Addition of benzonitrile oxide and N-benzyl-C-phenylnitrone to (5RS,6SR) -6-ethyl-5,6-dihydro-5methyl-2H-pyran-2-one (4) took place stereoselectively syn to the allylic methyl substituent. Methylation of the nitrone adducts ( 7) and ( 8) using lithium di-isopropylamide and methyl iodide involved retention of configuration at C-1 although a small amount of ring-opening and closing occurred in the latter case to give the methylated isoxazolidine (1 1 ) as a minor product. The structure of (1 RS,4RS,5RS, 6RS,9SR) -8benzyl-4-ethyl-l,5-dimethyl-9-phenyl-3,7-dioxa-8-azabicyclo[4.3.0] nonan-2-one (1 0) was confirmed by an X-ray structure determination.Nitrile oxides and nitrones are now widely used in organic synthesis. The stereoselectivity of addition of these 1,3-dipoles to alkenes is an important consideration when their use in a particular synthesis is being planned. We here report on the stereoselectivity of addition of benzonitrile oxide and N-benzyl-C-phenylnitrone to (SRS,6SR)-6-ethyl-5,6-dihydr0-5-methyl-2H-pyran-2-one (4), a study which was carried out in advance of a proposed natural product synthesis.
Results and Discussiontrans-6-Ethyl-5,6-dihydro-5-methyl-2H-pyran-2-one (4) was prepared using the procedures described by Schle~singer.~ Thus the enamino ester (1)4 was condensed with propanal to give the enaminodihydro-2H-pyran-2-one (2) (83%) which was reduced using lithium in liquid ammonia to provide the tetrahydropyranone (3) (83%). A Cope elimination then gave the desired 5,6dihydro-2H-pyran-2-one (4) (62%).