Enantioselective synthesis of a hindered furyl substituted allyl alcohol intermediate: A case study in asymmetric synthesis

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/j.tetasy.2004.04.004

In the course of the synthesis of the DEFG ring system of cneorin C 1, we were faced with the task of preparing the furyl substituted allyl alcohol 5 enantioselectively. Several different methods starting from enantioselective zinc-mediated alkylations were attempted, but none of them proved entirely satisfactory. The solution turned out to be enzymatic kinetic resolution through a highly enantioselective (E>300) acylation in the presence of Candida antarctica lipase A.

Full text of DOI:10.1016/j.tetasy.2004.04.004

Tetrahedron:
Asymmetry
Tetrahedron: Asymmetry 15 (2004) 1637–1643
Enantioselective synthesis of a hindered furyl substituted allyl
alcohol intermediate: a case study in asymmetric synthesis
Ainoliisa J. Pihko,a Katri Lundell,b Liisa Kanervab and Ari M. P. Koskinena,*
aLaboratory of Organic Chemistry, Helsinki University of Technology, PO Box 6100, FIN-02015 HUT, Finland
bLaboratory of Synthetic Drug Chemistry, University of Turku, Lemmink€aisenkatu 2, FIN-20520 Turku, Finland
Received 15 March 2004; accepted 1 April 2004
Available online 27 April 2004
Abstract—In the course of the synthesis of the DEFG ring system of cneorin C 1, we were faced with the task of preparing the furyl
substituted allyl alcohol 5 enantioselectively. Several different methods starting from enantioselective zinc-mediated alkylations were
attempted, but none of them proved entirely satisfactory. The solution turned out to be enzymatic kinetic resolution through a
highly enantioselective (E > 300) acylation in the presence of Candida antarctica lipase A.
ꢀ 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
1. Introduction
candidate for the intramolecular cyclopropanation of
diazomalonate 4, which can be conveniently prepared
from the furyl substituted allyl alcohol (S)-5. The
preparation of enantiopure compounds is of crucial
importance in modern organic synthesis, and chiral
allylic alcohols provide a useful template for a variety of
stereoselective transformations of olefins. The stereo-
genic center of the allylic alcohol can be used to direct,
for example, epoxidations7;8 and dihydroxylations.9 In a
recent example, Evans’ syntheses of pectenotoxins-4 and
-8 utilize a hydroxyl directed epoxidation twice in a
highly diastereoselective manner.10;11 A wide selection of
Cneorin C 1 was originally isolated from the xerophytic
shrub Cneorum pulverulentum native to the Canary Is-
lands in the early 1970s.1 Despite its intriguing structure,
no efforts toward its synthesis have been reported. Due
to lack of material from natural sources, the compound
has not received proper pharmacological screening. We
have been interested in copper-catalyzed intramolecular
cyclopropanations of diazomalonates for a long time.2–6
As evident from the retrosynthetic analysis shown in
Figure 1, the DEFG ring system of cneorin C is an ideal
O
O
G
O
G
PO
PO
O
E
D
F
O
N2
HO
O
4
O
E
D
F
O
O
H
CO2t-Bu
2
O
C
O
O
O
B
O
A
O
O
X
H
O
A
OH
O
1: Cneorin C
OH
H
3
(S)-5
Figure 1. Retrosynthesis of cneorin C.
* Corresponding author. Tel.: +358-9-451-2526; fax: +358-9-451-2538; e-mail: ari.koskinen@hut.fi
0957-4166/$ - see front matter ꢀ 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
doi:10.1016/j.tetasy.2004.04.004

1638
A. J. Pihko et al. / Tetrahedron: Asymmetry 15 (2004) 1637–1643
different chemical and enzymatic methods is available to
produce either enantiomer of allylic alcohols. One such
method is the use of hydrolytic enzymes in deacylations
(hydrolysis or alcoholysis) of secondary alcohol esters or
in acylations of secondary alcohols in an organic sol-
vent.12 Herein, we describe the successful application of
a lipase-catalyzed kinetic resolution to access the steri-
cally hindered furyl substituted allyl alcohol (S)-5.
We were next faced with the task of preparing the furyl
substituted allyl alcohol 5 in an enantioselective manner.
When approaching this problem, the first solution was
to use a catalytic enantioselective alkylation.16 A vinyl
bromide would be converted to a vinyl zinc species and
added to an aldehyde in the presence of a chiral ligand in
an enantioselective manner (Scheme 3). Two different
routes were attempted: (1) alkylation of 3-furylaldehyde
with the vinyl bromide 9 and (2) alkylation of enal 14
with 3-furylbromide. In the first case of vinyl bromide 9
and 3-furylaldehyde, the vinyl zinc species was never
formed and only unreacted vinyl bromide was recov-
ered. In the second case of enal 14 and 3-furylbromide,
the corresponding furyl zinc species was not reactive
enough to add to the aldehyde, which was recovered.
