Preparation of mono-substituted malonic acid half oxyesters (SMAHOs)

Abstract

The use of mono-substituted malonic acid half oxyesters (SMAHOs) has been hampered by the sporadic references describing their preparation. An evaluation of different approaches has been achieved, allowing to define the best strategies to introduce diversity on both the malonic position and the ester function. A classical alkylation step of a malonate by an alkyl halide followed by a monosaponification gave access to reagents bearing different substituents at the malonic position, including functionalized derivatives. On the other hand, the development of a monoesterification step of a substituted malonic acid derivative proved to be the best entry for diversity at the ester function, rather than the use of an intermediate Meldrum acid. Both these transformations are characterized by their simplicity and efficiency, allowing a straightforward access to SMAHOs from cheap starting materials.

Introduction

Malonic acid half oxyesters (MAHOs), also known as alkyl hydrogen malonates or hemimalonates, constitute an attractive class of pronucleophiles in the design of eco-compatible syntheses [1]. Indeed, they can serve as efficient precursors of ester enolates through decarboxylation [2–3], generally using a substoichiometric amount of a weak base. Another advantage inherent to this class of reagents is their easy purification by a classical acid/base work-up thanks to the presence of the carboxylic acid moiety, even if they could also be purified by standard chromatography on silica gel. They have thus been used in a variety of reactions, the most widespread applications being aldol or Mannich-type addition reactions with carbonyl compounds and imines, respectively [4], and Galat olefination reactions of aldehydes [5–7]. Nevertheless, these developments have been mostly described with unsubstituted MAHOs, and the use of mono-substituted MAHOs (SMAHOs) [8–10], or disubstituted MAHOs [11], has been only occasionally reported.

Bibliographical data indicate that SMAHOs can be accessed by different routes (Scheme 1). The most classic one is the alkylation of a dialkyl malonate, followed by a monohydrolysis of one ester group. The alkylation is usually achieved by a nucleophilic substitution of an alkyl halide by the deprotonated malonate [12–19], but other strategies could be envisioned: Cu-catalyzed arylation reactions for aryl-substituted MAHOs [20–23]; Knoevenagel/reduction sequences for benzyl-substituted MAHOs [24–27]; and a Michael addition for 3'-oxoalkyl-substituted MAHOs [28]. As studied by Niwayama [29], the hydrolysis step is generally achieved by saponification using alcoholic KOH (or NaOH) [30–36], but other selective cleavages of one ester group are possible [37–38]. Despite its efficiency, this strategy remains limited regarding the nature of the alkoxy group of the ester function (generally Me or Et), as it arises from the parent malonate. In order to introduce diversity at this position, the privileged route is based on the opening of a Meldrum's acid derivative with an alcohol [39]. In this route, the Meldrum's acid is first alkylated, and the desired reagent is easily obtained by mixing this precursor with one equivalent of the requisite alcohol under reflux, generally in toluene [40–45]. Some reagents were also prepared by other routes [46–48], such as the α-carboxylation of an ester [49], the selective functionalization of a bromomalonate derivative [50], or the monoesterification of a malonic acid derivative [51–53].

Scheme 1.

Main routes to SMAHOs.

However, even if the above-mentioned strategies appear obvious for the preparation of the simplest SMAHOs, they are not sufficiently documented to cover the preparation of more complex versions of these reagents, apart from 2-amido-MAHOs for which the parent aminomalonate is commercially available. Indeed, it is very rare to find two identical procedures or stoichiometries, and these methods are used for the synthesis of a limited range of SMAHOs, presenting little diversity. Within the framework of a project pertaining to the use of SMAHOs in Galat [54] and Mannich reactions [55], we were confronted with a lack of pertinent bibliographical information, which led us to investigate the few reported synthetic routes.

