TY  - JOUR
A1  - Krüger, Tobias
A1  - Linker, Torsten
T1  - Synthesis of gamma-spirolactams by Birch reduction of arenes
JF  - European journal of organic chemistry
N2  - A convenient method for the synthesis of gamma-spirolactams in only three steps is described. Birch reduction of inexpensive and commercially available aromatic carboxylic acids in the presence of chloroacetonitrile affords nitriles in moderate to good yields. Suitable precursors are methyl-substituted benzoic acids, naphthoic, and anthroic acid. Subsequent catalytic hydrogenation proceeds smoothly with PtO2 or Raney Ni as catalysts and lactams are isolated in excellent yields and stereoselectivities. Thus, up to 3 new stereogenic centers can be constructed as sole diastereomers from achiral benzoic acids. Furthermore, it is possible to control the degree of saturation at different pressures, affording products with 0, 1, or 2 double bonds. Overall, more than 15 new gamma-spirolactams have been synthesized in analytically pure form.
KW  - Arenes
KW  - Birch reduction
KW  - Hydrogenation
KW  - Lactams
KW  - Synthetic methods
Y1  - 2021
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1002/ejoc.202100056
SN  - 1099-0690
VL  - 2021
IS  - 10
SP  - 1585
EP  - 1591
PB  - Wiley-VCH
CY  - Weinheim
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Krüger, Tobias
A1  - Bramborg, Andrea
A1  - Kelling, Alexandra
A1  - Sperlich, Eric
A1  - Linker, Torsten
T1  - Birch Reduction of Arenes as an Easy Entry to γ-Spirolactones
JF  - European journal of organic chemistry
N2  - A convenient method for the synthesis of γ-spirolactones in only 2–3 steps is described. Birch reduction of inexpensive and commercially available aromatic carboxylic acids in the presence of ethylene oxide affords hydroxy acids, which undergo direct lactonization during work-up. Suitable precursors are methyl-substituted benzoic acids, naphthoic, and dicarboxylic acids. Subsequent hydrogenation proceeds smoothly with Pd/C as catalyst and saturated γ-spirolactones are isolated in excellent yields and stereoselectivities. Thus, up to 3 new stereogenic centers can be constructed as sole diastereomers from achiral benzoic acids. Furthermore, it is possible to control the degree of saturation with Raney nickel or Wilkinson's catalyst to obtain products with 1 double bond. Overall, more than 30 new γ-spirolactones have been synthesized in analytically pure form.
KW  - Arenes
KW  - Birch reduction
KW  - Hydrogenation
KW  - Lactones
KW  - Synthetic methods
Y1  - 2021
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1002/ejoc.202101018
SN  - 1434-193X
SN  - 1099-0690
VL  - 2021
IS  - 46
SP  - 6383
EP  - 6391
PB  - Wiley-VCH
CY  - Weinheim
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Bramborg, Andrea
A1  - Linker, Torsten
T1  - Regioselective synthesis of alkylarenes by two-step ipso-substitution of aromatic dicarboxylic acids
JF  - European journal of organic chemistry
N2  - A strategy for the regioselective alkylation of arenes was developed, starting from commercially available and inexpensive terephthalic acid or naphthalene-1,4-dicarboxylic acid. The method entails a formal ipso-substitution of the carboxylate groups by a sequence of reductive alkylation under Birch conditions and subsequent acid-mediated rearomatization with loss of carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide. More than 20 different arenes with various side-chains were synthesized. With naphthalene-1,4-dicarboxylic acid as starting material, we were able to control the degree of alkylation by choosing the appropriate electrophile in the Birch reduction. Thus, bisalkylated naphthalenes and naphthoic acids became available chemoselectively. All reactions afforded a single regioisomer exclusively in high yields. Overall, aromatic dicarboxylic acids are suitable substrates for a two-step ipso-substitution that allows the selective synthesis of alkylated benzenes and naphthalenes.
KW  - Synthetic methods
KW  - Alkylation
KW  - Birch reduction
KW  - Arenes
KW  - Regioselectivity
Y1  - 2012
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1002/ejoc.201200823
SN  - 1434-193X
IS  - 28
SP  - 5552
EP  - 5563
PB  - Wiley-VCH
CY  - Weinheim
ER  -