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A Route to Carbasugar Analogues - Jonathan Clayden - The ...

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1.2 – Electrophilic dearomatisation<br />

HO<br />

NaOH, CHCl 3<br />

OHC<br />

HO<br />

1<br />

+<br />

O<br />

2<br />

CHCl 2<br />

NaOH, CHCl 3<br />

CHCl 2<br />

HO<br />

O<br />

3 80%<br />

Scheme 1.1 – the first dearomatising addition by Von Auwers 3<br />

Other than providing mechanistic evidence for the Reimer-Tiemann reaction, this<br />

dearomatisation remained unexplored until Woodward proposed its use <strong>to</strong> introduce<br />

the angular methyl group in the synthesis of sterols. Tetralin 4 was subjected <strong>to</strong> the<br />

conditions, giving both the aldehyde and the desired dienone 5 (Scheme 1.2a). 4 Upon<br />

gentle hydrogenation alcohol 6 was obtained, whilst stronger conditions led <strong>to</strong><br />

dehalogenation. This observation led Woodward <strong>to</strong> postulate the possible biosynthesis<br />

of the male hormone oesterone from andros<strong>to</strong>ne (Scheme 1.2b).<br />

a)<br />

H 2<br />

CHCl 2<br />

HO<br />

4<br />

NaOH, CHCl 3<br />

O<br />

OHC<br />

CHCl 2<br />

15%<br />

5<br />

+<br />

HO<br />

6<br />

b)<br />

Me<br />

O<br />

HO<br />

50%<br />

Me O<br />

proposed<br />

biosynthesis<br />

Me<br />

HO<br />

HO<br />

oestrone<br />

andros<strong>to</strong>ne<br />

Scheme 1.2 – a) introduction of the angular methyl group b) proposed biosynthesis 4<br />

1.2.2 <strong>The</strong> Birch reduction<br />

<strong>The</strong> most widely used dearomatising reaction is the dissolving metal reduction<br />

discovered by Birch. 5 <strong>The</strong> reduction yields the product of the 1,4-addition of hydrogen<br />

across the arene system, giving the non-conjugated diene 8 (Scheme 1.3). <strong>The</strong><br />

formation of the thermodynamically unfavoured 1,4-diene is due <strong>to</strong> the kinetically-<br />

16

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