HWE reaction

In addition to the HWE reactions leading to asymmetric vinyHc sulfoxides (not reviewed here), new recent appHcations of enantiopuxe a-sulfinylphospho-nates, such as their use as precursors of optically active di-alkyl or arylalkyl sulfoxides and also of 1 -sulfinyl-phosphonocyclopropanes, increases again their synthetic potential. 

Domino processes involving Homer-Wadsworth-Emmons (HWE) reactions constitute another important approach. Among others, HWE/Michael sequences have been employed by the group of Rapoport for the synthesis of all-cis-substituted pyrrolidines [143], and by Davis and coworkers to access new specific gly-coamidase inhibitors [144]. Likewise, arylnaphthalene lignans, namely justicidin B (2-281) and retrojusticidin B (2-282) [145], have been synthesized utilizing a domino HWE/aldol condensation protocol developed by Harrowven s group (Scheme 2.65) [146]. 

The combination of a Corey-Kwiatkowski [147] and a HWE reaction efficiently furnishes a, 3-unsaturated ketones of type 2-288 in good yields [148]. This unique domino reaction, developed by Mulzer and coworkers, probably proceeds via the intermediates 2-285 and 2-286 using the phosphonate 2-283, the ester 2-284, and the aldehyde 2-286 as substrates (Scheme 2.66). 

Coupling of the aminomethylindole 2-558 with acrolein in a Michael manner followed by a HWE reaction with phosphonates 2-560 afforded 2-561 which cyclized under basic conditions to give the desired product 2-566 via the intermediates 2-562-2-565 in 55 % yield (Scheme 2.127). The reaction sequence was also conducted in a stepwise manner, resulting in a greatly reduced yield this clearly demonstrates again the advantage of domino strategies over conventional methods. 

The final example of a domino process under high pressure, to be discussed in this chapter, is a combination of a Horner-Wittig-Emmons (HWE) reaction with a Michael addition developed by Reiser and coworkers [5]. Hence, reaction of a mixture of an aldehyde such as 10-18, a phosphonate 10-19 and a nucleophile 10-20 in the presence of triethylamine at 8 kbar led to 10-21. By this method, (3-amino esters, 3-thio esters and 3-thio nitriles can be prepared in high yield (Scheme 10.4). Many of these transformations do not occur under standard conditions, thereby underlining the importance of high pressure in organic chemistry. 

HWE reaction has been used extensively for the synthesis of dienes and polyenes. Examples from recent literature are shown in Table 16 (dienes) and Table 17 (polyenes). HWE reaction also has been used for intramolecular cyclizations leading to polyene macrolides (Table 18). 

Arai et al.51 reported that by using a catalytic amount of chiral quaternary ammonium salt as a phase transfer catalyst, a catalytic cycle was established in asymmetric HWE reactions in the presence of an inorganic base. Although catalytic turnover and enantiomeric excess for this reaction are not high, this is one of the first cases of an asymmetric HWE reaction proceeding in a catalytic manner (Scheme 8-20). 

A variety of optically active 4,4-disubstituted allenecarboxylates 245 were provided by HWE reaction of intermediate disubstituted ketene acetates 244 with homochiral HWE reagents 246 developed by Tanaka and co-workers (Scheme 4.63) [99]. a,a-Di-substituted phenyl or 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenyl (BHT) acetates 243 were used for the formation of 245 [100]. Addition of ZnCl2 to a solution of the lithiated phos-phonate may cause binding of the rigidly chelated phosphonate anion by Zn2+, where the axially chiral binaphthyl group dictates the orientation of the approach to the electrophile from the less hindered si phase of the reagent. Similarly, the aryl phosphorus methylphosphonium salt 248 was converted to a titanium ylide, which was condensed with aromatic aldehydes to provide allenes 249 with poor ee (Scheme 4.64) [101]. 

Scheme 8 summarizes the introduction of the missing carbon atoms and the diastereoselective epoxidation of the C /C double bond using a Sharpless asymmetric epoxidation (SAE) of the allylic alcohol 64. The primary alcohol 62 was converted into the aldehyde 63 which served as the starting material for a Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons (HWE) reaction to afford an E-configured tri-substituted double bond. The next steps introduced the sulfone moiety via a Mukaiyama redox condensation and a subsequent sulfide to sulfone oxidation. The sequence toward the allylic alcohol 64 was com-... 

The structural similarity between claenone (42) and stolonidiol (38) enabled Yamada to exploit an almost identical strategy for the total synthesis of (-)-stolonidiol (38) [40]. A short retrosynthetic analysis is depicted in Fig. 12. An intramolecular HWE reaction of 68 was successfully applied for the macrocyclization. The highly substituted cyclopentanone 69 was made available by a sequence that is highlighted by the sequential Michael-Mi-chael addition between the enolate 53 and the a, -unsaturated ester 70 followed by a retro-aldol addition. However, as is the case for the claenone (42) synthesis, the synthesis of stolonidiol (38) is characterized by numerous functional and protecting group transformations that are a consequence of Yamada s synthetic strategy. 

