Polyenes ozonolysis

The early Escherunoser-Stork results indicated, that stereoselective cyclizations may be achieved, if monocyclic olefins with 1,5-polyene side chains are used as substrates in acid treatment. This assumption has now been justified by many syntheses of polycyclic systems. A typical example synthesis is given with the last reaction. The cyclization of a trideca-3,7-dien-11-ynyl cyclopentenol leads in 70% yield to a 17-acetyl A-norsteroid with correct stereochemistry at all ring junctions. Ozonolysis of ring A and aldol condensation gave dl-progesterone (M.B. Gravestock, 1978 see p. 279f.). 

Braun [22] showed from ozonolysis that for fractions of bulk PVC the number of internal double bonds and the rate of thermal degradation, although dependent on each other, were independent of the molecular weight. This clearly demonstrated the role of internal unsaturation on the stability of the polymer. After careful chlorination of the double bonds, an increase in thermal stability was observed and the number of double bonds as determined by oxidation with potassium permanganate were reduced. It was also shown that one polyene sequence was formed from each isolated double bond. 

A very important point to remember when using ozonolysis for structural investigation of polyenes is that the transoid bond is attacked preferentially34. Hence, the advantage of the ozonolysis in polymeric matter is obvious the fragments formed are easier to analyse and they are also indicative of the double-bond positions (see Schemes 1 and 2). 

Isolated double bonds can be oxidatively cleaved in systems containing a conjugated diene moiety if it is protected as a tricarbonyl(diene)iron complex44. Dienal 39 was acquired in 49% yield by a two-step osmylation-periodate cleavage sequence (equation 27). In contrast, ozonolysis of the polyene complexes is reported to lead to destruction of the complex. 

Another example is the cyclization of the racemic allylic alcohol 232 at -80°C which furnished the racemic tetracyclic bis-olefin 233 in 70% yield (89, 90). Ozonolysis of 233 gave the bicyclic triketone aldehyde 234 which underwent under acidic conditions a double intramolecular aldol cyclodehydration to produce racemic 16,17-dehydroprogesterone 235. This represents the first synthesis of a steroid via the now so-called "biomimetic" polyene cyclization method. 

Ozonolysis of dienes (and other polyenes) results in oxidative cleavage of all C=C bonds. The number of carbonyl groups formed in the products is twice the number of double bonds in the starting material. 

For analysis of dienes and polyenes via oxidations one has to distinguish between the formation of an oxidized product of the target molecule (epoxide, peroxide, ozonide etc.) and the oxidative fragmentation of the molecule as in the case of ozonolysis. Both... 

Ozonolysis as used below is the oxidation process involving addition of ozone to an alkene to form an ozonide intermediate which eventually leads to the final product. Beyond the initial reaction of ozone to form ozonides and other subsequent intermediates, it is important to recall that the reaction can be carried out under reductive and oxidative conditions. In a general sense, early use of ozonolysis in the oxidation of dienes and polyenes was as an aid for structural determination wherein partial oxidation was avoided. In further work both oxidative and reductive conditions have been applied . The use of such methods will be reviewed elsewhere in this book. Based on this analytical use it was often assumed that partial ozonolysis could only be carried out in conjugated dienes such as 1,3-cyclohexadiene, where the formation of the first ozonide inhibited reaction at the second double bond. Indeed, much of the more recent work in the ozonolysis of dienes has been on conjugated dienes such as 2,3-di-r-butyl-l,3-butadiene, 2,3-diphenyl-l,3-butadiene, cyclopentadiene and others. Polyethylene could be used as a support to allow ozonolysis for substrates that ordinarily failed, such as 2,3,4,5-tetramethyl-2,4-hexadiene, and allowed in addition isolation of the ozonide. Oxidation of nonconjugated substrates, such as 1,4-cyclohexadiene and 1,5,9-cyclododecatriene, gave only low yields of unsaturated dicarboxylic acids. In a recent specific example... 

These difficulties came as a real surprise. First, ozonolyses of polyenes are weU established. For example, the ozonolysis of protected amphotericin... 

The intramolecular cyclization of a stabilized phosphonate carbanion onto an aldehyde has proved to be an effective method for the synthesis of brefeldin polyene macrolides, and in a formal synthesis of carbomycin Pyrenophorin has been synthesized using a pent-3-enoic acid d reagent two other routes to the racemic compound have also appeared. Macrocyclic polyether macrolides have been prepared by cyclization, and by ozonolysis of a furan crown-ether compound. 

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