Concise asymmetric synthesis of a (1R,2S)-1-amino- 2-vinylcyclopropanecarboxylic acid-derived sulfonamide and ethyl ester.

The development and demonstration of short, robust and chromatography-free sequences for the preparation of a (1R,2S)-1-amino-2-vinylcyclopropane-carboxylic acid-derived sulfonamide and ethyl ester in ≥99% ee are described. Both compounds are common building blocks in multiple preparations of potent HCV NS3 protease inhibitors. The robustness of the asymmetric cyclopropanation of (E)-N-benzylideneglycine ethyl ester under phase transfer catalysis conditions is significantly improved based on a detailed mechanistic investigation that included an analysis of the catalyst decomposition pathway, a postulated model for the stereo-selectivity that was guided by calculations and rigorous quality control of the starting materials and reagents.

Concerning the 1,5-stereocontrol in tin(IV) chloride promoted reactions of 4- and 5-alkoxyalk-2-enylstannanes: trapping intermediate allyltin trichlorides using phenyllithium.

Transmetallation of the 5-benzyloxy-4-methylpent-2-en-1-yl(tributyl)- and -(triphenyl)stannanes 1 and 8 using tin(iv) chloride generates an allyltin trichloride that reacts with aldehydes to give (Z)-1,5-anti-6-benzyloxy-5-methylhex-3-en-1-ols 2. The allyltin trichloride believed to be the key intermediate in these reactions has been trapped by phenyllithium to give anti-5-benzyloxy-4-methylpent-1-en-3-yl(triphenyl)stannane 9. Transmetallation of this anti-5-benzyloxy-4-methylpent-1-en-3-yl(triphenyl)stannane 9 generated an allyltin trichloride that reacted with aldehydes to give the (Z)-1,5-syn-6-benzyloxy-5-methylhex-3-en-1-ols 23 and was trapped by phenyllithium to give syn-5-benzyloxy-4-methylpent-1-en-3-yl(triphenyl)stannane 24.