2. Results and discussion
Vinyl bromide 9 (Scheme 1) was prepared according to
the literature13 from t-butyl acetate and 2,3-dibromo-
propene. The vinyl bromide 9 was then converted to the
corresponding vinyl lithium species by halogen metal
exchange with t-BuLi and then treated with 3-furyl
aldehyde as the electrophile to furnish the racemic furyl
substituted allyl alcohol rac-5. An alternative prepara-
tion of the racemic alcohol rac-5 was developed as fol-
lows: enal 14 was prepared from 3-iodopropanol via a
Horner–Wadsworth–Emmons reaction of phosphonate
11 (Scheme 2).14;15 The enal 14 was then alkylated with
3-furyl lithium yielding the racemic furyl substituted
allyl alcohol rac-5. The route presented in Scheme 1 via
vinyl bromide 9 turned out to be more convenient for
obtaining alcohol rac-5 than the route in Scheme 2.
Zn
R1
t-BuLi, ZnEt2
R1
O
OH
R2
R2
H
Br
R1
or
ZnCl
R1
Ti(O-i-Pr)4
NHTf
R1
t-BuLi, ZnCl2
NHTf
Scheme 3. Enantioselective alkylation.
Our second potential solution was to convert the furyl
substituted allyl alcohol to an enone followed by enan-
tioselective reduction. Thus, the alcohol rac-5 was oxi-
dized to ketone 15 with MnO2.17 The Corey–Bakshi–
Shibata (CBS) reduction18;19 is a widely established
catalytic asymmetric reduction method. In this case,
reduction of ketone 15 with BH3ÆSMe2 in the presence of
the chiral catalyst 16a–b gave at its best the alcohol in
35% ee (Table 1). BINAL reduction20;21 as well as DIP-
chloride reduction22–24 were also tried, but only the
starting material was recovered.
O
a) LDA
Br
HO
Br
Ot-Bu
Br
b) LiAlH4
8
6
7
O
c) TBDPSCl
d) t-BuLi
Br
TBDPSO
TBDPSO
OH
Table 1. CBS reduction
CHO
rac-5
9
O
Ph
O
Ph
N
O
16a: R = Me
16b: R = Bu
Scheme 1. Synthesis of furyl substituted allyl alcohol 5 via vinyl bro-
mide 9: (a) Ref. 13, LDA, THF, )78 ꢁC, 62%; (b) Ref. 13, LiAlH4,
THF, 0 ꢁC fi rt, 90%; (c) TBDPSCl, imid., CH2Cl2, rt, 90%; (d) t-BuLi,
3-furylaldehyde, THF, )78 ꢁC fi rt, 74%.
B
a) MnO2
R
(S)-5
rac-5
TBDPSO
O
b) reductant,
THF,-20°C
15
a) TBDPSCl
CO2Me
P(OMe)
Entry
Reagents
% Ee
Time (h)
TBDPSO
HO
I
O
O
1
2
3
BH3ÆSMe2, 16a
BH3ÆSMe2, 16b
Catecholborane, 16b
35
13
22
114
70
b)(MeO) P
2
CO2Me
2
11
10
67
Yields were not determined.
c) (HCHO)n
f) t-BuLi,
The third approach was kinetic resolution of the furyl
substituted allyl alcohols via Sharpless asymmetric
epoxidation (SAE).25;26 We tested both diethyl and
diisopropyl tartrates, and two days of reaction at )20 ꢁC
yielded 50% conversion and 57% and 68% ee of the
alcohol, respectively (Table 2). The enantiomeric purity
of the corresponding epoxide 17 was very high with both
tartrates. One reason to account for the ee difference of
alcohol (S)-5 with the two tartrates is that with a smaller
tartrate the allylic double bond of the furan ring starts to
epoxidize, thus causing the molecule to decompose faster.
R
rac-5
TBDPSO
Br
O
12: R = CO2Me
13: R = CH2OH
14: R = CHO
d) DIBAL-H
e) MnO2
Scheme 2. Synthesis of furyl substituted allyl alcohol 5 via enal 14: (a)
TBDPSCl, imid., CH2Cl2, rt, 88%; (b) Ref. 14, NaH, trimethyl phos-
phonoacetate, DMSO, rt, 71%; (c) Ref. 15, paraformaldehyde, K2CO3,
THF, reflux, 71%; (d) DIBAL-H, THF, )78 ꢁC, 99%; (e) MnO2,
CH2Cl2, rt, 94%; (f) 3-bromofuran, t-BuLi, THF, )78 ꢁC, 87%.

A. J. Pihko et al. / Tetrahedron: Asymmetry 15 (2004) 1637–1643
Table 2. Sharpless asymmetric epoxidation
1639
O
(+)-tartrate, Ti(O-i-Pr)4,
TBHP, 3Å MS,
TBDPSO
OH
(S)-5
(S)-5
rac-5
O
CH2Cl2, -20 °C
17
Entry
Tartrate
17
% Ee
Yield (%)
% Ee
Yield (%)
1
2
(+)-DET
(+)-DIPT
57
68
38
37
96
94
36
39
Conversion 50% according to NMR.
Eventually, a successful solution for the preparation of
(S)-5 was found through enzymatic kinetic resolution.
