Unsaturated carboxylic esters synthesis

The reaction between a phenol and an unsaturated carboxylic ester has been widely used for the synthesis of chromone-2-carboxylic acids (00JCS1119,1179). There is little restriction on the substituents which may be present in the phenol and the necessary basic conditions have been achieved in various ways. 

Two examples of Pd(II)-catalyzed carbomethoxylations of vinyl(phenyl)iodonium salts have been reported (equations 251 and 252)125,126. The mild reaction conditions and stereospecificity of carbonylation recommend further applications of vinyliodonium compounds for the synthesis of a,/ -unsaturated carboxylate esters. By way of comparison, similar carbobutoxylations of vinyl halides (Br, I) typically require higher temperatures (60-100 °C) and longer reaction times, and they sometimes proceed with low stereospecificity151. 

Lithiophosphide reagents have also found application in the synthesis of a range of chiral phosphines based on carbohydrate systems, e.g., (43), the key step being nucleophilic ring-opening of epoxide derivatives with lithium diphenyl-phosphide. A lithiophosphide-tosylate route has been used in the synthesis of the carbohydrate-based diphosphine (44). Conjugate addition of lithium diphenyl-phosphide to a,P-unsaturated carboxylic esters is the key step in the synthesis of... 

Preparation of y-Unsaturated Carboi lic Esters. Brown and Salunkhereported an analogous reaction involving ( )- or [Z)-1-aUcenyldichloroboranes and ethyl diazoacetate for the synthesis of, y-unsaturated carboxylic esters (eq 15). ... 

The addition of alkoxyacetylides to aldehydes and ketones has emerged as a powerful olefination strategy for the production of a,p unsaturated carboxylic esters. This technique was first reported in the synthesis of an antifungal mold metabolite isolated from the fermentation of an acrostalagmus species. Addition of the acetylide anion to 28 and subsequent Meyer-Schuster rearrangement completed the synthesis of the metabolite 29 along with its anomer 30. 

The conversion of acetylenes into olefinic esters by use of addition reactions has been illustrated by the following two examples, (i) 1-Alkenyl boranes, which are readily prepared by the hydroboration of alkynes, are converted into a,fi-unsaturated carboxylic esters in good yield by reaction with carbon monoxide in the presence of palladium chloride and sodium acetate in methanol the process is carried out at atmospheric pressure and occurs with retention of configuration with respect to the alkenyl borane. (ii) Carboxylic acids add to acetylenes in the presence of silver carbonate to provide a novel synthesis of enol esters, which are formed in an 8 2 mixture of isomers. ... 

A new carboxylic ester synthesis involves the addition of lithium dialkyl-cuprates to 5-2-pyridylthioates in the presence of oxygen, whereas in its absence very good yields of ketones are obtained."" Additionally, ketones (52) react with 2-lithioesters (53) to give a, -unsaturated esters (54), which can be elaborated to A -butenolides by acidification and reduction. ... 

Because of the mild reaction conditions, and its broad applicability, the Knoevenagel reaction is an important method for the synthesis of a ,/3-unsaturated carboxylic acids. Comparable methods are the Reformatsky reaction, the Perkin reaction, as well as the Claisen ester condensation. The Knoevenagel reaction is of greater versatility however the Reformatsky reaction permits the preparation of a ,/3-unsaturated carboxylic acids that are branched in a-position. 

A cursory inspection of key intermediate 8 (see Scheme 1) reveals that it possesses both vicinal and remote stereochemical relationships. To cope with the stereochemical challenge posed by this intermediate and to enhance overall efficiency, a convergent approach featuring the union of optically active intermediates 18 and 19 was adopted. Scheme 5a illustrates the synthesis of intermediate 18. Thus, oxidative cleavage of the trisubstituted olefin of (/ )-citronellic acid benzyl ester (28) with ozone, followed by oxidative workup with Jones reagent, affords a carboxylic acid which can be oxidatively decarboxylated to 29 with lead tetraacetate and copper(n) acetate. Saponification of the benzyl ester in 29 with potassium hydroxide provides an unsaturated carboxylic acid which undergoes smooth conversion to trans iodolactone 30 on treatment with iodine in acetonitrile at -15 °C (89% yield from 29).24 The diastereoselectivity of the thermodynamically controlled iodolacto-nization reaction is approximately 20 1 in favor of the more stable trans iodolactone 30. 

