Synthesis of functionalized dialkyl ketones from carboxylic acid derivatives and alkyl halides

Unsymmetrical dialkyl ketones can be directly prepared by the nickel-catalyzed reductive coupling of carboxylic acid chlorides or (2-pyridyl)thioesters with alkyl iodides or benzylic chlorides. A wide variety of functional groups are tolerated by this process, including common nitrogen protecting groups and C-B bonds. Even hindered ketones flanked by tertiary and secondary centers can be formed. The mechanism is proposed to involve the reaction of a (L)Ni(alkyl)(2) intermediate with the carboxylic acid derivative.     

Hafnium trifluoromethanesulfonate (hafnium triflate) as a highly efficient catalyst for chemoselective thioacetalization and transthioacetalization of carbonyl compounds

A range of carbonyl compounds including aliphatic and aromatic aldehydes and ketones were converted to the corresponding thioacetals in high yields in the presence of a catalytic amount of hafnium trifluoromethanesulfonate (0.1 mol %, room temperature). The mild conditions tolerated various sensitive functional and protecting groups and were racemization-free when applied to alpha-aminoaldehydes. Transacetalization and chemoselective thioacetalization of aromatic aldehydes in the presence of aliphatic aldehydes and ketones were also documented.     

Highly Z/E stereoselective approach to β-iodo aza Morita-Baylis-Hillman adducts

A multicomponent reaction between sulfonyl-protected imines, magnesium iodide, and acetylenic esters or ketones is described. The resulting β-iodo aza Morita-Baylis-Hillman adducts were obtained in good yields and excellent Z/E stereoselectivities. The reaction showed good tolerance for sulfonyl protecting groups, as well as for acetylenic ketones and esters. This work presents the first synthetic approach to β-iodo aza Morita-Baylis-Hillman adducts.     

A New Strategy for the Synthesis of alpha-Difluoromethyl-Substituted alpha-Hydroxy and alpha-Amino Acids

A new method for the preparation of alpha-chlorodifluoromethyl-, alpha-bromodifluoromethyl-, and alpha-difluoromethyl-substituted alpha-hydroxy and alpha-amino acid esters 11, 19-21 is described. The key step of the synthesis is the regioselective alkylation of ketones 5, 7-9 and imines 16-18 with C-nucleophiles. The ketones 7-9 are readily available from 3,3,3-trifluorolactate 1 by a five-step procedure. Subsequent removal of the protecting groups from 19-21 provides the corresponding free amino acids 25, 26, 28.     

Chemoselective hydrosilylation of hydroxyketones

A chemoselective method for the hydrosilylation of ketones has been developed, using the combination of triphenylsilane and a catalyst prepared from Ni(COD)₂ and the simple N-heterocyclic carbene IMes. The most notable feature of this method is that free hydroxyls are largely unaffected, thus providing a simple one-step procedure for the conversion of hydroxyketones to mono-protected diols, wherein the protecting group is exclusively installed on the ketone-derived hydroxyl. The process is typically high yielding with both simple ketones and more complex hydroxyketone substrates.     

Toluates: unexpectedly versatile reagents

The mechanism of the monoelectronic reduction of aromatic esters has been investigated. The unexpected synthetic utility of the toluate moiety in the deoxygenation of alcohols and the allylation of ketones is also reported. Finally, the use of aromatic esters as robust, though easily removable, protecting groups is depicted.     

Organocatalytic Enantioselective Acyloin Rearrangement of α-Hydroxy Acetals to α-Alkoxy Ketones

We report an unprecedented organocatalytic enantioselective acyloin rearrangement of α,α-disubstituted α-hydroxy acetals. In the presence of a catalytic amount of chiral binol-derived N-triflyl phosphoramide, α-hydroxy acetals rearranged to α-alkoxy ketones in good to high yields with high enantioselectivities. Formation of an ion pair between the in situ generated oxocarbenium ion and the chiral phosphoramide anion was proposed to be responsible for the highly efficient transfer of chirality. Conditions for removal of cyclohexyl and cyclopentyl groups from the corresponding α-alkoxy ketones were uncovered underpinning their potential general utility as hydroxy protecting groups. Conversion of the rearranged products to the enantioenriched α-hydroxy ketone, 1,2-diol, β-amino alcohol and 1,4-dioxane was also documented.     

