Regio- and Stereoselectivity

General problems with synthetic organic reactions are discussed together with some practical solutions for specific examples. These problems include 9 regio- and stereoselectivity by exploitation of the substrates stereochemistry (e.g., p. 20ff.) and differentiated nucleophilicity (p. 24f, 44f, 56ff.)... 

The condensation of aldehydes or ketones with secondary amines leads to "encunines via N-hemiacetals and immonium hydroxides, when the water is removed. In these conjugated systems electron density and nudeophilicity are largely transferred from the nitrogen to the a-carbon atom, and thus enamines are useful electroneutral d -reagents (G.A. Cook, 1969 S.F. Dyke, 1973). A bulky heterocyclic substituent supports regio- and stereoselective reactions. 

The methods employed to solve such problems of regio- and stereoselectivity involve ... 

The ene reaction of an alkyne and an alkene produces a 1,4-diene. An important application, the regio- and stereoselective coupling of 17-(Z)-ethylidene steroids and alkynes to give cholane-type 16,22-dienes, is described in section 4.5.2. 

A classical reaction leading to 1,4-difunctional compounds is the nucleophilic substitution of the bromine of cf-bromo carbonyl compounds (a -synthons) with enolate type anions (d -synthons). Regio- and stereoselectivities, which can be achieved by an appropiate choice of the enol component, are similar to those described in the previous section. Just one example of a highly functionalized product (W.L. Meyer, 1963) is given. 

The growing importance of cyclopropane derivatives (A. de Meijere, 1979), as synthetic intermediates originates in the unique, olefin-like properties of this carbocycle. Cyclopropane derivatives with one or two activating groups are easily opened (see. p. 69f.). Some of these reactions are highly regio- and stereoselective (E. Wenkert, 1970 A, B E. J. Corey, 1956 A, B, 1975 see p. 70). Many appropriately substituted cyclopropane derivatives yield 1,4-difunctional compounds under mild nucleophilic or reductive reaction conditions. Such compounds are especially useful in syntheses of cyclopentenone derivatives and of heterocycles (see also sections 1.13.3 and 4.6.4). 

Cyclopentene-l-carboxaldehydes are obtained from cyclohexene precursors by the sequence cyclohexene - cyclohexane-1,2-diol -> open-chain dialdehyde - cyclopentane aldol. The main advantage of this ring contraction procedure is, that the regio-and stereoselectivity of the Diels-Alder synthesis of cyclohexene derivatives can be transferred to cyclopentane synthesis (G. Stork, 1953 G. BUchi, 1968). 

The Birch reductions of C C double bonds with alkali metals in liquid ammonia or amines obey other rules than do the catalytic hydrogenations (D. Caine, 1976). In these reactions regio- and stereoselectivities are mainly determined by the stabilities of the intermediate carbanions. If one reduces, for example, the a, -unsaturated decalone below with lithium, a dianion is formed, whereof three different conformations (A), (B), and (C) are conceivable. Conformation (A) is the most stable, because repulsion disfavors the cis-decalin system (B) and in (C) the conjugation of the dianion is interrupted. Thus, protonation yields the trans-decalone system (G. Stork, 1964B). 

Synthetically useful stereoselective reductions have been possible with cyclic carbonyl compounds of rigid conformation. Reduction of substituted cyclohexanone and cyclopentan-one rings by hydrides of moderate activity, e.g. NaBH (J.-L. Luche, 1978), leads to alcohols via hydride addition to the less hindered side of the carbonyl group. Hydrides with bulky substituents 3IQ especially useful for such regio- and stereoselective reductions, e.g. lithium hydrotri-t-butoxyaluminate (C.H. Kuo, 1968) and lithium or potassium tri-sec-butylhydro-borates or hydrotri-sec-isoamylborates (=L-, K-, LS- and KS-Selectrides ) (H.C. Brown, 1972 B C.A. Brown, 1973 S. Krishnamurthy, 1976). 

