Factors Influencing 1,4-Asymmetric Induction during Indium-Promoted Coupling of Oxygen-Substituted Allylic Bromides to Aldehydes in Aqueous Solution

The preparation and indium-promoted aldehyde addition reactions of a series of 3-substituted 3-oxy-1-bromo-2-methylidenepropanes under aqueous conditions are described. The (tert-butyldimethylsilyl)oxy derivatives 4a-d are the most diastereoselective of this group of reagents, giving rise to levels of syn-1,4-asymmetric induction in the range of 87-99%. Interestingly, syn stereoselectivity is eroded and reactions proceed more rapidly when the steric bulk of the oxygen substituent is reduced as in the hydroxy and methoxy derivatives. This dropoff in pi-facial differentiation with kinetic acceleration is attributed to the operation of chelation effects during oxidative addition of the metal into the carbon-bromine bond, but not during the coupling stage. Once the aldehyde enters into the coordination sphere of the indium, internal chelation to the proximal oxygen is disrupted and conformational restrictions are released. These effects, in combination with the absence of a powerful steric control element in the latter examples, permit competitive passage via syn and anti transition states.