Synthesis 2015; 47(02): 272-288
DOI: 10.1055/s-0034-1379254
paper
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

A Practical, Enantioselective Synthesis of the Fragrances Canthoxal and Silvial®, and Evaluation of Their Olfactory Activity

Valentina Beghetto*
a   Dipartimento di Scienze Molecolari e Nanosistemi, Università Ca’ Foscari Venezia, Dorsoduro 2137, 30123 Venezia, Italy
,
Alberto Scrivanti
a   Dipartimento di Scienze Molecolari e Nanosistemi, Università Ca’ Foscari Venezia, Dorsoduro 2137, 30123 Venezia, Italy
,
Matteo Bertoldini
a   Dipartimento di Scienze Molecolari e Nanosistemi, Università Ca’ Foscari Venezia, Dorsoduro 2137, 30123 Venezia, Italy
,
Manuela Aversa
b   Consorzio Interuniversitario CIRCC, UdR di Venezia, Via C. Ulpiani 27, 70126 Bari, Italy   Fax: +39(041)2348517   Email: beghetto@unive.it
,
Aurora Zancanaro
a   Dipartimento di Scienze Molecolari e Nanosistemi, Università Ca’ Foscari Venezia, Dorsoduro 2137, 30123 Venezia, Italy
,
Ugo Matteoli
a   Dipartimento di Scienze Molecolari e Nanosistemi, Università Ca’ Foscari Venezia, Dorsoduro 2137, 30123 Venezia, Italy
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Received: 31 July 2014

Accepted after revision: 18 September 2014

Publication Date:
24 October 2014 (online)


Abstract

The fragrances (S)-(+)- and (R)-(–)-canthoxal [(S)-(+)- and (R)-(–)-3-(4-methoxyphenyl)-2-methylpropanal] and (+)- and (–)-Silvial® [(+)- and (–)-3-(4-isobutylphenyl)-2-methylpropanal] have been synthesized in high enantiopurity via a simple four-step strategy starting from the commercially available 4-substituted benzaldehydes. The key synthetic step is the catalytic asymmetric hydrogenation of the appropriate 3-aryl-2-methylacrylic acid which has been carried out employing an in situ prepared ruthenium/axially chiral phosphine catalyst (up to 98% ee). The olfactory activity of the single enantiomers has been evaluated.

Supporting Information