Dicarbonyl Compounds (Chapter 23) Flashcards
Ester + Ester ⟶ β-Ketoester
Claisen Condensation
Irreversible (Cannot Undergo Retro-Claisen Condensation)
Ester’ + Ester’’ ⟶ β-Ketoester
Ester-Ester Mixed Claisen Condensation
Irreversible
Ketone + Ester ⟶ β-Diketone
Ketone-Ester Mixed Claisen Condensation
Irreversible
Reagents: Claisen Condensation
Starting Material = Ester (w/ two α-Hydrogens)
- NaOCH2CH3, HOCH2CH3
- H2O, H2SO4
The ester reagent must possess two α-Hydrogens. (Ester reagents with zero/one α-Hydrogen will not undergo Claisen Condensation.)
Why must one ester possess two α-Hydrogens and the other ester possess no α-Hydrogens?
Ester-Ester Mixed Claisen Condensation
- One ester must possess no α-Hydrogens to ensure it is not deprotonated for form an ester enolate.
- One ester must possess two α-Hydrogens to ensure it is deprotonated to form an ester enolate.
Only one ester should become the ester enolate.
The ester possessing no α-Hydrogens should be in large excess to ensure it is preferentially attacked by the ester enolate (in favor of self-Claisen Condenation).
Why must the ester possessing no α-Hydrogens be in large excess?
Ester-Ester Mixed Claisen Condensation
The β-ketoester product will be the major product only if the non-α-Hydrogen ester is in large excess.
Without large excess of the non-α-Hydrogen ester, the self-Claisen Condensation produce may become the major product.
Reagents: Ester-Ester Mixed Claisen Condensation
Starting Materials = Two Unique Esters
- NaOCH2CH3
- H2O, H2SO4
- One ester must possess two α-Hydrogens, while the other ester must possess no α-Hydrogens.
- The ester possessing no α-Hydrogens must be in large excess (to ensure that it is attacked by the ester enolate nucleophile).
Mechanism: Ketone-Ester Mixed Claisen Condensation
- The hydride reagent deprotonates the α-Hydrogen of the ketone (to form an enolate).
- The enolate nucleophile attacks the carbonyl Carbon of the ester (to form a tetrahedral intermediate).
- Rearrangement of the oxide’s π-electrons forms a ketone and eliminates an alkoxide.
- The intercarbonyl** α-Hydrogen is deprotonated** (to form the β-diketone enolate).
- Acid workup protonates the intercarbonyl α-Carbon to yield the β-Diketone product.
Why is the ketone α-Hydrogen deprotonated before the ester α-Hydrogen?
Ketone-Ester Mixed Claisen Condensation
The ketone α-Hydrogen is more acidic (than the ester α-Hydrogen) due to the ester’s electron-donating ether Oxygen.
The ester’s ether Oxygen destabilizes the ester enolate (i.e. the conjugate base) due its electron-donating character.
Mechanism: Ester-Ester Mixed Claisen Condensation
- The alkoxide reagent/catalyst deprotonates the α-Hydrogen of one ester (to form an ester enolate).
- The ester enolate nucleophile attacks the carbonyl Carbon of the other ester (to form a tetrahedral intermediate).
- Rearrangement of the oxide’s π-electrons forms a ketone and eliminates an alkoxide.
- The intercarbonyl α-Hydrogen is deprotonated (to form the β-ketoester enolate).
- Acid workup protonates the intercarbonyl α-Carbon to yield the β-Ketoester product.
Reagents: Ketone-Ester Mixed Claisen Condensation
Starting Materials = Ketone + Ester
- NaH
- H2O, H2SO4
Mechanism: Claisen Condensation
- Deprotonation of Ester α-Hydrogen to Yield Ester Enolate
- Nucleophilic Addition of Ester Enolate to Another Ester Carbonyl
- π-Electron Rearrangement to Eliminate Alkoxide Group
- Deprotonation of Intercarbonyl α-Hydrogen to Form β-Ketoester Enolate
- Acid Workup to protonate Intercarbonyl α-Carbon.
The final β-Ketoester product is stable under weakly acidic conditions (i.e. cannot under retro-Claisen Condensation).
Driving Force: Claisen Condensation
Final Deprotonation to Yield β-Ketoester Enolate
Why is the final deprotonated step of Claisen Condensation highly favorable?
The intercarbonyl α-Hydrogens are significanly more acidic than the hydroxyl Hydrogens (of the basic catalyst’s conjugate acid), so α-Hydrogen deprotonation (to form the hydroxyl group on the catalytic base) readily occurs.
Why are ester reagents with zero α-Hydrogens unable to undergo Claisen Condensation?
The ester enolate (formed via or α-Hydrogen deprotonation) cannot be synthesized when no α-Hydrogen is present.
