Oxidation of Cyclic Hemiacetals into Diketones: Final Steps in the Conversion of a Triterpenoid Ring a into a Steroidal Enone by a New Short Route

As a part of our studies in the conversion of triterpenoids into steroids we have reported¹ that the Jones oxidation of some triterpenoid hemiacetals (1) gives acyloxy acids (2) instead of the desired 1,5-diketones (3). We now report² the shortest route yet for the reconstruction of a triterpenoid ring A ketone (4) into a steroidal enone (7) involving as key steps the exhaustive Baeyer-Villiger oxidation³ of triterpenoid ketones (4) into δ-lactones (5) and mild chromium(VI) oxidation of cyclic hemiacetals (1) into diketones (3).     

A Facile Method for the Bishomologation of Ketones to α,β-Unsaturated Aldehydes: Application to the Synthesis of the Cyclohexanoid Components of the Boll Weevil Sex Attractant

The acid-catalyzed isomerization of tertiary vinyl carbinols (2) to the corresponding primary allylic alcohols (5) has been reported numerous times in the chemical literature.¹ In addition, the corresponding acetylenic carbinols (3) have been shown² to rearrange to α,β-unsaturated aldehydes (6) when treated with aqueous acid. Since yields are generally low under the conditions required for the latter transformation, a better method³ involves the isomerization of the corresponding tertiary acetylenic acetate (4) in the presence of silver ion to an allenic acetate, followed by hydrolysis to the desired α,β-unsaturated aldehyde (6).     

Oxidation of 4-Oxo-4H-1-Benzopyran-3-Carboxaldehydes with N-Bromosuccinimide

4-Oxo-4-H-1-benzopyran-3-carboxylic acids and their derivatives (esters and amides), 2, are known to possess interesting pharmacological activities.¹ As part of our synthetic studies of biologically active compounds, we needed to prepare a variety of 2 (carboxylic acids, esters, amides, etc.). An elegant method for the preparation of 4-oxo-4H-1-benzopyran-3-carboxaldehydes, 1, was reported independently by Nohara et al. ² and Harnish.³ However, despite a rather extensive effort by Nohara et al., the oxidation of 1 to 2 (Y=OH) has not been realized in good yield; thus the yields by Jones oxidation, the best reported method, ranged only from 9.5 to 39%.⁴     

An Efficient,General Synthesis of Alkylsulfinyltoluidides

Corey and Durst¹ have demonstrated the utility of N,α-dilithioalkyl-sulfinamides (1) as reagents for the quasi-Wittig reaction with aldehydes and ketones, and a one-step preparation of ketones from esters. Despite this promise, these reagents have seen few applications, due in large part to the inconvenience of preparing the precursor sulfinamide (2) via the corresponding sulfinyl chloride.^1,2     

The One-Pot Palladium Catalyzed Wittig Reaction with Allylic Alcohols. Scope and Limitations

Some allylic alcohols react with aldehydes and triphenylphosphine in a one-pot formal Wittig reaction under Pd° catalysis. The method has been extended to cinnamyl alcohol, 1, 2-methyl-2-propen-1-01, 7, and 3-buten-2-01, 11, and to heterocyclic aldehydes.     

Oxygenation of Trimethylsilylallenes Readily Obtainable from Organoboranes. Syntheses of 1-Trimethylsilyl-1-alkyn-3-ones and 1-Trimethylsilyl-1-alkyn-3-ols

