Synthetic problems

These compounds can be made from the starting materials listed in this chapter in a fev steps. Try to find out starting materials and propose synthetic procedures of your own Then compare with the procedures given in the journal. If you regularly make up your own problems from scientific journals, work them through seriously, and slowly get to more complicated target molecules, you cannot fail to learn a lot about solving synthetic problems in a realistic manner ... 

These thermal methods for preparing amides are limited m their generality Most often amides are prepared m the laboratory from acyl chlorides acid anhydrides or esters and these are the methods that you should apply to solving synthetic problems... 

The title of this three-part volume derives from a key theme of the book—the logic underlying the rational analysis of complex synthetic problems. Although the book deals almost exclusively with molecules of biological origin, which are ideal for developing the fundamental ideas of multistep synthetic design because of their architectural complexity and variety, the approach taken is fully applicable to other types of carbon-based structures. 

GENERAL APPROACHES TO THE ANALYSIS OF COMPLEX SYNTHETIC PROBLEMS... 

There is probably no better evidence for a template effect than its application directly in the solution of a synthetic problem. Rastetter and PhiUion have utilized a substituted 19-crown-6 compound (shown below in Eq. 2.9) in the formation of macrocyclic lactones. Although there were certain experimental variations and the the possibility of intermolecular potassium ion complexation, the overall formation of lactone was favorable. 

The discussion of acylation reactions in this chapter is focused on fluonnated carboxylic acid derivatives and their use to build up new fluorine-containing molecules of a general preparative interest Fifteen years ago, fluonnated carboxylic acids and their derivatives were used mainly for technical applications [/] Since then, an ever growing interest for selectively fluonnated molecules for biological applications [2, 3, 4, 5] has challenged many chemists to use bulk chemicals such as tnfluoroacetic acid and chlorodifluoroacetic acid as starting materials for the solution of the inherent synthetic problems [d, 7,, 9]... 

It is hoped that this chapter will be stimulating and helpful to those interested in synthetic applications df enamines. Thus the amount of discussion has been held at a minimum so that a maximum of variety and information could be presented in the form of examples, which may be useful as analogues in the solution of synthetic problems. 

Whereas the utility of these methods has been amply documented, they are limited in the structures they can provide because of their dependence on the diazoacetate functionality and its unique chemical properties. Transfer of a simple, unsubstituted methylene would allow access to a more general subset of chiral cyclopropanes. However, attempts to utilize simple diazo compounds, such as diazomethane, have never approached the high selectivities observed with the related diazoacetates (Scheme 3.2) [4]. Traditional strategies involving rhodium [3a,c], copper [ 3b, 5] and palladium have yet to provide a solution to this synthetic problem. The most promising results to date involve the use of zinc carbenoids albeit with selectivities less than those obtained using the diazoacetates. 

The structural homology between intermediate 4 and isostrych-nine I (3) is obvious intermediates 3 and 4 are simply allylic isomers and the synthetic problem is now reduced to isomerizing the latter substance into the former. Treatment of 4 with hydrogen bromide in acetic acid at 120°C results in the formation of a mixture of isomeric allylic bromides which is subsequently transformed into isostrychnine I (3) with boiling aqueous sulfuric acid. Following precedent established in 194810 and through the processes outlined in Scheme 8a, isostrychnine I (3) is converted smoothly to strychnine (1) upon treatment with potassium hydroxide in ethanol. Woodward s landmark total synthesis of strychnine (1) is now complete. 

When the Woodward-Eschenmoser synthesis began, it was known from the work of Bernhauer et al.5 that cobyric acid (4), a naturally occurring substance, could be converted directly into vitamin B12. Thus, the synthetic problem was reduced to the preparation of cobyric acid, a molecule whose seventh side chain terminates in a carboxylic acid group and is different from the other side chains. Two strategically distinct and elegant syntheses of the cobyric acid molecule evolved from the combined efforts of the Woodward and Eschenmoser groups and both will be presented. Although there is naturally some overlap, the two variants differ principally in the way in which the corrin nucleus is assembled. 

The synthetic problem is now reduced to cyclopentanone 16. This substance possesses two stereocenters, one of which is quaternary, and its constitution permits a productive retrosynthetic maneuver. Retrosynthetic disassembly of 16 by cleavage of the indicated bond furnishes compounds 17 and 18 as potential precursors. In the synthetic direction, a diastereoselective alkylation of the thermodynamic (more substituted) enolate derived from 18 with alkyl iodide 17 could afford intermediate 16. While trimethylsilyl enol ether 18 could arise through silylation of the enolate oxygen produced by a Michael addition of a divinyl cuprate reagent to 2-methylcyclopentenone (19), iodide 17 can be traced to the simple and readily available building blocks 7 and 20. The application of this basic plan to a synthesis of racemic estrone [( >1] is described below. 

Key intermediate 2 (Scheme 1), complicated though it may be, is amenable to a retrosynthetic maneuver that significantly simplifies the synthetic problem. The /J-hydroxy ketone unit in 2 constitutes... 

The synthetic problem has now been substantially simplified. Retrosynthetic cleavage of the indicated carbon-carbon bond in 24 provides aldehyde 25 as a potential precursor. A simple carbonyl addition reaction could bring about the conversion of the latter substance to the former. Compound 25 could, in turn, be fashioned in a few straightforward steps from prochiral diol 26. 

The synthetic problem is now reduced to the development of a feasible, large-scale preparation of enantiomerically pure (/ )-citro-nellal (36), which has a single stereogenic center. One way in which the aldehyde function in 36 could be introduced is through the hydrolysis of a terminal enamine. (/ )-CitronelIal (36) can thus be traced to citronellal ( )-diethylenamine (44), the projected product of an enantioselective isomerization of prochiral diethylgera-... 

The synthetic problem is now reduced to the enantioselective construction of the two sectors of cytovaricin, intermediates 6 and 7, and it was anticipated that this objective could be achieved through the application of asymmetric aldol, alkylation, and epoxi-... 

It is worth pointing out that the stereochemistry of intermediate 147 at C-9 and C-10 is inconsequential since both positions will eventually bear trigonal carbonyl groups in the final product. The synthetic problem is thus significantly simplified by virtue of the fact that any or all C9-C10 diol stereoisomers could be utilized. A particularly attractive means for the construction of the C9-C10 bond and the requisite C8-C10 functionality in 147 is revealed by the disconnection shown in Scheme 41. It was anticipated that the venerable intermolecular aldol reaction could be relied upon to accomplish the union of aldehyde 150 and methyl glycolate (151) through a bond between carbons 9 and 10. 

A large number of publications appeared on these aspects5, but most of these studies did not address stereochemical questions. In most cases, a given synthetic problem can be better solved by other allylmetals. Grignard reagents have some importance as intermediates for the preparation of allylboronates (Section D.1.3.3.3.3.2.1.), allylsilanes (Section D.1.3.3.3.5.2.L), allyl-stannanes (Section D. 1.3.3.3.6.2.1.1.), or allyltitanium derivatives (Section D.I.3.3.3.8.2.). 

The choice of the acyl substituent X for Diels-Alder reactions of l-N-acylamino-l,3-butadicnes depends on the particular synthetic problem. The acyl substituent has a moderate effect on the cycloaddition reactivity of these dienes, and also determines what amine unmasking procedures are required. As a result of their stability and the variety of amine deprotection procedures available, " the diene carbamates are the components of choice in most cases. A particularly attractive aspect of the diene synthesis detailed here is the ability to tailor the amino-protecting group... 

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