The capacities of Candida antarctica lipase B (CAL-B)
and the lipase from Pseudomonas cepacia (lipase PS) are
well recognized for carrying out highly enantioselective
acylations of racemic secondary alcohols.12 Especially in
the case of sterically hindered substrates, it is advisable
to add the relatively rarely applied Candida antarctica
lipase A (CAL-A) to the list of potential lipases.27–32
Thus, the above lipases (CAL-A and lipase PS adsorbed
on Celiteꢂ in the presence of sucrose33 and commercially
available CAL-B and lipase PS-C II immobilized on
ceramic) were screened for the enantioselective acylation
of rac-5 with 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl butanoate in methyl
t-butyl ether (MTBE) at room temperature (Table 3).
CAL-B (entry 10) and the lipase PS preparations (entries
11 and 12) were hardly reactive under the reaction
conditions while CAL-A led to a fast formation of (S)-
butanoate 18b (entry 7) in a highly enantioselective
manner (E > 300). Solvent effects on reactivity (mea-
sured as the conversion reached after 1 h; entries 1–7)
and easy evaporation were reasons to choose MTBE
(boiling point 55.2 ꢁC) for the gram-scale resolution of
rac-5. After the usual workup, the (S)-butanoate 18b
(isolated yield 95% from the theoretical 50% yield, 96%
ee) and (R)-alcohol 5 (isolated yield 83% from the the-
oretical 50% yield, 95% ee) were isolated by column
chromatography at 50% conversion. The butanoate was
finally reduced with DIBAL-H to furnish (S)-5.24
In the above acylation of rac-5 in the presence of the
CAL-A preparation, commercial vinyl butanoate (entry
8) or acetate (entry 9) can replace 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl
butanoate as an acyl donor. The reaction with vinyl
acetate was slow (5% conversion in 1 h, entry 9) com-
pared to that with the butanoates, taking 27 h to reach
50% conversion. It is important to recognize that the
butanoate (S)-18b (or the corresponding acetate) as an
activated ester is easily hydrolyzed through enzymatic
ester hydrolysis by the water present in the medium and
in the enzyme preparation. Such a reaction (if it takes
place) lowers the ee value of the alcohol enantiomer (R)-
5 and the yield of the ester product (S)-18b. In order to
furnish fast enzymatic reaction in preparative resolu-
tion, the butanoate ester rather than acetate has been
used as an acyl donor in dried organic solvents. On the
other hand, sucrose in the CAL-A preparation appar-
ently binds the water necessary for enzymatic activity in
the seemingly dry enzyme preparation.
The enzymatic reactions were monitored by chiral
HPLC. The absolute configurations of the reduction
Table 3. Lipase-catalyzed asymmetric acylation
O
lipase,
O
acyl donor
TBDPSO
O
R
(R)-5
rac-5
solvent, rt
(S)-18a: R = Me
(S)-18b: R = Pr
Entry
Lipase
Acyl donor
Solvent
Acetonitrile
Time (h) % Conv.
(S)-18 % Ee (R)-5 % Ee
E
1
CAL-A
CAL-A
PrCO2CH2CF3
PrCO2CH2CF3
PrCO2CH2CH3
PrCO2CH2CF3
PrCO2CH2CF3
PrCO2CH2CF3
PrCO2CH2CF3
PrCO2CH@CH2
MeCO2CH@CH2
PrCO2CH2CF3
PrCO2CH2CF3
PrCO2CH2CF3
1
1
44
17
16
32
32
47
45
46
5
99
>99
>99
>99
>99
97
79
21
19
47
47
85
80
83
5
>300
>300
>300
>300
>300
>300
>300
>300
>300
––
2
tert-Amyl alcohol
Ethyl butanoate
Hexane
3
CAL-A
CAL-A
1
4
1
5
CAL-A
CAL-A
Toluene
DIPE
MTBE
1
6
1
7
CAL-A
CAL-A
1
99
98
8
MTBE
MTBE
1
9
CAL-A
CAL-B
1
99
99
10
11
12
MTBE
MTBE
MTBE
24
24
24
0.3
rac
Lipase PS-C II
Lipase PS
2
1
38
66
0.7
0.4
2
5

1640
A. J. Pihko et al. / Tetrahedron: Asymmetry 15 (2004) 1637–1643
and epoxidation products [(S)-5 and 17] and resolution
products [(R)-5 and (S)-18b] are based on Mosher ester
analysis34–36 of (S)-5 (see experimental section for de-
tails) and then on comparison with the corresponding
peaks on the chromatogram.
