The tricarbonylchromium template for stereocontrol in radical reactions of arenes

Chromium tricarbonyl complexed aryl aldeyhydes and ketones underwent Sm(II)-promoted radical lactone formation in the presence of alpha,beta-unsaturated esters to produce diastereomerically pure lactones in good yields. The completely diastereoselective lactone formation involves capture of the benzylic ketyl radical by the ester anti to the chromium tricarbonyl moiety. The relative stereochemistry of the lactone and chromium tricarbonyl moieties was proven by X-ray crystallography and supports the proposed mechanism. Enantiopure chromium tricarbonyl complexed arenes afforded single enantiomers when subjected to Sm(II)-promoted radical lactone formation condiditions. The enantio- and diastereomerically pure chromium tricarbonyl complexed lactones were subsequently treated with BF3.OEt2 to generate a mixture of diastereomers via Lewis acid promoted chromium tricabonyl directed cationic rearrangement. The diastereomers were separated and individually decomplexed with I2 to afford both of the corresponding chromium-free enantiomerically pure lactones starting from a single enantiomerically pure chromium tricarbonyl complex.