Ester Enolates from α-Acetoxy Esters. Synthesis of Aryl Malonic and α-Aryl Alkanoic Esters from Aryl Nucleophiles and α-Keto Esters

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/jo00145a017

Ester enolates are generated by reductive α-deacetoxylation of α-acetoxy-α-arylmalonic esters or α-acetoxy-α-arylalkanoic esters with lithium in liquid ammonia or sodium α-(dimethylamino)naphthalenide in hexamethylphosphoramide-benzene.Since the requisite α-acetoxy esters are available from aryl nucleophiles, the reductions provide effective new synthetic routes to arylmalonic esters and α-arylalkanoic esters.For example, 2-(p-isobutylphenyl)propionic acid (ibuprofen, a commercially important nonsteroidal antiinflammatory agent) is obtained in 73percent yield overall from isobutylbenzene.Arenes, aryllithiums, or arylmagnesium halides react with α-keto esters, e.g., diethyl oxomalonate, ethyl pyruvate, methyl phenylglyoxalate, or alkyl glyoxylates, to afford α-hydroxy esters.These are acetylated with acetic anhydride-triethylamine and p-(dimethylamino)pyridine as a catalyst.Reductive α-deoxygenation then allows replacement of the acetoxy group by hydrogen or an alkyl group.