Phosphorylation of Isoprenoid Alcohols

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/jo00375a005

Procedures for the synthesis and purification of 20 isoprenoid diphosphates and methanediphosphonate analogues from the corresponding alcohols are described.The alcohols are activated for phosphorylation by conversion of homoallylic systems to tosylates and allylic systems to halides.The activated intermediates are treated with tris(tetra-n-butylammonium) salts of pyrophosphoric, methanediphosphonic, or difluoromethanediphosphonic acid to obtain the corresponding esters in yields 34-80percent.Chromatography on cellulose is a general method for purification of isoprenoid diphosphates, and procedures are decribed for compounds with C₅ to C₂₀ hydrocarbon moieties.The displacement by pyrophosphate occurs with inversion of configuration, and the procedure can be used to prepare isoprenoid diphosphates with chiral C1 methylene groups in high optical purity from the corresponding alcohols.