Reaction of a-sulphinyl carboxylic esters 421 with carbonyl compounds has usually been performed using a Grignard reagent as a base. No condensation products are obtained using t-butyllithium or sodium hydride367,496,497 (equation 251). The condensation products formed are convenient starting materials for the synthesis of a, p-unsaturated esters and /1-ketones497. 

Esters of [1-(diethoxyphosphinyloxy)perfluoro-l-alkene]-phosphonic acid appear to be effective reagents for the synthesis of perfluoro-a,B-unsaturated carboxylic acids and their derivatives presumably an initially-generated perfluoroketene (166 ) is acted upon by a nucleophile (NuH=RNH2, I NH, or ROH). The ( E) / (Z) ratio of the product components increases with increasing length of R. 2 ... 

During the coverage period of this chapter, reviews have appeared on the following topics reactions of electrophiles with polyfluorinated alkenes, the mechanisms of intramolecular hydroacylation and hydrosilylation, Prins reaction (reviewed and redefined), synthesis of esters of /3-amino acids by Michael addition of amines and metal amides to esters of a,/3-unsaturated carboxylic acids," the 1,4-addition of benzotriazole-stabilized carbanions to Michael acceptors, control of asymmetry in Michael additions via the use of nucleophiles bearing chiral centres, a-unsaturated systems with the chirality at the y-position, and the presence of chiral ligands or other chiral mediators, syntheses of carbo- and hetero-cyclic compounds via Michael addition of enolates and activated phenols, respectively, to o ,jS-unsaturated nitriles, and transition metal catalysis of the Michael addition of 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds. ... 

There are several variations of the Claisen rearrangement that make it a powerfid tool for the synthesis of y,<5-unsaturated carboxylic acids. The ortho ester modification of the Claisen rearrangement allows carboalkoxymethyl groups to be introduced at the /-position of allylic alcohols.157 A mixed ortho ester is formed as an intermediate and undergoes sequential elimination and sigmatropic rearrangement. 

Carboxylation of dienes and trienes, which takes place in a stepwise fashion, affords mono- or dicarboxylated products.146 Cobalt carbonyl,147 palladium chloride,148 149 and palladium complexes150 were used. 1,4 Addition to 1,3-butadiene gives the corresponding unsaturated tram ester (methyl trans-3-pentenoate) in the presence of [Co(CO)4]2 and a pyridine base.147 The second carboxylation step requires higher temperature than the first one to yield dimethyl adipate. In a direct synthesis (110°C, 500 atm, then 200°C, 530 atm) 51% selectivity was achieved.147... 

The (diastereoselective) conjugate addition of silylcuprate reagents to a variety of chiral derivatives of a,(3-unsaturated carboxylic acids can be used to prepare optically active p-silyl esters.258 259 Best results are obtained with substrates of type (25). The (related) p-silyl ketones, which also constitute valuable building blocks for (acyclic) stereoselective synthesis, are now accessible in high ee via palladium-catalyzed enantioselective 1,4-disiiylation of a,p-unsaturated ketones (Scheme 76).260... 

Walphos (138), developed by Sturm at the University of Vienna and optimized at Solvias, is derived from the Ugi amine 54.174175 Walphos can be electronically fine-tuned as various phosphine groups are introduced in separate steps of the synthesis. Walphos catalysts have been used to reduce enamide esters to a-amino esters, P-keto esters, a,P-unsaturated carboxylic acids, and itaconate esters with enantioselectivities >90%.176... 

Pollini, G. R, Barco, A. and De Giuli, G. Tetramethylguanidine-catalyzed addition of nitromethane to a,b-unsaturated carboxylic acid esters, Synthesis, 1972, id J5. 

---