Stereochemical strategies

Stereochemical strategies The transform selection is guided by stereocenters that have to be removed in retrosynthesis. The user has to select strategic stereo-centers. 

The direct goal of stereochemical strategies is the reduction of stereochemical complexity by the retrosynthetic elimination of the stereocenters in a target molecule. The greater the number and density of stereocenters in a TGT, the more influential such strategies will be. The selective removal of stereocenters depends on the availability of stereosimplifying transforms, the establishment of the required retrons (complete with defined stereocenter relationships), and the presence of a favorable spatial environment in the precursor generated by application of such a transform. The last factor, which is of crucial importance to stereoselectivity, mandates a bidirectional approach to stereosimplification which takes into account not only the TGT but also the retrosynthetic precursor, or reaction substrate. Thus both retrosynthetic and synthetic analyses are considered in the discussion which follows. 

When stereochemical complexity is embedded in topological complexity, such as in complex polycyclic structures, the stereochemical strategies which are most effective are those which are linked to both complexities. A decidedly different strategic approach is appropriate for topologically simpler systems. 

These strategies guide the retrosynthetic conversion of 272 to 278 and the further conversion of 278 via 279 to 282. The r-butyl substituent actuates the clearability of the stereocenters in 279. Further retrosynthetic simplification as dictated by basic FG-, stereochemical and topological strategies then leads from 280 to 281 and to 282, a previously described substance. The successful synthesis followed closely the above outlined retrosynthetic scheme. An enantioselective process was devised for the synthesis of 281 from 282 (see Section 10.12).67, 83... 

The synthesis of ovalicin was accomplished following a line of analysis which was totally different from that employed for the synthesis of the structural relative fumagillol. The plan for ovalicin was based on S-goal, appendage, stereochemical and functional group derived strategies. A key requirement for the synthesis was the stereospecific construction of the -l,4-pentadienyl subunit, which was achieved by a method of potentially wide utility. 

Despite the structural relationship between ginkgolide B and bilobalide, retrosynthetic analysis of the latter produced a totally different collection of sequences. A successful synthesis of bilobalide was implemented using a plan which depended on stereochemical and FG-based strategies. A process for enantioselective synthesis was based on an initial enantioselective Diels-Alder step in combination with a novel annulation method. 

Scheme 11. General strategy for the achievement of stereochemical control in the synthesis of the hexoses 1-8.

Corey s solution to the intimidating structural and stereochemical complexities of ginkgolide B features an impressive collection of powerful bond-forming strategies. The first total synthesis of ginkgolide B by the Corey group is a major achievement of contemporary organic synthesis. 

The successful implementation of this strategy is shown in Scheme 4. In the central double cyclization step, the combined action of palladium(n) acetate (10 mol %), triphenylphosphine (20 mol %), and silver carbonate (2 equiv.) on trienyl iodide 16 in refluxing THF results in the formation of tricycle 20 (ca. 83 % yield). Compound 20 is the only product formed in this spectacular transformation. It is noteworthy that the stereochemical course of the initial insertion (see 17—>18) is guided by an equatorially disposed /-butyldimethylsilyl ether at C-6 in a transition state having a preferred eclipsed orientation of the C-Pd a bond and the exocyclic double bond (see 17). Insertion of the trisubstituted cycloheptene double bond into the C-Pd bond in 18 then gives a new organopal-... 

Nevertheless, there are promising strategies which may help to overcome these problems, for example, the use of less basic organometallics and/or the activation of the C-N double bond by Lewis acids. Therefore, it is not particularly surprising that the number of publications dealing with the stereochemical aspects of these reactions increases continuously. 

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