Why are ester reagents with one α-Hydrogen unable to undergo Claisen Condensation?
A second α-Hydrogen is required for the final/second deprotonation step that “drives” the Claisen Condensation reaction toward the β-Ketoester enolate product.
WIthout a second α-Hydrogen, the formed β-Ketoester cannot be deprotonated within the basic Claisen Condensation conditions. (The non-deprotonated β-Ketoester is highly unstable under basic conditions, so the overall condensation reaction is thermodynamically unfavorable.)
β-Ketoester ⟶ Ester + Ester
Retro-Claisen Condensation
Reversible
Retro-Claisen Condensation must occur under basic conditions.
β-Diketone ⟶ Ester + Ketone
Retro-Claisen Condensation
Reversible
Reagents: Retro-Claisen Condensation
Starting Material = β-Dicarbonyl (w/o α-Hydrogens)
NaOCH2CH3
- The reagent β-dicarbonyl can be either a β-Ketoester OR a β-Diketone.
- No α-Hydrogens can be present on the reagent β-dicarbonyl to ensure alkoxide addition to a carbonyl Carbon. (f the reagent β-dicarbonyl possesses α-Hydrogens, the alkoxide will facilitate deprotonation to form a β-Dicarbonyl enolate.)
Why is the self-Aldol Condensation of ketones thermodynamically unfavorable?
- The carbonyl Carbons of ketones are relatively stable (which decreases their susceptibility to nucleophilic attack by an enolate).
- The carbonyl Carbons of ketones experience steric hindrance (which inhibits attack by the nucleophilic enolate).
Self-Aldol Condensation of ketones does not occur.
Diester ⟶ Cyclic β-Ketoester
Intramolecular Claisen Condensation
Dieckmann Condensation
The Intramolecular Claisen Condensation reaction is effective for forming five-membered/six-membered rings.
Why are Ketoesters unable to undergo Intramolecular Claisen Condensation?
The ketone’s alkyl substituent cannot serve as a leaving group (following intramolecular attack of the ester enolate’s α-Carbon).
Since the ketone’s alkyl substituent cannot leave, the reformation of the ketone group (C=O) cannot occur.
Mechanism: Intramolecular Claisen Condensation
Dieckmann Condensation
- The alkoxide reagent/catalyst deprotonates the α-Hydrogen of one ester (to form an ester enolate).
- The ester enolate attacks the carbonyl Carbon of the other ester (to form a five-membered/six-membered ring).
- Rearrangement of the oxide’s π-electrons forms a ketone and eliminates an alkoxide.
- The intercarbonyl α-Hydrogen is deprotonated (to form the cyclic β-ketoester enolate).
- Acid workup protonates the intercarbonyl α-Carbon to yield the cyclic β-Ketoester product.
Reagents: Intramolecular Claisen Condensation
Dieckmann Condensation
- NaOCH2CH3
- H2O, H2SO4
β-Dicarbonyl ⟶ Alkyl-Substitued β-Dicarbonyl
β-Dicarbonyl = β-Ketoester OR β-Diketone OR β-Diester
β-Dicarbonyl Monoalkylation
β-Dicarbonyl ⟶ Dialkyl-Substitued β-Ketoester
β-Dicarbonyl = β-Ketoester OR β-Diketone OR β-Diester
β-Dicarbonyl Dialkylation
Why are 2° Alkyl Halides able to be used in β-dicarbonyl alkylation reactions?
The alkoxide base (used to deprotonate the α-Hydrogen) is not present during the alkylation step, so there are no side reactions competing with alkoxide SN2 addition to the 2° alkyl halide.
3° alkyl halides cannot to be used in β-dicarbonyl alkylation reactions due the steric hindrances against SN2 attack.
Why does E2-Elimination not occur during β-dicarbonyl alkylation reactions.
The β-dicarbonyl anion is a weak base, so it will preferentially perform SN2 addition to 0°/1°/2° alkyl halides.
E2-Elimination will occur when 3° alkyl halides are used since SN2 addition is not possible (due to steric hindrance).
Reagents: β-Dicarbonyl Dialkylation
- NaOCH2CH3
- R—X
- KOC(CH3)3
- R—I
- The alkyl halide (R—X) can be a 0°/1°/2° Alkyl Halide or an Allyl Halide. (2° Alkyl Halides can be used in β-dicarbonyl alkylation reactions since the alkoxide base is not present during the alkylation step.)
- The more reactive alkyl iodide (R—I) is used during the second α-alkylation step (since this second step is less favorable).
