Synthetic stereoselective -Wittig

Schemes 2.3a-c outline the retro-synthetic production of BTX B (1). The final approach to PbTx-2 involved separate assembly of the ABCDEFG and UK ring systems 4 and 5, their coupling, and final elaboration to the end. The didehydrooxocane ring in BTX B (ring H) was thus designated as the final ring to be constructed. Retro-synthetic cleavage of the indicated C-0 bond in 1 and removal of the terminal electrophilic groupings reveal hydroxy dithioketal 3 as a plausible precursor. Tricyclic aldehyde 4 and heptacyclic phosphonium salt 5 can thus be defined as potential precursors to 3. The reliable and usually stereoselective Wittig reaction would be employed to accomplish the union of compounds 4 and 5 (Scheme 2.3a). Tricyclic aldehyde 4 was traced retro-synthetically to D-mannose 10.

With allylic alcohols, there is the possibility of a [2,3] variant of the Wittig rearrangement that can compete with the [1,2] rearrangement described above (Eq. 22, the indicated electron flow is for the [2,3] rearrangement). The reaction is expected to be a one-step, pericyclic process without a distinct carbanion intermediate. This rearrangement has proven to be useful synthetically because its concerted nature can lead to high stereoselectivity. ... 

The method of Kim et al.[89-93] starts from the synthesis of the three-carbon phosphonium salt according to the modified method of Corey et alJ94,95] The Wittig reaction of the phosphonium salt with a Z-protected a-amino aldehyde using potassium hexamethyldisilazanide provides the ds-alkene without racemization. Efficient hydrolysis of the orthoester without double bond migration is achieved by acidolytic hydrolysis with aqueous hydrochloric acid in tert-butyl alcohol under reflux conditions. Then, an a-amino acid methyl ester is coupled. The desired epoxide product is obtained by treatment with 3-chloroperoxybenzoic acid. The epoxidation reaction is stereoselective and predominantly provides one isomer (R,S S,R = 4-10 1). The trans-epoxide can also be prepared using a trans-alkene-containing peptide. A representative synthetic procedure to obtain the ds-epoxide isostere is detailed below. 

Both intermolecular and intramolecular additions of carbon radicals to alkenes and alkynes continue to be a widely investigated method for carbon-carbon bond formation and has been the subject of a number of review articles. In particular, the inter- and intra-molecular additions of vinyl, heteroatomic and metal-centred radicals to alkynes have been reported and also the factors which influence the addition reactions of carbon radicals to unsaturated carbon-carbon bonds. The stereochemical outcome of such additions continues to attract interest. The generation and use of alkoxy radicals in both asymmetric cyclizations and skeletal rearrangements has been reviewed and the use of fi ee radical reactions in the stereoselective synthesis of a-amino acid derivatives has appeared in two reports." The stereochemical features and synthetic potential of the [1,2]-Wittig rearrangement has also been reviewed. In addition, a review of some recent applications of free radical chain reactions in organic and polymer synthesis has appeared. The effect of solvent upon the reactions of neutral fi ee radicals has also recently been reviewed. ... 

Wittig reactions of diethyl oxalate with a variety of arylmethylene-triphenylphosphonium ylides under mild conditions provide a highly (Z)-stereoselective synthesis of ethyl 3-aryl-2-ethoxyacrylates (69). Wittig reactions of the a-keto amino acid derivative (70) with stabilized, semi-stabilized and reactive ylides have been used to prepare the synthetically... 

Any reaction that forms a bond between two prochiral atoms in a stereoselective manner is a valuable synthetic method. Some of the natural products that have been made in nonracemic form using the [2,3]-Wittig rearrangement as the key step are illustrated in Figure 6.7. The stereocenters formed in the Wittig rearrangement are indicated ( ). 

The synthetic route to 619 is a rather lengthy 27-step sequence outlined in Scheme 87 [192]. The first key reaction is a Wittig olefination of 606 with phosphorane 620 to give 621 with > 98% Z-selectivity. Subsequent Claisen rearrangement of the free alcohol 622 provides 623 with >98% stereoselectivity. Dieckmann condensation followed by decarboxylation gives the thermodynamically more stable ran -cyclopentanone 624 trans cis ratio = 7 1). 

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