The stereochemistry of reactions of nucleophilic addition to the carbonyl group of cyclic ketones

Development of Molecular Mechanics Torsion Parameters for alpha,beta-Cyclopropyl Ketones and Conformational Analysis of Bicyclo[m.1.0]alkan-2-ones

Conformations of cyclopropyl methyl ketone have been studied using ab initio methods in an effort to quantify the effects of conjugative overlap between the cyclopropane ring and an adjacent ketone carbonyl. Results were comparable with previous experimental and theoretical studies. Cyclopropyl methyl ketone exhibits a global energy minimum in the s-cis conformer and a local energy minimum near the s-trans conformer. The potential energy curve obtained was used to derive torsion parameters which were employed in molecular mechanics studies of the conformations of the set of bicyclo[m.1.0]alkan-2-ones having larger ring sizes from five- to 16-membered. Similar conformations for the cyclopropyl ketone substructure are observed for all the medium and large ring systems examined. Possible synthetic ramifications of local conformational anchoring by this functional group array are discussed.

Diastereoselective Manipulations of Bicyclo[m.1.0]alkane Derivatives. 2. Nucleophilic Additions to the Carbonyl Carbons of Bicyclo[m.1.0]alkan-2-ones(1)

Enantiomerically enriched bicyclo[m.1.0]alkan-2-ones having larger ring sizes between five and 16 members were prepared and subjected to additions of nucleophiles to the carbonyl carbon. Such additions were efficient and highly diastereoselective for all nucleophiles for bicycles with ring sizes greater than seven. Diastereoselectivity for these additions is rationalized by assuming early transition states and exposure of the same carbonyl face to the ring exterior in the vast majority of populated conformers for each bicyclic ketone.

The reduction of 5 alpha-cholestan-3-one and 5 beta-cholestan-3-one by some boranes and hydroborates

This paper describes the high yield synthesis of 5 alpha-cholestan-3 alpha-ol and 5 beta-cholestan-3 beta-ol by the reduction of 5 alpha- and 5 beta-cholestan-3-one using using potassium and lithium-tri-sec-butyl-hydroborates as reducing reagents. Attempts to obtain the same alcohols using other bulky boranes resulted in the equatorial products.