Darstellung von Aldehyden aus Carbonsäuren III. Mitteilung

Counterintuitive chemoselectivity in the reduction of carbonyl compounds

The reactivity of carbonyl functional groups largely depends on the substituents on the carbon atom. Reversal of the commonly accepted order of reactivity of different carbonyl compounds requires novel synthetic approaches. Achieving selective reduction will enable the transformation of carbon resources such as plastic waste, carbon dioxide and biomass into valuable chemicals. In this Review, we explore the reduction of less reactive carbonyl groups in the presence of those typically considered more reactive. We discuss reductions, including the controlled reduction of ureas, amides and esters to aldehydes, as well as chemoselective reductions of carbonyl groups, including the reduction of ureas over carbamates, amides and esters; the reduction of amides over esters, ketones and aldehydes; and the reduction of ketones over aldehydes.

The Synthesis of Some Potential Antimetabolites of Phenylalanine

Seven ββ-dialkyl-α-aminopropionic acids, including five new compounds, have been synthesised as potential antiviral and antibacterial agents. None showed any significant activity against the Newcastle Disease virus in vitro. Several methods of preparation of the compounds have been investigated, and theories are advanced to explain the failure of some of these methods.

Mild and selective hydrozirconation of amides to aldehydes using Cp2Zr(H)Cl: scope and mechanistic insight

An investigation of the use of Cp2Zr(H)Cl (Schwartz's reagent) to reduce a variety of amides to the corresponding aldehydes under very mild reaction conditions and in high yields is reported. A range of tertiary amides, including Weinreb's amides, can be converted directly to the corresponding aldehydes with remarkable chemoselectivity. Primary and secondary amides proved to be viable substrates for reduction as well, although the yields were somewhat diminished as compared to the corresponding tertiary amides. Results from NMR experiments suggested the presence of a stable, 18-electron zirconacycle intermediate that presumably affords the aldehyde upon water or silica gel workup. A series of competition experiments revealed a preference of the reagent for substrates in which the lone pair of the nitrogen is electron releasing and thus more delocalized across the amide bond by resonance. This trend accounts for the observed excellent selectivity for tertiary amides versus esters. Experiments regarding the solvent dependence of the reaction suggested a kinetic profile similar to that postulated for the hydrozirconation of alkenes and alkynes. Addition of p-anisidine to the reaction intermediate resulted in the formation of the corresponding imine mimicking the addition of water that forms the aldehyde.

1,4-Addition of N,N-Disubstituted Phenylacetamides to 2-Arylmethylene-1,4-butanolides

The 1,4-addition reaction of lithium derivatives of N,N-disubstituted phenylacetamides with 2-arylmethylene-1,4-butanolides gives the corresponding N,N-disubstituted 2-(1-aryl-2-carbamoyl-2-phenylethyl)-1,4-butanolides 3a–f as diastereoisomeric mixtures with 40–68% yields.

ORTHO PARTICIPATION IN THE CONVERSION OF syn-BENZALDOXIME ESTERS TO NITRILES

Substituted syn-benzaldoxime esters are transformed, in an alcoholic solution, to the corresponding nitriles according to first-order kinetics. All ortho substituents were observed to accelerate the rate of nitrile formation relative to the corresponding para derivative. While the ko/kp ratios for the bromo, chloro, fluoro, methoxy, and methyl substituents fall within the range of 2 to 9, the iodo and methylthio substituents are 119 and 11 000 respectively. Isotopic replacement of the aldoximino hydrogen by deuterium gives rise to a kinetic isotope effect, kH/kD being 5.21 for syn-o-chlorobenzaldoxime p-toluenesulfonate, 1.22 for syn-o-iodobenzaldoxime p-toluenesulfonate, and 1.23 for syn-o-methylthiobenzaldoxime o-iodobenzoate. The marked enhancement of rate and the absence of an appreciable isotope effect are considered to be associated with sulfur and iodine participation in the rate-determining step. A mechanism which is capable of explaining the results observed is suggested.