Oxidation of olefins and dienes provides the classic means for syntheses of 1,2- and 1,4-difunctional carbon compounds. The related cleavage of cyclohexene rings to produce 1,6-dioxo compounds has already been discussed in section 1.14. Many regio- and stereoselective oxidations have been developed within the enormously productive field of steroid syntheses. Our examples for regio- and stereoselective C C double bond oxidations as well as the examples for C C double bond cleavages (see p. 87f.) are largely selected from this area. 

Another example is a chiral olefinic alcohol, which is disconnected at the double bond by a refro-Wittig transform. In the resulting 4-hydroxypentanal we recognize again glutamic acid, if methods are available to convert regio- and stereoselectively... 

About ten years later in J. Am. Chem. Soc., Vol. 113, No. 23 (1991) and Vol. 114, No, 21 (1992) we still find simple target molecules. Stereoselective reactions, mostly alkylations, prevail now. How can the problems of regio- and stereoselectivities be solved Read the papers and learn ... 

The C—C double bond in the cyclopentene ring can be cleaved by the osmium tetroxide-periodate procedure or by photooxygenation. The methoxalyl group on C-17 can, as a typical a-dicarbonyl system, be split off with strong base and is replaced by a proton. Since this elimination occurs with retention of the most stable configuration of the cyclization equi-hbrium, the substituents at C-17 and C-18 are located trans to one another. The critical introduction of both hydrogens was thus achieved regio- and stereoselectively. 

Two approaches to convergent steroid syntheses are based on the thermal opening of benzocyclobutenes to the o-quinodimethane derivatives (see p. 80 W. Oppolzer, 1978 A) and their stereoselective intramolecular Diels-Alder cyclizations. T, Kametani (1977 B, 1978) obtained (+ )-estradiol in a six-step synthesis. The final Diels-Alder reaction occurred regio- and stereoselectively in almost quantitative yield, presumably because the exo transition state given below is highly favored over the endo state in which rings A and D would stcrically inter-... 

A similar synthesis starts from commercially available 1,5-hexadiyne and 2-methyl-cyclopent-2-enone. The benzocyclobutene is obtained from a bis-acetylene in a cobalt-catalyzed reaction. It rearranges regio- and stereoselectively to a 3-deoxy steroid derivative. The overall yield from the cyclopentenone was 40% (R.L. Funk, 1977). 

Several cortisone derivatives with glucocorticoid effects are most active, if they contain fluorine in the 9or-position together with an Il(9-OH group. Both substituents are introduced by the cleavage of a 9,11 -epoxide with hydrogen fluoride. The regio- and stereoselective formation of the -epoxide is achieved by bromohydrination of a 9,11-double bond and subsequent alkali treatment (J. Fried, 1954). 

Thermal and photochemical electrocyclic reactions are particularly useful in the synthesis of alkaloids (W. Oppolzer, 1973,1978 B K. Wiesner, 1968). A high degree of regio- and stereoselectivity can be reached, if cyclic olefin or enamine components are used in ene reactions or photochemical [2 + 2]cycloadditions. 

The thioboration of terminal alkynes with 9-(alkylthio)-9-borabicyclo[3.3.1]-nonanes (9-RS-9-BBN) proceeds regio- and stereoselectively by catalysis of Pd(Ph,P)4 to produce the 9-[(Z)-2-(alkylthio)-l-alkeny)]-9-BBN derivative 667 in high yields. The protonation of the product 667 with MeOH affords the Markownikov adduct 668 of thiol to 1-alkyne. One-pot synthesis of alkenyl sulfide derivatives 669 via the Pd-catalyzed thioboration-cross-coupling sequence is also possible. Another preparative method for alkenyl sulfides is the Pd-catalyzed cross-coupling of 9-alkyl-9-BBN with l-bromo-l-phe-nylthioethene or 2-bromo-l-phenylthio-l-alkene[534]. 

Carboxylate anions are better nucleophiles for allylation. The monoepoxide of cyclopentadiene 343 is attacked by AcOH regio- and stereoselectively via tt-aliylpalladium complex formation to give the m-3,5-disubstituted cyclopen-tene 344[212]. The attacks of both the Pd and the acetoxy anion proceed by inversion (overall retention) to give the cis product. 