4.2. 5-(tert-Butyl-diphenyl-silanyloxy)-1-furan-3-yl-2-
methylene-pentan-1-ol rac-5
To a stirred solution of vinyl bromide 938 (4.00 g,
9.91 mmol, 100 mol %) in THF (50 mL) at )78 ꢁC was
added t-BuLi (17.7 mL, 24.8 mmol, 250 mol %) dropwise
over 10 min. After 30 min, 3-furylaldehyde (1.24 mL,
14.9 mmol, 150 mol %) was added dropwise. After stir-
ring overnight at rt, satd aq NH4Cl was added and the
aqueous layer was extracted with EtOAc. The combined
organic extracts were washed with brine, dried, filtered
and concentrated. Flash column chromatography (sil-
ica, 5–15% EtOAc in hexanes) provided alcohol rac-5 as
a clear oil (2.91 g, 70%). TLC Rf ¼ 0:38 (silica, 20%
EtOAc in hexanes); 1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3) d 7.68–
7.62 (m, 4H), 7.46–7.33 (m, 8H), 6.33–6.30 (m, 1H), 5.22
(br s, 1H), 5.11 (br d, J ¼ 3:8 Hz, 1H), 4.94 (br s, 1H),
3.66 (t, J ¼ 6:2 Hz, 2H), 2.10–1.98 (m, 2H), 1.96 (d,
J ¼ 3:8 Hz, 1H), 1.77–1.65 (m, 2H), 1.03 (s, 9H); 13C
NMR (100 MHz, CDCl3) d 150.2, 143.2, 139.9, 135.6,
133.9, 129.6, 127.6, 121.3, 110.1, 109.0, 70.4, 63.5, 30.9,
28.0, 26.8, 19.2; IR (film) mmax 3385, 1649, 1586,
1427 cmꢀ1; HRMS (ES+) m/z 443.2034 (MNaþ, calcd
for C26H32O3NaSi 443.2011).
3. Conclusion
Preparation of the sterically hindered furyl substituted
allyl alcohol (S)-5 has been achieved in quantities rea-
sonable for a planned total synthesis of the natural
product cneorin C. Four different methods were tested
for their ability to produce alcohol (S)-5. Direct addition
reactions between an organozinc species and aldehyde
failed completely. Reduction of an enone (CBS and
other reduction protocols) and kinetic resolution via the
Sharpless epoxidation gave alcohol (S)-5 with only low
enantiopurity (68% ee or lower). These methods failing,
enzymatic kinetic resolution of alcohol rac-5 by acyl-
ation in the presence of CAL-A proved to be highly
(S)-enantioselective with E > 300. The gram-scale reso-
lution produced (S)-ester with 96% ee and (R)-alcohol
with 95% ee at 50% conversion and the following
reduction of the (S)-ester with DIBAL-H finally gave
the alcohol (S)-5, an intermediate for the total synthesis
of cneorin C 1.
4.3. 5-(tert-Butyl-diphenyl-silanyloxy)-2-(dimethoxy-
phosphoryl)-pentanoic acid methyl ester 1114
To a stirred suspension of NaH (60% suspension in
mineral oil, 1.37 g, 34.2 mmol, 360 mol %) in DMSO
(25 mL) at rt was added trimethyl phosphonoacetate
(4.10 mL, 28.5 mmol, 300 mol %) dropwise over 30 min.
After 70 min, tert-butyl-(3-iodo-propoxy)-diphenylsi-
lane (4.03 g, 9.50 mmol, 100 mol %) in DMSO (15 mL)
was added. After 2 h 40 min, HCl (0.1 M, 15 mL) was
added and the aqueous layer was extracted with Et2O.
The combined organic extracts were washed with brine,
dried, filtered and concentrated. Flash column chro-
matography (silica, 0–2% MeOH in CH2Cl2) provided
phosphonate 11 as a clear oil (3.20 g, 71%). TLC
4. Experimental section
4.1. General
Tetrahydrofuran was distilled from Na/benzophenone.
Dichloromethane was pre-dried with CaCl2 and distilled
from CaH2. All other solvents were distilled from CaH2.
Unless otherwise noted, all experiments were performed
under Ar-atmosphere using oven-dried glassware. Silica
gel (230–400 mesh) for column chromatography as well
as the corresponding TLC plates were purchased from
1
1
Merck. H NMR spectra and 13C NMR spectra were
Rf ¼ 0:37 (silica, EtOAc); H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3)
recorded in CDCl3 on a spectrometer operating at
1
d 7.70–7.63 (m, 4H), 7.47–7.35 (m, 6H), 3.80 (d,
J ¼ 8:1 Hz, 3H), 3.77 (d, J ¼ 7:6 Hz, 3H), 3.70 (s, 3H),
3.66 (t, J ¼ 6:1 Hz, 2H), 3.05 (ddd, J ¼ 22:8, 10.6,
4.5 Hz, 1H), 2.14–1.93 (m, 2H), 1.71–1.49 (m, 2H), 1.05
(s, 9H); 13C NMR (100 MHz, CDCl3) d 169.6, 135.5,
133.7, 129.6, 127.6, 63.0, 53.3 (d, J ¼ 15:1 Hz), 53.2 (d,
J ¼ 15:1 Hz), 52.5, 44.8 (d, J ¼ 131 Hz), 31.0 (d,
J ¼ 14:3 Hz), 26.8, 23.6 (d, J ¼ 4:8 Hz), 19.1; IR (film)
mmax 1738 cmꢀ1; HRMS (ES+) m/z 501.1844 (MNaþ,
calcd for C24H35O6NaSiP 501.1838).
