Reformatsky reagents stereoselectivity

Gemcitabine (Gemzar ) is prepared from the 2,2-difluoro-2-deoxyribose, itself available by the addition of the Reformatsky reagent of ethyl bromodifluoroace-tate on the (R)-2,3-0-isopropylidene glyceraldehyde. The condensation of the corresponding mesylate with di(trimethylsilyloxy)pyrimidine provides gemcitabine [93]. The control of the stereoselectivity of the Reformatsky reaction is difficult (Fig. 30) [95]. Other approaches involving the fluorination of D-pyranoses have been proposed (Fig. 31) [96]. 

Zinc enolates (Reformatsky reagents), generated finom a-bromo esters and zinc, react with imines derived finom aromatic amines to yield 3-lactams (Scheme 19).>40-142 -phe stereoselectivity of the reaction varies 4 >46 (jjg nature of ester substituents R and R the bulkier the groups, the more trans isomer is produced. 

As a part of ongoing efforts to synthesize a potent, orally active anti-platelet agent, xemilofiban 1 [1], development of an efficient chemoenzymatic process for 2, the chiral yS-amino acid ester synthon (Fig. 1) was proposed. The scheme emphasized the creation of the stereogenic center as the key step. In parallel with the enzymatic approach, chemical synthesis of the / -amino acid ester synthon emphasized formation of a chiral imine, nucleophilic addition of the Reformatsky reagent, and oxidative removal of the chiral auxiliary. This chapter describes a selective amida-tion/amide hydrolysis using the enzyme Penicillin G amidohydrolase from E. coli to synthesize (R)- and (S)-enantiomers of ethyl 3-amino-5-(trimethylsilyl)-4-pen-tynoate in an optically pure form. The design of the experimental approach was applied in order to optimize the critical reaction parameters to control the stereoselectivity of the enzyme Penicillin G amidohydrolase. 

Condensation reactions of simple carboxylic acids with imines are of intense interest because of their applications to 3-lactam synthesis. Activation of the carboxylic acid derivative is accomplished by preforming the enolate in situ or by using a silyl ketene acetal derivative with Lewis acid catalysis. The first example of an enolate-imine condensation of this type can be attributed to Gillman and Speeter, who in 1943 reported the synthesis of 3-lactams from Reformatsky reagents and Schiff bases. Subsequently, other workers have investigated the mechanism and syn-anti selectivity of this reaction. A review of these studies by Evans et al. covering work through 1980 has appeared in their review, Stereoselective Aldol Condensations . ... 

The reaction of imines with Reformatsky reagents was first examined by Gilman and S pee ter82 in 1943 with benzalaniline. The product of the reaction was a (3-lactam, formed by cyclization of an intermediate zinc salt (Scheme IS). The stereoselectivity of the reaction of a-alkyl-substituted bromo esters with a variety of benzalanilines was examined by both Luche and Kagan,83 and Gaudemar and coworkers.84 Condensations conducted at reflux temperatures gave a mixture of cis and trans 3-lactams (equation 41). 

The complexation of achiral metal enolates by chiral additives, e.g., solvents or complexing agents could, in principle, lead to reagent-induced stereoselectivity. In an early investigation, the Reformatsky reaction of ethyl bromoacetate was performed in the presence of the bidentate ligand (—)-sparteine20. The enantioselectivity of this reaction varies over a wide range and depends on the carbonyl Compound, as shown with bcnzaldehyde and acetophenone. 

The next task was to form the C2-C3 aldol bond stereoselectively. However, asymmetric coupling of acetate derivatives to aldehydes is often accompanied by poor / -induction [89]. Moreover, the C3-C4 bond is particularly sensitive to retro-aldol reaction, especially under basic conditions. In the natural products, this was observed to be the main decomposition reaction. The first total syntheses of epothilones circumvented this problem by constructing this part of the molecule in an indirect manner, e.g., by using reduced forms at Cl or C5. We decided to employ our chromium-Reformatsky methodology, which avoids these problems and allows the direct use of reagents in the correct oxidation state. The non-basic reaction conditions, the intermediacy of a chromium(III) aldolate that is resistant to retro-aldol reaction, and the potential of a direct asymmetric carboxymethyl ( acetate ) transfer favor the use of this method [90]. 

Particularly challenging is the use of chiral ligands in order to impose enan-tiocontrol on a Reformatsky reaction. Although preparatively useful levels of asymmetric induction have been described in the recent literature by using enantiomerically pure amino alcohol ligands43 this reaction has not yet reached a similar level of perfection as the enantioselective addition of other organozinc reagents to aldehydes in the presence of the same type of additives. Some selected examples of stereoselective Reformatsky type reactions which delineate the present state of the art are summarized in Scheme 14.6. 

O-Alkyl lactic acid esters are useful reagents for the stereoselective construction of erythro- and t/ireo-a-methyl-a,/3-dihydroxy-esters (Scheme 37). " In the case of (47), R = R = Me, the major product is erythro- (48), but when in (47), R = CH2Ph and R = 2,6-t-butyl-4-methyl, the main product is threo-(49). Yields are excellent, and the stereoselectivity is greater than 97%. Reasonable enantiomeric excesses have been achieved during a study of the Reformatsky and amide base-mediated condensations of chiral acetates with ketones. ... 

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