IChO 1993 · Theory problem 4

Synthesis of frontalin

i) Frontalin is a pheromone of the western pine beetle with composition C 67.58 %, H 9.92 %, O 22.50 %. It is an acetal that can be prepared through a rather long synthesis starting from sodium diethylmalonate (sodium salt of propanedioic acid, diethyl ester) and 3-chloro-2-methylpropene.

ii) The product A resulting from this first step is subsequently hydrolyzed by conc. potassium hydroxide and then decarboxylated by treatment with hot acetic acid to give a compound B. The latter reacts with aq \(\ce{NaHCO3}\) (gas evolution is observed) as well as with cold aq \(\ce{KMnO4}\) which turns to a brown colour.

iii) The compound B is then converted by \(\ce{LiAlH4}\) into a new compound C (\(\ce{C6H12O}\)).

iv) Treatment of C with p-toluenesulfonyl chloride in pyridine and then sodium cyanide in dimethylsulfoxide, affords D (\(\ce{C7H11N}\)).

v) The subsequent reaction of D with methylmagnesium iodide, followed by hydrolysis, yield E (\(\ce{C8H14O}\)). E shows IR absorption at ca \(1700\ \mathrm{cm^{-1}}\).

vi) The epoxidation of E with metachloroperbenzoic acid then affords F (\(\ce{C8H14O2}\)) which, by treatment with diluted acids is converted to frontalin acetal G.

Questions:

4.1 Draw the structures of compounds A - G.

Official English text of the problem.

Answers

  • 4.1. The structures are as follows. For F and G, both enantiomers are shown because the synthesis gives racemic products.
Compound Name SMILES
A Diethyl 2-(2-methylprop-2-en-1-yl)propanedioate CCOC(=O)C(CC(=C)C)C(=O)OCC
B 4-Methylpent-4-enoic acid C=C(C)CCC(=O)O
C 4-Methylpent-4-en-1-ol C=C(C)CCCO
D 5-Methylhex-5-enenitrile C=C(C)CCCC#N
E 6-Methylhept-6-en-2-one CC(=O)CCCC(=C)C
F (±)-6,7-Epoxy-6-methylheptan-2-one CC(=O)CCC[C@]1(C)CO1 and CC(=O)CCC[C@@]1(C)CO1
G (±)-Frontalin: 1,5-dimethyl-6,8-dioxabicyclo[3.2.1]octane C[C@]12CCC[C@](C)(OC1)O2 and C[C@@]12CCC[C@@](C)(OC1)O2

The two SMILES for G represent the \((1S,5R)\) and \((1R,5S)\) enantiomers, respectively.

Solution

4.1.

The elemental composition first provides a useful check. On a \(100.00\ \mathrm{g}\) basis, using standard atomic masses,

\[ \begin{aligned} n_{\mathrm C}&=\frac{67.58\ \mathrm g}{12.01\ \mathrm{g\,mol^{-1}}} =5.627\ \mathrm{mol},\\ n_{\mathrm H}&=\frac{9.92\ \mathrm g}{1.008\ \mathrm{g\,mol^{-1}}} =9.841\ \mathrm{mol},\\ n_{\mathrm O}&=\frac{22.50\ \mathrm g}{16.00\ \mathrm{g\,mol^{-1}}} =1.406\ \mathrm{mol}. \end{aligned} \]

Thus,

\[ n_{\mathrm C}:n_{\mathrm H}:n_{\mathrm O} =4.001:6.998:1\approx4:7:1. \]

The empirical formula is therefore \(\ce{C4H7O}\). The synthesis below establishes the molecular formula \(\ce{C8H14O2}\).

i) Alkylation gives A.

Sodium diethylmalonate, [Na+].[CH-](C(=O)OCC)C(=O)OCC, contains a nucleophilic carbon between the two ester groups. It attacks the chlorine-bearing carbon of 3-chloro-2-methylpropene, C=C(C)CCl, displacing chloride in an \(S_\mathrm N2\) reaction.

The balanced net ionic equation is

\[ \ce{[CH(COOC2H5)2]- + CH2=C(CH3)CH2Cl -> CH2=C(CH3)CH2CH(COOC2H5)2 + Cl-}. \]

Consequently,

\[ \boxed{\mathbf A=\ce{CH2=C(CH3)CH2CH(COOC2H5)2}}. \]

The alkene remains intact.

ii) Ester hydrolysis and decarboxylation give B.

Hydrolysis converts both ester groups into carboxylate groups. Protonation gives 2-(2-methylprop-2-en-1-yl)propanedioic acid, C=C(C)CC(C(=O)O)C(=O)O.

As a substituted malonic acid, it loses one carboxyl group as carbon dioxide upon heating:

\[ \ce{CH2=C(CH3)CH2CH(COOH)2 -> [\Delta] CH2=C(CH3)CH2CH2COOH + CO2}. \]

A balanced overall equation incorporating saponification and treatment with acetic acid is

\[ \ce{A + 2KOH + 2CH3COOH -> B + 2C2H5OH + CO2 + 2CH3COOK}. \]

Therefore,

\[ \boxed{\mathbf B=\ce{CH2=C(CH3)CH2CH2COOH}}, \qquad \ce{C6H10O2}. \]

Both observations support this structure:

  • Its carboxylic acid group reacts with bicarbonate, releasing carbon dioxide, O=C=O:

\[ \ce{CH2=C(CH3)CH2CH2COOH + HCO3- -> CH2=C(CH3)CH2CH2COO- + CO2 ^ + H2O}. \]

The organic product is the 4-methylpent-4-enoate ion, C=C(C)CCC(=O)[O-].

