Tandem reactions conjugate addition-aldol

Tandem 1,4-addition to cycloalkenones constitutes an extremely versatile and elegant methodology for the synthesis of 2,3-disubstituted cycloalkanones, as is evident from its application in areas such as prostaglandin synthesis. Noyori et al. have reported the use of organozinc reagents in copper-catalyzed tandem additions [64]. The zinc enolate resulting from the catalytic enantioselective 1,4-addition of Et2Zn to cyclohexenone reacts readily with an aldehyde in a subsequent aldol condensation. 

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Several attempts to take advantage of the intermediate boron enolate to achieve tandem conjugate addition-aldol reaction have been proposed [71]. Recently, Chandrasekhar [72] reported the addition of triethylborane to methyl vinyl ketone followed by the in situ trapping of the enolate by aromatic aldehyde (Scheme 26). 

Scheme 26 Tandem conjugate addition-aldol reaction...

Scheme 7.14. Enantioselective tandem conjugate addition-aldol reactions.

Krische reported an intramolecular version of the tandem conjugate addition-aldol reaction. The reaction of enone-ketone 58 with phenylboronic acid 2 m occurs in diox-... 

The three-component method is applicable to the synthesis of various C(6)- or C(7)-functionalized PGs. Scheme 11 illustrates the tandem conjugate addition-aldol reaction that affords 7-hydroxy-PGE derivatives (18). Both saturated and unsaturated C7 aldehydes can be used as a side-chain units. The aldol adducts can be transformed to naturally occurring PGs (5a, 19) and, more importantly, to a variety of analogues such as tumor-suppressing A7-PGA, (20) or 7-fluoro-PGI2, a stabilized prostacyclin (21). The unique cellular behavior displayed by A7-PGA methyl ester is well correlated to its chemical reaction with thiols (20). 

In another study Feringa et al. [20] reported a catalytic enantioselective three-component tandem conjugate addition-aldol reaction of dialkyl zincs. Here, zinc enolates were generated in situ via catalytic enantioselective Michael addition of dialkylzinc compounds to cydohexenone in the presence of a chiral Cu catalyst. Their diastereoselective reaction with an aldehyde then gave trans-2,3-disubstituted cyclohexanones in up to 92% yields and up to >99% ees (Scheme 9.11). 

Scheme 9.11. Catalytic enantioselective tandem conjugate addition-aldol reaction of dialkylzincs.

A remarkable example of tandem conjugate addition-aldol reaction has been recently reported by Tomioka and coworkers. The transient lithium enolate, generated by 1,4-addition of benzyl lithium thiolate onto the corresponding a,-unsaturated ester182,595, is followed by an intramolecular aldol tandem cyclization, resulting in a five-membered... 

A general two-step synthesis of arylnaphthalenes from 0-/-butyldimethyl-silylcyanohydrins involving a tandem conjugate addition-aldol reaction, followed by... 

The boron enolates (up to 98% ee) were used for further transformation by treatment with electrophiles. The rhodium-catalyzed reaction of B-Ph-9BBN was extended to a new type of catalytic tandem conjugate addition-aldol reaction by combination with vinyl ketones and aldehydes [39]. 

Krische and co-workers reported an intramolecular version of the tandem conjugate addition-aldol reaction. Enone-ketone 59 reacts with phenylboronic add (2m) in dioxane containing 5 equiv. of water [40] (Scheme 4.26). This cyclization probably proceeds through the (oxa-7t-allyl)rhodium intermediate. Because the intramolecular addition of the intermediate to the ketone is faster than protonolysis with water, the al-dol product is obtained in high yields. Binap is a ligand of choice, leading to the conjugate addition-aldol product in up to 95% ee. 

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