Chemoselective thioacetalisation and transthioacetalisation of carbonyl compounds catalysed by tetrabutylammonium tribromide (TBATB)

Thioacetals and thioketals of various aldehydes and ketones were obtained directly from carbonyl compounds or by a transthioacetalisation process from cyclic O,O-acetals in the presence of dithiols and a catalytic amount of tetrabutylammonium tribromide (TBATB). Chemoselective thioacetalisation of aromatic aldehydes containing an electron-donating group in the presence of an aldehyde containing an electron-withdrawing group, aldehydes in the presence of ketones, aliphatic cyclic ketones in the presence of aromatic ketones and less hindered ketones in the presence of more hindered ketones have been achieved. A cyclic acetal containing an electron-donating group has been chemoselectively transthioacetalised in the presence of an acetal having an electron-withdrawing substituent. These selectivities are due to the intrinsic reactivity of the substrate themselves and are independent of the catalyst and reaction conditions. Shorter reaction times, mild reaction conditions, stability of acid sensitive protecting groups, high efficiencies, facile isolation of the desired products and the catalytic nature of the reagent are the attractive features of the present method.     

Oxidative rearrangement of cyclic tertiary allylic alcohols with IBX in DMSO

A practical and environmentally friendly method for oxidative rearrangement of five- and six-membered cyclic tertiary allylic alcohols to beta-disubstituted alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones by the IBX/DMSO reagent system is described. Several conventional protecting groups (e.g., Ac, MOM, and TBDPS) are compatible under the reaction conditions prescribed.     

Highly stereoselective aldol reactions of titanium enolates from lactate-derived chiral ketones

[reaction: see text] Highly stereoselective titanium-mediated aldol reactions based on lactate-derived ketones are reported. The stereochemical outcome of the process depends on the protecting group (PMB or Bn) and the Lewis acid (i-PrOTiCl(3) or TiCl(4)) used in the enolization step, the corresponding anti-syn or syn-syn aldols being prepared in high yields and with diastereomeric ratios up to 99:1.     

The first directed reduction of beta-alkoxy ketones to anti-1,3-diol monoethers: identification of spectator and director alkoxy groups

A new reduction procedure for the stereoselective reduction of certain beta-alkoxy ketones is described. The method relies upon electron-transfer reduction using samarium diiodide in THF with MeOH as an additive. Reduction is facile for a number of alkoxy groups that can complex samarium effectively but is not observed with TBS or benzyl protecting groups. Experiments with deuterated methanol show that the stereoselectivity arises from protonation of a samarium carbanion intermediate.     

Bis(o-nitrophenyl)ethanediol: A practical photolabile protecting group for ketones and aldehydes

The ketals of bis(o-nitrophenyl)ethanediol and ketones or aldehydes are smoothly deprotected in neutral conditions by irradiation with 350 nm light. The chemical stability in basic, acidic, and oxidizing media makes this form of protection orthogonal to classical protecting groups. Both racemic and enantiopure forms are readily available in two steps from inexpensive starting materials.     

Formation of pentafluorophenyldimethylsilylethers and their use in the gas chromatographic analysis of sterols.

The pentafluorophenyldimethylsilyl group is an excellent protecting group for steroid alcohols, giving volatile ethers, detectable at picogram levels in gas chromatography with an electron capture detector. By the use of five reagents, increasingly hindered hydroxyl groups can be protected, so that structural information about unidentified sterols can be obtained. Quantitative derivative formation for a wide range of hydroxyl groups is possible by selection of the correct reagent combination, without affecting unprotected enolizable ketones.     

One-step,efficient synthesis of combined threonine–surfactant organocatalysts for the highly enantioselective direct aldol reactions of cyclic ketones with aromatic aldehydes in the presence of water

In this work, a new class of organocatalysts have been designed and synthesized in one step by a rational combination of threonine with acyl chlorides at room temperature in trifluoroacetic acid to make a series of novel combined threonine-surfactant organocatalysts readily available on a large-scale. No protecting groups or chromatographic techniques are involved in the procedures, while certain combined threonine-surfactant organocatalysts mediate the direct aldol reactions of cyclic ketones with aromatic aldehydes to provide the aldol products in good yields with enantioselectivities of up to 99%.     

Expedient synthesis of chiral 1,2- and 1,4-diamines: protecting group dependent regioselectivity in direct organocatalytic asymmetric Mannich reactions

[reaction: see text] Organocatalytic asymmetric Mannich reaction of protected amino ketones with imines in the presence of an L-proline-derived tetrazole catalyst afforded diamines with excellent yields and enantioselectivities of up to 99%. The amino ketone protecting group controlled the regioselectivity of the reaction providing access to chiral 1,2-diamines from azido ketones and 1,4-diamines from phthalimido ketones.     

