Methylenation for Aldehydes and Ketones Using 1-Methylbenzimidazol-2-yl Methyl Sulfone

The influence of α-coordinating groups of aldehydes on E/Z-selectivity and the use of quaternary ammonium counter ions for enhanced E-selectivity in the Julia-Kocienski reaction

Modified reaction conditions for improved E-selectivity of olefins in the Julia-Kocienski reaction of aldehydes having α-coordinating substituents are demonstrated. The chelating groups in aldehydes are expected to stabilize the syn-transition state with metal ions, whereas the weakly coordinating quaternary ammonium ions are devoid of all possible chelating interactions to enhance E-selectivity. A systematic investigation is presented to study the size of the neighbouring protecting groups of aldehydes and their chelation effect on E/Z-selectivity in the Julia-Kocienski reaction.

One-Pot Preparation of (E)-α,β-Unsaturated Aldehydes by a Julia-Kocienski Reaction of 2,2-Dimethoxyethyl PT Sulfone Followed by Acid Hydrolysis

(E)-α,β-Unsaturated aldehydes were synthesized by the Julia-Kocienski reaction of 2,2-dimethoxyethyl 1-phenyl-1H-tetrazol-5-yl (PT) sulfone 3 with various aldehydes, followed by acid hydrolysis. The reaction could be carried out in one pot, and various (E)-α,β-unsaturated aldehydes were obtained in a short time and with high yields.

Stereoselective Synthesis of Ribofuranoid exo-Glycals by One-Pot Julia Olefination Using Ribofuranosyl Sulfones

One-pot Julia olefination using ribofuranosyl sulfones is described. The α-anomers of the ribofuranosyl sulfones were synthesized with complete α-selectivity via the glycosylation of heteroarylthiols using ribofuranosyl iodides as glycosyl donors and the subsequent oxidation of the resulting heteroaryl 1-thioribofuranosides with magnesium monoperphthalate (MMPP). The Julia olefination of the α-ribofuranosyl sulfones with aldehydes proceeded smoothly in one pot to afford the thermodynamically less stable (E)-exo-glycals with modest-to-excellent stereoselectivity (up to E/Z = 94:6) under the optimized conditions. The E selectivity was especially high for aromatic aldehydes. In contrast, the (Z)-exo-glycal was obtained as the main product with low stereoselectivity when the corresponding β-ribofuranosyl sulfone was used (E/Z = 41:59). The remarkable impact of the anomeric configuration of the ribofuranosyl sulfones on the stereoselectivity of the Julia olefination has been rationalized using density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The protected ribose moiety of the resulting exo-glycals induced completely α-selective cyclopropanation on the exocyclic carbon-carbon double bond via the Simmons-Smith-Furukawa reaction. The 2-cyanoethyl group was found to be useful for the protection of the exo-glycals, as it could be removed without affecting the exocyclic C═C bond.

Stereoselective Synthesis of Trisubstituted (Z)-Alkenes from Ketones via the Julia-Kocienski Olefination Using 1-Methyl- and 1-tert-Butyl-1H-tetrazol-5-yl Alkyl Sulfones

1-Methyl-1H-tetrazol-5-yl (MT) alkyl sulfones 1b, 3b, and 7b react with various unsymmetrical ketones in the presence of LiHMDS in THF at low temperature to give trisubstituted (Z)-alkenes in good yields stereoselectively (Z/E = 91:9 to 99:1). For sterically less demanding ketones, olefination using t-Bu reagents 1d and 3d generated (Z)-alkenes with higher stereoselectivity (93:7-99:1).