Carbonyl based functional groups

The relative reactivity of the alcohol and amine in the example just given could be overturned by conducting a reaction under thermodynamic control. In kinetically controlled reactions, the idea that you can conduct chemoselective reactions on the more reactive of a pair of functional groups— carbonyl-based ones, for example—is straightforward. But what if you want to react the less reactive of the pair There are two commonly used solutions. The first is illustrated by a compound needed by chemists at Cambridge to study an epoxidation reaction. They were able to make the following diol, but wanted to acetylate only the more hindered secondary hydroxyl group. 

The hydrosilylation of carbonyl compounds by EtjSiH catalysed by the copper NHC complexes 65 and 66-67 constitutes a convenient method for the direct synthesis of silyl-protected alcohols (silyl ethers). The catalysts can be generated in situ from the corresponding imidazolium salts, base and CuCl or [Cu(MeCN) ]X", respectively. The catalytic reactions usually occur at room tanperature in THE with very good conversions and exhibit good functional group tolerance. Complex 66, which is more active than 65, allows the reactions to be run under lower silane loadings and is preferred for the hydrosilylation of hindered ketones. The wide scope of application of the copper catalyst [dialkyl-, arylalkyl-ketones, aldehydes (even enoUsable) and esters] is evident from some examples compiled in Table 2.3 [51-53],... 

The fundamental aspects of the structure and stability of carbanions were discussed in Chapter 6 of Part A. In the present chapter we relate the properties and reactivity of carbanions stabilized by carbonyl and other EWG substituents to their application as nucleophiles in synthesis. As discussed in Section 6.3 of Part A, there is a fundamental relationship between the stabilizing functional group and the acidity of the C-H groups, as illustrated by the pK data summarized in Table 6.7 in Part A. These pK data provide a basis for assessing the stability and reactivity of carbanions. The acidity of the reactant determines which bases can be used for generation of the anion. Another crucial factor is the distinction between kinetic or thermodynamic control of enolate formation by deprotonation (Part A, Section 6.3), which determines the enolate composition. Fundamental mechanisms of Sw2 alkylation reactions of carbanions are discussed in Section 6.5 of Part A. A review of this material may prove helpful. 

Allylation and subsequent protection of the thus formed hydroxyl group furnishes compound 134, which bears the C-ring skeleton of baccatin HI. Removal of the C-9 silyl group, PhLi treatment of the resulting hydroxyl ketone, and in situ acetylation provides compound 135, which has the C-2 benzoate functionality. In the presence of a guanidinium base, equilibrium between the C-9 to C-10 carbonyl-acetate functional groups can be established. Thus, the desired C-9-carbonyl-C-10-acetate moiety 136 can be separated from the mixture. Compound 136 is then converted to aldehyde 137 via ozonolysis for further construction of the C-ring system (Scheme 7-40). 

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