P(CH(3)NCH(2)CH(2))(3)N as a dehydrobromination reagent: synthesis of vitamin A derivatives revisited.

Although P(CH(3)NCH(2)CH(2))(3)N (1) was found to be less effective than 1,5-diazabicyclo4.3.0]non-5-ene (DBN) or 1,8-diazabicyclo5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU) in the removal of hydrogen bromide from vitamin A intermediates 13-cis-10-bromo-9,10-dihydroretinyl acetates (6) and 14-bromo-9,14-dihydroretinyl acetate (11) when the reaction was carried out in refluxing benzene, in acetonitrile at room temperature it was superior to DBN and DBU. A (31)P NMR study of this reaction suggests that the carbanion generated from acetonitrile-d(3) in the presence of 1 is the basic species that initiates the elimination step. Diastereoselectivity of the nucleophilic addition of (Z)-HC triple bond C(CH(3))=CHCH(2)OH to the carbonyl group of (E)-2-methyl-4-(2',6',6'-trimethyl-1'-cyclohexen-1'-yl)-3-butenal (2) was only moderate (20%), and (9R,10S)-13-cis-11,12-didehydro-9,10-dihydro-10-hydroxyretinol (3b) predominated. The LiAlH(4) reduction of the C triple bond C bond in the diastereoisomeric diols 3 afforded 13-cis-9,10-dihydro-10-hydroxyretinols 4a and 4b as major products together with 11-cis-13-cis-isomers and the deoxygenated compound (3EZ,5EZ,8E)-3,7-dimethyl-9-(2,6,6-trimethyl-1-cyclohexen-1-yl)-1,3,5,8-nonatetraene (9). Reaction of 15-acetates of the pure diastereoisomeric allylic alcohols 4a and 4b with PBr(3) occurred with significant but not identical retention of configuration, and with concomitant formation of the rearranged bromide 11.