Synlett 2002(9): 1435-1438
DOI: 10.1055/s-2002-33604
LETTER
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Diastereoselective Ultrasonically Induced Zinc-copper Conjugate Addition to Chiral α,β-Unsaturated Carbonyl Systems in Aqueous Media

Rosa Mª Suárez, José Pérez Sestelo*, Luis A. Sarandeses*
Departamento de Química Fundamental, Universidade da Coruña, E-15071 A Coruña, Spain
Fax: +34(981)167065; e-Mail: sestelo@udc.es; e-Mail: qfsarand@udc.es;
Further Information

Publication History

Received 26 June 2002
Publication Date:
17 September 2002 (online)

Abstract

The diastereoselective ultrasonically induced zinc-copper 1,4-addition of alkyl iodides to chiral α,β-unsaturated systems 1-3 in aqueous media is reported. The reaction of methylenedioxolanone 1 with a variety of alkyl iodides takes place in good yields and with high diastereomeric excess. The 1,4-addition to (Z)- and (E)-γ,δ-dioxolanyl-α,β-unsaturated esters 2 and 3 also proceeds with good yields: the Z-isomer 2 gives good diastereoselectivities while the reactions with the E-isomer 3 are non-stereoselective.

6

The use of deuterated solvents support this mechanism, see ref. 3c.

12

Representative Experimental Procedure: To a solution of the chiral Michael acceptor 1-3 (1 mmol) and alkyl iodide (4, 2 to 6 mmol) in aq EtOH (5 mL, 70%) was added CuI (2 mmol) and Zn (6 mmol). The resulting black mixture was sonicated (45-180 min) until complete consumption of α,β-unsaturated system was achieved (TLC test). The mixture was diluted with EtOAc (8 mL), sonicated during 10 min, and filtered through a short pad of Celite®, washing the solids with EtOAc (3 × 25 mL). The organic phase was washed with brine (50 mL), dried, filtered, and concentrated in vacuo. The residue was purified by flash chromatography to afford, after concentration, the desired 1,4-addition product.

13

All new compounds gave satisfactory 1H NMR, 13C NMR, HMRS or microanalytical data.

14

Epimerization of the conjugate addition products was not observed under the reaction conditions.

18

The stereochemistry of the major diastereomer was determined by conversion of the 1,4-addition products into the corresponding γ-butyrolactones and NOE experiments, see ref. 17c.

19

Yields and stereoselectivities are also similar, see ref.17c and ref. 17h.