Rhodium-catalyzed formylation of organomercurials: application to efficient polyol synthesis

The rhodium-catalyzed formylation of organomercurials-a new transformation of organomercurials-is reported. The addition of 0.50 equiv of 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (DABCO) was found to promote the reaction, and it is postulated that the DABCO acts as a ligand for mercury. Several examples are presented to document the scope of the reaction. This reaction was developed in the context of a larger program focused on the development of efficient strategies for the synthesis of polyol-derived natural products, and an efficient (8 steps) synthesis of Tolypothrix pentaether that employs this methodology is reported.

Yb(OTf)(3)-Catalyzed oxymercuration of homoallylic alcohol-derived hemiacetals and hemiketals

1,3-Diol synthons, protected as acetonides or benzylidene acetals, may be synthesized efficiently from homoallylic alcohols and acetone or benzaldehyde by oxymercuration of the derived hemiketals and hemiacetals with HgClOAc. The use of catalytic amounts of Yb(OTf)(3) is crucial to the success of the reaction, which was determined to be reversible.

Oxymercuration of homoallylic alcohol derived hemiacetals: diastereoselective synthesis of protected 1,3-diols

[reaction: see text] Protected 1,3-diol synthons may be synthesized efficiently from homoallyic alcohols and simple aldehydes by oxymercuration of the derived hemiacetals. The reactions are diastereoselective and proceed without the use of solvent. Both Hg(OAc)2 and HgClOAc are effective in the reaction, and the latter produces isolable organomercurial chlorides directly.