Reaction Enantiospecificity

The elegant, enantiospecific synthesis of biotin (1) by Hoffmann-La Roche1 is based on a strategy that takes advantage of the powerful intramolecular nitrone-olefin cycloaddition reaction. Our analysis begins with model studies in which the straightforward conversion of L-cysteine (2) into aldehyde 3 (see Scheme 1) constitutes... 

The carbanions of 1-alkenyl sulphoxides 400 also react with carbonyl compounds to give the corresponding condensation products384 (equation 237). Solladie and Moine have used this type of reaction in their enantiospecific synthesis of the chroman ring of a-tocopherol 401. Addition of the lithio reagent 402 to the aldehyde 403 affords the allylic alcohol 404 in 75% yield as a sole diastereoisomer481 (equation 238). 

Tocopherol can be produced as the pure 2R,4 R,8 R stereoisomer from natural vegetable oils. This is the most biologically active of the stereoisomers. The correct side-chain stereochemistry can be obtained using a process that involves two successive enantioselective hydrogenations.28 The optimum catalyst contains a 6, 6 -dimethoxybiphenyl phosphine ligand. This reaction has not yet been applied to the enantioselective synthesis of a-tocopherol because the cyclization step with the phenol is not enantiospecific. 

In Entry 11 the dienophile is an a-methylene lactam. As noted for this class of dienophiles, the stereoselectivity results from preferred exo addition (see p. 471). The reaction in Entry 12 was used in an enantiospecific synthesis of estrone. The dienophile was used in enantiomerically pure form and the dioxolane ring imparts a high facial selectivity to the dienophile. The reaction occurs through an endo TS. 

Scheme 6.17 gives some examples of the orthoamide and imidate versions of the Claisen rearrangement. Entry 1 applied the reaction in the synthesis of a portion of the alkaloid tabersonine. The reaction in Entry 2 was used in an enantiospecific synthesis of pravastatin, one of a family of drugs used to lower cholesterol levels. The product from the reaction in Entry 3 was used in a synthesis of a portion of the antibiotic rampamycin. Entries 4 and 5 were used in the synthesis of polycyclic natural products. Note that the reaction in Entry 4 also leads to isomerization of the double bond into conjugation with the ester group. Entries 1 to 5 all involve cyclic reactants, and the concerted TS ensures that the substituent is introduced syn to the original hydroxy substituent. 

Entry 10 was used in conjunction with dihydroxylation in the enantiospecific synthesis of polyols. Entry 11 illustrates the use of SnCl2 with a protected polypropionate. Entries 12 and 13 result in the formation of lactones, after MgBr2-catalyzed additions to heterocyclic aldehyde having ester substituents. The stereochemistry of both of these reactions is consistent with approach to a chelate involving the aldehyde oxygen and oxazoline oxygen. 

Entry 6 involves formation of a stabilized benzylic carbocation and results in a very efficient closure of a six-membered ring. Entry 7 involves an activated ring. The reaction was done using enantiomerically pure alcohol, but, as expected for a carbocation intermediate, the product was nearly racemic (6% e.e.). This cyclization was done enantiospecifically by first forming the Cr(CO)3 complex (see Section 8.5). 

Tomoxetine and fluoxetine are antidepressants. Both enantiomers of each compound can be prepared enantiospecifically starting from cinnamyl alcohol. Give a reaction sequence that will accomplish this objective. 

An enantiospecific synthesis of longifolene was done starting with camphor, a natural product available in enantiomerically pure form (Scheme 13.31) The tricyclic ring was formed in Step C by an intramolecular Mukaiyama reaction. The dimethyl Multistep Syntheses substituents were formed in Step E-l by hydrogenolysis of the cyclopropane ring. 

Another enantiospecific synthesis of longifolene shown in Scheme 13.32 used an intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction as a key step. An alcohol intermediate was resolved in sequence B by formation and separation of a menthyl carbonate. After oxidation, the dihydropyrone ring was introduced by 7-addition of the ester enolate of methyl 3-methylbutenoate, followed by cyclization. 

One approach to the synthesis of enantiomerically pure compounds is to start with an available enantiomerically pure substance and effect the synthesis by a series of enantiospecific reactions. Devise a sequence of reactions that would be appropriate for the following syntheses based on enantiomerically pure starting materials. 

Enantiospecific syntheses of amino derivatives of benzo[ ]quinolizidine and indolo[2,3- ]quinolizidine compounds have also been achieved via A-acyliminium ion cyclization reactions, as an alternative to the more traditional Bischler-Napieralski chemistry (see Section 12.01.9.2.2). One interesting example involves the use of L-pyroglutamic acid as a chiral starting material to construct intermediates 240 via reaction with arylethylamine derivatives. Diisobutylaluminium hydride (DIBAL-H) reduction of the amide function in 240 and subsequent cyclization and further reduction afforded piperidine derivatives 241, which stereoselectively cyclized to benzo[ ]quinolizidine 242 upon treatment with boron trifluoride (Scheme 47) <1999JOC9729>. 

An enantiospecific, gold-catalyzed pyrrole annelation reaction was utilized in a total synthesis of rhazinilam 95 <06JACS10352>. Specifically, treatment of allene 81 with gold triflate - triphenylphosphine led to the formation of annelated pyrrole 82, which was subsequently converted into 95. A gold-catalyzed direct coupling of pyrroles with 1,3-dicarbonyls led to the formation (3-(pyrrol-2-yl)enones <06ASC331>. 

Aromatics occur as ligands in ruthenium complexes that are used for hydrogen transfer reaction, i.e. two hydrogen atoms are transferred from a donor molecule, e.g. an alcohol, to a ketone, producing another alcohol. Especially the enantiospecific variant has become important, see Chapter 4.4. The substitution pattern of the aromatic compound influences the enantioselectivity of the reaction. 

In Figure 4.2 we have drawn how we can distinguish the two faces of an alkene, or rather the side of attack of a specific atom of the alkene. The arrow on the left approaches the lower carbon of the alkene and when looking from this viewpoint we count the weight of the three substituents the same way as in the CIP rules. We then see the order 1, 2, and 3 counter-clockwise, and we say that the arrow approaches the carbon atom from the si face. For simplicity we call this the si face of the alkene and in most cases this will do. If all four substituents at the alkene are different we can determine the re/si properties of both carbon atoms and these may be different This results in the nomenclature that an alkene may have a re,re and si,si face or re,si and si,re face. Thus, in the latter case one has to indicate to which atom the label is referring. For any enantiospecific, catalytic reaction (hydrogenation, hydroformylation, polymerisation) it is very convenient to use the re and si indicators in the discussion. 

Since 1980 the interest in this reaction increased because enantiospecificity was introduced and much more valuable products could be made. A wide variety of ligands was tested, such as chiral dipyridines, phenanthrolines, diphosphines, aminoalcohols, bis-oxazolines, bis-oxazolines with a third donor atom in the centre, bis-thioureas, diamines, etc [33], In 1981 the highest e.e. reported was still only 20%. For many years the best results were obtained with chiral diimines and phenanthrolines but e.e. s were below 70% [34], Pfaltz introduced bis-oxazolines for this reaction and obtained e.e. s as high as 91% [35] in 1991. 

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