Consequences of rigidity and conformational locking in a 4,4-dimethyl-1,3-dioxolane ring system during protection of internal diol

The presence of an isopropylidene ketal protection of an internal diol in 3,4-O-isopropylidene-D-arabino-1-C-phenyl hexanone locks it in a conformation that prevents its cyclization to a pyranose ring.     

Umpolung catalysts: comparative assessments on reactivities

Umpolung catalysis is studied by a sequence of model reactions (CPCM in THF, B3LYP/6-31G*) with different aldehydes and catalysts. We involved addition of the catalyst to the aldehyde and 1,2-H-migration to form a carbanionic d¹-species, which is the crucial intermediate according to the Lapworth- and Breslow-mechanisms. Cyanide, N-methylthiazol-2-ylidene, and a glycol-based phosphite perform as umpolung catalysts, formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, benzaldehyde, and acrolein are substrates in this study. In these aldehyde substrates, alkyl-substitution disfavors but π-conjugation favors formation of the carbanionic d¹-intermediate. The nucleophilic carbene, N-methylthiazol-2-ylidene, is the strongest umpolung catalyst, while the phosphite is about as active as cyanide. Figure Transitions structure for the umpolung of formaldehyde with a glycol phosphinite catalyst Dedicated to Professor Dr. Paul von Ragué Schleyer on the occasion of his 75th birthday