Reagents: β-Dicarbonyl Monoalkylation
- NaOCH2CH3
- R—X
The alkyl halide (R—X) can be a 0°/1°/2° Alkyl Halide or an Allyl Halide. (2° Alkyl Halides can be used in β-Dicarbonyl alkylation reactions since the alkoxide base is not present during the alkylation step.)
Why does over-alkylation not occur during β-Dicarbonyl Alkylation?
The basic reagent/catalyst and the alkyl halide are reacted separately with the β-Dicarbonyl reagent.
Since α-Hydrogen deprotonation and alkylation occur in unique steps, only one alkyl group adds to the β-Dicarbonyl compound at a time.
Why is hydroxide (OH–) not used as the basic reagent/catalyst?
β-Dicarbonyl Alkylation
Hydroxide could add to the ester’s carbonyl Carbon to facilitate ester hydrolysis (instead of β-Dicarbonyl Alkylation).
NaOCH2CH3 vs. KOC(CH3)3
KOC(CH3)3 = Potassium t-Butoxide
KOC(CH3)3 is used as a stronger alkoxide base (than NaOCH2CH3) to promote the less reactive second α-Hydrogen deprotonation.
The Potassium t-Butoxide is paired with an alkyl iodie to drive the less-favorable second α-alkylation step.
β-Dicarbonyl ⟶ β-1,5-Tricarbonyl
β-Dicarbonyl = β-Ketoester OR β-Diketone OR β-Diester
Michael Addition
Michael Addition with β-dicarbonyl compounds favors 1,4-addition.
Reagents: Michael Addition
Starting Material = β-Dicarbonyl
α,β-Unsaturated Carbonyl, NaOCH2CH3 (Catalyst), CH3CH2OH
The Michael Addition reaction occurs under basic conditions only.
Mechanism: Michael Addition
- The alkoxide catalyst deprotonates the intracarbonyl α-Hydrogen (to yield a β-dicarbonyl anion).
- The β-dicarbonyl anion adds to the α,β-unsaturated carbonyl’s β-Carbon.
- The oxide’s π-electrons rearrange to form a ketone while the new ketone’s α-Carbon becomes protonated (by the ethanol reagent).
Which carboxylic acid derivates do organocuprates react with?
Acyl Halides
β-1,5-Tricarbonyl ⟶ α,β-Unsaturated Cyclohexanone
Intramolecular Adol Condenation
Step 2 of Robinson Annulation
The Intramolecular Aldol Condensation reaction occurs under basic conditions and high temperatures only.
β-Dicarbonyl ⟶ α,β-Unsaturated Cyclohexanone
Robinson Annulation
Michael Addition + Intramolecular Adol Condensation
The Robinson Annulation reaction occurs under basic conditions and high temperatures only.
Robinson Annulation
Michael Addition + Intramolecular Adol Condensation
The Robinson Annulation reaction occurs under basic conditions and high temperatures only.
Reagents: Robinson Annulation
Starting Material = β-Dicarbonyl
- α,β-Unsaturated Carbonyl, NaOCH2CH3, CH3CH2OH
- NaOCH2CH3, Δ
Reagents: Intramolecular Aldol Condensation
Step 2 of Robinson Annulation
NaOCH2CH3, Δ
Mechanism: Intramolecular Aldol Condensation
Step 2 of Robinson Annulation
- The terminal α-Carbon of the non-cyclic ketone is deprotonated (by the ethoxide base) to create a terminal enolate.
- The terminal enolate adds to the cyclic ketone’s carbonyl Carbon to form a six-membered ring.
- The oxide ion is protonated (by ethanol) to yield a hydroxyl-substituted tetrahedral intermediate.
- The α-Carbon of the (former enolate) ketone is deprotonated to yield a cyclic enolate.
- Rearrangement of the enolate’s π-electrons reforms the ketone and eliminates the hydroxyl group.
The terminal α-Carbon (of the non-cyclic ketone) must possess at least two α-Hydrogens.
Mechanism: Robinson Annulation
- Deprotonation of β-Dicarbonyl’s α-Hydrogen (to Yield β-Dicarbonyl Anion)
- β-Dicarbonyl Anion Attacks the α,β-Unsaturated Carbonyl’s β-Carbon (to Yield α-Substituted β-Dicarbonyl)
- Rearrangement of Oxide’s π-Electrons and Protonation of Ketone’s α-Carbon (to Yield β-1,5-Tricarbonyl)
- Deprotonation of Noncylic Ketone’s Terminal α-Hydrogen (to Yield Terminal Enolate)
- Terminal Enolate Attacks Cyclic Ketone (to Yield Six-Membered Ring)
- Protonation of Oxide (to Yield Hydroxyl-Substituted Tetrahedral Intermediate)
- Deprotonation of Ketone’s Alcohol-Adjacent α-Carbon (to Yield Cyclic Enolate)
- Rearrangement of Enolate’s π-Electrons to Reform Ketone (and Eliminate Hydroxyl)
The terminal α-Carbon (Step 4) must possess at least two α-Hydrogens.