Highly regio- and stereoselective 4a-deuteration in steroids is possible by the hydrogenolysis of the cyclic allylic /3-carbonate 628 with NaBD4. the extent of 6a-deuteration is only 3%[393],... 

Pd-catalyzed hydrostannation of dienes with HSnBu3 affords the (Z)-2-alke-nylstannane 89 with high regio- and stereoselectivities[84], Dimerization-dou-... 

The (E)-a-alkyl-/5-silylacrylate 22 is prepared by regio- and stereoselective car-bony lation of the trimethylsilylalkyne 21 using a Pd catalyst coordinated by SnClj and dppf[20]. 

In the carbonylation of trans,trans,cis-CDT, the trans double bond is attacked preferentially to give the monoester 10, and then the diester 11. Attack of the cis double bond to give the triester is slow[15]. Only the C-16 alkene was carbonylated regio- and stereoselectively to give the Ibo-carboxy-late 12 by carbonylation of the C-5 and C-16 unsaturaied steroid[]6]. 

Regioselective hydrolysis of diesters is a challenging problem ia synthetic chemistry because the side reactions always reduce the yield of desired product. Some Upases are well suited to perform this task. Lipase OF-360 (Meito Sangyo) hydrolyzes diester (55) ia 74% theoretical yield and 93% ee (70). Lipase from Pseudomonas cepacia suspended ia diisopropyl ether saturated with water hydrolyzes triester (56) with a remarkable efficiency and regio- and stereoselectivity (71). 

Addmon of cesium fluoroKysuIfate to olefins gives vicinal fluoroalky I sulfates with low regio- and stereoselectivity [162, 16J] (equations 12 and 13) Reactions of this reagent with olefins in methanol or acetic acid give vicinalfluoroalkyl methy I ethers or acetates, respectively [164, 165 166] (equation 14), with a predominance... 

In related work fluorine reacts with iodine in fluorotnchloromethane, and the iodine lluonde thus fonned adds the elements of iodine and fluorine to olefins at -78 °C with full regio and stereoselectivity [67] Bromine-fluonnc on the other hand. 

Epoxides are regio- and stereoselectively transformed into fluorohydrins by silicon tetrafluoride m the presence of a Lewis base, such as diisopropyleth-ylamme and, m certain instances, water or tetrabutylammonium fluoride The reactions proceed under very mild conditions (0 to 20 C in 1,2-diohloroethane or diethyl ether) and are highly chemoselective alkenes, ethers, long-chain internal oxiranes, and carbon-silicon bonds remain intact The stereochemical outcome of the epoxide ring opening with silicon tetrafluoride depends on an additive used, without addition of water or a quaternary ammonium fluoride, as fluorohydrins are formed, whereas m the presence of these additives, only anti opening leading to trans isomers is observed [17, 18] (Table 2)... 

Another useful modification of this reagent is the reaction of CF3CCI3 with zinc and DMF in the presence of AICI3 [60, 63] (equation 53). The alcohol product can be treated subsequently with DAST, thionyl chloride, or phosphorus chlorides to afford the allyl substitution product regio- and stereoselectively [66] (equation 54). 

The regio- and stereoselectivities of cycloadditions of trifluoroacetonitrile oxide, which is generated m situ by treatment of the tnfluoroacetohydroxamyl bromide etherate with tnethylamine in toluene (equation 31), have been determined in a senes of studies by Tanaka [55, 36, 37, 5 ]. The highly reactive nitnle oxide reacts regioselectively with a variety of activated terminal alkenes and alkynes (equations 32 and 33)... 

Triflates of titanium and tin are effective catalysts for various condensations of carbonyl compounds [I2I, 122, 123, 124, 125] Claisen and Dieckmann type condensations between ester functions proceed under mild conditions in the presence of dichlorobis(trifluoromethanesulfonyloxy)titaiiiuin(rV) and a tertiary amine (equations 59 and 60) These highly regio- and stereoselective condensations were used successfully m the synthesis of carbohydrates [122]... 

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