Asymmetric aldol reactions using (S,S)-(+)-pseudoephedrine-based amides: stereoselective synthesis of alpha-methyl-beta-hydroxy acids, esters, ketones, and 1,3-Syn and 1,3-anti diols
A very efficient method for performing stereoselective aldol reactions is reported. The reaction of (S, S)-(+)-pseudoephedrine-derived propionamide enolates with several aldehydes yielded exclusively one of the four possible diastereomers in good yields, although transmetalation of the firstly generated lithium enolate with a zirconium(II) salt, prior to the addition of the aldehyde, is necessary in order to achieve high syn selectivity. The so-formed syn-alpha-methyl-beta-hydroxy amides were transformed into other valuable chiral nonracemic synthons such as alpha-methyl-beta-hydroxyacids, esters, and ketones. Finally, a stereocontrolled reduction procedure starting from the so-obtained alpha-methyl-beta-hydroxy ketones has been developed allowing the synthesis of either 1,3-syn- or 1,3-anti-alpha-methyl-1,3-diols in almost enantiopure form by choosing the appropriate reaction conditions.
Vicario
JL
Departamento de Quimica Organica, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad del Pais Vasco, P.O. Box 644, 48080 Bilbao, Spain.
Badia
D
Dominguez
E
Rodriguez
M
Carrillo
L