400 MHz for H and 100 MHz for 13C. Chemical shifts
are reported in ppm on the d scale from an internal
standard of residual chloroform (7.26 ppm in H NMR
1
spectra and 77.0 ppm in 13C NMR spectra). Enantio-
meric excesses were determined by HPLC analysis using
Chiralcel OD columns 0.46 · 5 and 0.46 · 25 cm. CAL-A
(Candida antarctica lipase A, Chirazyme L5, lyo.) and
CAL-B (Candida antarctica lipase B, Chirazyme L2)
were purchased from Roche and lipase PS and lipase
PS-C II (Pseudomonas cepacia) from Amano Pharma-
ceuticals. Before use, CAL-A and lipase PS were ad-
sorbed on Celiteꢂ (17 g) by dissolving the enzyme (5 g)
and sucrose (3 g) in Tris–HCl buffer (250 mL, 20 mM,
pH ¼ 7.9) as described previously, the final preparation
containing 20% (w/w) of the lipase.33 2,2,2-Trifluoro-
ethyl butanoate was prepared from the acid chloride
and 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol. Equation E ¼ ln½ð1 ꢀ eeSÞ=
ð1 þ eeS= eePÞꢁ= ln½ð1 þ eeSÞ=ð1 þ eeS=eePÞꢁ with c ¼ eeS=
ðeeS þ eePÞ gave the E (enantiomeric ratio)37 values and
conversion.
4.4. 5-(tert-Butyl-diphenyl-silanyloxy)-2-methylene-pent-
anoic acid methyl ester 1215
To a stirred solution of phosphonate 11 (3.20 g,
6.69 mmol, 100 mol %) in THF (10 mL) at rt were added
paraformaldehyde (0.402 g, 13.39 mmol, 200 mol %) and
K2CO3 (1.86 g, 13.39 mmol, 200 mol %). After 6 h of
refluxing, the reaction mixture was cooled down, water
was added and the aqueous layer was extracted with

A. J. Pihko et al. / Tetrahedron: Asymmetry 15 (2004) 1637–1643
1641
hexanes. The combined organic extracts were washed
with brine, dried, filtered and concentrated. Flash column
chromatography (silica, 5% EtOAc in hexanes) provided
methyl ester 12 as a clear oil (1.80 g, 71%). TLC Rf ¼ 0:68
(silica, 50% EtOAc in hexanes); 1H NMR (400MHz,
CDCl3) d 7.72–7.65 (m, 4H), 7.47–7.35 (m, 6H), 6.14 (s,
1H), 5.52 (s, 1H), 3.75 (s, 3H), 3.70 (t, J ¼ 6:3 Hz, 2H),
2.43 (t, J ¼ 7:6 Hz, 2H), 1.77–1.71 (m, 2H), 1.07 (s, 9H);
13C NMR (100 MHz, CDCl3) d 167.7, 140.3, 135.6, 134.0,
129.5, 127.6, 124.9, 63.1, 51.7, 31.2, 28.3, 26.8, 19.2; IR
(film) mmax 1720, 1627 cmꢀ1; HRMS (ES+) m/z 405.1888
(MNaþ, calcd for C23H30O3NaSi 405.1862).
dried, filtered and concentrated. Flash column chro-
matography (silica, 7.5–15% EtOAc in hexanes) pro-
vided alcohol rac-5 as a clear oil (1.04 g, 87%).
4.8. 5-(tert-Butyl-diphenyl-silanyloxy)-1-furan-3-yl-2-
methylene-pentan-1-one 15
To a stirred solution of alcohol rac-5 (0.250 g, 0.594
mmol, 100 mol %) in CH2Cl2 (6.0 mL) was added
17
MnO2 (0.258 g, 2.97 mmol, 500 mol %). After 4 h, more
CH2Cl2 (6.0 mL) and MnO2 (0.258 g, 2.97 mmol,
500 mol %) were added. After 22 h, a third portion of
MnO2 (0.258 g, 2.97 mmol, 500 mol %) was added. After
27 h, the reaction mixture was filtered through a pad of
Celiteꢂ and concentrated. Flash column chromatogra-
phy (silica, 5–15% EtOAc in hexanes) provided ketone
15 as a clear oil (0.148 g, 83% based on recovered
starting material (0.071 g)). TLC Rf ¼ 0:5 (silica, 20%
EtOAc in hexanes); 1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3) d 7.79–
7.76 (m, 1H), 7.71–7.65 (m, 4H), 7.47–7.35 (m, 7H),
6.81–6.77 (m, 1H), 5.76 (br s, 1H), 5.67 (br d,
J ¼ 0:92 Hz, 1H), 3.69 (t, J ¼ 6:3 Hz, 2H), 2.55 (br t,
J ¼ 7:5 Hz, 2H), 1.80–1.71 (m, 2H), 1.07 (s, 9H); 13C
NMR (100 MHz, CDCl3) d 190.9, 149.4, 147.8, 143.9,
135.5, 133.9, 129.5, 127.6, 126.5, 122.9, 109.9, 63.1, 30.8,
28.5, 26.8, 19.2; IR (film) mmax 1646 cmꢀ1; HRMS (ES+)
m/z 441.1884 (MNaþ, calcd for C26H30O3NaSi
441.1862).