  • Its alkene undergoes dihydroxylation with cold aqueous permanganate, producing brown manganese(IV) oxide, \(\ce{MnO2}\).

For a balanced equation in carboxylate form, let \(B^-\) denote the ion above and \(P^-\) the 4,5-dihydroxy-4-methylpentanoate ion, formed as a racemic pair: O=C([O-])CC[C@](O)(C)CO and O=C([O-])CC[C@@](O)(C)CO. Then

\[ \ce{3B- + 2MnO4- + 4H2O -> 3P- + 2MnO2 v + 2OH-}. \]

iii) Reduction gives C.

Lithium aluminium hydride reduces the carboxylic acid group to a primary alcohol while retaining the isolated alkene.

The balanced organic reduction, with \(\ce{[H]}\) denoting a hydrogen-atom reducing equivalent, is

\[ \ce{CH2=C(CH3)CH2CH2COOH + 4[H] -> CH2=C(CH3)CH2CH2CH2OH + H2O}. \]

Thus,

\[ \boxed{\mathbf C=\ce{CH2=C(CH3)(CH2)3OH}}, \qquad \ce{C6H12O}, \]

in agreement with the given formula.

iv) Tosylation and cyanide substitution give D.

Tosylation converts the alcohol into a good leaving group without changing the carbon skeleton. The intermediate is 4-methylpent-4-en-1-yl 4-methylbenzenesulfonate, C=C(C)CCCOS(=O)(=O)c1ccc(C)cc1.

For the following equations, define

\[ R=\ce{CH2=C(CH3)CH2CH2CH2-}, \qquad \mathrm{Ts}=\ce{p-CH3C6H4SO2-}. \]

The balanced transformations are

\[ \ce{ROH + TsCl + C5H5N -> ROTs + C5H5NH+ + Cl-}, \]

\[ \ce{ROTs + CN- -> RCN + TsO-}. \]

Cyanide attacks through carbon at the primary carbon bearing the leaving group. This introduces one additional carbon atom:

\[ \boxed{\mathbf D=\ce{CH2=C(CH3)(CH2)3C#N}}, \qquad \ce{C7H11N}. \]

v) Reaction with methylmagnesium iodide gives E.

The methyl group attacks the nitrile carbon. Hydrolysis of the resulting imine magnesium intermediate converts the nitrile-derived carbon into a ketone carbonyl.

For an acidic aqueous work-up, a balanced net equation is

\[ \ce{RCN + CH3MgI + H2O + 2H+ -> RCOCH3 + NH4+ + Mg^2+ + I-}. \]

Consequently,

\[ \boxed{\mathbf E=\ce{CH3CO(CH2)3C(CH3)=CH2}}, \qquad \ce{C8H14O}. \]

The methyl group supplied by the Grignard reagent accounts for the increase from seven to eight carbons. The ketone carbonyl accounts for the IR absorption near \(1700\ \mathrm{cm^{-1}}\).

vi) Epoxidation gives F; acid-catalyzed cyclization gives G.

3-Chloroperoxybenzoic acid, O=C(OO)c1cccc(Cl)c1, transfers one oxygen atom to the alkene and becomes 3-chlorobenzoic acid, O=C(O)c1cccc(Cl)c1.

The balanced molecular equation is

\[ \underbrace{\ce{C8H14O}}_{\mathbf E} +\ce{C7H5ClO3} \longrightarrow \underbrace{\ce{C8H14O2}}_{\mathbf F} +\ce{C7H5ClO2}. \]

To draw F, replace the terminal double bond of E with an oxirane ring: oxygen joins carbons 6 and 7 to form a three-membered ring. Carbon 6 carries a methyl group and the \(\ce{-CH2CH2CH2COCH3}\) chain; carbon 7 is \(\ce{CH2}\).

Attack on either face of the alkene produces the two enantiomers of F in equal amounts.

The subsequent acid-catalyzed conversion can be understood by representing epoxide hydration followed by intramolecular ketal formation. Hydration gives 6,7-dihydroxy-6-methylheptan-2-one,

\[ \ce{CH3CO(CH2)3C(OH)(CH3)CH2OH}, \]

whose two enantiomeric SMILES are CC(=O)CCC[C@](C)(O)CO and CC(=O)CCC[C@@](C)(O)CO.

The balanced steps are

\[ \underbrace{\ce{C8H14O2}}_{\mathbf F}+\ce{H2O} \xrightarrow{\ce{H+}} \ce{C8H16O3}, \]

\[ \ce{C8H16O3} \xrightarrow{\ce{H+}} \underbrace{\ce{C8H14O2}}_{\mathbf G}+\ce{H2O}. \]

In the ketal-forming step, the two hydroxyl oxygens form bonds to the former carbonyl carbon, with loss of water. The net conversion F \(\rightarrow\) G therefore leaves the molecular formula unchanged.

For a precise drawing of G, designate the former carbonyl carbon as \(C_a\) and the methyl-substituted epoxide carbon as \(C_b\). Each bears a methyl group. Connect them by three bridges:

\[ C_a-\ce{CH2-CH2-CH2}-C_b, \qquad C_a-\ce{O-CH2}-C_b, \qquad C_a-\ce{O}-C_b. \]

These bridges contain three, two and one intervening atoms, respectively, giving the bicyclo[3.2.1]octane skeleton. With heteroatom numbering, the product is 1,5-dimethyl-6,8-dioxabicyclo[3.2.1]octane, frontalin.

Finally,

\[ \mathrm{DBE}=\frac{2(8)+2-14}{2}=2. \]

Both degrees of unsaturation in G are accounted for by rings. The specified achiral synthesis gives racemic \((1S,5R)/(1R,5S)\)-frontalin.

The solution was checked against the official solution.