Transition states diastereoselective reactions

Any explanation of facial selectivity must account for the diastereoselection observed in reactions of acyclic aldehydes and ketones and high stereochemical preference for axial attack in the reduction of sterically unhindered cyclohexanones along with observed substituent effects. A consideration of each will follow. Many theories have been proposed [8, 9] to account for experimental observations, but only a few have survived detailed scrutiny. In recent years the application of computational methods has increased our understanding of selectivity and can often allow reasonable predictions to be made even in complex systems. Experimental studies of anionic nucleophilic addition to carbonyl groups in the gas phase [10], however, show that this proceeds without an activation barrier. In fact Dewar [11] suggested that all reactions of anions with neutral species will proceed without activation in the gas phase. The transition states for reactions such as hydride addition to carbonyl compounds cannot therefore be modelled by gas phase procedures. In solution, desolvation of the anion is considered to account for the experimentally observed barrier to reaction. 

The validity of the model was demonstrated by reacting 35 under the same reaction conditions as expected, only one diastereoisomer 41 was formed, the structure of which was confirmed by X-ray analysis. When the vinylation was carried out on the isothiazolinone 42 followed by oxidation to 40, the dimeric compound 43 was obtained, showing that the endo-anti transition state is the preferred one. To confirm the result, the vinyl derivative 42 was oxidized and the intermediate 40 trapped in situ with N-phenylmaleimide. The reaction appeared to be completely diastereoselective and a single diastereomer endo-anti 44 was obtained. In addition, calculations modelling the reactivity of the dienes indicated that the stereochemistry of the cycloaddition may be altered by variation of the reaction solvent. 

The enantiomers are obtained as a racemic mixture if no asymmetric induction becomes effective. The ratio of diastereomers depends on structural features of the reactants as well as the reaction conditions as outlined in the following. By using properly substituted preformed enolates, the diastereoselectivity of the aldol reaction can be controlled. Such enolates can show E-ot Z-configuration at the carbon-carbon double bond. With Z-enolates 9, the syn products are formed preferentially, while fi-enolates 12 lead mainly to anti products. This stereochemical outcome can be rationalized to arise from the more favored transition state 10 and 13 respectively ... 

An expedient and stereoselective synthesis of bicyclic ketone 30 exemplifies the utility and elegance of Corey s new catalytic system (see Scheme 8). Reaction of the (R)-tryptophan-derived oxazaboro-lidine 42 (5 mol %), 5-(benzyloxymethyl)-l,3-cyclopentadiene 26, and 2-bromoacrolein (43) at -78 °C in methylene chloride gives, after eight hours, diastereomeric adducts 44 in a yield of 83 % (95 5 exo.endo diastereoselectivity 96 4 enantioselectivity for the exo isomer). After reaction, the /V-tosyltryptophan can be recovered for reuse. The basic premise is that oxazaborolidine 42 induces the Diels-Alder reaction between intermediates 26 and 43 to proceed through a transition state geometry that maximizes attractive donor-acceptor interactions. Coordination of the dienophile at the face of boron that is cis to the 3-indolylmethyl substituent is thus favored.19d f Treatment of the 95 5 mixture of exo/endo diastereo-mers with 5 mol % aqueous AgNC>3 selectively converts the minor, but more reactive, endo aldehyde diastereomer into water-soluble... 

With a-alkyl-substituted chiral carbonyl compounds bearing an alkoxy group in the -position, the diastereoselectivity of nucleophilic addition reactions is influenced not only by steric factors, which can be described by the models of Cram and Felkin (see Section 1.3.1.1.), but also by a possible coordination of the nucleophile counterion with the /J-oxygen atom. Thus, coordination of the metal cation with the carbonyl oxygen and the /J-alkoxy substituent leads to a chelated transition state 1 which implies attack of the nucleophile from the least hindered side, opposite to the pseudoequatorial substituent R1. Therefore, the anb-diastereomer 2 should be formed in excess. With respect to the stereogenic center in the a-position, the predominant formation of the anft-diastereomer means that anti-Cram selectivity has occurred. 

