A method for the regioselective asymmetric aldol addition of 2-alkyl allenoates with aldehydes to provide an α- or γ-adduct depending on the aldehyde pair is reported. In most cases, except enals, a mixture of a chiral bromoborane with 2-alkyl allenoates in the presence of iPrNEt can react with aldehydes to provide efficient γ-addition products as single isomers containing axial and central chirality. On the other hand, observations indicate that enals undergo α-addition to yield highly functionalized adducts, including an α-carbon quaternary center in high levels of diastereo- and enantioselectivity.
A synthesis of natural tetrahydrofuran lignan (+)-sylvone is achieved starting from methyl allenoate in 5 steps. The synthesis begins from an enantioselective aldol reaction of methyl allenoate with 3,4-dimethoxybenzaldehyde to afford α-addition aldol adduct. Key steps for the synthesis of sylvone include an oxacyclization of the α-hydroxy allenyl adduct followed by a Michael addition of a 1,3-dithiane derivative to establish a sylvone skeleton with suitable stereoselections.
A highly stereoselective synthesis of 3-butynyl-threo-aldol adducts is achieved from the reaction of allyl allenoate with a chiral bromoborane in the presence of iPr2NEt, followed by addition of BF3·OEt2 as an additive to scavenge excess base and then aldehydes, whereas isomeric allenyl aldol adducts are formed in the absence of a Lewis acid additive from methyl allenoate.
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