Regio-specificity

Whereas Scheme 13.6 focuses on the kinetics of stereochemical changes to R)-3h induced by its photolyses. Scheme 13.7 focuses on regiochemical considerations of product formation. Scheme 13.7 links in-cage formation of 2-BN and 4-BN to specific, regio-isomeric radical pairs, [radical pair]2B and [radical pair]4B, and Equation 13.16 can be derived from it. 

The wide synthetic applicability of the aldol reaction depends on the ability to achieve both versatility in reactants and control of regiochemistry and stereochemistry. The term directed aldol additiori is applied to reaction conditions that are designed to achieve specific regio- and stereochemical outcomes. Control of product structure requires that one reactant act exclusively as the electrophile and the other exclusively... 

Stead, CyDs merely offer their cavity as a hydrophobic and constrained reaction field. When substrate molecules are accommodated in the cavity, they take specific orientation there and thus two otherwise equivalent positions in these substrates can be clearly differentiated. Under these conditions, two reagents for bimolecular reactions are placed near each other with a specific mutual orientation. This situation is of course favorable for prompt and selective reactions. Other reactions are accelerated simply because the transition state is stabilized in the apolar cavity of CyD. Furthermore, the substrates and/or the products are protected from undesired side reactions (e.g. decomposition by other reagents). Therefore, notable specificity (regio-, stereo-, and enantio-selectivity), together with relatively high yields, are satisfactorily accomplished in CyD-catalyzed reactions. 

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.)... 

Microorganisms and their enzymes have been used to functionalize nonactivated carbon atoms, to introduce centers of chirahty into optically inactive substrates, and to carry out optical resolutions of racemic mixtures (1,2,37—42). Their utifity results from the abiUty of the microbes to elaborate both constitutive and inducible enzymes that possess broad substrate specificities and also remarkable regio- and stereospecificities. 

Among the appHcations of lower valent titanium, the McMurry reaction, which involves the reductive coupling of carbonyl compounds to produce alkenes, is the most weU known. An excellent review of lower valent titanium reactions is available (195). Titanium(II)-based technology is less well known. A titanium(II)-based complex has been used to mediate a stetio- and regio-specific reduction of isolated conjugated triple bonds to the corresponding polyenes (196). 

Perhaps the biggest impact on the practical utilization of enzymes has been the development of nonaqueous enzymology (11,16,33,35). The use of enzymes in nonaqueous media gready expands the scope of suitable transformations, simplifies thek use, and enhances stabiUty. It also provides an easy means of regulation of the substrate specificity and regio- and enantioselectivity of enzymes by changing the reaction medium. 

The key step in a short and efficient synthesis of pleraplysillin-1 (127) is the palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling of vinylstannane 125 with vinyl triflate 126 (see Scheme 33). This synthesis is noteworthy in two respects. First, vinyl triflate 126 is generated regio-specifically from the kinetic enolate arising from a conjugate reduction of enone 124 the conjugate reduction of an enone is, in fact, a... 

Thiazolo[2,3-c][l,2,4]triazines 658 were prepared (84LA1302) regio-specifically by cyclizing 2-hydrazono-2-thiazoline 659 with glyoxylic acid or ester. They had herbicidal activity. Condensation of 659 with oxamic acid ethyl ester gave hydrazide 660, which was cyclized with sodium... 

The above explains the key roles of (a) the nucleophilicity of the nucleophile (b) the substituent(s) (c) the polarity of the reaction medium and (d) the the bulkiness of the nucleophile, in determining the regio- and stereo-specificity of the reaction. The reaction of alkyl chloromethyl ethers with thiirane oxides to give sulfenic esters128 appears to be mechanistically analogous. 

The convergent approach comprises, among other reaction steps, a regio-specific intermolecular benzannulation reaction between the alkyne 88 and the chromium carbene complex 89 for AB ring construction (Scheme 43). It is noteworthy that the regioselectivity of this reaction is attributed to the bulky TBDMS ether in the alkyne a-substituent, that dictates the incorporation of the large substituent ortho to the phenol. Another curiosity is the fact that the reaction failed to provide 90 in the absence of acetic anhydride. 

The complex structure of the enzyme can show a very large substrate-enzyme interaction specificity, which can be traduced to a high degree of chemo-, regio-, or stereoselectivity. For this reason, nowadays, the versatility of biotransformations for synthetic proposals is an excellent tool for organic chemists [9]. 

Applications of peroxide formation are underrepresented in chiral synthetic chemistry, most likely owing to the limited stability of such intermediates. Lipoxygenases, as prototype biocatalysts for such reactions, display rather limited substrate specificity. However, interesting functionalizations at allylic positions of unsaturated fatty acids can be realized in high regio- and stereoselectivity, when the enzymatic oxidation is coupled to a chemical or enzymatic reduction process. While early work focused on derivatives of arachidonic acid chemical modifications to the carboxylate moiety are possible, provided that a sufficiently hydrophilic functionality remained. By means of this strategy, chiral diendiols are accessible after hydroperoxide reduction (Scheme 9.12) [103,104]. 

Other reactions leading to azetidines include the dialkylation of chromium or tungsten complexes of aminocarbenes with 1,3-diiodopropane under phase-transfer conditions <96CL827> and the regio- and stereo-specific reaction of dimethylsulfoniumethoxy-carbonylmethylide with 2-substituted or 2,3-disubstituted N-arylsulfonylaziridines to afford S (R 7 H, = H) or 5 (R and R H) respectively, generally in useful yields <95JCS(P1)2605>. 

As each BVMO is limited in substrate specificity, it is crucial to have a large collection of these oxidative biocatalysts available. Except for expanding the scope of possible reactions, a large toolbox of BVMOs would also increase the chance of being able to perform any wanted specific chemo-, regio- and/or enantioselective reaction. This contrasts with the present situation as only a relatively small number of BVMOs can be exploited for biocatalytic purposes. Therefore, it is still crucial to discover or engineer BVMOs with novel biocatalytic properties. 

The success of the above alkylation and acylations, without obtaining ring-opening products , extends the usefulness of this method particularly when the anion 323 is being used in a regio- and stereo-specific manner . Thus, the combination of direct alkylation and thermal extrusion of sulfur dioxide provides an ideal route for the preparation of terminally substituted conjugated dienes. 

Lipoxygenases catalyse the regio-specific and stereoselective oxygenation of unsaturated fatty acids. The mammalian enzymes have been detected in human platelets, lung, kidney, testes and white blood cells. The leukotrienes, derived from the enzymatic action of the enzyme on arachidonic acid, have effects on neutrophil migration and aggregation, release of lysosomal enzymes, capillary permeability, induction of pain and smooth muscle contraction (Salmon, 1986). 

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