Iron-Catalyzed Regio- and Stereoselective Substitution of γ,δ-Epoxy-α,β-unsaturated Esters and Amides with Grignard Reagents

Abstract

When gamma,delta-epoxy-alpha,beta-unsaturated esters or amides were treated with 2 equiv of Grignard reagents in the presence of 10-24 mol % FeCl(2), regio- and stereoselective substitution of the epoxide moiety with the Grignard reagent occurred to give exclusively delta-hydroxy-gamma-alkyl or aryl-alpha,beta-unsaturated esters or amides in good yields.