| Abstract: | Michael addition of carbothioates. Application to the synthesis of (±)-jasmine ketolactone It is shown that the lithium enolate of S-t-butyl thioacetate adds to 2-cyclopentenone in the β-position and that fluoride ions catalyze the 1, 4-addition of the trimethylsilyl enol ether of S-t-butyl thioacetate ( 5 ) to 2-cyclopentenone ( 4 ) to give 6 . These novel versions of the Michael addition have been applied to a synthesis of jasmonoid compounds. Cleavage of the trimethylsilyl enol ether in 6 with tetrabutylammonium fluoride produced the corresponding ketone enolate which could be trapped in situ by alkylation with 1-bromo-5-(2′-tetrahydropyranoxy)-2-pentyne ( 7 ) to form 8 . Removal of the alcohol protecting group in 8 , followed by partial hydrogenation of the triple bond over Lindlar palladium and mercury ion promoted hydrolysis of the carbothioate moiety in 9 , led to 5′-hydroxy jasmonic acid ( 10 , Scheme 3). 10 was converted into the S-(2-pyridyl) carbothioate and cyclized in dilute benzene solution under the influence of silver ion to give (±)-jasmine ketolactone ( 1 , Scheme 4), a component of the essential oil of Jasminum grandiflorum, in 72% yield. Similarly, methyljasmonate ( 2 , Scheme 2) was obtained from 6 by the reaction with 1-bromo-2-pentyne and tetrabutylammonium fluoride followed by methanolysis and partial hydrogenation of the triple bond. |
