Hemithioketal formation

When the indole 3-position is already substituted, electrophilic reagents attack the 2-position instead often through a 3,3-spiro intermediate. For example, when 2-(3-indolyl)ethylmercaptan (27) reacts with methyl acetoacetate, the thia-p-carboline analogue 31 results. It seems plausible that the reaction involves initial hemithioketal formation (28), followed by electron release by the indole nitrogen and hydroxide... 

Stereoselective hydrogen transfer reactions on oxacyclic radical intermediates are useful as shown in the synthesis of lauthisan (32) [126]. A key step in the total synthesis of brevetoxin B by Nicolaou [127] (Scheme 65) features conversion of the hydroxy dithioketal 189 into the oxoeene system 190 via cyclic hemithioketal formation and stereoselective radical-mediated desulfurization. More recently, Tachi-bana employed the same reaction sequence in the partial synthesis of ciguatoxin ]128]. 

Dimethyl ketals and enol ethers are stable to the conditions of oxime formation (hydroxylamine acetate or hydroxylamine hydrochloride-pyridine). Thioketals and hemithioketals are cleaved to the parent ketones by cadmium carbonate and mercuric chloride. Desulfurization of thioketals with Raney nickel leads to the corresponding methylene compounds, while thioenol ethers give the corresponding olefin. In contrast, desulfurization of hemithioketals regenerates the parent ketone. ... 

Ketals bearing the double bond at the 4,5-position are prepared by reaction with glycol in the presence of weak acids such as adipic acid. In this case ketal formation proceeds via the intermediate 2,4-dien-3-ol ether. Hemithioketals (71) of A -3-ketones are prepared by reaction with mer-... 

Unsubstituted 20-ketones undergo exchange dioxolanation nearly with the same ease as saturated 3-ketones although preferential ketalization at C-3 can be achieved under these conditions. " 20,20-Cycloethylenedioxy derivatives are readily prepared by acid-catalyzed reaction with ethylene glycol. The presence of a 12-ketone inhibits formation of 20-ketals. Selective removal of 20-ketals in the presence of a 3-ketal is effected with boron trifluoride at room temperature. Hemithioketals and thioketals " are obtained by conventional procedures. However, the 20-thioketal does not form under mild conditions (dilution technique). ... 

Theoretical studies have been done in order to understand this behavior difference. Semiempirical calculations (AMI, MNDO) of formation energy (of the hemithio-ketal-hemiketal interconversion) have shown that hemithioketals are less stable than the corresponding hemiketal (from 10 to 15 kcal/mol). This difference can be due to steric factors, connected to the respective sizes of sulfur and oxygen. Stereoelectronic factors can also be evoked stabilization that is brought about by the anomeric effect is a priori more important for a gem-dihydroxylated compound than for the hemi-thioketal. Moreover, at the kinetic level, displacement of the water molecule of the inhibitor (under aqueous conditions, the inhibitor is hydrated) by the thiol of the enzyme is a slow and disfavored reaction. In contrast, the same reaction is favored with the hydroxyl of a serine. Experimentally, equilibrium occurs very slowly with the enzyme as well as with model molecules. ... 

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