Synthesis 2001(5): 0788-0804
DOI: 10.1055/s-2001-12762
FEATUREARTICLE
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Novel DBU-MeOH-Promoted One-Pot Stereoselective γ-Functionalization of 1,3-Dicarbonyls: An Easy Access to γ-Arylidene, γ-Alkylidene and γ-Allylidene α-Ketoesters and -amides

Emmanuelle Charonnet, Marie-Hélène Filippini, Jean Rodriguez*
Laboratoire RéSo, Réactivité en Synthèse Organique, UMR au CNRS 6516, Centre de Saint Jérôme, boîte D12, 13397 Marseille cedex 20, France
Fax: +33(4)91288841; e-Mail: Jean.Rodriguez@Reso.u-3Mrs.Fr;
Further Information

Publication History

Received 11 December 2000
Publication Date:
28 September 2004 (online)

Abstract

Cyclic β-ketoesters and β-ketoamides undergo, in a one-pot process, an unprecedented DBU-MeOH-promoted regio- and stereoselective γ-functionalization with aldehydes, by a directed γ-aldol reaction and dehydration sequence, to afford synthetically valuable alkylidene (or arylidene) cycloalkanones in good yields. While β-ketoesters give good results only with aromatic aldehydes, β-ketoamides react smoothly either with aromatic, aliphatic, or α,β-unsaturated aldehydes following a totally regioselective 1,2-addition. The overall sequence, probably initiated by a reversible α-aldol reaction, allows the formation of hitherto unknown and stereodefined γ-functionalized cycloalkanones having three reactive centers, such as two electrophilic and one nucleophilic site.

35

While 1c was totally unreactive, 1a gave methyl adipate resulting from a retro-Dieckmann ring cleavage, see ref. 33.

36

The dimethoxy acetal function resulted from a trans-acetalization of the ethoxy enol ether under the reaction conditions. Methyl adipate (35 %) resulting from a retro-Dieckmann ring cleavage of 1a was also formed.

44

Attempts to extend the Robinson annulation using various experimental conditions including the use of MeONa+-MeOH, K2CO3-MeOH or acetone, and pyrrolidine in refluxing benzene or toluene, were unsuccessful due to the retro-Michael reaction.