Deoxygenation at C-4 and Stereospecific Branched-Chain Construction at C-3 of a Methyl Hexopyranuloside. Synthetic Approach to the Amipurimycin Sugar Moiety

A five-step synthesis from 3 leading to a partially protected amipurimycin sugar moiety 14 in an overall yield of 47% is described and includes deoxygenation at C-4 and regio- and stereoselective construction of the branched chain. Deoxygenation at C-4 of 3 was possible by three different methods. Radical reduction with tri-n-butyltin hydride of the appropriate phenoxythiocarbonyl derivative afforded the desired deoxysugar 5 in 47% overall yield together with the secondary products 6 and 7 due to depivaloylation at C-2 and elimination of methanol. The most adequate deoxygenation procedure used the system Ph(3)P/I(2)/imidazole which led to the preparation of 5 in one step in 61% yield. When the system Ph(3)PBr(2)/Ph(3)P was tried, only 8 was formed due to elimination of methanol. The synthesis of 5 was then accomplished by reaction of 8 with methanol in the presence of triphenylphosphine hydrobromide in 37% overall yield. Branched-chain construction was accomplished by Wittig reaction of 5 with (ethoxycarbonyl)methylene]triphenylphosphorane, followed by osmilation and reduction with lithium aluminum hydride. Isopropylidenation of 14 afforded 16 with a free hydroxy group at C-6 for chain elongation and further synthesis of amipurimycin.