Lactol formation, reduction, DIBAL

With the co side chain at C-12 in place, we are now in a position to address the elaboration of the side chain appended to C-8 and the completion of the syntheses. Treatment of lactone 19 with di-isobutylaluminum hydride (Dibal-H) accomplishes partial reduction of the C-6 lactone carbonyl and provides lactol 4. Wittig condensation8 of 4 with nonstabilized phosphorous ylide 5 proceeds smoothly and stereoselectively to give intermediate 20, the bistetra-hydropyranyl ether of ( )-1, in a yield of -80% from 18. The convergent coupling of compounds 4 and 5 is attended by the completely selective formation of the desired cis C5-C6 olefin. 

White et al. developed a stereospecific synthesis of Z-olefins, including isotretinoin [84]. Thus, isotretinoin was obtained by a Reformatsky reaction of p-cyclocitral with the C5 bromoester, followed by DIBAL-H lactone reduction, lactol ring opening, selective olefin bond formation with ethyl 4-diethoxyphosphoryl-3-methyl-2-butenoate and further saponification, Fig. (46). 

Diisobutylaluminum hydride (DIBAL) is a reliable reagent for the reduction of lactone 29 to the corresponding lactol 67. This is due to the formation of stable tetrahedral intermediate 66, which prevents further reduction (via hydroxyaldehyde 68 to the diol) and decomposes during aqueous workup to provide the desired lactol 67. 

Reduction of the lactone 137 to the corresponding lactol 138 necessitated use of DIBAL quenching the reaction with methanol followed by workup with aqueous potassium sodium tartarate furnished the product as a clear viscous oil that solidified on standing to a white solid. The anomeric hydroxyl group was conveniently protected by the formation of terf-butyldimethylsilyl ether by treatment with rert-butyldimeth-ylsilyl chloride, imidazole, and A,A-dimethylaminopyridine. Further activation of the anomeric position in compound 139 with trimethylsilyl bronfide followed by treatment with l-t-butyldimethysiloxy-3-butyne and n-butyUithium yielded a transicis mixture (1 1) (140) that was used without further purification. Reaction of compound 140 with tetrabutylammonium fluoride led to deprotection of the hydroxy functionality. The resulting transicis mixture of the alkynols was subjected to extensive chromatography and repeated crystallization to obtain a tran -alcohol (141) as a white crystalline solid. Further elaboration to 131 was carried out by appropriate modifications of a literature procedure. ... 

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