Results and Discussion

Substituent modification – alkylation/saponification route

Based on the literature precedents, it appeared logical to start the preparation of SMAHOs by the alkylation of a malonate derivative followed by a monosaponification of the resulting diester. This strategy affords the advantage of being based on commercially available malonates. We thus envisioned to achieve the alkylation step by deprotonation of a malonate with NaH followed by treatment with a halogenated compound. As our first attempts revealed a strong influence of the stoichiometry and the nature of the alkylating reagent on both efficiency and selectivity, we decided to perform a quick optimization study. As a model reaction, we evaluated the influence of various parameters on the reaction between diethyl malonate (1b) and iodobutane (2d) or bromobutane (2d') in the presence of a stoichiometric amount of sodium hydride (Table 1). Using a 1:1:1 mixture of 1b/2d/NaH in DMF (c = 1.0 M) at rt, the desired monoalkylated product 3bd was isolated in 55% yield (Table 1, entry 1). By studying the stoichiometry of the reaction, we found easier to use a slight excess of the malonate to reduce the amount of the undesired dialkylated product (Table 1, entries 2 and 3). However, in all cases, the reaction mixture turned out to be very hard to stir, resulting in moderately reproducible results. We thus decided to decrease the concentration of the reaction to 0.5 M, resulting in a better 75% yield (Table 1, entry 4), whereas the use of THF led to a less efficient transformation (60%, Table 1, entry 5). The use of the brominated analog 2d' was also possible, albeit in lower 64% yield (Table 1, entry 6).

Table 1.

Optimization of the alkylation step.

entry	x	X	y	solvent	yield (%)a
1	1.0	I	1.0	DMFb	55
2	1.0	I	1.1	DMFb	68
3	1.1	I	1.0	DMFb	70
4	1.1	I	1.0	DMFc	75
5	1.1	I	1.0	THFc	60
6	1.1	Br	1.0	DMFc	64

^aIsolated yields; ^bc = 1.0 M; ^cc = 0.5 M.

These optimized conditions were then applied to a variety of alkyl halides and the corresponding SMAHOs were obtained after monosaponification of the resulting intermediates (Table 2). In most cases, the desired products could be isolated in a pure form after a simple aqueous work-up based on their acidic properties. This sequence allowed the preparation of SMAHOs bearing different groups at the malonic position in moderate to good yields. Various primary aliphatic alkyl halides could be used (3aa, 50%; 3ab, 40%; 3ac, 75%; 3bd, 93%) and the reaction was also possible using a secondary alkyl halide (3be, 52%) with a longer reaction time. The alkylation step was obviously more efficient with primary activated alkyl halides such as allyl (3bf, 81%) or benzyl (3bh, 76%), but lower with a base-sensitive propargyl group (3bg, 58%). More functionalized lateral chains like a chlorobutyl group could be introduced efficiently (3bj, 91%) and the use of protected aminated or hydroxylated derivatives led to lower but still useful yields (3ak, 41%; 3bl, 44%; 3bm, 51%). In all these cases, the hydrolysis step delivered the expected SMAHOs in good to excellent yields. However, this reaction should be performed in a water/alcohol mixture, this latter being the same as the ester substituent to avoid undesired transesterification reactions, which somewhat limits the usefulness of this strategy. Upon application of these precautions, yields ranging from 62% to 91% were obtained in most cases. Nevertheless, the use of some protective groups is obviously a limitation of the method as this second step was incompatible with either base-sensitive or acid-sensitive substituents, as the desired SMAHOs are isolated after acidification to pH ≤ 2. It was thus impossible to prepare reagents bearing a phthalimide, an ester or an acetal group. This limitation is overcome by the other possibilities afforded by this methodology, as illustrated by the preparation of the cyano- (4bn), boron- (4ao), or silicon- (4ap) substituted SMAHOs.

Table 2.

