Reductions using polymer supported reagents

The synthesis of both enantiomers of vasicinone has been carried out using almost entirely polymer-supported reagents. The route was based on functionalisation of deoxyvasicinone by a highly selective bromination then via enantioselective reduction of the derived ketone <06SL2609>. 

One of the most widely used supported reagents for reduction is polymer-supported borohydride. An interesting example is the final step of the total synthesis of polysphorin 55, an anti-malarial natural product (Scheme 4.15) [62]. The stereoselective reduction of ketone 54 occurred with excellent diastereomeric excess when PS-BEMP was used, affording the 55 in 90% yield. 

Reductions of organic compounds with polymer-supported reagents have included reports of the reduction of disulfides to thiols, of the use of alumina-supported materials for reduction of alkenes and ketones, and of the various reductions brought about by polymer-supported metal hydrides. The reductions of disulfides to thiols, mainly concerned with biologically related materials, will be discussed later (Chapter 15). 

Devaky and Rajasree have reported the production of a polymer-bound ethylenediamine-borane reagent (63) (Fig. 41) for use as a reducing agent for the reduction of aldehydes.87 The polymeric reagent was derived from a Merrifield resin and a 1,6-hexanediol diacrylate-cross-linked polystyrene resin (HDODA-PS). The borane reagent was incorporated in the polymer support by complexation with sodium borohydride. When this reducing agent was used in the competitive reduction of a 1 1 molar mixture of benzaldehyde and acetophenone, benzaldehyde was found to be selectively reduced to benzyl alcohol. 

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