Lithium enolates diastereoselective

More recently, Davis and co-workers developed a new method for the asymmetric syntheses of aziridine-2-carboxylates through the use of an aza-Darzens-type reaction between sulfinimines (N-sulfinyl imines) and a-haloenolates [62-66]. The reaction is highly efficient, affording cis- N-sulfmylaziridine-2-carboxylic esters in high yield and diastereoselectivity. This method has been used to prepare a variety of aziridines with diverse ring and nitrogen substituents. As an example, treatment of sulfinimine (Ss)-55 (Scheme 3.18) with the lithium enolate of tert-butyl bromoacetate gave aziridine 56 in 82% isolated yield [66],... 

Only moderate induced diastereoselectivity is achieved in the addition reactions of lithium enolates of the following a-silyloxy ketones43 and carbohydrate-derived ketones44, deproto-nated in each case at the methylene group in a regioselective manner to benzaldehyde. 

In a pioneering investigation on the addition of the following chiral lithium enolate to propanal, only poor substrate-induced diastereoselectivity (57 43) was obtained54-35. 

Transmetalation of lithium enolate 1 a (M = Li ) by treatment with tin(II) chloride at — 42 °C generates the tin enolate that reacts with prostereogenic aldehydes at — 78 °C to preferentially produce the opposite aldol diastereomer 3. Diastereoselectivities of this process may be as high as 97 3. This reaction appears to require less exacting conditions since similar results are obtained if one or two equivalents of tin(ll) chloride arc used. The somewhat less reactive tin enolate requires a temperature of —42 C for the reaction to proceed at an acceptable rate. The steric requirements of the tin chloride counterion are probably less than those of the diethyla-luminum ion (vide supra), which has led to the suggestion26 44 that the chair-like transition state I is preferentially adopted26 44. This is consistent with the observed diastereoselective production of aldol product 3, which is of opposite configuration at the / -carbon to the major product obtained from aluminum enolates. 

This high diastereoselectivity contrasts dramatically with the nearly nonexistent selectivity of the lithium enolate of the corresponding triphenylphosphane complexes (vide supra). The diastereomer preferentially obtained from the fluorophenyl lithium enolate 9 corresponds to the major product produced by reaction of the aluminum enolate 1 b derived from the parent triphenylphosphane complex. 

Conducting the aldol reaction at temperatures below —78 "C increases the diastereoselectivity, but at the cost of reduced yields45. Transmetalation of the lithium enolate 2 a by treatment with diethylaluminum chloride generated an enolate species that provided high yields of aldol products, however, the diastereoselectivity was as low as that of the lithium species45. Pre treatment of the lithium enolate 2a with tin(II) chloride, zinc(II) chloride, or boron trifluoridc suppressed the aldol reaction and the starting iron-acyl complex was recovered. 

The a-alkoxy iron-acyl complex 5 may be deprotonated to generate the lithium enolate 6, which undergoes a highly diastereoselective aldol reaction with acetone to generate the adduct 7 as the major product. Deprotonation of acetone by 6 is believed to be a competing reaction 30% of the starting complex 5 is found in the product mixture48 40. 

The diastereoselectivity of this reaction contrasts dramatically with the generally low selectiv-ities observed for aldol reactions of lithium enolates of iron acyls. It has been suggested thal this enolate exists as a chelated species48 the major diastereomer produced is consistent with the transition state E which embodies the usual antiperiplanar enolate geometry. 

The diastereoselectivity of the zinc iodide catalyzed reaction of the azetidinone I with the trimethylsilyl enolate derivatives of the chiral 3-(l-oxopropyI)oxazolidinones 6 was considerably lower (about 60 40), although independent generation of the zinc enolate, via exchange of the lithium enolate with zinc bromide, afforded the /9-Iactam carboximide derivatives in a ratio (RIS) 80 20177. 

When chiral enolates or chiral Michael acceptors are used, for instance, when stereogenic centers are present in the substrate or when X or Y are chiral auxiliaries, both simple and induced diastereoselectivity is observed. This results, in principle, in the formation of four diastereomers 1 -4. The diastereoselectivity in the Michael addition of lithium enolates to enones can be rationalized by consideration of chelated transition states A-D372. 

Closely related to enolate additions to enones is the diastereoselective 1,4-addition of lithium enolates of esters, thioesters and amides to a,/ -unsaturated esters. These reactions provide syn-or ar /-2,3-disubstituted glutarates (pentanedioates). 

As an alternative to lithium enolates. silyl enolates or ketene acetals may be used in a complementary route to pentanedioates. The reaction requires Lewis acid catalysis, for example aluminum trifluoromethanesulfonate (modest diastereoselectivity with unsaturated esters)72 74 antimony(V) chloride/tin(II) trifluoromethanesulfonate (predominant formation of anti-adducts with the more reactive a,/5-unsaturated thioesters)75 montmorillonite clay (modest to good yields but poor diastereoselectivity with unsaturated esters)76 or high pressure77. 

