Wieland-Miescher diketones synthesis

A stereoselective total synthesis of the antifungal mould metabolite ( )-LL-Z1271a (165) from the readily available Wieland-Miescher diketone, via the keto-lactone (164), has been described. A synthesis of grindelic acid (167) from the unsaturated 7-toluene-p-sulphonate (166) utilized an intramolecular solvolysis of the toluene-p-sulphonate to construct the 9—13 ether bridge. 

The Welch group tackles stereoselective synthesis of LL-Z1271a using Wieland-Miescher diketone 144 [82] (3% overall yield) (Scheme 4). This synthesis includes, as key steps, the stereoselective introduction of the methyl on carbon 4 in an equatorial position, the formation of the y-lactone via bromolactonization and the construction of the 5-lactone C ring through a Meyer-Schuster rearrangement. 

In this context, it is well worth citing the classic example of the L-proline-catalyzed intramolecular asymmetric aldol reaction, involving cyclodehydration of achiral triketone 1 to yield the unsaturated Wieland-Miescher diketone 2 (Scheme 8.1) [7, 8]. In early papers, it was reported that in the presence of 20 mol% of L-proline, the diketone 2, an important intermediate in steroid synthesis, is obtained in high yield and in approximately 70-90% enantiomeric excess (e.e.). 

The key intermediate in the synthesis of the derivatives of 19-F3-androstane is the trifluoro analogue of the Wieland-Miescher ketone. Its preparation involves a Diels-Alder reaction between a trifluoromethyi ketone and a siloxy diene. Another original step is the regioselective reduction of a diketone only the ketone function in P of CF3 (probably activated by this substituent) is reduced (Figure 4.6). " Then, a succession of classical reactions leads to derivatives of androstane from the trifluoro analogue of the Wieland-Miescher ketone (Figure 4.7). ... 

As stated above, the studies of Wieland and Miescher, as well as Woodward, on the intramolecular aldol reaction of diketones and dialdehydes were encouraged by this previous work. Wieland, Miescher, and Woodward studied the application of the intramolecular aldol reaction, catalyzed by secondary amine salts, to the synthesis of steroids and believed that their aldolizations proceed via enamine intermediates [ 10]. This was corroborated by the mechanistic studies carried out by Spencer in 1965 [11]. Based on these works, Hajos and Parrish (1974) andEder, Sauer, and Wiechert... 

Probably the most important organocatalytic addition to a,P-unsaturated ketones is the synthesis of the Wieland-Miescher ketone. This bicyclic diketone is obtained by a Robinson aimulation consisting of a first Michael addition to vinyl methyl ketone followed by an intramolecular aldol reaction. 

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