Enantiomerically enriched l-(diisopropylaminocarbonyloxy)allyllithium derivatives (Section 1.3.3.3.1.2.) add to carbonyl compounds with syn-l,3-chirality transfer21, giving good evidence for a pericyclic transition state in the main reaction path (Section 1.3.3.1.). However, since the simple diastereoselectivity and the degree of chirality transfer are low, for synthetic purposes a metal exchange with titanium reagents or trialkyltin halides (Section D.1.3.3.3.8.2.3.) is recommended. 

Allylboron compounds have proven to be an exceedingly useful class of allylmetal reagents for the stereoselective synthesis of homoallylic alcohols via reactions with carbonyl compounds, especially aldehydes1. The reactions of allylboron compounds and aldehydes proceed by way of cyclic transition states with predictable transmission of olefinic stereochemistry to anti (from L-alkene precursors) or syn (from Z-alkene precursors) relationships about the newly formed carbon-carbon bond. This stereochemical feature, classified as simple diastereoselection, is general for Type I allylorganometallicslb. 

It is noteworthy that reaction diastereoselectivity closely parallels the isomeric purity of the allyiboronates, thus underscoring the requirement that the method of reagent synthesis be highly stereoselective. The data presented in Table 1 also provide strong evidence for the involvement of chair-like, cyclic transition states, analogous to the transition states previously invoked for aldol reactions46. 

The reactions of allylboronates 1 (R = H or CH3) may proceed either by way of transition state 3, in which the a-substituent X adopts an axial position, or 4 in which X occupies an equatorial position. These two pathways are easily distinguished since 3 provides 7 with a Z-olefin, whereas 4 provides 8 with an E-olefinic linkage. There is also a second fundamental stereochemical difference between these two transition states 7 and 8 are heterochirally related from reactions in which 1 is not racemic. That is, 7 and 8 arc enantiomers once the stereochemistry-associated with the double bond is destroyed. Thus, the selectivity for reaction by way of 3 in preference to 4, or via 6 in preference to 5 in reactions of a-subsliluted (Z)-2-butenylboronate 2, is an important factor that determines the suitability of these reagents for applications in enantioselective or acyclic diastereoselective synthesis. 

The diastereoselectivity of the reactions of (Z)-l-methyl-2-butenylboronate is greater than that of (Z)-l-chloro-2-butenylboronate, evidently because the smaller, more electronegative chlorine substituent has a greater preference to orient in the axial position of transition state 5 than the methyl group. Excellent diastereoselectivity has also been observed in reactions of 1-methyl-3,3-disubstituted 2-propenylboronates and aldehydes27,40. 

The diastereoselectivity observed on carbonyl addition of ( )-alkenyltitanium derivatives is in accordance with the reaction proceeding via a chair-like six-membered Zimmerman Traxler transition state. The following facts are diagnostic ... 

Following the general rules (Section 1.3.3.1.2.), the racemic ( )-2-butenyl derivative 1 exhibits good anti diastereoselectivity on reaction with benzaldehyde2. This is explained as passing through a six-membered chair-like transition state. 

Transmetalation of lithium enolate 1 a (M = Li ) by treatment with tin(II) chloride at — 42 °C generates the tin enolate that reacts with prostereogenic aldehydes at — 78 °C to preferentially produce the opposite aldol diastereomer 3. Diastereoselectivities of this process may be as high as 97 3. This reaction appears to require less exacting conditions since similar results are obtained if one or two equivalents of tin(ll) chloride arc used. The somewhat less reactive tin enolate requires a temperature of —42 C for the reaction to proceed at an acceptable rate. The steric requirements of the tin chloride counterion are probably less than those of the diethyla-luminum ion (vide supra), which has led to the suggestion26 44 that the chair-like transition state I is preferentially adopted26 44. This is consistent with the observed diastereoselective production of aldol product 3, which is of opposite configuration at the / -carbon to the major product obtained from aluminum enolates. 

The diastereoselectivity of this reaction contrasts dramatically with the generally low selectiv-ities observed for aldol reactions of lithium enolates of iron acyls. It has been suggested thal this enolate exists as a chelated species48 the major diastereomer produced is consistent with the transition state E which embodies the usual antiperiplanar enolate geometry. 

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