Scandium triflate-catalyzed Mukaiyama

Oxasilacyclopentenes were shown to be competent substrates for a scandium triflate-catalyzed Mukaiyama aldol process (Scheme 7.35).104 Exposure of silacy-clopentene 121 and benzaldehyde to substoichiometric amounts of scandium triflate produced ketone 122 diastereoselectively.105 This ketone was proposed to form by addition of enolate 123, resulting from desilylation of 121,106 to benzaldehyde. A 1,3-Brook rearrangement then afforded 122 from 124.107 This ketone could be further functionalized through lithium aluminum hydride reduction followed by deprotection to afford triol 125 containing four contiguous stereocenters. Thus, the molecular complexity of silyloxyalkynes can be increased dramatically in just three operations. 

Scandium triflate-catalyzed aldol reactions of silyl enol ethers with aldehyde were successfully carried out in micellar systems and encapsulating systems. While the reactions proceeded sluggishly in water alone, strong enhancement of the reactivity was observed in the presence of a small amount of a surfactant. The effect of surfactant was attributed to the stabiMzation of enol silyl ether by it. Versatile carbon-carbon bondforming reactions proceeded in water without using any organic solvents. Cross-linked Sc-containing dendrimers were also found to be effective and the catalyst can be readily recycled without any appreciable loss of catalytic activity.Aldol reaction of 1-phenyl-l-(trimethylsilyloxy) ethylene and benzaldehyde was also conducted in a gel medium of fluoroalkyl end-capped 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid polymer. A nanostmctured, polymer-supported Sc(III) catalyst (NP-Sc) functions in water at ambient temperature and can be efficiently recycled. It also affords stereoselectivities different from isotropic solution and solid-state scandium catalysts in Mukaiyama aldol and Mannich-type reactions. 

Less traditional Lewis acid catalysts have also been employed to mediate additions of silyl ketene thioacetals to imines and hy-drazones, including scandium(III) triflate and bismuth(III) triflate. In a significant recent advance, Mukaiyama and coworkers reported Lewis base catalyzed additions of the trimethylsilyl congener of the title reagent to iV-sulfonyl aldimines (eq 18). The reaction is tolerant of water and competent Lewis base activators include readily obtained salts such as lithium acetate and lithium benzamide. 

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