Lec 5
Lec 5
Carbonyl reduction occurs by a typical nucleophilic addition mechanism under basic conditions.
The nucleophile is a negatively charged hydride ion (:H-) supplied by NaBH4, and the initially formed alkoxide ion intermediate is
protonated by ethanol solvent. The reaction is irreversible because the reverse process would require expulsion of a very poor
leaving group.
Like the reaction with hydride ion, a Grignard reaction takes place by a typical nucleophilic addition mechanism under basic
conditions. The nucleophile is a carbanion (R:-) from the Grignard reagent, which adds to the CO bond and produces a
tetrahedrally hybridized magnesium alkoxide intermediate. Protonation by addition of aqueous acid in a separate step then
gives the neutral alcohol. Like reduction, the Grignard reaction is irreversible.
Question: How can you use the addition of a Grignard reagent to a ketone to synthesize 2-phenylpropan-2-ol?
Strategy: Look at the product, and identify the groups bonded to the alcohol carbon atom. In this instance, there are two
methyl groups (-CH3) and one phenyl (-C6H5). One of the three must come from a Grignard reagent, and the remaining two
must come from a ketone. Thus, the possibilities are addition of CH3MgBr to acetophenone and addition of C6H5MgBr to
acetone.
Alcohols are oxidized to aldehydes and ketones (example: biological oxidation of ethanol to acetaldehyde)
Aldehydes are readily oxidized to carboxylic acids by a number of reagents, including those based on Cr(VI) in aqueous
media.
Mechanistically, these reactions probably proceed through the hydrate of the aldehyde and follow a course similar to that of
alcohol oxidation.
Methyl ketones give esters of acetic acid; that is, oxygen insertion occurs between the carbonyl carbon and the
larger of the two groups attached to it.
Step 1: The peroxy acid adds to the carbonyl group of the ketone. This step is a nucleophilic addition analogous to gem-diol
and hemiacetal formation.
Step 2: The intermediate from step 1 undergoes rearrangement. Cleavage of the weak O—O bond of the peroxy ester is
assisted by migration of one of the substituents from the carbonyl group to oxygen. The group R migrates with its pair of
electrons in much the same way as alkyl groups migrate in carbocation rearrangements.
In general, it is the more substituted group that migrates. The migratory aptitude of the various alkyl groups is:
The reaction is stereospecific; the alkyl group migrates with retention of configuration.
The product (6-hexanolide) is a cyclic ester or lactone. Like the Baeyer–Villiger oxidation, an oxygen atom is inserted
between the carbonyl group and the carbon attached to it. But peroxy acids are not involved in any way; the oxidation of
cyclohexanone is catalyzed by an enzyme called cyclohexanone monooxygenase with the aid of certain coenzymes.