Desymmetric Partial Reduction of Malonic Esters

J Am Chem Soc. 2022 Apr 20;144(15):6918-6927. doi: 10.1021/jacs.2c01380. Epub 2022 Apr 7.

Abstract

Desymmetrization of easily available disubstituted malonic esters is a rewarding strategy to access structurally diverse quaternary stereocenters. Particularly, asymmetric reduction of malonic esters would generate a functional group with a lower oxidation state than the remaining ester, thus allowing for more chemoselective derivatization. Here, we report a new set of conditions for the zinc-catalyzed desymmetric hydrosilylation of malonic esters that afford aldehydes as the major product. Compared with alcohol-selective desymmetrization, the partial reduction uses a higher concentration of silanes and new pipecolinol-derived tetradentate ligands, proposedly to switch the pathway of zinc hemiacetal intermediates from elimination to silylation. As a result, high aldehyde-to-alcohol ratios and enantioselectivity of aldehydes are obtained from malonic esters with a large collection of substituents. Together with the abundant reactivity of aldehydes, the partial reduction has enabled an expeditious synthesis of bioactive compounds and natural metabolites containing a quaternary stereocenter.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alcohols
  • Aldehydes*
  • Catalysis
  • Esters*
  • Stereoisomerism
  • Zinc

Substances

  • Alcohols
  • Aldehydes
  • Esters
  • Zinc