Michael reaction/ketalization sequence

Stork and Livingston have also employed a Michael reaction methodology in a concise synthesis of alloyohimbone 247 (Scheme 3.37). In this sequence, the Schilf base 243, prepared from tryptamine and 4-methoxybenzaldehyde, underwent sequential Birch reduction and acylation to afford the cyclo-hexadiene 244. Hydrolysis provided the corresponding a, ) -unsaturated ketone. Under basic conditions, the key Michael addition took place to yield the cis-fused bicyclic lactam 245. Decarboxylation and ketalization afforded 246 which underwent Bischler-Napieralski cyclization and subsequent deke-talization to afford alloyohimbone 247. All in all. Stork has shown that Michael addition methodologies can be successfully employed to construct the pentacyclic yohimbine alkaloid skeleton in an eflBcient stereoselective manner. 

New and continuing efforts towards the total synthesis of dendrobine (59 R = H) have been reported.In one sequence (Scheme 8), the butyric acid (85) was readily transformed into the ketal (86), which was submitted to a Birch reduction and hydrolysis to yield the cyclohexenone (87) as the single diastereomeric product. Acid treatment of (87) gave a stereoisomeric mixture of products (88) which were not separated but subjected to reaction with base to give compound (89). The same compound was obtained directly by treatment of (87) with strong base (Michael and aldol condensations combined). After some discouraging results, the tricyclic compound (89) was transformed into the desired keto-acid (90) via an abnormal ozonolysis reaction. Compound (90) possesses the correct stereochemistry at three asymmetric centres required for elaboration of dendrobine (59 R = H). 

Similar to the mechanism described in Scheme 2.16, a Knoevenagel reac-tion/ketalization cascade of hydroxyacetone with 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds is assumed. In Scheme 2.16, a Knoevenagel condensation/ketalization reaction is depicted. This sequence allows a subsequent oxa-Michael addition, which yields the corresponding C-glycosides. In contrast, a Knoevenagel addition/ketalization occurs under the reaction condition described in Scheme 2.28, which is followed by an intramolecular retro-Claisen step. As a result of that, the corresponding esters were obtained (Scheme 2.29). 

In the amine-catalyzed reactions, a Knoevenagel addition/ketalization/ intramolecular retro-Claisen cascade is detected (Scheme 2.32). The retro-Claisen step is enabled by the ketalization of the Knoevenagel addition product Q. The ketalization of the Knoevenagel product (Q S) is initiated by the hydroxyl groups of the carbohydrate moiety, as in-house NMR-experiments suggest (formation of intermediate ketal structure K in Knoevenagel condensation/ketalization/oxa-Michael cascade reaction Scheme 2.16). Products derived from this reaction sequence (Scheme 2.16)... 

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