Hajos-Wiechert reaction mechanism

The mechanism of the Hajos-Wiechert reaction has not been without controversy. The original paper by Hajos and Parrish proposed two possible mechanisms. The first, via the carbinolamine 7, proposed addition of proline to a ketone, followed by a nucleophilic attack of the pendant, remote enol [transition state 8]. Calculations by Houk and Clemente show that this is one of the higher energy pathways. The second proposed mechanistic pathway proceeded via an enamine intermediate, followed by carbon-carbon bond formation via transition state 9 and a hydrogen transfer between nitrogen and... 

For the Hajos-Eder-Sauer-Wiechert reaction [2a, b], which was found in the 70ties, Barbas III et al. recently reported an optimized protocol [10], This reaction furnishes the chiral Wieland-Miescher ketone. It has now been shown, that this synthesis (which comprises three reactions) can be carried out as a one-pot synthesis (49% yield 76% ee Scheme 4) [10], Prolin functions as an efficient catalyst for all three reaction steps (Michael-addition, cyc-lization, dehydratization). A very interesting theoretical study of the mechanism of this reaction has been recently published by the Houk group [11]. 

Interestingly, the stereoselectivity of reactions of cyclohexanone vith iso-butyraldehyde and benzaldehyde vere first predicted by using density functional theory calculations on models based on Houk s calculated transition state of the Hajos-Parrish-Eder-Sauer-Wiechert reaction [125]. The transition states of inter- and intramolecular aldol reactions are almost super-imposable and readily explain the observed enantiofacial selectivity. Relative transition state energies vere then used to predict the diastereo- and enan-tioselectivity of the proline-catalyzed reactions of cyclohexanone vith iso-butyraldehyde and benzaldehyde. The predictions are compared vith the experimental results in Scheme 4.30. The good agreement clearly validates the theoretical studies, and provides support for the proposed mechanism. Additional density functional theory calculation also support a similar mechanism [126, 127]. 

Prior to the determination of the aldolase mechanism and the development of catalytic antibodies for the aldol reaction, Hajos and Parrish and independently Wiechert et al. discovered that (5)-proline catalyzes the intramolecular aldol reaction of cyclic triketones (Scheme 6.7). This is not only a catalytic effect the reaction proceeds with high yields and large enantiomeric excess. 

Prior to 2001, when the first serious computational approaches to the problem appeared in print, four mechanistic proposals had been offered for understanding the Hajos-Parrish-Wiechert-Eder-Sauer reaction (Scheme 6.8). Hajos and Parrish proposed the first two mechanisms Mechanisms A and B. Mechanism A is a nucleophilic substitution reaction where the terminal enol attacks the carbinolamine center, displacing proUne. The other three mechanisms start from an enamine intermediate. Mechanism B invokes an enaminium intermediate, which undergoes C-C formation with proton transfer from the aminium group. Mechanism C, proposed by Agamii to account for the nonlinear proline result, has the proton transfer assisted by the second proline molecule. Lastly, Mechanism D, proffered by Jung, proposed that the proton transfer that accompanies C-C bond formation is facilitated by the carboxylic acid group of proline. 

C. Thus, computation indicates that the Hajos-Parrish-Wiechert-Eder-Sauer reaction proceeds by the carboxylic-acid-catalyzed enamine mechanism D, which is consistent with all of the computations for intermolecular proline-catalyzed aldol examples. 

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