Preparation of SMAHOs from malonates^a.

entry	1	2	3	yield (%)	4	yield (%)	OYb (%)
1	1a	2a	3aa	50	4aa	91	45
2	1b	2a	3ba	53 (76c)	4ba	72	55
3	1a	2b	3ab	29 (40c)	4ab	90	36
4	1a	2c	3ac	75	4ac	78	58
5	1b	2d	3bd	93	4bd	72	67
6	1b	2e	3be	52	4be	74	38
7	1b	2f	3bf	81	4bf	71	57
8	1b	2g	3bg	58	4bg	65	38
9	1b	2h	3bh	76	4bh	69	52
10	1b d	2i	3bi	30c	4bi	71	21
11	1b	2j	3bj	91c	4bj	62	56
12	1a	2k	3ak	41c	4ak	76	31
13	1b d	2l	3bl	44c,e	4bl	63	28
14	1b	2m	3bm	51c	4bm	70	36
15	1b	2n	3bn	24f	4bn	65	16
16	1a	2o	3ao	70	4ao	77	54
17	1a	2p	3ap	21e,f,g	4ap	62	13

^aYields of isolated products. Step 1: 1 (1.1 equiv), 2 (5–50 mmol), NaH (1.0 equiv), DMF (c = 0.5–1.0 M), 0 °C to rt, 2 h. Step 2: KOH (1.0–1.2 equiv), R¹OH/H₂O 10:1 (c = 0.5 M), rt, 2 h; ^boverall yield (2 steps); ^creaction time = 16 h; ^d1.0 equiv; ^eT = 80 °C; ^fsolvent = THF; reaction time = 24 h; ^gNaI (3.0 equiv).

The efficiency of the saponification step was also illustrated by the case of α-halomalonates 3aq and 3br. Upon application of the above-mentioned conditions, the useful reagents 4aq and 4br could be isolated in 70% and 47% yield, respectively (Scheme 2).

Scheme 2.

Preparation of α-halo-MAHOs.

Ester modification

Meldrum's acid route

We next turned our attention to the diversification of the ester group of SMAHOs. Our first approach was the use of substituted malonates, protected as Meldrum's acid derivatives, as the parent compound 5 is commercially available or easily accessible on a relatively large scale (Scheme 3) [56]. Therefore, we first achieved an alkylation step of 5 using a Knoevenagel reaction with benzaldehyde, followed by an in situ reduction of the resulting alkylidene [57–58]. Even if the reaction worked well with complete conversion, the isolation of the pure product was less straightforward and required a recrystallization from a methanol/water mixture, leading to a moderate yield (56%) due to a partial solubilization of the product 7h. This complication was yet balanced by the practicality of the second step, the opening of the Meldrum's acid moiety with an alcohol 8. Indeed, this reaction was achieved under simple conditions and led to the desired products in useful yields, only limited by partial in situ decarboxylation. This strategy thus allowed the preparation of the isopropyl (4ch, 93%) and benzyl (4dh, 57%, corrected isolated yield) ester derivatives but remains limited to reagents bearing a benzyl substituent at the malonic position.

Scheme 3.

Preparation of SMAHOs from Meldrum's acid.

In an alternative strategy to circumvent the difficulties linked to the isolation of substituted Meldrum's acid derivatives, we envisioned a complementary route where the substituent was introduced prior to the protection step. Commercially available substituted malonic acids 9 were first protected with acetone under acid conditions [46], and the desired intermediates 7 were simply isolated after aqueous work-up, usually in good yields (Table 3). The opening of these latter with alcohols 8 was efficient again and allowed the preparation of new reagents in good yields, after a second aqueous work-up. Using this approach, SMAHOs bearing a benzyl (4da) or a (−)-menthyl group (4ea) were easily prepared with good overall yields (49–71%). Despite its efficiency, this second strategy required an additional step of hydrolysis of a substituted malonate to prepare the requisite substituted malonic acid.

Table 3.

Preparation of SMAHOs from malonic acids.

entry	7	yield (%)	4	yield (%)	OYa (%)
1	7a	84	4da	85	71
2			4ea	58	49
3	7s	84	4bs	65b	55

^aOverall yield (2 steps); ^bin toluene/EtOH 1:1.

