Lithium aluminum hydride carbonyl compounds

Sodium borohydride and lithium aluminum hydride react with carbonyl compounds in much the same way that Grignard reagents do except that they function as hydride donors rather than as carbanion sources Figure 15 2 outlines the general mechanism for the sodium borohydride reduction of an aldehyde or ketone (R2C=0) Two points are especially important about this process... 

Reduction of an azide a nitrile or a nitro compound furnishes a primary amine A method that provides access to primary secondary or tertiary amines is reduction of the carbonyl group of an amide by lithium aluminum hydride... 

High yields of optically active cyanohydrins have been prepared from hydrogen cyanide and carbonyl compounds using an enzyme as catalyst. Reduction of these optically active cyanohydrins with lithium aluminum hydride in ether affords the corresponding substituted, optically active ethanolamine (5) (see Alkanolamines). 

Grignard and alkyl lithium reagents were found to add to the carbonyl group of a tricyclic vinylogous amide. However, the same compound underwent the usual vinylogous reduction with lithium aluminum hydride (712). Grignard additions to di- and trichloroenamines gave a-chloro- and dichloroketones (713). 

The chemical reduction of enamines by hydride again depends upon the prior generation of an imonium salt (111,225). Thus an equivalent of acid, such as perchloric acid, must be added to the enamine in reductions with lithium aluminum hydride. Studies of the steric course (537) of lithium aluminum hydride reductions of imonium salts indicate less stereoselectivity in comparison with the analogous carbonyl compounds, where an equatorial alcohol usually predominates in the reduction products of six-membered ring ketones. 

The synthesis of the right-wing sector, compound 4, commences with the prochiral diol 26 (see Scheme 4). The latter substance is known and can be conveniently prepared in two steps from diethyl malonate via C-allylation, followed by reduction of the two ethoxy-carbonyl functions. Exposure of 26 to benzaldehyde and a catalytic amount of camphorsulfonic acid (CSA) under dehydrating conditions accomplishes the simultaneous protection of both hydroxyl groups in the form of a benzylidene acetal (see intermediate 32, Scheme 4). Interestingly, when benzylidene acetal 32 is treated with lithium aluminum hydride and aluminum trichloride (1 4) in ether at 25 °C, a Lewis acid induced reduction takes place to give... 

The homology between 22 and 21 is obviously very close. After lithium aluminum hydride reduction of the ethoxycarbonyl function in 22, oxidation of the resultant primary alcohol with PCC furnishes aldehyde 34. Subjection of 34 to sequential carbonyl addition, oxidation, and deprotection reactions then provides ketone 21 (31% overall yield from (—)-33). By virtue of its symmetry, the dextrorotatory monobenzyl ether, (/ )-(+)-33, can also be converted to compound 21, with the same absolute configuration as that derived from (S)-(-)-33, by using a synthetic route that differs only slightly from the one already described. 

Since double bonds may be considered as masked carbonyl, carboxyl or hydroxymethylene groups, depending on whether oxidative or reductive methods are applied after cleavage of the double bond, the addition products from (E)-2 and carbonyl compounds can be further transformed into a variety of chiral compounds. Thus, performing a second bromine/lithium exchange on compound 4, and subsequent protonation, afforded the olefin 5. Ozonolysis followed by reduction with lithium aluminum hydride gave (S)-l-phenyl-l,2-ethanediol in >98% ee. 

In the fourth and final chapter, Howard Haubenstock discusses asymmetric reduction of organic molecules. Within this general topic of wide and continuing interest, Haubenstock s chapter deals with chiral derivatives of lithium aluminum hydride, their preparation from suitable amino or hydroxy compounds, and their use in reducing carbonyl groups. Related reactions of the Meerwein-Ponndorf-Verley type or involving tri-alkylaluminum reagents are also presented. 

The reaction of complex hydrides with carbonyl compounds can be exemplified by the reduction of an aldehyde with lithium aluminum hydride. The reduction is assumed to involve a hydride transfer from a nucleophile -tetrahydroaluminate ion onto the carbonyl carbon as a place of the lowest electron density. The alkoxide ion thus generated complexes the remaining aluminum hydride and forms an alkoxytrihydroaluminate ion. This intermediate reacts with a second molecule of the aldehyde and forms a dialkoxy-dihydroaluminate ion which reacts with the third molecule of the aldehyde and forms a trialkoxyhydroaluminate ion. Finally the fourth molecule of the aldehyde converts the aluminate to the ultimate stage of tetraalkoxyaluminate ion that on contact with water liberates four molecules of an alcohol, aluminum hydroxide and lithium hydroxide. Four molecules of water are needed to hydrolyze the tetraalkoxyaluminate. The individual intermediates really exist and can also be prepared by a reaction of lithium aluminum hydride... 

From the equation showing the mechanism it is evident that 1 mol of lithium aluminum hydride can reduce as many as four molecules of a carbonyl compound, aldehyde or ketone. The stoichiometric equivalent of lithium aluminum hydride is therefore one fourth of its molecule, i.e. 9.5 g/mol, as much as 2 g or 22.4 liters of hydrogen. Decomposition of 1 mol of lithium aluminum hydride with water generates four molecules of hydrogen, four hydrogens from the hydride and four from water. 

The stoichiometry determines the ratios of lithium aluminum hydride to other compounds to be reduced. Esters or tertiary amides treated with one hydride equivalent (one fourth of a molecule) of lithium aluminum hydride are reduced to the stage of aldehydes (or their nitrogen analogs). In order to reduce an ester to the corresponding alcohol, two hydride equivalents, i.e. 0.5 mol of lithium aluminum hydride, is needed since, after the reduction of the carbonyl, hydrogenolysis requires one more hydride equivalent. 

Phthalimide was hydrogenated catalytically at 60-80° over palladium on barium sulfate in acetic acid containing an equimolar quantity of sulfuric or perchloric acid to phthalimidine [7729]. The same compound was produced in 76-80% yield by hydrogenation over nickel at 200° and 200-250 atm [43 and in 75% yield over copper chromite at 250° and 190 atm [7730]. Reduction with lithium aluminum hydride, on the other hand, reduced both carbonyls and gave isoindoline (yield 5%) [7730], also obtained by electroreduction on a lead cathode in sulfuric acid (yield 72%) [7730]. 

Attachment of the basic side chain to the phenothiazine nucleus by means of a carbonyl function apparently abolishes the usual CNS or antihistamine effects shown by most compounds in this class. The product azaclorzine instead is described as an anti anginal agent. Reduction of proline derivative 106 with lithium aluminum hydride gives the corresponding fused piperazine 107. Use of that base to alkylate the chloroamide 109, obtained from acylation of phenothiazine with 3-chloropropionyl chloride, leads to azaclorzine (110). ... 

Miscellaneous Compounds. A saturated spirocychc pyrrohdine serves as the nucleus for a diamine that has been described as a hypohpemic agent. Treatment of the carbanion of the substituted cylcohexane carboxyhc ester (20-1) with methyl bromoacetate leads to the alkylation and formation of the diester (20-2). Saponification of the ester groups followed by reaction with acetic anhydride leads to ring closure of the succinic anhydride (20-3). Condensation with ammonia leads to the succinimide (20-4). The side chain is then added by alkylation of the anion on nitrogen with l-bromo-4-dimethylaminobutane (20-5). Reaction of this last intermediate with lithium aluminum hydride leads to the reduction of the carbonyl groups to methylene. This affords the pyrrolidine (20-6) atiprimod [22]. 

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