title: Iterative synthesis of deoxypropionate units: the inductor effect in acyclic conformation design.
abstract: Conjugate addition of lithium dimethylcuprate to acyclic alpha,beta-unsaturated esters of varying lengths bearing terminal alkyl or phenyl groups leads to a preponderance of syn 1,3-adducts when one methyl is already present. Conversion to enoates, and iteration of cuprate additions also favors syn adducts to give contiguous deoxypropionate units in a growing chain. The effect of end-group variation (Me, i-Pr, phenyl, tert-butyl) in conjunction with the nature of the ester group (Me, tert-butyl, etc.) on the diastereoselectivity of syn and anti products was studied. The results are rationalized in terms of inductor effects related to the minimization of the 1,5-pentane interactions in energetically favored folded conformations and corroborated by homodecoupling NMR studies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Université de Montréal, P.O. Box 6128, Station Centre-ville Montréal, P.Q. H3C 3J7. stephen.hanessian@umontreal.ca
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hanessian
authors.forename: Navjot
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Chahal
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Giroux