Synthesis 2004(17): 2813-2820  
DOI: 10.1055/s-2004-834867
PAPER
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Stereoselective and Convergent Syntheses of Retinoic Acid and its Ester Derivatives by the Sulfone Olefination Reaction

Hye-Sun Jeon, Jung Eun Yeo, Young Cheol Jeong, Sangho Koo*
Department of Chemistry, Myong Ji University, Yongin, Kyunggi-Do, 449-728, Korea
Fax: +82(31)3357248; e-Mail: sangkoo@mju.ac.kr;
Further Information

Publication History

Received 21 June 2004
Publication Date:
15 October 2004 (online)

Abstract

An extensive study on the stereoselective and convergent syntheses of retinoic acid and its ester derivatives utilizing the Julia sulfone olefination reaction has been reported. Various C5 units of the acid 4a, the esters 4b-e from the chemically and biologically important alcohols, and the furanone 6 have been prepared and coupled with the C15 allylic sulfone 3 to give the C20 compounds 10 and 11, which provided all-(E)-retinoic acid (1a), its ester derivatives 1b-e, and the furanone analogue 12b in a highly stereoselective manner after dehydrosulfonation reaction. The Julia olefination reaction of the C5 diester 13 and the C15 allylic sulfone 3 produced the known C20 diacid 15 which underwent stereoselective mono-decarboxylation to provide either 13-(Z)-retinoic acid (2) or all-(E)-retinoic acid (1) depending on the reagent used.

18

The phenolic OH of β-estradiol reacted with the compound 9 to give the (E)-C5 ester derivative 4e.