Enantioselective Route to Ketones and Lactones from Exocyclic Allylic Alcohols via Metal and Enzyme Catalysis

• A general and efficient route for the synthesis of enantiomerically pure a-substituted ketones and the corresponding lactones has been developed. Ruthenium- and enzyme-catalyzed dynamic kinetic resolution (DKR) with a subsequent Cu-catalyzed alpha-allylic substitution are the key steps of the route. The a-substituted ketones were obtained in high yields and with excellent enantiomeric excess. The methodology was applied to the synthesis of a naturally occurring caprolactone, (R)-10-methyl-6-undecanolide, via a subsequent Baeyer-Villiger oxidation.

Subject headings

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Kemi -- Organisk kemi (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Chemical Sciences -- Organic Chemistry (hsv//eng)

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)