Addition of organozinc species to cyclic 1,3-diene monoepoxide

Zinc-Mediated Chain Extension Reaction of 1,3-Diketones to 1,4-Diketones and Diastereoselective Synthesis of trans-1,2-Disubstituted Cyclopropanols

[reaction: see text] A variety of 1,3-diketones can be efficiently converted into the corresponding 1,4-diketones and trans-1,2-disubstituted cyclopropanols by using organozinc species in one-pot reactions. It was found that 2.3 equiv of CF3CO2ZnCH2I was effective to give the corresponding chain-extended products in 44-85% yields, while a mixture of organozinc species formed from 4.0 equiv of Et2Zn, 2.0 equiv of CF3CO2H, and 4.0 equiv of CH2I2 resulted in the formation of trans-1,2-disubstituted cyclopropanols with quite good yields and diastereoselectivity.

Zinc-Mediated Ring-Expansion and Chain-Extension Reactions of β-Keto Esters

[Chemical reaction: see text] The reaction of cyclic beta-keto esters with CF3CO2ZnCH2I provided the corresponding ring-expanded products in moderate to good yields. Although alpha-substituted acyclic beta-keto esters reacted with much less efficient, chain-extension reaction of simple beta-keto esters also proceeded effectively to generate gamma-keto esters in high yields.

Synthesis of alkyl and aryl C-pyranosides using organozinc reagents via a Ferrier-type rearrangement

The reaction of 1,2-dihydropyranyl acetates with dimethylzinc, diethylzinc and diphenylzinc in the presence of CF3COOH gave the corresponding alky and aryl C-pyranosides via a Ferrier rearrangement in excellent yields. Use of the organozinc species, CF3CO2ZnPh, reacted with high stereoselectivity to give the phenyl C-glycosides. Arylzinc chlorides could also be successfully applied to this reaction in the presence of BF3.OEt2.

Catalytic Regiodivergent Kinetic Resolution of Allylic Epoxides: A New Entry to Allylic and Homoallylic Alcohols with High Optical Purity

A novel regiodivergent kinetic resolution of a series of allylic epoxides with alkylzinc reagents is described. Results demonstrate the potential of chiral copper-phosphoramidite catalysts for enantiomer differentiation of allylic epoxides, allowing a chiral catalyst-stereoregulated synthesis of cyclic allylic and homoallylic alcohols with high optical purities.