Synlett 2005(19): 2919-2922  
DOI: 10.1055/s-2005-918962
LETTER
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Lipase-Catalyzed Asymmetric Dealkoxylcarbonylation of σ-Symmetrical β-Ketodiesters and Its Application to the Synthesis of (-)-Podocarpic Acid

Takahiro Katoh, Ken-ichiro Awasaguchi, Daisuke Mori, Hiroyuki Kimura, Tetsuya Kajimoto, Manabu Node*
Department of Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Chemistry, 21st Century COE Program, Kyoto Pharmaceutical University, 1 Shichono-cho, Misasagi, Yamashina-ku, Kyoto 607-8412, Japan
e-Mail: node@mb.kyoto-phu.ac.jp;
Further Information

Publication History

Received 8 August 2005
Publication Date:
27 October 2005 (online)

Abstract

Optically active 2,6-dimethylcyclohexanone-2-carb­oxylate was prepared by PLE-catalyzed dealkoxycarbonylation of σ-symmetrical β-ketodiesters, which possess quarternary carbons at α- and α′-positions. Moreover, (-)-podocarpic acid was prepared in a short sequence from 2,6-dimethylcyclohexanone-2-carboxylate.

4

As shown below, the singlet signal assigned to the α-methyl group of 2a-cis appeared at lower magnetic field than that of 2a-trans, while methyl signals as doublets were observed at almost the same chemical shift.
2a- cis: [α]D +69.6 (c 1.19, CHCl3, 84% ee); IR (CHCl3): 2951, 1736, 1705, 1458, 1273 cm-1; 1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3): δ = 3.74 (s, 3 H), 2.71-2.59 (m, 1 H), 2.46-2.45 (m, 1 H), 2.10-2.00 (m, 1 H), 1.90-1.78 (m, 3 H), 1.55-1.47 (m, 1 H), 1.47 (s, 3 H), 1.03 (d, J = 6.6 Hz, 3 H); MS (20 eV): m/z (%) = 184 (M+, 20), 152 (20), 124 (37), 101 (100), 58 (34); HRMS: m/z calcd for C10H16O3 (M+): 184.1099, found: 184.1103.
2a- trans: [α]D -153 (c 0.80, CHCl3, 89% ee); IR (CHCl3): 2939, 1709, 1454, 1258 cm-1; 1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3): δ = 3.72 (s, 3 H), 2.59 (m, 2 H), 2.08-2.00 (m, 1 H), 1.76-1.67 (m, 2 H), 1.46-1.30 (m, 2 H), 1.28 (s, 3 H), 1.05 (d, J = 6.4 Hz, 3 H); MS (20 eV): m/z (%) = 184 (M+, 59), 152 (35), 124 (56), 101 (100), 58 (62); HRMS: m/z calcd for C10H16O3 (M+): 184.1099, found: 184.1094.

6

(1R)-(1-Methyl-2-oxocyclohexyl)carboxylic acid (60% ee) prepared by PLE-catalyzed optical resolution of ethyl (1-methyl-2-oxocyclohexyl)carboxylate [5] was derivatized to (1R,3R)- and (1R,3S)-methyl (1-methyl-2-oxocyclo-hexyl)carboxylate; the direction of optical rotation [(+) for cis isomer, and (-) for trans isomer] implied that the 2a-cis and 2a-trans should have an R configuration at C-1.

12

Recrystallization of 12 (258 mg, 84% ee) from n-hexane afforded the optically pure compound (61.0 mg, >99.5%).