Unusual stereoselectivity in the alkylation of pyroglutamate ester urethanes

Citation
Jd. Charrier et al., Unusual stereoselectivity in the alkylation of pyroglutamate ester urethanes, J CHEM S P1, (19), 2001, pp. 2367-2371
Citations number
23
Categorie Soggetti
Chemistry & Analysis","Organic Chemistry/Polymer Science
Journal title
JOURNAL OF THE CHEMICAL SOCIETY-PERKIN TRANSACTIONS 1
ISSN journal
14727781 → ACNP
Issue
19
Year of publication
2001
Pages
2367 - 2371
Database
ISI
SICI code
1472-7781(20011007):19<2367:USITAO>2.0.ZU;2-1
Abstract
Previous studies on the alkylation of pyroglutamate ester urethanes have le d to a consensus that alkylation at C-4 occurs to give a mixture of diaster eoisomers, the major isomer of which usually has the alkyl group trans to t he ester group at C-2. We have now discovered that this generalisation is n ot invariably correct and that, although for S(N)1-type electrophiles stere oselectivity is in fact trans, S(N)2-type electrophiles can give the thermo dynamically less stable cis compounds as the predominant products. Use of t he bulky proton source 2,6-di-tert-butylphenol to quench these reactions yi elds the cis isomers as the only products in good yield, thus making direct alkylation of pyroglutamic acid derivatives a useful alternative to our hy drogenation approach to these synthons.