The addition of a-amino-substituted lithium enolates to a,/ -unsaturated esters is a diastereoselective route to syn- or anti-glutamic acid derivatives and also to fratw-substituted 5-oxo-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylates. 

An excellent method for the diastereoselective synthesis of substituted amino acids is based on optically active bislactim ethers of cyclodipeptides as Michael donors (Schollkopf method, see Section 1.5.2.4.2.2.4.). Thus, the lithium enolates of bislactim ethers, from amino acids add in a 1,4-fashion to various a,/i-unsaturated esters with high diastereofacial selectivity (syn/anti ratios > 99.3 0.7-99.5 0.5). For example, the enolate of the lactim ether derivative 6, prepared from (S)-valine and glycine, adds in a highly stereoselective manner to methyl ( )-3-phenyl-propenoate a cis/trans ratio of 99.6 0.4 and a syn/anti ratio of 91 9, with respect to the two new stereogenic centers, in the product 7 are found105, los. 

Using 3-substituted cyclohexanones the /rans-diastereoselective synthesis of decalones and octahydro-1 //-indenones may be achieved 164 169. This method has been applied, for instance, in the synthesis of 19-norsteroids. In a related Michael addition the lithium enolate of (R)-5-trimethylsilyl-2-cyclohexenone reacts with methyl 2-propenoate selectively tram to the trimethylsilyl substituent. Subsequent intramolecular ring closure provides a single enantiomer of the bicyclo[2.2.2]octane170 (see also Section 1.5.2.4.4.). 

Methodology for the diastereoselective synthesis of vicinal quaternary and tertiary stereo-genic centers has been developed using the lithium enolate of (4R)-4-rm-butyl-3-methyl-2-ox-etanone183 (see Section 1.5.2.4.1.2.4.). 

Various diastereoselective Michael reactions are based on y-bromo-, y-alkyl-, or y-alkoxy-2(5//)-furanones following the trans-face selectivity shown in Section 1.5.2.3.1.2. Thus the lithium enolates of esters such as ethyl propanoate, ethyl a-methoxyacetate and ethyl a-phenylacetate add to methoxy-2(5/f)-furanone with complete face selectivity269-273 (see Section 1.5.2.4.4.2.). 

This modification was used in the synthesis of (-)-avenaciolide. The key step is the trans-diastereoselective Michael addition of the lithium enolate of tert-butyl 2-(phenylse-leno)propionate (THF, — 78 CC) to (R)-5-octyl-2(5//)-furanone and subsequent trans-diastereoselective iodonation318. u e... 

The reactions of the lithium enolates of substituted 2-cyclohexenones and 2-cyclopentenones with ( )-l-nitropropene give a mixture of syn- and ami-products3. The lithium enolate of 3,5,5-trimethyl-2-cyclohexenone gives a mixture of the syn- and //-3.5,5-trimethyl-6-(l-methyl-2-nitroethyl)-2-cyclohexcnoncs in modest diastereoselection when the reaction mixture is quenched with acetic acid after. 30 minutes at —78 =C. When the reaction mixture is heated to reflux, tricyclic products are obtained resulting from intramolecular Michael addition of the intermediate nitronate ion to the enone moiety. 

The lithium enolates of cyclopentanone and cyclohexanone undergo addition-elimination to the 2,2-dimethylpropanoic acid ester of ( )-2-nitro-2-hepten-l-ol to give 2-(l-butyl-2-nitro-2-propenyl)cycloalkanones with modest diastereoselection. An analogous reaction of the enolate ion of cyclohexanone with the 2,2-dimethylpropanoic acid ester of (Z)-2-nitro-3-phenyl-2-propenol to give 2-(2-nitro-l-phenyl-2-propenyl)cyclohexanones was also reported. The relative configuration of these products was not however determined6. 

The reaction of the enamines of cyclohexanones with a,ft-unsaluraled sulfones gives mixtures resulting from attack of the enamine at the a- and /(-carbons of the oc,/ -unsaturated sulfone. The ratio of x- and /1-adducts is dependent upon the reaction solvent, the geometry and structure of the sulfone1 4. The diastereoselectivity of these reactions is also poor. The reaction of lithium enolates of cyclic ketones with ( )-[2-(methylsulfonyl)ethenyl]benzene, however, gives bicyclic alcohols, as single diastereomers, that result from initial -attack on the oc,/ -unsaturated sulfone5. 

An interesting strategy for the diastereoselective synthesis of five-membered carbocycles was achieved by the reaction of alkenylcarbene complexes and lithium enolates derived from simple methyl ketones [79]. The use of more or less coordinating solvents (THF or Et20) or the presence of cosolvents such as PMDTA allows the selective synthesis of one or the other diastereoisomer of the final cyclopentene derivative (Scheme 32). 

