Reformatsky-type

The intramolecular cyclization route to p-lactams still provides interest. P-Amino esters (obtained by a Reformatsky-type reaction of an imine and bromoacetates derived from chiral alcohols) are cyclized by the action Grignard reagents to 4-substituted P-lactams with impressive e.e. <96TL4095>. A similar approach through a Reformatsky-type reaction uses tricarbonyl(Ti -benzaldimine)chromium complexes and ultrasound <96T4849>. 3-Methyl-azetidin-2-ones (obtained from 3-amino-2-methylpropionates) have been resolved and their... 

The reaction of an a-halo carbonyl compound with zinc, tin, or indium together with an aldehyde in water gave a direct cross-aldol reaction product (Eq. 8.90).226,227 A direct Reformatsky-type reaction occurred when an aromatic aldehyde reacted with an a-bromo ester in water mediated by zinc in low yields. Recently, it was found that such a reaction mediated by indium was successful and was promoted by son-ication (Eq. 8.91).228 The combination of BiCl3-Al,229 CdCl2-Sm,230 and Zn-Et3B-Eb0231 is also an effective mediator. Bismuth metal, upon activation by zinc fluoride, effected the crossed aldol reaction between a-bromo carbonyl compounds and aldehydes in aqueous media. The reaction was found to be regiospecific and syn-diastereoselective (Eq. 8.92).232... 

R,4R)-Supellapyrone (41) is the female sex pheromone of the brown banded cockroach (Supella longipalpa). Scheme 59 summarizes Mori s synthesis of 41 [89].Enzymatic desymmetrization of meso-B to give (2R,4S)-C and Reformatsky-type cyclization of D to furnish E were the key steps. 

Additions of the Reformatsky-type reagents to aldehydes can also proceed in ionic solvents (Scheme 108).287 Three ionic liquids have been tested 8-ethyl-l,8-diazbicyclo[5,4,0]-7-undecenium trifluoromethanesulfonate ([EtDBU][OTf]), [bmim][BF4], and [bmim][PF6]. The reactions in the first solvent provided higher yields of alcohols 194 (up to 93%), although results obtained for two other ionic liquids were also comparable with those reported for conventional solvents. 

Asymmetric additions of Reformatsky-type reagents to nitrones 258a and 258b have also been reported (Scheme 139). The reagents were prepared in situ from ZnEt2 and the corresponding iodoacetic acid ester. Diisopropyl (R,R)-tartrate 262 was employed as a chiral inductor. Enantioselectivities varied significantly the best results were obtained at 0 °C when a nitrone was added to the reaction mixture over a 2 h period. 

Recently, the iron-promoted Barbier-type addition of alkyl halides to aromatic aldehydes has been reported (Equation (26)).326 According to the proposed mechanism, the initial step is the formation of an alkyl radical, which can be reduced to the corresponding carbanion. This carbanion nucleophile can react, while coordinated to the iron pentacarbonyl complex, with the corresponding aldehyde. This stoichiometric method is limited with respect to substrate scope and yield. The same authors have also developed the Reformatsky-type addition of cr-halosub-stituted carbonitriles to aldehydes and ketones in the presence of iron pentacarbonyl.3... 

Asymmetric intramolecular Reformatsky reactions/ The bromoacetates (1) of (3-hydroxy ketones undergo a Reformatsky-type reaction when treated with Sml2 to give (3-hydroxy-8-valerolactones (2). These products are useful in their own... 

Activation. Erdik1 has reviewed the methods used since 1970 for activation of zinc and of organozinc reagents. Although chemical activation is still useful, ultrasound activation is being used increasingly. Thus sonic activation allows use of ordinary zinc for cyclopropanation of alkenes with CH2I2 in 67-97% yield and for Reformatsky-type reactions at room temperatures. 

The application of lithiumtrimethylsilyl acetate for the C-l elongation of aldonolactones has been examined (73). Although the reagent had been successfully used for the alkenation of lactone carbonyl groups (74), in the case of aldonolactones 10b or 25b only insignificant yields of the alkenes, but 30 - 40% of the lactols 49a or 50a, were obtained (73). However, these lactols, alternatively prepared in good yields by a Reformatsky-type reaction (53,54), were readily eliminated to the desired alkenes by simple treatment with methanesulfonyl chloride-triethylamine at 0°. Thus, from 49a or 50a separable E,Z mixtures (76a and 76b, or 77a and 77b, respectively) were obtained in good yields (73). 

The Reformatsky type of reaction with Zn(0) was performed in situ and led to somewhat unstable phosphonodiamidite (step a) which was coupled with 5 -DMTr-thymidine to give the intermediate mononucleoside phospho-noamidite (step b). The latter was further coupled with 3 -acetyl-thymidine (step c). Couplings described in steps b and c were activated by tetrazole. The intermediate dinucleoside phosphonite was oxidized with (lS)-(+)-(10-camphorsulphonyl)oxaziridine (step d) or sulfurized with Beaucage reagent. The phosphonoamidites mentioned above were used in the solid-phase chemical synthesis of phosphonoacetate and thiophosphonoacetate oligonucleotides. 

The previously described diisobutyl telluride/titanium(IV) system (see Section 4.1.1.3) also promotes similar Reformatsky-type reactions. In this case, however, the products are... 

Reduction of a range of allyl and benzyl chlorides at a stainless steel cathode in dimethylformamide in the presence of carbonyl compounds and using a sacrificial anode of aluminium or zinc, leads to a Reformatsky-type reaction in 40-80 % yields. Allyl halide give products by reaction at both the a- and y-positions. Tetra-chioromethane and bromotrifluoromethane take part in similar reactions provided a... 

As an example of the solid-state C-C bond forming reaction with a nucleophile, a Reformatsky-type reaction was conducted with Cgo- Thus, a mixture of Csoj ethyl bromoacetate, and zinc powder in a molar ratio of 1 5 20 was vigorously milled under the HSVM conditions for 20 min. After the mixture was treated with trifluoroacetic acid, the expected adduct 38 was obtained in 17%... 

A number of low-valent or zero-valent metals are able to promote Reformatsky-type reactions of a-bromoesters with carbonyl compounds and related electrophiles60. Starting with calcium and moving rightward along the fourth row of the periodic table, the following metal species have been reported to promote Reformatsky-type reactions ... 

Among fifth-row metals, a Reformatsky-type reaction of trichloronitromethane with aldehydes has been documented to be promoted by SnCl222. Furthermore, indium thrived... 

TABLE 1. Examples of medium/Large ring construction via the Sml2-promoted intramolecular Reformatsky-type reaction (the new —C bond is highlighted by the disconnection curve)... 

R. Csuk, A. Fiirstner, H. Sterk, and H. Weidmann, Synthesis of carbohydrate derived ot-methylene-y-lactones by diastereoselective, low temperature Reformatsky-type reactions, J Carbohydr. Chem. 5 459 (1986). 

The reactive Cd(0) powder reacts with a-halo esters to give a Reformatsky-type reagent. 

Reformatsky-type reactions. This Ni(0) can effect selective addition of halo-acetonitriles to aldehydes. 

For an iron catalyzed Reformatsky-type reaction, see M. Durandetti, J. Perichon, Synthesis 2006, 1542-1548. 

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