8-Lactone synthesis, Knoevenagel reaction

A novel one-pot synthesis of various fused lactones has been achieved via a domino sequence of Knoevenagel/ hetero-Diels-Alder/elimination reactions of N- and 0-prenyl aryl aldehyde derivatives with Meldrum s acid in the presence of D- or L-proline with high diastereoselectivity (Scheme 68) <2005MI1353>. 

The Linstead variation of the Knoevenagel condensation catalysed by a series of supported guanidines prepared via different routes, was also investigated by us in collaboration with Macquarrie s group, and revealed excellent results. This condensation reaction can be used for the synthesis of the precursor of coconut oil lactone, a fragrance component ( Scheme 9.8).11741... 

This sequence illustrates the use of enolates from 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds in Michael reactions they are useful too in alkylations, aldol condensations (Knoevenagel conditions), and reactions with epoxides, as in the synthesis3 of 20. Nowadays they tend to be used if they are readily available, or if the disconnections suggest their use, as in the building of 11 into 18. Examples include the diketone 11 and the six-membered equivalent both used in steroid synthesis, acetoacetates 16 and 19 and the keto-lactones 20, malonic acid 21 and its esters, "Meldrum s acid 22, a very enolisable malonate derivative,4 and the keto-ester 25 formed via its stable enolate 24, by the cyclisation of the diester 23, an intermediate in nylon manufacture. The compounds 11,16, 19, 20 R=H, 21, 22, and 25 are all available commercially. 

An interesting route to a-carboxy-8-lactones (81) and a-methylenelactones (80), based on hydrolysis of Knoevenagel products (79) of Meldrum s acid with cyclic aliphatic ketones (78), has been developed (Scheme 14). Reduction of 5-methylene derivatives of Meldrum s acid has been performed catalyti-caiiyi30 or by use of LAH. Imidoylation reaction of Meldrum s acid and subsequent solvolysis of the resulting (82) yields -enamino esters (83) in good yields.Flash vacuum pyrolysis of alkylidene derivatives of Meldrum s acid can be used to prepare methylene ketenes (84), a class of compounds difficult to prepare by conventional methods. By this procedure, methylene ketenes are obtained from aromatic aldehydes and ketones and from aliphatic ketones in only two steps. Intramolecular trapping of the methylene ketene obtained from the ketone (85) has been used successfully in the synthesis of the naphthol (86). ... 

In connection with a synthesis of the hydroazulenic sesquiterpene kessanol (304), Knoevenagel condensation of photocitral-A (302) with ethyl cyanoacetate was found to give (303) as a single isomer. The following sequence includes an intramolecular Prins reaction initiated with SnCU. In Isobe s synthesis of vemolepin (307) the two carbons of the -y-iactone are introduced by a Knoevenagei condensation. Reaction of ketone (305) with di-f-butyl maionate followed by treatment with DBU affords (306), which is transformed to the a,a -dihydroxy compound (308). Hydrolysis of the esters foliowed by decarboxy-iation, formation of the y-lactone, Mannich reaction and elimination yields vemolepin (307 Scheme 58).3"... 

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