Enantioselective palladium-catalyzed total synthesis of vitamin e by employing a domino Wacker-Heck reaction

An enantioselective total synthesis of vitamin E in which a novel palladium-catalyzed domino reaction was employed as the key step is described. This reaction allows the formation of the chiral chroman framework and the concurrent introduction of part of the side chain of vitamin E. The sequence comprises an enantioselective Wacker cyclization and a subsequent Heck reaction. Accordingly, reaction of alkenylphenol 12 with methyl vinyl ketone (13) in the presence of catalytic amounts of Pd(OTFA)(2) (TFA = trifluoroacetate), the enantiopure ligand (S,S)-Bn-BOXAX (8 b; Bn = benzyl, BOXAX = 2,2'-bis(oxazolyl)-1,1'-binaphthyl, and p-benzoquinone (9) as an oxidant gives access to chiral chroman 10 with an enantioselectivity of 97 % ee in 84 % yield. Chroman 10 is then converted into 24 by an aldol condensation reaction with (3R)-3,7-dimethyloctanal (11). Subsequent 1,2-addition of methyllithium, elimination of water, and hydrogenation yields vitamin E.     

Enantioselective Total Synthesis of (−)‐Blennolide A

Blennolide A can be synthesized through an enantioselective domino‐Wacker/carbonylation/methoxylation reaction of 7 a with 96 % ee and an enantioselective Wacker oxidation of 7 b with 89 % ee. Further transformations led to the α,β‐unsaturated ester (E)‐ 17 , which was subjected to a highly selective Michael addition, introducing a methyl group to give 18 a . After a threefold oxidation and an intramolecular acylation, the tetrahydroxanthenone 4 was obtained, which could be transformed into (?)‐blennolide A (ent‐ 1 ) in a few steps.