D sector of vitamin Bi2. The synthesis commences with an alkylation of the magnesium salt of methoxydimethylindole 28 to give intermediate 29 (see Scheme 3a). The stereocenter created in this step plays a central role in directing the stereochemical course of the next reaction. Thus, exposure of 29 to methanol in the presence of BF3 and HgO results in the formation of tricyclic ketone 22 presumably through the intermediacy of the derived methyl enol ether 30. It is instructive to point out that the five-membered nitrogen-containing ring in 22, with its two adjacent methyl-bearing stereocenters, is destined to become ring A of vitamin Bi2. A classical resolution of racemic 22 with a-phenylethylisocyanate (31) furnishes tricyclic ketone 22 in enantiomerically pure form via diaster-eomer 32.

An important stage in the synthesis has been reached. It was anticipated that cleavage of the trimethylsilyl enol ether in 18 using the procedure of Binkley and Heathcock18 would regiospecifically furnish the thermodynamic (more substituted) cyclopentanone enolate, a nucleophilic species that could then be alkylated with iodo-diyne 17. To secure what is to become the trans CD ring junction of the steroid nucleus, the diastereoisomer in which the vinyl and methyl substituents have a cis relationship must be formed. In the... 

Two approaches for the synthesis of allyl(alkyl)- and allyl(aryl)tin halides are thermolysis of halo(alkyl)tin ethers derived from tertiary homoallylic alcohols, and transmetalation of other allylstannanes. For example, dibutyl(-2-propenyl)tin chloride has been prepared by healing dibutyl(di-2-propenyl)stannane with dibutyltin dichloride42, and by thermolysis of mixtures of 2,3-dimethyl-5-hexen-3-ol or 2-methyl-4-penten-2-ol and tetrabutyl-l,3-dichlorodistannox-ane39. Alternatively dibutyltin dichloride and (dibutyl)(dimethoxy)tin were mixed to provide (dibutyl)(methoxy)tin chloride which was heated with 2,2,3-trimethyl-5-hexen-3-ol40. 

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