BF3·OEt2-Catalyzed Unexpected Stereoselective Formation of 2,4- trans-Diallyl-2-methyl-6-aryltetrahydro-2 H-pyrans with Quaternary Stereocenters

J Org Chem. 2021 May 7;86(9):6518-6527. doi: 10.1021/acs.joc.1c00352. Epub 2021 Apr 27.

Abstract

The present manuscript describes a convenient, mild, and highly stereoselective method for the allylation of δ-hydroxy-α,β-unsaturated ketones having a benzylic hydroxyl group at the δ-position using allyltrimethylsilane mediated by BF3·OEt2, leading to 2,4-diallyl-2-methyl-6-aryltetrahydro-2H-pyran ring systems with quaternary carbon stereogenic centers. This represents the first example of a tandem isomerization followed by one C-O and two C-C bond-forming reactions in one pot. The isolation of TMS-protected lactol as an intermediate from the reaction strongly supports the proposed mechanistic pathway.