4.5. 5-(tert-Butyl-diphenyl-silanyloxy)-2-methylene-pen-
tan-1-ol 1338
To a stirred solution of methyl ester 12 (1.19 g,
3.10 mmol, 100 mol %) in THF (16 mL) at )78 ꢁC was
added DIBAL-H (1 M in toluene, 9.3 mL, 9.30 mmol,
300 mol %) dropwise. After 30 min, MeOH (3.1 mL) was
added, the solution was allowed to warm to 0 ꢁC and
HCl (1 M, 30 mL) was added. The aqueous layer was
extracted with EtOAc and the combined organic ex-
tracts were washed with brine, dried, filtered and con-
centrated. Alcohol 13 was isolated as a yellowish oil
(1.10 g, 99%). TLC Rf ¼ 0:59 (silica, 50% EtOAc in
1
hexanes); H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3) d 7.72–7.65 (m,
4H), 7.47–7.35 (m, 6H), 5.02 (br s, 1H), 4.86 (br s, 1H),
4.06 (s, 2H), 3.69 (t, J ¼ 6:2 Hz, 2H), 2.16 (t, J ¼ 7:8 Hz,
2H), 1.78–1.68 (m, 2H), 1.06 (s, 9H); 13C NMR
(100 MHz, CDCl3) d 148.7, 135.6, 134.0, 129.6, 127.6,
109.3, 66.0, 63.4, 30.7, 29.2, 26.9, 19.2.
4.9. General procedure for the CBS reduction
To a stirred solution of ketone 15 (54.9 lmol, 100 mol %)
in THF (0.5 mL) at rt was added the catalyst 16a–b (1M
in toluene, 11.0 lmol, 20 mol %). The solution was
cooled to )20 ꢁC and BH3ÆSMe2 (32.9 lmol, 60 mol %)
or catecholborane (165 lmol, 300 mol %) was added.
After the time shown in Table 1 at )20 ꢁC, methanol
(0.5 mL) and satd aq NaHCO3 (1 mL) were added. The
phases were separated, the aqueous phase was extracted
with EtOAc and the organic extracts were washed with
brine, dried, filtered and concentrated. Flash column
chromatography (silica, 5–7.5% EtOAc in hexanes)
provided alcohol (S)-5 as a clear oil. The enantiomeric
excess was determined by chiral HPLC (Chiralcel OD):
1% i-PrOH in hexanes, 0.4 mL/min, tS ¼ 69 min,
tR ¼ 73 min.
4.6. 5-(tert-Butyl-diphenyl-silanyloxy)-2-methylene-pent-
anal 1438
To a stirred solution of alcohol 13 (0.529 g, 1.49 mmol,
17
100 mol %) in CH2Cl2 (15 mL) was added MnO2
(0.649 g, 7.46 mmol, 500 mol %). After 17 h, more MnO2
(0.130 g, 1.49 mmol, 100 mol %) was added. After 21 h,
the mixture was filtered through a pad of Celiteꢂ and
concentrated. Enal 14 was isolated as a clear oil (0.495 g,
94%). TLC Rf ¼ 0:57 (silica, 25% EtOAc in hexanes); 1H
NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3) d 9.52 (s, 1H), 7.70–7.65 (m,
4H), 7.47–7.35 (m, 6H), 6.21 (br s, 1H), 5.97 (br s, 1H),
3.67 (t, J ¼ 6:2 Hz, 2H), 2.36 (t, J ¼ 7:8 Hz, 2H), 1.70–
1.67 (m, 2H), 1.05 (s, 9H); 13C NMR (100 MHz, CDCl3)
d 194.6, 149.9, 135.6, 134.0, 133.9, 129.6, 127.6, 63.1,
30.5, 26.8, 24.3, 19.2.
4.10. Sharpless asymmetric epoxidation
ꢀ
To a stirred mixture of powdered and activated 3 A
4.7. Alcohol rac-5 from enal 14
molecular sieves (0.300 g, 30 wt %), alcohol rac-5 (1.00 g,
2.38 mmol, 100 mol %) and (+)-DIPT (76 lL,
0.357 mmol, 15 mol%) in CH2Cl2 (10 mL) at )20 ꢁC was
added Ti(O-i-Pr)4 (71 lL, 0.238 mmol, 10 mol %). After
80 min, t-butyl hydroperoxide26 (5 M in isooctane,
0.286 mL, 1.43 mmol) was added. After 47 h at )20 ꢁC,
water (1.36 mL) was added. After another 30 min, 30%
NaOH in brine (0.35 mL) was added. After stirring for
30 min, the mixture was filtered through a cotton plug,
the phases were separated and the aqueous phase was
To a stirred solution of 3-bromofuran (0.510 mL,
5.67 mmol, 200 mol %) in THF (12 mL) at )78 ꢁC was
added t-BuLi (7.59 mL, 9.94 mmol, 350 mol %) drop-
wise. After 40 min, aldehyde 14 (1.00 g, 2.84 mmol,
100 mol%) in THF (3 mL) was added. After 2 h 10 min,
satd aq NH4Cl was added, the mixture was allowed to
warm to rt and the aqueous layer was extracted with
EtOAc. The organic extracts were washed with brine,

1642
A. J. Pihko et al. / Tetrahedron: Asymmetry 15 (2004) 1637–1643
extracted with CH2Cl2. The organic extracts were
washed with brine, dried, filtered and concentrated.
