Synthesis routes Wittig

The first total syntheses of racemic zearalenone (rac-479) were reported in the 1960s by the Merck and Syntex research groups (364, 365). In their multistep synthesis routes of the seco acid, the double bond was introduced by a Wittig reaction, but the required ( )-configured double bond was not formed selectively and the yields of the following lactonization were very low. The yields of macrolactonization were improved remarkably by Corey (360) and Masamune (361) using new activation methods for carboxylic acids (366). In aU the syntheses of zearalenone, the macrolide was formed by lactonization, but numerous possibilities are evident for the cyclization step. Figure 9.4 illustrates some different approaches to the synthesis of zearalenone (367). 

The synthesis has been carried out by this route and by many other routes, mostly involving Wittig reactions. 

Triafulvene 69 was synthesized by an interesting route starting with diphenyl cyclopropenium cation and lithio ethyl acetate72. Although widely used in calicene chemistry (see later) this reaction principle — like the Wittig reaction — did not find general application in methylene cyclopropene synthesis. 

The application of RCM to dihydropyran synthesis includes a route to 2,2-disubstituted derivatives from a-hydroxycarboxylic acids. In a one-pot reaction, the hydroxy esters undergo sequential O-allylation, a Wittig rearrangement and a second O-allylation to form allyl homoallyl ethers 8. A single RCM then yields the 3,6-dihydro-2//-pyran 9. The process is readily adapted not only to variably substituted dihydropyrans but also to 2-dihydrofuranyl and 2-tetrahydrooxepinyl derivatives and to spirocycles e.g. 10 through a double RCM (Scheme 4) <00JCS(P1)2916>. 

There is not just one predominating method for the generation of alienes with at least one electron-withdrawing group, but a number of important routes. Even for the synthesis of alienes with a given acceptor function, for example allenic esters, different routes are often used such as the Wittig reaction, prototropic isomerization or alkoxycarbonylation. 

Many of the enone substrates used in polyamino acid-catalysed epoxidation reactions can be made via a simple aldol condensation, which leads directly to the desired enone after in situ dehydration. Enones that cannot be synthesised by the above route may often be synthesised using standard Wittig chemistry, (Scheme 6). The above methods of substrate synthesis provide compounds with a variety of groups R and enabling the incorporation of both aliphatic and aromatic moieties into the enone structure. 

For the synthesis of base-sensitive oxazoles (Scheme 52), /3-acyloxyvinyl azides (130) react with triethyl phosphite via an aza-Wittig-cyclization. Phosphorimidate 131 is converted to 1,3-oxazole 132 with spontaneous elimination of triethyl phosphate (89JOC431). Benzoxazoles are also available by this synthetic route (71CC1608). 

There has been considerable activity in this area of monoterpenoid synthesis. Syntheses of [7- C]-, [7, 8- C]-, and [7, 8- H]-geraniol have been reported. The ocimene (42 X=H) has been synthesized again by Vig et ai, this time from trans-6,6-ethylenedioxy-2-methylhept-2-en-l-ol via Wittig reactions. Both (4iE )- and (4Z)-(6S)-2,6-dimethyloct-4-ene have been synthesized by known routes from 5-3-methylpent-l-yne. The addition of organohomocuprates (e.g. F. J. McQuillin, Chem. and Ind., 1976, 941. 

Buchanan et al. (48) reported a new route to the synthesis of the chiral hydroxy-pyrrolidines 234 and 238 from D-erythrose (230) via an intramolecular cycloaddition of an azide with an alkene (Scheme 9.48). Wittig reaction of the acetonide 230 with (carbethoxyethylene)triphenylphosphorane gave the ( ) and (Z) alkenes 231 and 232. On conversion into the triflate followed by its reaction with KN3, the ( ) isomer 231 allowed the isolation of the triazoline 234 in 68% overall yield, which on treatment with sodium ethoxide afforded the diazo ester 235 in 86% yield. 

Benzoxepins are frequently synthesized by cyclization of alkyl aryl or diaryl ether precursors. An intramolecular Wittig reaction (equation 48) is used to provide the ring closure step in the synthesis of 1-benzoxepin (28) (68JOC2591). An internuclear cyclization reaction of an aromatic sulfonyl chloride (equation 49) occurred upon heating (250 °C) in the presence of a copper chloride catalyst to yield tribenz[6,d,/]oxepin (175). The analogous thiepin (see equation 71) may also be synthesized by this route (65T1299). 

Macrocyclic ketones. This reagent has been used for cycloolefination of acetylenic dialdehydes (Wittig-Horner reaction) as a route to muscone, exaltone, and civetone. A synthesis of the last ketone (3) is formulated (equation 1). 

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