Sulfones from boranes

Scheme 4 outlines the synthesis of key intermediate 7 in its correct absolute stereochemical form from readily available (S)-(-)-malic acid (15). Simultaneous protection of the contiguous carboxyl and secondary hydroxyl groups in the form of an acetonide proceeds smoothly with 2,2 -dimethoxypropane and para-toluene-sulfonic acid and provides intermediate 26 as a crystalline solid in 75-85 % yield. Chemoselective reduction of the terminal carboxyl group in 26 with borane-tetrahydrofuran complex (B H3 THF) affords a primary hydroxyl group that attacks the proximal carbonyl group, upon acidification, to give a hydroxybutyrolactone. Treat-... 

Trialkylboranes react rapidly and in high yields with a-halo ketones,a-halo esters, a-halo nitriles, and a-halo sulfonyl derivatives (sulfones, sulfonic esters, sulfonamides) in the presence of a base to give, respectively, alkylated ketones, esters, nitriles, and sulfonyl derivatives. Potassium tert-butoxide is often a suitable base, but potassium 2,6-di-tert-butylphenoxide at 0°C in THF gives better results in most cases, possibly because the large bulk of the two tert-buXy groups prevents the base from coordinating with the R3B. The trialkylboranes are prepared by treatment of 3 mol of an alkene with 1 mol of BH3 (15-16). With appropriate boranes, the R group transferred to a-halo ketones, nitriles, and esters can be vinylic, or (for a-halo ketones and esters) aryl. " °... 

This topological rule readily explained the reaction product 211 (>90% stereoselectivity) of open-chain nitroolefins 209 with open-chain enamines 210. Seebach and Golinski have further pointed out that several condensation reactions can also be rationalized by using this approach (a) cyclopropane formation from olefin and carbene, (b) Wittig reaction with aldehydes yielding cis olefins, (c) trans-dialkyl oxirane from alkylidene triphenylarsane and aldehydes, (d) ketenes and cyclopentadiene 2+2-addition, le) (E)-silyl-nitronate and aldehydes, (f) syn and anti-Li and B-enolates of ketones, esters, amides and aldehydes, (g) Z-allylboranes and aldehydes, (h) E-alkyl-borane or E-allylchromium derivatives and aldehydes, (i) enamine from cyclohexanone and cinnamic aldehyde, (j) E-enamines and E-nitroolefins and finally, (k) enamines from cycloalkanones and styryl sulfone. 

The product from Step 5 (25 mol) was dissolved in CH2CI2 (90 kg), cooled to -30 to -20 °C, and borane-methyl sulfide (27.5 mol) and trimethylsilyl trifluoromethane-sulfonate (32.5 mol) added. After 1 hour, 10% aqueous NaHC03 (40 kg) was added, the mixture warmed to ambient temperature, stirred for 12 hours, and the isomers isolated in 90% yield. 

Selective reduction. A soln. of borane in tetrahydrofuran added dropwise at -18 during 19 min. to a mixture of adipic acid monoethyl ester and tetrahydrofuran, stirred and allowed to warm to room temp, during 16 hrs. -> ethyl 6-hydroxy-hexanoate. Y 75-88%. - Other functional groups such as cyano, halogeno, keto, or nitro, are likewise retained during this highly convenient reduction. F. e., also reduction of sterically hindered acids, s. N. M. Yoon, H. C. Brown et al., J. Org. Chem. 38, 2786 (1973) 2-aminoalcohols from a-aminocarboxylic acids s. M. L. Anhoury et al., Soc. Perkin 11974,191 via reduction with aq. NaBH of enolesters obtained from the acids and N-ethyl-5-phenylisoxazolium 3 -sulfonate (s. Synth. Meth. 16, 448) s. P. L. Hall and R. B. Perfetti, J. Org. Chem. 39, 111 (1974). 

Amines can be obtained under mild conditions from amides by reduction with borane and also from ethylene derivatives with borane and hydroxylamine-O-sulfonic acid or chloramine A modified Schmidt reaction gives good yields of N-subst. trifluoro-acetamides... 

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