Flash column chromatography (silica, 5–50% EtOAc in
hexanes) provided alcohol (S)-5 as a clear oil (0.367 g,
37%, 68% ee) and epoxide 17 as a clear oil (0.405 g, 39%,
94% ee). The ee of 17 was determined by chiral HPLC
(Chiralcel OD): 0.5% i-PrOH in hexanes, 1.0 mL/min,
tRR(major) ¼ 53 min, tSS(minor) ¼ 62 min. Epoxide 17:
CH2Cl2, 0.293 mL, 0.293 mmol) dropwise. After 30 min,
1 M HCl was added and the solution was allowed to
warm to rt. The aqueous layer was extracted with
EtOAc and the organic extracts were washed with brine,
dried, filtered and concentrated. Furyl substituted allyl
alcohol (S)-5 was isolated as a clear oil (61 mg, 98%,
20
D
96% ee). ½aꢁ ¼ )6.2 (c 1.0, CHCl3).
TLC Rf ¼ 0:15 (silica, 20% EtOAc in hexanes);
20
½aꢁ ¼ +20.6 (c 1.0, CHCl3); 1H NMR (400 MHz,
4.13. Analysis of stereochemistry by the Mosher ester
method
D
CDCl3) d 7.70–7.61 (m, 4H), 7.47–7.34 (m, 8H), 6.41–
6.38 (m, 1H), 4.76 (br s, 1H), 3.70–3.58 (m, 2H), 3.04 (d,
J ¼ 4:7 Hz, 1H), 2.68 (d, J ¼ 4:7 Hz, 1H), 2.43 (app d,
J ¼ 1:5 Hz, 1H), 1.85–1.76 (m, 1H), 1.73–1.49 (m, 3H),
1.04 (s, 9H); 13C NMR (100 MHz, CDCl3) d 143.5,
140.6, 135.5, 133.8, 129.6, 127.6, 124.3, 109.0, 65.8, 63.5,
61.5, 48.5, 27.3, 27.0, 26.8, 19.2; IR (film) mmax
3468 cmꢀ1; HRMS (ES+) m/z 459.1961 (MNaþ, calcd
for C26H32O4NaSi 459.1968).
For determination of stereochemistry, alcohol (S)-5 was
converted to (S)- and (R)-MTPA esters according to the
procedure of Kobayashi et al.34 The NMR signals were
assigned with reference to two dimensional correlation
spectra (HMQC and HMBC). The chemical shift dif-
ferences (Dd) between (R) and (S) isomers were calcu-
lated (Table 4) and the results were compared against
the Mosher configuration model.36 The stereochemistry
of the alcohol was assigned to be (S).
4.11. Lipase-catalyzed acylation
The reactions were typically performed as small-scale
experiments at room temperature (22–24 ꢁC) where an
acyl donor (0.1 M) was added into the solution (0.05 M)
of rac-5 in an organic solvent and one of the enzyme
preparations (25 mg/mL) was added in order to start the
reaction. The progress of enzymatic reactions and the ee
values of the unreacted (R)-5 and the formed (S)-18b
were followed by taking samples (0.1 mL) at intervals
and analyzing them by HPLC on Chiracel OD-column
(220 nm) eluting with isopropanol in hexanes (0.3% for
the alcohol (tR ¼ 96 min, tS ¼ 104 min); 0.1% for the
acetate (tS ¼ 33 min, tR ¼ 37 min) and butanoate
(tS ¼ 28 min, tR ¼ 33 min)).
4.13.1. 3,3,3-Trifluoro-(2S)-methoxy-2-phenyl-propionic
acid 5-(tert-butyl-diphenyl-silanyloxy)-(1S)-furan-3-yl-2-
methylene-pentyl ester 19. To a stirred solution of alco-
hol (S)-5 (16 mg, 38.0 lmol, 100 mol %) in CH2Cl2
(0.1 mL) were added (S)-MTPA (18 mg, 76.1 lmol,
200 mol %), DMAP (2.3 mg, 19.0 lmol, 50 mol %) and
DCC (16 mg, 76.1 lmol, 200 mol %). After 3 h, the
mixture was filtered, washed twice with HCl (0.5 M) and
satd aq NaHCO3 and once with brine, dried, filtered and
concentrated. Flash column chromatography (silica, 0–
2% EtOAc in hexanes) provided the (S)-MTPA ester 19
as a clear oil (17 mg, 70%). TLC Rf ¼ 0:50 (silica, 20%
20
D
EtOAc in hexanes); ½aꢁ ¼ )32.9 (c 1.0, CHCl3); 1H
NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3) d 7.66–7.61 (m, 4H), 7.47–7.29
(m, 13H), 6.40 (br s, 1H), 6.33 (br d, J ¼ 1:6 Hz, 1H),
5.09 (br s, 1H), 4.96 (br s, 1H), 3.59 (dt, J ¼ 6:2, 2.0 Hz,
2H), 3.50 (s, 3H), 2.02 (dd, J ¼ 8:4, 7.1 Hz, 2H), 1.70–
