Synthesis 2001(14): 2113-2118
DOI: 10.1055/s-2001-18071
PAPER
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Highly Regioselective 3-Hydroxyalkylations of Boron 4-Methoxy-2-furanolates: A New Entry to 5-Unsubstituted and 5-Monosubstituted 3-Acyl-4-O-Methyl Tetronates

Franz F. Paintner*, Lars Allmendinger, Gerd Bauschke
Department Pharmazie - Zentrum für Pharmaforschung, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Butenandtstraße 5-13, Haus C, 81377 München, Germany
Fax: +49(89)21807247; e-Mail: ffpai@cup.uni-muenchen.de;
Further Information

Publication History

Received 17 July 2001
Publication Date:
09 August 2004 (online)

Abstract

Boron 4-methoxy-2-furanolates generated in situ from 5-unsubstituted and 5-monosubstituted 4-O-methyl tetronates undergo highly regioselective 3-hydroxyalkylations with aldehydes to give 5-unsubstituted and 5-monosubstituted 3-acyl-4-O-methyl tetronates, respectively, in good overall yields after oxidation of the intermediate alcohols with 2-iodoxybenzoic acid.

4

4-Methoxyfuran-2(5H)-one (5) is commercially available e.g. from Acros Organics BVBA, Janssen Pharmaceutica-laan 3a, B-2440 Geel, Belgium.

12

Comparable yields were obtained running the reactions at
-78 °C for 18 h.

13

A major advantage of the commercially available PhBCl2 is that it can be stored at r.t. under N2 for several months without deterioration (determined by 11B NMR spectroscopy) in contrast to the more common dialkylboron triflates, which are relatively unstable and may have to be freshly prepared. [10]

14

The formation of complex 9 was indicated by the appearance of a voluminous precipitate, which dissolves gradually on addition of base.

16

Since yields of 7a based on both recovered starting materials 5 and pivalaldehyde are excellent (>90%) using 1.05 equiv PhBCl2, a twofold excess of the relative expensive boron reagent was avoided in the following reactions for reasons of efficiency.