Efficient preparation of trisubstituted alkenes using the SmI2 modification of the Julia–Lythgoe olefination of ketones and aldehydes

Hydroxyl-Directed Regio- and Diastereoselective Allylic Sulfone Reductions with [Sm(H2O)n]I2

Allylic 1,2- and 1,3-hydroxy phenyl sulfones undergo regioselective and diastereoselective desulfonylation with double bond migration upon treatment with [Sm(H2O)n]I2. Selectivity in these reactions is thought to arise from the formation of a chelated organosamarium intermediate followed by intramolecular protonation by samarium-bound water, which is supported by observed diastereoselectivity and stereospecificity trends along with deuterium labeling experiments. The reaction was then featured in the synthesis of the phenolic fragment of the thailandamide natural products.

An Overview of Julia-lythgoe Olefination

Julia-Lythgoe olefination (or simply Julia olefination) is an olefination process between phenyl sulfones and aldehydes (or ketones) to give alkenes after alcohol functionalization and reductive elimination using sodium amalgam or SmI2. It is mainly used to synthesize E-alkenes and is a key step in numerous total syntheses of many natural products. This review exclusively deals with the Julia-Lythgoe olefination and concentrates mainly on the applications of this reaction in natural product synthesis covering literature up to 2021.

Synthetic approaches to the C11-C27 fragments of bryostatins

The modified Julia reaction and acyl carbanion chemistry, especially reactions of 2-lithiated dithianes, have been investigated for the synthesis of intermediates that are the synthetic equivalents of the C11-C27 fragments of bryostatins. The modified Julia reaction using 2-benzothiazolylsulfones was found to be more useful for the formation of the C16-C17 double-bond than the classical Julia reaction using phenylsulfones, and bulky sulfones gave very good (E)-stereoselectivity. The alkylation of a dithiane monoxide that corresponded to a C19-acyl carbanion using (E)-1-bromobut-2-ene was efficient but the use of a more complex allylic bromide corresponding to the C20-C27 fragment of the bryostatins was unsuccessful, possibly due to competing elimination reactions. This meant that the use of C19 dithianes for the synthesis of 20-deoxybryostatins would have to involve the stepwise assembly of the C20-C27 fragment from simpler precursors. However, lithiated C19 dithianes gave good yields of adducts with aldehydes and conditions were developed for the stereoselective conversion of the major adducts into methoxyacetals that corresponded to the C17-C27 fragment of 20-oxygenated bryostatins. A convergent synthesis of the C11-C27 fragment of a 20-deoxybryostatin was subsequently achieved using a 2-benzothiazolylsulfone corresponding to the intact C17-C27 fragment.

Stereoselective synthesis of (2Z,4E)-2,4-pentadien-1-ols via sequential 1,4-elimination reaction and [1,2]-Wittig rearrangement starting from (E)-4-alkoxy-2-butenyl benzoates

The sequential 1,4-elimination reaction of (E)-4-alkoxy-2-butenyl benzoates and [1,2]-Wittig rearrangement gave (2Z,4E)-2,4-pentadien-1-ols stereoselectively. Z-Selective formation of intermediary vinyl ethers, whose stereochemistry was well elucidated by the "syn-effect", was achieved by treatment of the 2-butenyl benzoates with KOH in the presence of Pd catalyst. The subsequent [1,2]-Wittg rearrangement by use of n-BuLi proceeded with retention of the stereochemistry of the intermediary vinyl ethers.

Efficient and Stereoselective Synthesis of Allylic Ethers and Alcohols

[Structure: see text] A short and efficient synthesis of allylic TBS ethers and allylic alcohols has been developed, based upon a unique Kocienski-Julia olefination reaction. Allylic alcohols and allylic ethers are obtained in good to excellent yields and with high (E)-selectivity. The conditions are mild and the procedure is broadly applicable.

Stereocontrolled syntheses of kainoid amino acids from 7-azabicyclo[2.2.1]heptadienes using tandem radical addition-homoallylic radical rearrangement

[reaction; see text] N-Boc syn-7-(2-hydroxyethyl)-4-(alkyl or aryl)sulfonyl-2-azabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-enes serve as precursors in syntheses of the neuroexcitants 3-(carboxymethyl)pyrrolidine-2,4-dicarboxylic acid 43, alpha-kainic acid 12, alpha-isokainic acid 14, and alpha-dihydroallokainic acid 77. The key step in these syntheses is the intermolecular radical addition of 2-iodoethanol to a N-Boc 2-(alkyl or aryl)sulfonyl-7-azabicyclo[2.2.1]heptadiene 7 to induce nitrogen-directed homoallylic radical rearrangement. Oxidative cleavage of the resulting 2-azabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-enes provide straightforward access to polysubstituted pyrrolidines and, in particular, an efficient entry to the kainoid amino acids.

Sulfoxides in Julia−Lythgoe Olefination: Efficient and Stereoselective Preparation of Di-, Tri-, and Tetrasubstituted Olefins

[reaction: see text] A novel modification of the classical Julia-Lythgoe olefination, using sulfoxides instead of sulfones, affords, after in situ benzoylation and SmI2/HMPA- or DMPU-mediated reductive elimination, 1,2-di-, tri-, and tetrasubstituted olefins in moderate to excellent yields and E/Z selectivity. The conditions are mild, and the procedure is broadly applicable.

Olefination of α-Hydroxy or α-Aminoaldehyde Derivatives via Reaction of Their Arylsulfonylhydrazones with Sulfonyl Anions

Reaction of tosylhydrazones of O-substituted alpha-hydroxy or N-substituted alpha-amino aldehydes (2, 7, 11, 15, 17, and 20) with selected alpha-magnesio alkyl phenyl sulfones afforded the respective derivatives of allylic alcohols or allylic amines. 2,3-O-Isopropylidene-D-glyceraldehyde (1) was transformed into its tosylhydrazone (2) and then olefins 4a with retention of optical purity.

β-Elimination reactions by using samarium diiodide

The development of methodologies for the formation of carbon-carbon double bonds could be considered one of the most important challenges in organic synthesis. To this end, beta-elimination reactions in 1,2-difunctionalised substrates have been one of the most important means of generating C=C bonds. This review is intended to highlight the use of SmI2 in beta-elimination procedures, such that the organization of this revision highlights conventional beta-elimination processes which are promoted by samarium diiodide. The synthetic applications of SmI2 will be covered, and 1,2-elimination reactions which are involved in sequential reactions promoted by samarium diiodide, will also be illustrated. These methodologies along with the more recent developments in the area are discussed in this tutorial review.

3,3-Disubstituted allyl alcohols from palladium-catalyzed coupling of hydroaluminated propargyl alcohols with aryl iodides

3,3-Disubstituted prop-2-en-1-ols 4 were synthesized with a high degree of stereoselectivity from 3-substituted prop-2-yn-1-ols 1 via hydroalumination and subsequent Pd-catalyzed coupling with aryl iodides 3.