The oxidation of (R)-(−)-(Z)- and
(R)-(+)-(E)-3-penten-2-ol with Pd(II)
using hydroxyl,
methoxyl, acetate, and phenyl as nucleophiles produced β-substituted
ketones. The ketone
products are optically active, indicating the hydroxyl group was
preferentially directing the
Pd(II) to one of the two faces of the double bond in forming the
initial π-complex. The absolute
configuration of the product depends on the absolute configuration of
the starting alcohol,
the π-complex face to which the nucleophile adds, and the
stereochemistry of addition.
Because of steric interactions between the two terminal methyl
groups, one π-complex is
more stable than the other. Phenylpalladium, a reagent which is
known to add syn, gave
(R)-4-phenyl-2-pentanone, a result that is consistent only
with syn addition to the most stable
π-complex. With this information, determination of the
stereochemistries of addition of the
other nucleophiles is possible. In aqueous solution and methanol
at low [Cl-], the 4-hydroxy,
and 4-methoxy-2-pentanone products had the R configuration,
indicating syn addition. These
results are consistent with recent stereochemical and kinetic studies.
A surprise was the
finding of the R configuration, indicating syn addition, for
the 4-acetoxy-2-pentanone product
in acetic acid solvent. Previous kinetic studies were interpreted
in terms of anti addition.
Another unexpected result was the reversal of addition to anti at
high [Cl-] in acetic acid.
As expected, the Z-isomer gave higher degrees of
chirality transfer than the E-isomer.