Synlett 2005(20): 3033-3041  
DOI: 10.1055/s-2005-921899
ACCOUNT
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Desymmetrization and Diastereotopic Group Selection in 1,4-Cyclohexadienes

Armido Studer*, Florian Schleth
Organisch-Chemisches Institut, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Corrensstrasse 40, 48149 Münster, Germany
Fax: +49(251)8336523; e-Mail: studer@uni-muenster.de;
Further Information

Publication History

Received 16 August 2005
Publication Date:
28 November 2005 (online)

Abstract

Diastereotopic group selection in 1,4-cyclohexadienes is a useful approach to synthesize rather complex compounds in a single operation. The stereoinduction occurs via a covalently bound stereogenic center. Cycloadditions, Michael additions, and radical reactions have been conducted as group-selective processes. Even more elegant is the desymmetrization of an achiral 1,4-cyclohexadiene. Various chiral reagents have been used successfully to desymmetrize 1,4-cyclohexadienes. In one step, at least two new stereogenic centers are formed. Chiral quaternary carbon centers can be obtained with high selectivity. This Account will provide an overview on diastereotopic group selection and desymmetrization in various 1,4-cyclohexadiene derivatives.

  • 1 Introduction

  • 2 Diastereotopic Group-Selective Processes

  • 2.1 Cycloaddition

  • 2.2 Michael Additions

  • 2.3 Radical Processes

  • 3 Desymmetrizations

  • 3.1 Oxidations

  • 3.2 Transition-Metal-Mediated Processes

  • 3.3 Metalated Cyclohexadienes

  • 4 Conclusions

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The enantiomeric excess was determined by chiral HPLC.

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Crystallographic data for the structure reported in this paper have been deposited with the Cambridge Crystallographic Data Center as private communication no. CCDC-280946 [Klaus Harms, Private Communication(1078), 2005]. Copies of the data can be obtained free of charge via www.ccdc.cam.ac.uk/conts/retrieving.html (or from the Cambridge Crystallographic Data Centre, 12 Union Road Cambridge CB2 1EZ, UK).