Ethyl lithiopropiolate

Kleinman and co-workers 20 synthesized a lactone precursor to the (2/ ,46, 56 )- -hydroxy-ethylene dipeptide stereoselectively in four steps using the lithium salt of ethyl propiolate as a homoenolate equivalent. As summarized in Scheme 11, addition of ethyl lithiopropiolate to a protected a-amino aldehyde affords hydroxy acetylenic esters as a mixture of dia-stereomers. Reduction of the acetylene group and subsequent lactonization gives a readily separable (4S)-lactone-enriched mixture. Direct alkylation with alkyl halide and lithium hexamethyldisilanazide yields the tram-lactone as the major stereoisomer. 

Scheme 11 Synthesis of 1-Hydroxyethylene Peptides by Addition of Ethyl Lithiopropiolate to an a-Amino Aldehyde 20 ...

---