Peracid synthesis

The synthesis of 2,4-dihydroxyacetophenone [89-84-9] (21) by acylation reactions of resorcinol has been extensively studied. The reaction is performed using acetic anhydride (104), acetyl chloride (105), or acetic acid (106). The esterification of resorcinol by acetic anhydride followed by the isomerization of the diacetate intermediate has also been described in the presence of zinc chloride (107). Alkylation of resorcinol can be carried out using ethers (108), olefins (109), or alcohols (110). The catalysts which are generally used include sulfuric acid, phosphoric and polyphosphoric acids, acidic resins, or aluminum and iron derivatives. 2-Chlororesorcinol [6201-65-1] (22) is obtained by a sulfonation—chloration—desulfonation technique (111). 1,2,4-Trihydroxybenzene [533-73-3] (23) is obtained by hydroxylation of resorcinol using hydrogen peroxide (112) or peracids (113). 

The latter method typically requires less severe conditions than the former because of the labile nature of the organic anhydride (87,137). Both of these reactions can result in explosions and significant precautions should be taken prior to any attempted synthesis of a peracid (87). For soHd peracids the reaction mixture can be neutralized with sodium hydroxide and the resulting fUtercake washed with water. In the case of the sulfuric acid mediated reaction the peracid has sodium sulfate incorporated in the cake (135). The water of hydration present in the sodium sulfate is desirable to prevent detonation or deflagration of the soHd peracid when isolated in a dry state (87,138,139). 

Oxidation of thiophene with peracid under carefully controlled conditions gives a mixture of thiophene sulfoxide and 2-hydroxythiophene sulfoxide. These compounds are trapped by addition to benzoquinone to give ultimately naphthoquinone (225) and its 5-hydroxy derivative (226) (76ACS(B)353). The further oxidation of the sulfoxide yields the sulfone, which may function as a diene or dienophile in the Diels-Alder reaction (Scheme 88). An azulene synthesis involves the addition of 6-(A,A-dimethylamino)fulvene (227) to a thiophene sulfone (77TL639, 77JA4199). 

Peracid oxidation of imines is the most general synthesis of oxaziranes (Section 5.08.4.1.1). Other peroxides and metal catalysis have also been employed. 

The high degree of stereoselectivity associated with most syntheses and reactions of oxiranes accounts for the enormous utility of these systems in steroid syntheses. Individual selectivity at various positions in the steroid nucleus necessitates the discussion of a collection of uniquely specific reactions used in the synthesis of steroidal epoxides. The most convenient and generally applicable methods involve the peracid, the alkaline hydrogen peroxide and the halohydrin reactions. Several additional but more limited techniques are also available. 

The process can be still more simplified. It is not always necessary to use a pre-formed Schiff s base. Often it is sufficient to bring the carbonyl compound and the amine together in an inert solvent and to add the peracid to the mixture later, - In this way oxaziranes can be obtained in good yield even if the Schiff s base is unknown or can only be obtained in poor yield. For example, formaldehyde gives with aliphatic amines usually only trimers of the Schiff s bases (4). On the other hand, the synthesis of 2-cyclohexyl-oxazirane (5) from cyclohexylamine, formaldehyde, and peracetic acid proceeded in 66%... 

The reactions of olefins with peracids to form epoxides allows for the selective oxidation of carbon-carbon double bonds in the presence of other functional groups which may be subject to oxidation (for example, hydroxyl groups). The epoxides that result are easily cleaved by strong acids to diols or half-esters of diols and are therefore useful intermediates in the synthesis of polyfunctional compounds. 

The use of optically active peracids for asymmetric oxidation of sulphides will be discussed in Section III dealing with the synthesis of optically active sulphoxides. 

The first step in this preparation, the epoxidation of 1,4,5,8-tetra-hydronaphthalene, exemplifies the well-known selectivity exerted by peracids in their reaction with alkenes possessing double bonds that differ in the degree of alkyl substitution.12 As regards the method of aromatization employed in the conversion of ll-oxatricyclo[4.4.1.01-6]-undeca-3,8-diene to l,6-oxido[10]annulene, the two-step bromination-dehydrobromination sequence is given preference to the one-step DDQ-dehydrogenation, which was advantageously applied in the synthesis of l,6-metliano[10]annulene,2,9 since it affords the product in higher yield and purity. 

A possible extension of the modified Neber reaction would be the synthesis of sulfonyl-substituted 2ff-azirines following the chemistry shown in Scheme 17 [27]. Unexpectedly, the oxime derived from -keto sulfones could not be converted into the oxime tosylate. Therefore, a different route to these requisite starting materials was designed, viz., via the corresponding sulfides 30 which were then oxidized with peracid to the sulfones 31. 

Scheme 72. Synthesis of protopine alkaloids through transannular oxygen transfer. Reagents a, peracid b, HC1.

Synthesis of 31 by Method I (107,108) and its conversion to the related anti and syn diol epoxide derivatives (32,33) has been reported (108). The isomeric trans-1,lOb-dihydrodiot 37) and the corresponding anti and syn diol epoxide isomers (38,39) have also been prepared (108) (Figure 19). Synthesis of 37 from 2,3-dihydro-fluoranthene (109) could not be accomplished by Prevost oxidation. An alternative route involving conversion of 2,3-dihydrofluoranthene to the i8-tetrahydrodiol (3-J) with OsO followed by dehydration, silylation, and oxidation with peracid gave the Ot-hydroxyketone 35. The trimethylsilyl ether derivative of the latter underwent stereoselective phenylselenylation to yield 36. Reduction of 3 with LiAlH, followed by oxidative elimination of the selenide function afforded 3J. Epoxidation of 37 with t-BuOOH/VO(acac) and de-silylation gave 38, while epoxidation of the acetate of JJ and deacetylation furnished 39. 

A new method, reported by Pearlman (262), for the preparation of Woodward s key building block also constitutes a new synthesis of reserpine as well as deserpidine. In the key step of the synthesis an internal (2ir + 2-tt] photocycliza-tion of dienone 518 gave cyclobutane derivative 519 with the established stereochemistry. Methanolysis and subsequent peracid treatment of 520 yielded lactone ester 521. Repeated methanolysis and retroaldol fission of the cyclobutane... 

Corticoid side chain.5 The final step in a recent total synthesis of cortisone (2) employed a novel double hydroxylation of an enol silyl ether (1) for construction of the side chain. Thus treatment of 1 with 3 equiv. of the peracid and KHC03 in CH2C12 at 0° results in hydroxylation at both Cl7 and C,. 

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