Decarboxylation
The conversion of a carboxylic acid group to a Hydrogen that involves the elimination of CO2.
β-Ketoester ⟶ Aldehyde
Hydrolysis-Decarboxylation
- The Hydrolysis-Decarboxylation reaction can be acid-catalyzed OR base-catalyzed. (The Decarboxylation step must be catalyzed by strong acid and requires heat.)
β-Diester ⟶ Carboxylic Acid
Hydrolysis-Decarboxlation
- The Hydrolysis-Decarboxylation reaction can be acid-catalyzed OR base-catalyzed. (The Decarboxylation step must be catalyzed by strong acid and requires heat.)
- The Hydrolysis step hydrolyzes both esters to carboxylic acids.
β-Dicarboxylic Acid ⟶ Carboxylic Acid
Decarboxylation
- Decarboxylation requires an acid catalyst (i.e. H2SO4) and heat to occur.
- Only one of the carboxylic acids is decarboxylated to an aldehyde.
Carboxylic Acid ⟶ Aldehyde
Decarboxylation
Decarboxylation requires an acid catalyst (i.e. H2SO4) and heat to occur.
Mechanism: Decarboxylation
- Intramolecular proton transfer (from the enolate to the β-carbonyl) and cleavage of Cα—CCarbonyl bond eliminates CO2 and forms an enol.
- Tautomerization occurs to form the aldehyde product.
Reagents: Decarboxylation
H2O, H2SO4, Δ
Reagents: Acid-Catalyzed Hydrolysis-Decarboxylation
H2O, H2SO4, Δ
Reagents: Base-Catalyzed Hydrolysis-Decarboxylation
- NaOH, H2O
- H2O, H2SO4
- H2O, H2SO4, Δ
Why does the Hydroxide attack the ester carbonyl (instead of the ketone carbonyl) during base-catalyzed hydrolysis?
Hydrolysis of β-Ketoesters
The ester’s alkoxide group is able to serve as the leaving group upon Hydroxide addition to the ester’s carbonyl Carbon. (The ketone does not possess a substituent that could serve as a stable leaving group following Hydroxide addition to its carbonyl Carbon.)
β-Ketoacid
Carboxylic acid compound with a ketone group at the β-Carbon position
β-Ketoester
Ester compound with a ketone group at the β-Carbon position
β-Ketoester ⟶ β-Ketoacid
Hydrolysis
Hydrolysis can be base-catalyzed OR acid-catalyzed.
β-Diester ⟶ β-Dicarboxylic Acid
Hydrolysis
Hydrolysis can be base-catalyzed OR acid-catalyzed.
Why must a carbonyl group be present at the β-Carbon of the carboxylic acid?
Decarboxylation
The Decarboxylation mechanism involves π-electron rearrangement/transfer across both carbonyl groups.
A simple carboxylic acid (i.e. without the β-position carbonyl group) is not compatible for decarboxylation reaction
Malonic Ester
Acetoacetic Ester
Advantages of β-Dicarbonyl Anions
- Strong Nucleophile (e.g. SN2, Michael Addition)
- Weak Base (i.e. 1°/2° Alkyl Halide Compatibility)
Uses of DIBAL Reduction
- Partial Ester Reduction (Ester ⟶ Aldehyde)
- Partial Amide Reduction (Amide ⟶ Aldehyde)
- Partial Nitrile Reduction (Nitrile ⟶ Aldehyde)
Uses of NaBH4 Reduction
- Ketone Reduction (Ketone ⟶ 2° Alcohol)
- Aldehyde Reduction (Aldehyde ⟶ 1° Alcohol)
- Complete Acyl Halide Reduction (Acyl Halide ⟶ 1° Alcohol)
- Complete Anhydride Reduction (Anhydride ⟶ 1° Alcohol)
Uses of LiAlH4 Reduction
- Complete Ester Reduction (Ester ⟶ 1° Alcohol)
- Complete Amide Reduction (Amide ⟶ Amine)
- Complete Nitrile Reduction (Nitrile ⟶ Amine)
- Complete Carboxylic Acid Reduction (Carboxylic Acid ⟶ 1° Alcohol)
- Complete Acyl Halide Reduction (Acyl Halide ⟶ 1° Alcohol)
Uses of LiAl(OtBu)3H
- Partial Acyl Halide Reduction (Acyl Halide ⟶ Aldehyde)
- Partial Anhydride Reduction (Anhydride ⟶ Aldehyde)
The LiAl(OtBu)3H reduction reaction follows an addition-elimination mechanism.