Regioselectivity compounds

In the first addition of nitrile ylides to a,()-unsaturated lactones (92), it was found that the reaction of benzonitrilio 4-nitrobenzylide with the lactones 178-180 were strongly regioselective. Compounds 178 and 179 reacted to give [e.g., 181 from 178 (51%)] and its methyl analogue from 179 (54%). The exocyclic double bond in 180 was, however, the most reactive and gave 182 (69%). The six-membered analogue of 178 was less reactive (34%) and the seven-membered analogue failed to react. 

Jaeger and co-workers studied the regioselectivity of the reaction of a surfactant diene with a surfactant dienophile in micellar media" ". The orientational effects in the aggregates could result in an increase in the regjoselectivity in aqueous solutions of these compounds as compared to the reaction in organic media. 

We shall only be concerned here with those reactions, which have been used in constructions of the carbon skeletons of complex compounds with concomitant regioselective incorporation of the double bond. 1,2-Eliminations are discussed on p. 137ff. 

A regioselective aldol condensation described by Biichi succeeds for sterical reasons (G. Biichi, 1968). If one treats the diaidehyde given below with acid, both possible enols are probably formed in a reversible reaaion. Only compound A, however, is found as a product, since in B the interaction between the enol and ester groups which are in the same plane hinders the cyclization. BOchi used acid catalysis instead of the usual base catalysis. This is often advisable, when sterical hindrance may be important. It works, because the addition of a proton or a Lewis acid to a carbonyl oxygen acidifies the neighbouring CH-bonds. 

The Michael reaction is of central importance here. This reaction is a vinylogous aldol addition, and most facts, which have been discussed in section 1.10, also apply here the reaction is catalyzed by acids and by bases, and it may be made regioselective by the choice of appropriate enol derivatives. Stereoselectivity is also observed in reactions with cyclic educts. An important difference to the aldol addition is, that the Michael addition is usually less prone to sterical hindrance. This is evidenced by the two examples given below, in which cyclic 1,3-diketones add to o, -unsaturated carbonyl compounds (K. Hiroi, 1975 H, Smith, 1964). 

The synthesis of spiro compounds from ketones and methoxyethynyl propenyl ketone exemplifies some regioselectivities of the Michael addition. The electrophilic triple bond is attacked first, next comes the 1-propenyl group. The conjugated keto group is usually least reactive. The ethynyl starting material has been obtained from the addition of the methoxyethynyl anion to the carbonyl group of crotonaldehyde (G. Stork, 1962 B, 1964A). 

The method has been applied in asymmetric and regioselective syntheses of several natural compounds. Two simple examples are the commercial syntheses of the gipsy moth hydrophobic sex attractant, disparlure (RE. Rossiter, 1981, 1985) and < mono-epoxidation of a diene in a leukotriene B4 synthesis (L.S. Mills, 1983). 

Regioselectivity of C—C double bond formation can also be achieved in the reductiv or oxidative elimination of two functional groups from adjacent carbon atoms. Well estab llshed methods in synthesis include the reductive cleavage of cyclic thionocarbonates derivec from glycols (E.J. Corey, 1968 C W. Hartmann, 1972), the reduction of epoxides with Zn/Nal or of dihalides with metals, organometallic compounds, or Nal/acetone (seep.lS6f), and the oxidative decarboxylation of 1,2-dicarboxylic acids (C.A. Grob, 1958 S. Masamune, 1966 R.A. Sheldon, 1972) or their r-butyl peresters (E.N. Cain, 1969). 

Many successful regioselective syntheses of heterocydes, however, are more complex than the examples given so far. They employ condensation of two different carbonyl or halide compounds with one nitrogen base or the condensation of an amino ketone with a second difunctional compound. Such reactions cannot be rationalized in a simple way, and the literature must be consulted. 

Other interesting regioselective reactions are carried out within the synthesis of nitrofurantoin. Benzaidehyde semicarbazone substitutes chlorine in chloroacetic ester with the most nucleophilic hydrazone nitrogen atom. Transamidation of the ester occurs with the di-protic outer nitrogen atom. Only one nucleophilic nitrogen atom remains in the cyclization product and reacts exclusively with carbonyl compounds. 

Butyl vinyl ether reacts with aroyl chlorides using Pd(OAc)2 without a ligand to give the unsaturated ketone 839, which is a precursor of a 1-aryl-1,3-dicarbonyl compound. The reaction is regioselective /3-attack. Addition of PhjP inhibits the reaction[718]. 

Various terminal allylic compounds are converted into l-alkenes at room temperature[362]. Regioselective hydrogenolysis with formate is used for the formation of an exo-methylene group from cyclic allylic compounds by the formal anti thermodynamic isomerization of internal double bonds to the exocyclic position[380]. Selective conversion of myrtenyl formate (579) into /9-pinene is an example. The allylic sulfone 580 and the allylic nitro compound... 

Furthermore, the regioselective hydrogenolysis can be extended to internal allylic systems. In this case, clean differentiation of a tertiary carbon from a secondary carbon in an allylic system is a problem. The regioselectivity in the hydrogenolysis of unsymmetrically substituted internal allylic compounds depends on the nature and size of the substituents. The less substituted alkene 596 was obtained from 595 as the main product, but the selectivity was only... 

The bond highlighted m yellow is the peptide bond ) Pencyclic reaction (Section 10 12) A reaction that proceeds through a cyclic transition state Period (Section 1 1) A honzontal row of the penodic table Peroxide (Section 6 8) A compound of the type ROOR Peroxide effect (Section 6 8) Reversal of regioselectivity oh served m the addition of hydrogen bromide to alkenes brought about by the presence of peroxides m the reaction mixture... 

Addition of HCN to unsaturated compounds is often the easiest and most economical method of making organonitnles. An early synthesis of acrylonitrile involved the addition of HCN to acetylene. The addition of HCN to aldehydes and ketones is readily accompHshed with simple base catalysis, as is the addition of HCN to activated olefins (Michael addition). However, the addition of HCN to unactivated olefins and the regioselective addition to dienes is best accompHshed with a transition-metal catalyst, as illustrated by DuPont s adiponitrile process (6—9). 

Regioselective Acylation of Hydroxy Compounds. AUphatic diols can be selectively acylated at the primary position by a number of Upases in nonaqueous solvents. For example, PPL suspended in solutions of various diols in ethyl carboxylates catalyzes transesterification in a highly regioselective manner, producing primary monoesters in up to 97% yield (93). Similarly, chloramphenicol [56-75-7] (72) (R = NO2) can be acylated by a number of Upases to produce optically pure, water-insoluble 3-0-palmitate in a highly selective manner (94). 

By taking advantage of the remarkable abihty of subtihsia [9014-01-1] to remain catalyticahy active ia anhydrous dimethylformamide, a number of carbohydrates and other sugar-related compounds have been regioselectively acylated with trichloroethyl butyrate (100). In the case of maltose [69-79-4] (76) and sahcia [138-52-3] (77), for example, acylation occurs exclusively at the C-6 positions. 

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