Another example of a [2s+2sh-1c+1co] cycloaddition reaction was observed by Barluenga et al. in the sequential coupling reaction of a Fischer carbene complex, a ketone enolate and allylmagnesium bromide [120]. This reaction produces cyclopentanol derivatives in a [2S+2SH-1C] cycloaddition process when -substituted lithium enolates are used (see Sect. 3.1). However, the analogous reaction with /J-unsubstituted lithium enolates leads to the diastereoselective synthesis of 1,3,3,5-tetrasubstituted cyclohexane- 1,4-diols. The ring skeleton of these compounds combines the carbene ligand, the enolate framework, two carbons of the allyl unit and a carbonyl ligand. Overall, the process can be considered as a for-... 

Among the preformed enol derivatives used in this way have been enolates of magnesium, lithium, titanium, zirconium, and tin, ° silyl enol ethers, enol borinates,and enol borates, R CH=CR"—OB(OR)2. The nucleophilicity of silyl enol ethers has been examined. In general, metallic Z enolates give the syn (or erythro) pair, and this reaction is highly useful for the diastereoselective synthesis of these products. The ( ) isomers generally react nonstereoselectively. However, anti (or threo) stereoselectivity has been achieved in a number of cases, with titanium enolates, with magnesium enolates, with certain enol bor-inates, and with lithium enolates at — 78°C. ... 

The potential for coordination depends on the oxy substituents.82 Alkoxy substituents are usually chelated, whereas highly hindered silyloxy groups usually do not chelate. Trimethylsiloxy groups are intermediate in chelating ability. The extent of chelation also depends on the Lewis acid. Studies with a-alkoxy and (3-alkoxy aldehydes with lithium enolates found only modest diastereoselectivity.83... 

Lithium ester enolate addition to imines has been used for the construction of optically active p-lactams, e.g. 64 and the lithium enolates have been found to be superior to other metal derivatives for both yields and diastereoselectivity in some cases <00H(53)1479>. Immobilized lithium ester enolates have been utilized for the first time <00OL907> and soluble polymer supported imines were used to obtain N-unsubstituted azetidin-2-ones under mild conditions <00CEJ193>. Both lithium and titanium enolates have been employed to obtain cholesterol absorption inhibitors <99TA4841>. Lithium ynolates 65 add to imines to provide P-lactams in good to excellent yield <00TL5943>. 

Evans and Takacs23 demonstrated a diastereoselective alkylation based on metal ion chelation of a lithium enolate derived from a prolinol-type chiral auxiliary. This method can provide effective syntheses of a-substituted carbox-... 

TABLE 2-5. Diastereoselective Alkylation Reaction of the Lithium Enolates Derived from Imides 22 and 23... 

Besides their application in asymmetric alkylation, sultams can also be used as good chiral auxiliaries for asymmetric aldol reactions, and a / -product can be obtained with good selectivity. As can be seen in Scheme 3-14, reaction of the propionates derived from chiral auxiliary R -OH with LICA in THF affords the lithium enolates. Subsequent reaction with TBSC1 furnishes the 0-silyl ketene acetals 31, 33, and 35 with good yields.31 Upon reaction with TiCU complexes of an aldehyde, product /i-hydroxy carboxylates 32, 34, and 36 are obtained with high diastereoselectivity and good yield. Products from direct aldol reaction of the lithium enolate without conversion to the corresponding silyl ethers show no stereoselectivity.32... 

Enantioselective a-hydroxylotion of carbonyl compounds. The lithium enolates of the SAMP-hydrazones of ketones undergo facile and diastereoselective oxidation with 2-phenylsulfonyl-3-phenyloxaziridine (13, 23-24) to provide, after ozonolysis, (R)-a-hydroxy ketones in about 95% ee. High enantioselectivity in hydroxylation of aldehydes requires a more demanding side chain on the pyrrolidine ring such as —QCjHOjOCH, which also results in reversal of the configuration. 

Diastereoselective hydroxylation of enolates of chiral amides. Davis and coworkers1 have examined the asymmetric hydroxylation of the tetrasubstituted enolates of a chiral amide (2) with these chiral camphoryloxaziridines. Oxidation of the lithium enolate of 2 with (+ )-l proceeds with only moderate diastereoselectivity (48.4% de), which is somewhat less than that observed on hydroxylation with the achiral 2-(phenylsulfonyl)-3-phenyloxaziridine (4). Oxidation of the enolate of 2... 

Amination. Three laboratories2-4 have reported use of esters of azodicarbox-ylic acid for amination of chiral substrates to provide a synthesis of optically active a-hydrazino and a-amino acids. The di-r-butyl ester is particularly useful because the diastereoselectivity improves with increasing size of the ester group, and in addition these esters are hydrolyzed by TFA at 25°. Two laboratories21 used the lithium enolates of chiral N-acyloxazolidones (2) as the chiral precursors. A typical procedure is outlined in equation (I). Thus reaction of the lithium enolate of 2... 

---