Abstract

Recently we have reported that the reaction of sodium methoxide with ate-complexes (1) readily prepared from trimethyl-silylpropargyl phenyl ether and organoboranes gives trimethyl-silylallenes (2) selectively (eq. 1).¹ In an attempt to find a new synthetic application of such silylallenes (2), the oxidation of 2 was examined. Although the usual oxidants such as m-chloro-perbenzoic acid were found to be unsuitable for the oxidation of the silylallenes, it was discovered that 2 was autoxidized at room temperature to propargylic hydroperoxide (3) (eq. 2). For example, the acidified starch-iodine test² strongly suggested the presence of the organic hydroperoxide in the reaction mixture obtained from 1,2-heptadienyltrimethylsilane (2, R=Bu) and oxygen. The hydroperoxide (3, R=Bu) was isolated in a 40% yield by distillation, 45–48 [ddot]C/0.1 mmHg. In the infrared spectrum, the OH stretching frequency appears at 3430 cm^?1 and the C°C at 2180 cm,^?1     

A New Synthesis of 2-Arylbenzothiazoles from 1,2,3-Benzodithiazole-2-Oxides

The reaction of 6-substituted-1,2,3-benzodithiazole-2-oxides (3a-3d) with aromatic aldehydes, carboxylic acids, and their chlorides in the presence of an organic base provides a new method for the synthesis of 6-substituted-2-arylbenzothiazoles (4a-4d) without involving the preparation of intermediate 2-aminobenzenethiols.     

A Convenient Synthesis of Thioimidates

Thioimidates are useful reagents in preparative organic chemistry: for example, they are key intermediates for the synthesis of β-lactams bearing a thioether function at position 4, via an “acid chlorideimine” type reaction.¹     

The Synthesis of Hydronaphthalenes from m-Toluic Acid via Cyclization of Thioacetal Monosulfoxides

We recently developed a convenient route to hexahydronaphthalenols such as 5 (R=CO₂CH₃ or CH₃) starting from m-toluic acid (1)¹. The key features of the route involved reduction-alkylation of the toluic acid to the dihydro derivative 2 ², subsequent deprotection and oxidation of the side chain primary alcohol, and acid-catalyzed cyclization of the resulting aldehyde 4. In the case of the dimethylnaphthalenols 5 (R=CH₃), conversion of the angular carboxylic function to the methyl group was effected prior to cyclization via reduction of the p-toluenesulfonic ester of the neopentyl alcohol 3 (R=CH₂OH) using lithium triethylborohydride³.     

Asymmetric Synthesis of Aryl 2-Piperidyl Methanols from a Chiral α-Aminonitrile Precursor

Synthesis of enantiomerically pure phenyl 2-piperidyl methanols from a convenient chiral α-aminonitrile 1 is described. Reaction with aldehydes of the anion generated from 1 leads to threo (αR, 2R) products, whereas treatment of 1 with organolithium reagents affords erythro (αR, 2S) compounds.     

Reaction of Aziridinones with 2-Lithio-1, 3-Dithiane: Selective Cleavage of the Aziridinone Ring

The reaction of aziridinones (1a-1d) with tert-butyllithium at room temperature affords α-hydroxy imines (5ax-5dx).¹ One possible pathway leading to these products involves the formation of 2 as an intermediate, followed by rearrangement to 3. In fact, under carefully controlled conditions that prevent the rearrange-of 2 to 3, α-amino ketones (4ax-4dx), which arise from the protonation of 2, can be isolated. Other α-amino ketones were synthesized in a like manner from aziridinones by treatment with a variety of alkyllithium reagents.² Baumgarten and co-workers³ subsequently reported similar products from the reaction of phenyllithium and methyllithium with an aziridinone. In an attempt to extend this study to other organolithium reagents, especially those bearing functional groups, we have investigated the reaction of     

Reaction of Propargyl Bromide with Aldehydes in the Presence of Metallic Tin. Synthesis of Homopropargylalcohols and Homoallenylalcohols

In the presence of water, metallic tin and propargyl bromide reacted smoothly with aldehydes to give the corresponding homopropargyl alcohols (a) and homoallenyl alcohols (b). High Chemospecifity to bifounctional carbonyl compounds containing -OH, -X and -NO₂ etc. was obtained.     

