Reductive Cleavage Reaction of γ-Functionalized α,β-Unsaturated Esters and Halomethyls Mediated with Magnesium in Methanol

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/jo00058a038

Reductive cleavage of various types of C-O and C-N bonds tethered to α,β-unsaturated esters and halomethyls was mediated with magnesium in methanol, which provided a facile method for the synthesis of δ-hydroxy or δ-amino β,γ-unsaturated esters and allylic alcohols.Regardless of the geometry (E or Z) of the α,β-unsaturated esters, 1a-b, 5a-c, 11, 13, and 23, the cleavage product obtained was exclusively the E isomer of the corresponding deconjugated hydroxy and amino esters.The steric bias and ring strain of 15, 17, and 21 gave rise to a product mixture of E and Z isomers.