Grignard reagents, activation

Grignard reactions, 10 505-506 12 818-838. See also Grignard reagents activated magnesium, 12 835 aqueous and nonaqueous work-up of, 72 830... 

Total basicity is measured by standard acid—base titration techniques. The activity divided by the total basicity should be greater than 90%. If it is not, then the Grignard reagent should be checked for unreacted alkyl or aryl haUde, homo-coupled product, hydrolysis products, and oxidation products. 

Cesium forms simple alkyl and aryl compounds that are similar to those of the other alkah metals (6). They are colorless, sohd, amorphous, nonvolatile, and insoluble, except by decomposition, in most solvents except diethylzinc. As a result of exceptional reactivity, cesium aryls should be effective in alkylations wherever other alkaline alkyls or Grignard reagents have failed (see Grignard reactions). Cesium reacts with hydrocarbons in which the activity of a C—H link is increased by attachment to the carbon atom of doubly linked or aromatic radicals. A brown, sohd addition product is formed when cesium reacts with ethylene, and a very reactive dark red powder, triphenylmethylcesium [76-83-5] (C H )2CCs, is formed by the reaction of cesium amalgam and a solution of triphenylmethyl chloride in anhydrous ether. 

A solution of 6.3 g (0.9 moles) ethoxyacetylene in 50 ml ether is added dropwise during 30 min to a Grignard reagent prepared from 2.18 g (90 mg-atoms) magnesium and 9.81 g (90 mmoles) ethyl bromide. The reaction mixture is stirred for 1 hr at room temperature and then a solution of 3 g (9 mmoles) 3) -acetoxyandrost-5-en-I7-one in 50 ml dry ether is added dropwise. The mixture is refluxed for 1 hr and after cooling to 0° poured into 100 ml of an aqueous ammonium chloride solution. The aqueous solution is extracted with ether, and the organic extract is washed with ammonium chloride solution and water, dried, and evaporated. The residue is chromatographed on 130 g alumina (activity III). Elution with petroleum ether-benzene (1 1) yields, after crystallization from acetone-hexane, 1.27 g (35%) 3j5-acetoxy-17a-ethoxyethynylandrost-5-en-17) -ol mp 138-139° Ho -122°. 

When both a-positions of the oxime possess active hydrogen, the regiochemistry of the Hoch-Campbell reaction prefers the side with more available hydrogens— indicating the process is kinetically controlled. In case of oxime 36, azirine 37 was not formed. Instead, azirine 38 was obtained exclusively. Addition of the third equivalent of the Grignard reagent delivered aziridine 39 as a mixture of two diastereomers. 

Cyclization of the side chain onto the nitrogen atom leads to compounds with sedative and tranquilizing activity. The lack of structural specificity, that is, the fact that both positional isomers (41,43) show the same activity, is notable. Thus, condensation of the Grignard reagent from 2-bromopyridine with ben-zophenone affords the tertiary carbinol, 40. Catalytic reduction... 

To anticipate briefly, shortening the length of the side chain in the phenothiazines from three to two carbon atoms changes I he activity of the products from neuroleptics to antihistaminic iigents. A rather similar effect is seen in the tricyclic antidepressants. Reaction of ketone, 27, with the Grignard reagent I rom 4-chloro-l-methylpipyridine (35) affords the tertiary alco-liol, 36. Dehydration gives the antihistamine, cyproheptadine (37). ... 

Reaction of estrone methyl ether with methyl Grignard reagent followed by Birch reduction and hydrolysis of the intermediate enol ether affords the prototype orally active androgen in the 19-nor series, normethandrolone (69). ° (Note that here again the addition of the methyl group proceeded stereoselectively by approach from the least hindered side.) The preparation of the ethyl homolog starts by catalytic reduction of mestranol treatment of the intermediate, 70, under the conditions of the Birch reduction and subsequent hydrolysis of the intermediate enol ether yields norethandrolone (71). ... 

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