Studies on the synthesis of bafilomycin A(1): stereochemical aspects of the fragment assembly aldol reaction for construction of the C(13)-C25) segment

Highly stereoselective syntheses of aldols 8a-c corresponding to the C(13)-C(25) segment of bafilomycin A(1) were developed by routes involving fragment assembly aldol reactions of chiral aldehyde 6a and the chiral methyl ketones 7. A remote chelation effect plays a critical role in determining the stereoselectivity of the key aldol coupling of 6a and the lithium enolate of 7b. The protecting group for C(23)-OH of the chiral aldehyde fragment also influences the selectivity of the lithium enolate aldol reaction. In contrast, the aldol reaction of 6a and the chlorotitanium enolates of 7a,c were much less sensitive to the nature of the C(15)-hydroxyl protecting group. Studies of the reactions of chiral aldehydes with Takai's (gamma-methoxyallyl)chromium reagent 40 are also described. The stereoselectivity of these reactions is also highly dependent on the protecting groups and stereochemistry of the chiral aldehyde substrates.     

Acid-Catalyzed Transacetalization from Glycol to Pinacol Acetals

A one-pot transacetalization of glycol acetals, frequently used as protecting groups of the aldehyde function, into the more stable pinacol acetals is given. A clean transformation of aromatic and aliphatic substrates is possible with trifluoroacetic acid within 30 min at 0 °C. Glycol acetals derived from ketones (ketals) cannot be converted with this protocol. Deprotection of the pinacol acetals is possible with trifluoromethanesulfonic acid in the presence of water.     

The concept of docking and protecting groups in biohydroxylation

The hydroxylation of unactivated carbon atoms employing methods developed in the realms of classical organic chemistry is difficult to achieve and the processes available lack the degree of chemo-, regio- and enantioselectivity required for organic synthesis. To improve this situation, the concept of docking/protecting groups should enable the organic chemist to employ biohydroxylation as an easy tool for preparative work. Similar to the common practice of using protective groups in organic chemistry, a docking/protecting (d/p) group is introduced first, then the biotransformation is performed, and finally the d/p group is removed. The aim of this concept is not only to avoid time consuming microorganism screening methods, but also to improve hydroxylation position predictability, prevent undesired side reactions, aid substrate detection, and product recovery. This approach is successfully applied to carboxylic acids, ketones, aldehydes, and alcohols.     

Palladium-catalyzed synthesis of aryl ketones by coupling of aryl bromides with an acyl anion equivalent

Palladium-catalyzed couplings of aryl bromides with N-tert-butylhydrazones as acyl anion equivalents to form aryl ketones are reported. The coupling process occurs at the C-position of hydrazones to form N-tert-butyl azo compounds. Isomerization of these azo compounds to the corresponding hydrazones, followed by hydrolysis, gave the desired mixed alkyl aryl ketones. The selectivity of C- versus N-arylation was strongly influenced by the substituent on nitrogen. Arylation at carbon occurred with N-tert-butylhydrazones, whereas N-arylation occurred with N-arylhydrazones. The arylation of hydrazones containing primary and secondary alkyl groups, as well as aryl groups, gave the desired ketones in good yields after hydrolysis. Functional groups on the aromatic ring, such as alkoxy, cyano, trifluoromethyl, carboalkoxy, carbamoyl, and keto groups, were tolerated. This reaction likely occurs by C-C bond-forming reductive elimination from an intermediate containing an eta1-diazaallyl ligand.     

Palladium-catalyzed tandem reactions to form 1-vinyl-1h-isochromene derivatives

The palladium-catalyzed reaction of pinacolone with tert-butyldimethyl(3-(2-bromophenyl)allyloxy)silane results in direct formation of 1-vinyl-3-tert-butyl-1H-isochromene. This is the result of a ketone arylation followed by an intramolecular cyclization of the enolate with the allylic system. The use of a lithium diamide base appears to be essential for success. The tert-butyldimethylsilyl protecting group is also an essential choice as it furnishes the appropriate reactivity to promote allylic substitution after the aryl coupling process. The use of more effective leaving groups, such as acetate, results in reaction of the allylic group, and no aryl coupling is observed. Through the appropriate selection of phosphine ligand and solvent, either the cyclized isochromene product or the noncyclized intermediate may be formed selectively. A short combinatorial study of the scope and limitations of the reaction, involving 24 ketones, is described.