1.60 (m, 2H), 1.03 (s, 9H); 13C NMR (100 MHz, CDCl3)
In a gram-scale experiment, 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl but-
anoate (0.36 mL, 2.38 mmol) and CAL-A preparation
(0.59 g, 25 mg/mL) were added to a solution of rac-5
(0.50 g, 1.19 mmol) in MTBE (23.8 mL). After 5 h, the
enzyme was filtered off at 50% conversion. Purification
by column chromatography (silica, 10% EtOAc in hex-
anes) yielded (S)-18b (0.28 g, 0.57 mmol, 96% ee) and
(R)-5 (0.21 g, 0.49 mmol, 95% ee, ½aꢁ ¼ +5.1 (c 1.0,
Table 4. Mosher ester analysis
20
D
O
CHCl3)). Butanoate (S)-18b: TLC Rf ¼ 0:50 (silica, 20%
EtOAc in hexanes); 1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3) d 7.67–
7.62 (m, 4H), 7.45–7.33 (m, 8H), 6.33–6.31 (m, 1H), 6.20
(br s, 1H), 5.17 (br s, 1H), 4.97 (br s, 1H), 3.66 (t,
J ¼ 6:2 Hz, 2H), 2.32 (t, J ¼ 7:4 Hz, 2H), 2.20–2.03 (m,
2H), 1.77–1.60 (m, 4H), 1.04 (s, 9H), 0.94 (t, J ¼ 7:4 Hz,
3H); 13C NMR (100 MHz, CDCl3) d 172.5, 146.6, 143.2,
140.8, 135.5, 133.9, 129.5, 127.6, 123.8, 111.1, 109.4,
70.5, 63.3, 36.4, 30.6, 28.5, 26.8, 19.2, 18.4, 13.6; IR
(film) mmax 1737, 1652, 1588, 1427 cmꢀ1; HRMS (ES+)
m/z 513.2456 (MNaþ, calcd for C30H38O4NaSi
513.2437).
O
O
O
(R) CF3
(S) CF3
PO
O
PO
O
Ph OMe
MeO Ph
20
19
HY
OMTPA
C
R
O
HX
H
HX'
HA
∆δ < 0
∆δ > 0
d(S)
d(R)
Dda
HX
5.09
4.96
2.02
6.33
5.25
5.04
2.11
6.21
)0.16
)0.08
)0.09
0.12
0
HX
HY
HA
4.12. Hydrolysis of butanoate (S)-18b
To a solution of (S)-18b (72 mg, 0.147 mmol) in CH2Cl2
(0.8 mL) at )78 ꢁC was added DIBAL-H (1 M in
a Dd ¼ dðSÞ ꢀ dðRÞ.

A. J. Pihko et al. / Tetrahedron: Asymmetry 15 (2004) 1637–1643
1643
12. Koskinen, A. M. P.; Klibanov, A. M. Enzymatic Reactions
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d 165.5, 145.1, 143.5, 141.5, 135.5, 133.9, 132.3, 129.6,
129.5, 128.3, 127.6, 127.3, 126.7 (q, J ¼ 395 Hz), 122.6,
112.3, 109.4, 84.4 (q, J ¼ 28 Hz), 72.8, 63.2, 55.4, 30.4,
28.4, 26.8, 19.2; IR (film) mmax 1748, 1427 cmꢀ1; HRMS
(ES+) m/z 659.2408 (MNaþ, calcd for C36H39O5F3NaSi
659.2417).
ꢁ
15. Villieras, J.; Rambaud, M. Synthesis 1984, 406–408.
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acid 5-(tert-butyl-diphenyl-silanyloxy)-(1S)-furan-3-yl-2-
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19. Preparation of the catalysts: Mathre, D. J.; Jones, T. K.;
Xavier, L. C.; Blacklock, T. J.; Reamer, R. A.; Mohan, J.
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20
D
methylene-pentyl ester 20. Prepared as 19. ½aꢁ ¼ +6.4 (c
1
1.0, CHCl3); H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3) d 7.67–7.61
(m, 4H), 7.48–7.30 (m, 13H), 6.40 (br s, 1H), 6.21 (br d,
J ¼ 0:9 Hz, 1H), 5.25 (br s, 1H), 5.04 (br s, 1H), 3.63 (t,
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2H), 1.75–1.66 (m, 2H), 1.03 (s, 9H); 13C NMR
(100 MHz, CDCl3) d 165.5, 145.3, 143.3, 141.1, 135.5,
133.9, 132.2, 129.6, 129.5, 128.3, 127.6, 127.4, 126.7 (q,
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73.4, 63.2, 55.4, 30.5, 28.3, 26.8, 19.2; IR (film) mmax
1748, 1427 cmꢀ1; HRMS (ES+) m/z 659.2393 (MNaþ,
calcd for C36H39O5F3NaSi 659.2417).
ꢁ
24. Nicolaou, K. C.; Namoto, K.; Ritzen, A.; Ulven, T.; Shoji,
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We thank the Graduate School of Bioorganic Chemis-
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Technology Agency (TEKES) in Finland for financial
support and Mr. Aki Abe and Mr. Petka Lehtinen for
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