Isomers epimers

Scientists at Merck developed a cephalosporin synthesis based on the addition of azidoacetyl chloride to 1,3-thiazines (56). Although this gives the incorrect 7a -epimer (57), it could be equilibrated to a mixture of 7-amino epimers (see Section 5.10.3.3) from which the desired 7/3-isomer could be separated and further elaborated to cephalosporins (B-82MI51001). 

This value is in excellent agreement with the calculated free energy value by the consideration of various nonbonded interactions in the epimers (69 and 70) [(2 X 1,3-diaxial Me—H interaction) — (1 x 1,3-diaxial Me—H interaction + 1 X l,2- < Me—H interaction) = (0.9 x 2) — (0.9 + 0.6) = 0.3 kcal/mole]. Hydrolysis of the enamine with dilute acetic acid gave a 3 2 mixture of cis and trans isomers of the ketone, thus confirming the assignments made to the enamine components. 

O-Isopropylidene derivatives of carbohydrates form structural isomers from carbohydrates which themselves are epimers. Since structural isomers often fragment differently whereas epimers do not, mass spectra of these derivatives may permit interpretation in terms of stereochemistry. Although molecular-ion peaks are not observed, the molecular weight can be determined readily from a relatively intense M-CH/ peak, resulting from loss of a methyl radical from a 1, 3-dioxolane ring (12). 

In an effort to make productive use of the undesired C-13 epimer, 100-/ , a process was developed to convert it into the desired isomer 100. To this end, reaction of the lactone enolate derived from 100-) with phenylselenenyl bromide produces an a-selenated lactone which can subsequently be converted to a,) -unsaturated lactone 148 through oxidative syn elimination (91 % overall yield). Interestingly, when 148 is treated sequentially with lithium bis(trimethylsilyl)amide and methanol, the double bond of the unsaturated lactone is shifted, the lactone ring is cleaved, and ) ,y-unsaturated methyl ester alcohol 149 is formed in 94% yield. In light of the constitution of compound 149, we were hopeful that a hydroxyl-directed hydrogenation52 of the trisubstituted double bond might proceed diastereoselectively in the desired direction In the event, however, hydrogenation of 149 in the presence of [Ir(COD)(py)P(Cy)3](PF6)53 produces an equimolar mixture of C-13 epimers in 80 % yield. Sequential methyl ester saponification and lactonization reactions then furnish a separable 1 1 mixture of lactones 100 and 100-) (72% overall yield from 149). 

Another version of the double [2,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement, involving the sequence sulfenate - sulfoxide - sulfenate, has also been observed. For example, an effective one-pot epimerization procedure of 17a-vinyl-l 7/i-hydroxysteroids to the rather inaccessible 17-epimers has been achieved by the use of such a rearrangement (equation 35)137. Thus treatment of alcohol 76a with benzenesulfenyl chloride afforded the sulfoxide 77 as a single isomer and E-geometry of the olefinic double bond. Exposure of 77 to trimethyl phosphite in refluxing methanol produced a mixture of 76b and 76a in a 73 27 ratio. 

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