Enolate Alkylations with Vinylphosphonates

A remarkable feature of diethyl-1,3-butadiene-phosphonate, unlike the dienephosphonium salts,^2,3 is that it undergoes a simple Michael addition with enolates of aldehydes and ketones without the loss of the phosphorus group.⁴ Whether such a difference in reactivity exists between the two-carbon reagents, vinyltriphenylphosphonium bromide 1 ⁵ and diethyl vinylphosphonate 2 ⁶ is the subject of this investigation.     

Short Syntheses of Unsaturated Aliphatic Ketone Pheromones

While most pheromones of Lepidoptera are unsaturated aldehydes, alcohols or acetates with the oxidated carbon usually being the first carbon of the aliphatic chain, there are some pheromone examples where an intermediate carbon other than the first one is present in an oxidized state. Such is the case of the pheromone of the peach fruit moth, Carposina niponensis, a mixture of (Z)-7-eicosen-11-one and (Z)-7-nonadecen-11-one¹ and of the Douglas fir tussock moth, Orgya pseudotsugata, for which a single component, (Z)-6-heneicosen-11-one, has been isolated².     

Halogenotropy in Phosphorus-Carbon Diad

Abstract

NMR and chemical studies have shown that α-halogenoalkyl-phosphines 1 and P-halogenoylids 2 exist as halogenotropic tautoineric systems. The position of the equilibrium depends on the used solvent, temperatures and substituents at the α-carbon atom. For example, the equilibrium 1 2 shifts towards the phosphine from 1 if the substituents at the α-carbon atom are electron-donating (R = H, Me, Pr, i-Pr). These compunds, existing preferably in the phosphine form, undergo typical reactions both for tervalent phosphorus compounds and P-halogenoylids. Tervalent phosphorus compounds, α-halogenoalkylphosphines 1 add sulfur and react with anhydrous HCl to convert into the dichlorophosphines -4. Like the P-halogenoylids, they add alcohols and phenols forming the phosphonium salts 5, 6, react with primary amines and aniline to yield the iminophosphonates 7 They also form the 2-halogenoalkylphosphonates 8 in the reaction with aldehydes.     

1,1-DIANIONS OF ALKYL PHENYL SULPHONES AS SYNTHETIC INTERMEDIATES IN CYCLIZATION REACTIONS

Abstract

α-Sulphonyl carbanions are known to be good nucleophiles both in intermolecular and in intramolecular reactions¹. In the same way gem-dimetalloderivatives of alkyl phenyl sulphones I a,b readily add to aldehydes and ketones to give the (β-hydroxy compounds II in the case of dilithioderivatives Ia, while from dimagnesioderivatives Ib α, β-unsaturated sulphones III are also obtained².     

Synthesis of (±)-cis-Calamenene;

Hydroboration of 4 furnishes a mixture of primary alcohols 5 and 6. The stereochemistry of the crystalline half ester 7 has been established by X-ray studies. While the oxidation of 5 with Jones reagent furnishes the aldehyde 9 in low yield due to the formation of the by product 3, oxidation with Moffatt reagent furnishes the aldehyde 9 in satisfactory yields. cis-Calamenene 1 has been prepared from 9.     

Synthesis of Acylacetylenes from α-Diazo-β-Hydroxylcarbonyl Compounds

A facile synthesis of α-diazo-β-hydroxy ketones and esters by the condensation of aldehydes or ketones with acyldiazomethanes was reported recently.² Exposure of the trifunctional compounds to boron trifluoride in ether-acetonitrile solution leads to acylacetylenes. Thus substances 1 and 3 were converted readily into acetylenes 2 and 4 respectively.³ This makes available a simple two-step procedure for the synthesis of conjugated acetylenic carbonyl compounds.     

Intramolecular Free-Radical Cyclization An Approach to Hydrindanone Systems

A SmI² promoted cyclization of the keto aldehydes 6 in the presence of tetraglyme to afford trans -7a-methyl-1,5-hydrindanedione is reported.