Dc. Braddock et Jm. Brown, Asymmetric synthesis and Lewis acid mediated type II carbonyl ene cyclisations of (R)-2-isopropyl-5-methylhex-5-enal, TETRAHEDR-A, 11(17), 2000, pp. 3591-3607
The asymmetric synthesis of (R)-2-isopropyl-5-methylhex-5-enal in 98% ee is
described. It was discovered that the key alkylation step employing an Eva
ns chiral auxiliary and 3-methylbut-3-en-1-yl trifluoromethanesulphonate as
the alkylating agent led to significant competing O-alkylation, a phenomen
on not previously reported. Type II carbonyl ene cyclisation of the aldehyd
e with a range of Lewis acids led to either the (R,R)- or (R,S)-5-methylide
necyclohexanols without concurrent racemisation of the alpha stereogenic ce
ntre of the aldehyde. Conditions for effecting the easy racemisation of a m
odel enantiomerically pure aldehyde, (S)-2-methylbutanal, were developed. I
n an effort to secure a dynamic kinetic resolution procedure, these conditi
ons were applied to (R)-2-isopropyl-5-methylhex-5-enal. However, a competin
g and dominant Prins cyclisation occurred instead leading to a mixture of a
ll possible cycloadducts, all of which were obtained in 98% ee. Any unreact
ed aldehyde was found to be enantiomerically pure. (C) 2000 Elsevier Scienc
e Ltd. All rights reserved.