Intermolecular reactions fragmentation synthesis

Unsymmetrical alkenes can be prepared by mixed intermolecular reactions if one of the components, commonly acetone, is used in excess (equation 83). As the isopropyl group is a common subunit of many terpenes this method provides a valuable route for its introduction. Pattenden and Robertson used such a reaction followed by a Grob-type fragmentation in their preparation of the daucenone (42) from the readily enolized ketone (43). The bicycle (42) was used as an intermediate for the synthesis of the diterpene ( )-isoamijiol (44 equation 84). Mixed couplings are not restricted to acetone, and almost any carbonyl may be used. For example, Paquette et al. employed the aldehyde (45) in a synthesis of ( )-a-vetispirene (46 equation 85). More complex mixed couplings are also possible. For example, the aldehydes (47) and (48) are coupled efficiently to the stilbene (49), which in turn is converted to phenan-threne alkaloids such as atherosperminine and thalictuberine (equation 86). ... 

A Mitsunobu process simultaneously coupled the enyne acid fragment 4 to /J-lactam 10 and inverted the CIO stereochemistry to the required (S)-configured ester 11 in 93% yield. A deprotection provided alcohol 12, the key /J-lactam-based macrolactonization substrate, which, under conditions similar to those reported by Palomo for intermolecular alcoholysis of /J-lactams (Ojima et al, 1992, 1993 Palomo et al, 1995), provided the desired core macrocycle 13 of PatA 13 (Hesse, 1991 Manhas et al, 1988 Wasserman, 1987). Subsequent Lindlar hydrogenation gave the required E, Z-dienoate. A Stille reaction and final deprotection cleanly provided (-)-PatA that was identical in all respects to the natural product (Romo etal, 1998 Rzasaef al, 1998). This first total synthesis confirmed the relative and absolute configuration of the natural product and paved the way for synthesis of derivatives for probing the mode of action of this natural product. 

A formal synthesis of the antifungal agent alternaric acid was realized in the Trost group.95 The skipped diene portion of the natural product was obtained via a ruthenium-catalyzed intermolecular Alder-ene reaction (Scheme 36). Several attempts to produce 162 from the protected fragment 161 gave low yields and unremarkable regioselectivity. The diol (R = H), however, performed satisfactorily, allowing the reaction to be carried out at room temperature. The product 162 was obtained in 51% isolated yield as an 8.9 1 mixture of branched to linear isomers. 

Intermolecular cycloadditions or Diels-Alder reactions have proved to be a successful route to several valuable intermediates for natural product syntheses. In creating new chiral centers, most of these reactions apply single asymmetric induction. As mentioned in Chapter 3, in the asymmetric synthesis of the octa-hydronaphthalene fragment, the Roush reaction is used twice. Subsequent intramolecular cyclization leads to the key intermediate, the aglycones, of several natural antitumor antibiotics. On the other hand, the Diels-Alder reaction of a dienophile-bearing chiral auxiliary can also be used intramolecularly to build... 

C-Glycoside synthesis may be achieved in twro ways. Intermolecular radical addition reactions are observed with (i) polarized, electron-deficient alkenes, (ii) alkenes that provide a high level of stabilization to the initial radical adduct and (in) substrates that undergo a facile fragmentation (e.g. allyl stannanes). Additions to less reactive substrates, though not favored for intermolecular processes, are observed if the two components are tethered in an intramolecular array. 

Ito and coworkers developed a mild and efficient procedure for generating o-quinodimethanes" as reactive intermediates in [4 -I- 2] cycloadditions. The key step in the sequence, illustrated here by the synthesis of Estrone methyl ether (146 Scheme 53) involves a fluoride-induced fragmentation of the o-[a-(trimethylsilyl)alkyl]benzyltrimethylammonium iodide (144) to give the o-quinodimethane (145), which underwent stereoselective intramolecular [4 + 2] cycloaddition to give the desired tetracyclic framework in (146). The entire process was conducted at room temperature. The annulation reaction is not limited to intramolecular cycloadditions intermolecular versions of the reaction proceed equally well. 

A further interesting example is the use of l,l-di(phenylthio)med)yllithium to open an epoxide followed by a Grob fragmentation process as shown in Scheme 56 (entry b). The reaction of 1,1-di-(thio)methyllithium with epoxides has also been used - in the one-pot synthesis of l,l-di(thio)cyclopropanes involving an intramolecular cyclization of the 7-tosyloxydi(phenylthio)alkylli-thium. This intramolecular alkylation reaction proceeds even more efficiently than its intermolecular version, and allows the synthesis of a large variety of l,l-di(thio)cyclopTDpanes from 3-chloro- and 3-phenylthio-l,l-di(thio)alkanes and n-butyllithium in THF (Scheme 57 and Scheme 58). 

Equation 12.97 illustrates use of catalyst 104 in the synthesis of a bicyclic ring system.207 Note that the presence of a catalyst also allows the transformation to occur under a CO pressure of 1 bar. Equation 12.98 demonstrates a clever application of the so-called traceless tether method for running a Ru-catalyzed P-K reaction.208 Although this is an intermolecular P-K reaction, the alkene is tethered to a pyridylsilyl group (compound 105), which directs regioselective reaction of the alkene fragment with the alkyne. The presence of residual H20 in the reaction mixture removes the silyl group, which can be recycled. 

In contrast to the reliable, high-yielding, and selective intramolecular, n-enyne metathesis reaction, intermolecular enyne metathesis (enyne cross-metathesis) has seen less use in the synthesis of complex molecules due to limited selectivity, despite its potential in fragment-coupling processes (404). The most common use of intermolecular enyne metathesis employs ethylene as the alkene component, providing a particularly convenient method for the production of... 

The principles of conservation of orbital symmetry also apply to intermolecular cycloaddition and to the reverse, concerted fragmentation of one molecule into two or more smaller components (cycloreversion). The most important cycloaddition reaction from the point of view of synthesis is the Diels-Alder reaction This reaction has been the object of extensive theoretical and mechanistic study, as well as synthetic application. The Diels-Alder reaction is the addition of an alkene to a diene to form a cyclohexene. It Is called a [4 + 2]-cycfoaddition reaction because four tt electrons from the diene and the two tt electrons from the.alkene (which is called the dienophile) are directly involved in the bonding change. All available data are consistent with describing the reaction as a concerted process. In particular, the reaction is stereospecific and is a syn (suprafacial) addition with respect to both the alkene and the diene. This stereospecificity has been demonstrated with many substituted dienes and alkenes and also holds for the simplest possible example of the reaction, that of ethylene with butadiene ... 

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