Effective 1,4-Asymmetric C−C/C−O Stereoinduction in Indium-Promoted Coupling Reactions of Aldehydes to Protected and Unprotected [1-(Bromomethyl)vinyl] Alkanols. The Status of Intramolecular Chelation within Functionalized Allylindium Reagents

The stereochemistry of the coupling reactions of oxygen-substituted bromides 8 − 10 with isobutyraldehyde, benzaldehyde, and cyclohexanecarboxaldehyde in water is described. The examples involving the O-silylated derivatives 8 exhibit moderate anti stereoselectivity. In contrast, rather high (most often in excess of 80:20) syn diastereofacial bias is observed when hydroxy bromides 10 are involved. Consequently, stereocontrolled 1,4-asymmetric induction under aqueous conditions can be realized in either direction on demand. These results are considered to reflect the fact that the siloxy systems enter into C−C bond formation via conventional Felkin−Anh transition state arrangements. The crossover observed for the unprotected analogues is believed to be a consequence of the preferred adoption of chelated transition states, these interactions likely being fundamental to aqueous organometallic chemistry.