Solvomercuration-Demercuration. 8. Oxymercuration-Demercuration of Methoxy-, Hydroxy-, and Acetoxy-Substituted Alkenes

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/jo00316a011

The oxymercuration-demercuration (OM-DM) of a series of methoxy-, hydroxy-, and acetoxy-substituted alkenes was examined.The systems examined were the allyl, crotyl, 3-buten-1-yl, 4-penten-1-yl, and 5-hexen-1-yl.The methoxyalkenes undergo hydration with very high regioselectivity and almost quantitative yield in all cases.However, a small -I effect is observed in the case of the allylalkene (97.1percent Markovnikov vs. 99.5percent in 1-hexene).Moreover, in the crotyl case, a major directing effect is observed: 97.7percent 3-ol, 2.3percent 2-ol.The other three alkenes undergo the OM reaction with no effect from the methoxy group (99.5percent Markovnikov isomer).In contrast, only allyl-, crotyl-, and 3-buten-1-yl alcohols produce major amounts of hydrated products, the diols.While no hydroxyl group directing effect is observed in the allyl system, a major one is again seen in the case of the crotyl: 93.5percent l,3-diol and 6.5percent l,2-diol.The major products from the 4-penten-1-yl and 5-hexen-1-yl and alcohols are 2-methyltetrahydrofuran and 2-methyltetrahydropyran, respectively, resulting from OH-5 and OH-6 neighboring group participation in the OM stage.The acetoxy alkenes undergo hydration to give diols in ca. 80percent yield with ca. 20percent unreacted starting material.This is the result of a competitive deoxymercuration reaction which is occurring in the DM stage.However, the yield of hydrated products can be increased by varying the amount of base used in the DM.Neighboring-group participation, AcO-5, is observed in the allyl system only, resulting in a 65percent yield of the Markovnikov oxymercurial, by 1H NMR analysis, and a 35percent yield of the acetoxy-exchanged mercurial.Again, a major -I-directing effect of the acetoxy group was observed in the crotyl system but not in the others.In addition to the expected l,2- and l,3-diols, the OM-DM of crotyl acetate also resulted in small amounts of the unexpected 2,3-diol under kinetic conditions.Finally, a modified DM procedure has been developed which is compatible with the acetoxy group.