Ketene acetals ortho acid synthesis

Tocopheryl)propionic acid (50) is one of the rare examples that the o-QM 3 is involved in a direct synthesis rather than as a nonintentionally used intermediate or byproduct. ZnCl2-catalyzed, inverse hetero-Diels-Alder reaction between ortho-qui-none methide 3 and an excess of <2-methyl-C,<9-bis-(trimethylsilyl)ketene acetal provided the acid in fair yields (Fig. 6.37).67 The o-QM 3 was prepared in situ by thermal degradation of 5a-bromo-a-tocopherol (46). The primary cyclization product, an ortho-ester derivative, was not isolated, but immediately hydrolyzed to methyl 3-(5-tocopheryl)-2-trimethylsilyl-propionate, subsequently desilylated, and finally hydrolyzed into 50. 

FIGURE 6.37 Synthesis of 3-(5-tocopheryl)-propionic acid (50) by trapping the intermediate ortho-QM 3 with a ketene acetal. Reaction products of 50 are formed in complete analogy to a-tocopherol (1). 

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