Synthesis of Natural Fragrant Molecules cis-3-Methyl-4-decanolide and Aerangis Lactone. General Enantioselective Routes to β,γ-cis-Disubstituted γ-Lactones and γ,δ-cis-Disubstituted δ-Lactones

Abstract

General enantioselective routes to 3,4-cis-dialkyl substituted gamma-lactones and 4,5-cis-dialkyl substituted delta-lactones using TiCl(4)-mediated Evans asymmetric aldolization as the key step are reported. The syntheses are exemplified with two natural fragrant molecules, cis-3-methyl-4-decanolide (1) and aerangis lactone (2). The (R,R) steroegenic centers were established using (S)-phenylalanine-derived 2-oxazolidinone or thiazolidinethione as chiral auxiliary, whereas the (S,S) ones were constructed with auxiliary prepared from (R)-phenylglycine. NaBH(4)/CaCl(2)/THF in the presence of a small amount of EtOH was introduced as a new effective method for reductive cleavage of chiral oxazolidinone auxiliaries. Previously unknown, tricky concentration effects were observed during the monotosylation of diol 7 and BOM protection of Evans aldol 23.