Propargylic lithium derivatives structure

The alkynylation of estrone methyl ether with the lithium, sodium and potassium derivatives of propargyl alcohol, 3-butyn-l-ol, and propargyl aldehyde diethyl acetal in pyridine and dioxane has been studied by Miller. Every combination of alkali metal and alkyne tried, but one, gives the 17a-alkylated products (65a), (65c) and (65d). The exception is alkynylation with the potassium derivative of propargyl aldehyde diethyl acetal in pyridine at room temperature, which produces a mixture of epimeric 17-(3, 3 -diethoxy-T-propynyl) derivatives. The rate of alkynylation of estrone methyl ether depends on the structure of the alkyne and proceeds in the order propar-gylaldehyde diethyl acetal > 3-butyn-l-ol > propargyl alcohol. The reactivity of the alkali metal salts is in the order potassium > sodium > lithium. 

Dilithiodibenzylacetytenebis(tmeda) (49) (68) is monomeric. Each lithium atom is bonded to a benzylic carbon and has further interactions with a phenyl C(l) and the acetylenic v system. The structure can be understood as being derived from a perpendicular 2-butyne-l,4-diyl dianion, "CH2—C=C—CH2, in which each negative charge is stabilized in its own orthogonal tt system. The lithiums bridge each of these propargyl (or allenyl) anion systems in a 1,3 manner. 

In the laboratory of E.J. Corey, the first synthesis of nicandrenones (NIC), a structurally complex steroid-derived family of natural products, was accomplished. The side chain of NIC-1 was constructed from the known six-membered lactone which was converted to the Weinreb s amide by treating it with excess MeNH(OMe) HCI and trimethyl-aluminum. The resulting primary alcohol was protected as the TBS ether. The ethynylation of this amide was carried out by reaction with two equivalents of lithium trimethylsilylacetylide to afford an ynone, which was reduced enantioselectively to the corresponding propargylic alcohol using CBS reduction. 

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