The sulfone moiety was reductively removed and the TBS ether was cleaved chemoselectively in the presence of a TPS ether to afford a primary alcohol (Scheme 13). The alcohol was transformed into the corresponding bromide that served as alkylating agent for the deprotonated ethyl 2-(di-ethylphosphono)propionate. Bromination and phosphonate alkylation were performed in a one-pot procedure [33]. The TPS protecting group was removed and the alcohol was then oxidized to afford the aldehyde 68 [42]. An intramolecular HWE reaction under Masamune-Roush conditions provided a macrocycle as a mixture of double bond isomers [43]. The ElZ isomers were separated after the reduction of the a, -unsaturated ester to the allylic alcohol 84. Deprotection of the tertiary alcohol and protection of the prima-... 

Scheme 13 Intramolecular HWE reaction and Sharpless epoxidation as key transformations toward stolonidiol (38)...

The asymmetric Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons (HWE) reaction of l,3-dioxan-5-ones with phosphonate 184 and a chiral diamine was reported. With the /i r/-butyl-substituted l,3-dioxan-5-one, the product possesses a chiral axis. It was obtained in good yield and with 80% ee (Scheme 53) <2002TL281>. The HWE reaction with similar heterocyclic substrates was used to provide conformationally restricted arachidonic acid derivatives <1999TA139>. 

Alkylidene-l,3-dithianes, acting as acyl synthons, can be prepared by the HWE reaction of 2-phosphorylated 1,3-dithianes with aldehydes (Equation 53) <1996SL875, 1997BSE891, 1998TL5425, 2002JOC1746>. 

Step 2 Intramolecular Homer-Wads worth-Emmons (HWE) reaction furnishes the cyclic enone G. 

Barrett used the reaction at the start of his synthesis of an antibiotic.12 The HWE reaction with the enal 47 gives the diene ester 48 and by reduction with DIBAL, the dienol 49. 

Corey chose a Wittig-style (HWE) reaction to control the aldol process and copper-catalysed addition of vinyl Grignard for the conjugate addition. Oxidation with NaI04 and catalytic OSO4 gave the keto-aldehyde 35 which cyclised cleanly under equilibrating conditions. 

You may well think that this is a long synthesis but other shorter ones fail to control the stereochemistry. The shortest15 gets quickly to the enone 75 by Diels-Alder and HWE reactions but the stereoselectivity of the reduction is only moderate. 

The enoates 17 were obtained in good yield and diastereoselectivity by subjecting the crude hydroformylation products 6 to Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons olefination conditions (HWE). Reaction of enoates 17 with dialkyl Gilman cuprates gave the anti 1,4-addition... 

Two-terminal OPV compounds were efficiently prepared by Bjorn holm and coworkers from the aldehyde 6 and suitable phosphonates via HWE reactions [10a]. 

One example is illustrated in Scheme 10.12. In the synthetic approach adopted here, the arylthiol functionality was introduced as the fert-butyl sulfide at the beginning of the synthetic sequence. A two-fold HWE reaction between aldehyde 6 and diphosphonate 37 gave OPV3 38. The t-BuS group of 38 was then converted into the AcS moiety by means of AcCl-BBr3. 

Alternatives to the standard Wittig reaction have been developed, including the Homer-Wadsworth-Emmons (HWE) reaction which involves the reaction of a phosphonate stabilized carbanion with a carbonyl compound (Scheme 2). These carbanions are generally more reactive than the traditional phosphoranes and they will often react with ketones that are unreactive to stabilized phosphoranes.2 3,8... 

A practical advantage of the HWE reaction over the Wittig reaction is that the phosphorus by-product is water soluble and hence is easily removed from the desired product. The starting phosphonates are also cheap and readily prepared by the Arbuzov reaction9 between trialkylphosphites and an organic halide (see Protocol 2). 

In the case of HWE reactions of phosphonate esters containing a charge-stabilizing electron-withdrawing group, for example, as in trimethyl phosphono-acetate, the carbanion is often generated by reaction with potassium fcrf-butoxide, sodium hydride, n-butyllithium or similar base. Direct reaction with an aldehyde or ketone then gives the ( )-a,P-unsaturated ester as the major product (see Protocol 6). The nature of the phosphonate (see Section 3), and the substitution of the aldehyde or ketone, can influence the stereochemical outcome of these reactions as can, to a lesser extent, the reaction temperature and solvent.16... 

Milder reaction conditions have been developed for the HWE reaction of phosphonate-stabilized carbanions to increase yields, accommodate sensitive substrates and to minimize undesired side reactions such as double bond migrations, the Cannizzaro reaction, Knoevenagel condensation and Michael addition. For example, a number of different bases have been employed to generate the carbanion. These include sodium hydroxide under phase-transfer conditions, potassium carbonate, barium hydroxide, diisopropylethylamine and l,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (see Protocol 10).22... 

---