Enantioselective Ammonium Ylide Mediated One-Pot Synthesis of Highly Substituted γ-Butyrolactones

Abstract

An ammonium ylide mediated access towards trans-β,γ-disubstituted, all-trans-α,β,γ-trisubstituted, and α,α,β,γ-tetrasubstituted γ-butyrolactones bearing a broad variety of functionalities was developed. Starting from widely accessible benzylidene Meldrum's acid derivatives and α-bromo carbonyl compounds, γ-butyrolactones were obtained in yields between 32–99% with up to excellent diastereoselectivities (>95:5) via a DABCO-mediated [2+1] annulation. Utilization of enantiomerically pure cinchona alkaloid derivatives enables the first asymmetric ammonium ylide mediated method to provide (3R, 4R)-β,γ-disubstituted and (2R, 3R, 4R)-α,β,γ-trisubstituted γ-butyrolactones in moderate to good yields with up to very good enantiomeric ratios (97:3). The scalability of the transformation was proven while determining the absolute configuration. (Figure presented.).