ACYCLIC STEREOSELECTION-13; ARYL ESTERS: REAGENTS FOR THREO-ALDOLIZATION

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4020(01)93284-3

Preformed Li enolates of hindered aryl esters condense with aldehydes to give predominantly threo aldols.The method has been explored with esters 3 (DMP propionate), 4 (BHT propionate), 5 (DBHA propionate).DMP propionate reacts with benzaldehyde and α-unbranched aliphatic aldehydes to give threo:erythro ratios of about 6.5:1.However, with α-branched aliphatic aldehydes, ester 3 gives only threo-aldols.BHT propionate and DBHA propionate give only threo-aldols with all aldehydes studied.The DMP aldols may be converted into β-hydroxy acids by simple hydrolysis with KOH in aqueous methanol.BHT aldols cannot be hydrolyzed without retroaldolization.However, these aldols can be reduced to diastereomerically pure 1,3-diols.The DBHA aldols can converted into β-hydroxy acids by a method involving oxidation with ceric ammonium nitrate (CAN) in aqueous acetonitrile.Threo-selectivity is also seen in the condensations of DMP butyrate (15), DBHA butyrate (16), DMP pentenoate (17), and BHT pentenoate (18).The approach has been utilized in a stereoselective synthesis of racemic methyl corynomycolate.