Regioselective and enantiospecific rhodium-catalyzed allylic alkylation reactions using copper(I) enolates: synthesis of (-)-sugiresinol dimethyl ether

J Am Chem Soc. 2003 Jul 30;125(30):8974-5. doi: 10.1021/ja035983p.

Abstract

The transition metal-catalyzed allylic alkylation represents a fundamentally important cross-coupling reaction for the construction of ternary carbon stereogenic centers. We have developed a regioselective and enantiospecific rhodium-catalyzed allylic alkylation of acyclic unsymmetrical allylic alcohol derivatives using copper(I) enolates to prepare beta-substituted ketones. This protocol represents a convenient asymmetric Claisen rearrangement surrogate in which alpha-substituted enolates permit the introduction of an additional stereogenic center. The synthetic utility of this transformation was highlighted in the construction of a trans-1,2-disubstituted cyclohexene and the total synthesis of (-)-sugiresinol dimethyl ether. Finally, we anticipate that copper(I) enolates may prove useful nucleophiles in related metal-catalyzed reactions.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Alkylation
  • Allyl Compounds / chemistry*
  • Catalysis
  • Copper / chemistry*
  • Cryptomeria / chemistry
  • Esters / chemistry*
  • Lignans / chemical synthesis*
  • Organometallic Compounds / chemistry
  • Propanols / chemistry*
  • Rhodium / chemistry
  • Stereoisomerism

Substances

  • Allyl Compounds
  • Esters
  • Lignans
  • Organometallic Compounds
  • Propanols
  • allyl alcohol
  • Copper
  • Rhodium