Monoesterification route

In order to take advantage of the preparation of substituted malonates 3, we decided to explore a more straightforward strategy, the mono-esterification of substituted malonic acids. Indeed, this approach has been only used by Fukumoto for the preparation of (−)-menthyl-derived SMAHOs [51–52]. We began this study by preparing various substituted malonic acids 9 through the saponification of the corresponding substituted malonates 3 (Scheme 4). These standard reactions were easy and delivered the expected products 9 in good to excellent yields.

Scheme 4.

Saponification of substituted malonates.

We then performed a quick optimization study of the reaction between 2-methylmalonic acid (9a) and benzyl alcohol (8d) (Table 4). Starting from classical Steglich's conditions (1.0 equiv of DCC and 5 mol % of DMAP in CH₂Cl₂, Table 4, entry 1), the desired product was isolated in an encouraging yield of 22% after chromatography on silica gel. By adding a solution of DCC in CH₂Cl₂ to a solution of the other reagents in CH₃CN (Table 4, entry 2), the yield was increased to 46%. The temperature of addition was also an important parameter and we found that an initial cooling to −15 °C was optimal (Table 4, entries 3–5), presumably by limiting the decomposition of the malonic acid derivative. We also studied the influence of the stoichiometry of the different reagents (Table 4, entries 6–9) and the use of a slight excess of alcohol 8d was beneficial to the reaction. Finally, carrying out the reaction in only CH₃CN allows the isolation of the desired pure compound 4da after a simple aqueous work-up, although in a slightly lower 52% yield (Table 4, entry 10).

Table 4.

Optimization of the mono-esterification of malonic acid 10a.

entry	x (equiv)	y (equiv)	z (mol %)	solvent	T	yield (%)a
1	1.0	1.0	5	CH2Cl2	rt	22
2	1.0	1.0	5	CH2Cl2/CH3CN	rt	46
3	1.0	1.0	5	CH2Cl2/CH3CN	0 °C to rt	48
4	1.0	1.0	5	CH2Cl2/CH3CN	−15 °C to rt	59
5	1.0	1.0	5	CH2Cl2/CH3CN	−78 °C to rt	46
6	1.1	1.0	5	CH2Cl2/CH3CN	−15 °C to rt	62
7	1.5	1.0	5	CH2Cl2/CH3CN	−15 °C to rt	57
8	1.0	1,2	5	CH2Cl2/CH3CN	−15 °C to rt	53
9	1.0	1.0	20	CH2Cl2/CH3CN	−15 °C to rt	49
10	1.1	1.0	5	CH3CN	−15 °C to rt	52b

^aIsolated yields after flash chromatography on silica gel; ^bisolated yield after aqueous work-up.

The scope of this reaction was next explored under such optimized conditions (Table 4, entry 10), using 2-methylmalonic acid (9a) as a model substrate (Scheme 5). From a general point of view, even if the yields are moderate, the reaction is easy to set up and the desired product could be isolated after a simple aqueous work-up. SMAHOs bearing classical ester groups could be obtained in moderate yields (iPr: 51%; Bn: 53%; allyl: 52%) and the use of less nucleophilic alcohols such as t-BuOH, 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol, (−)-menthol, and phenol led to decreased yields (37%, 34%, 28%, and 17%, respectively). More functionalized alcohols such as citronellol (4ja, 58%) and (−)-ethyl lactate (4ka, 32%) could also be employed for the direct preparation of elaborated reagents.

Scheme 5.

Scope of the mono-esterification of substituted malonic acids. ^adr = 1:1.

Conclusion

We have prepared more than 30 SMAHOs including numerous new compounds using different strategies, thus adding a consequent input to the knowledge of these reagents. In our hands, these reagents appear to be stable to air or moisture and have been stored for several months at 4 °C. The alkylation/hydrolysis of malonates afforded a straightforward access to such derivatives but the use of an alcoholic base in the saponification step precludes the presence of sensitive functional groups and limits the degree of substitution of the ester function. This last limitation could be circumvented using the mono-esterification of malonic acid derivatives, which gives access to a broad range of derivatives. Overall, this work presents the different possibilities to access these reagents, which constitute an attractive class of pronucleophiles.

Supporting Information

File 1

Experimental procedures, compound characterization data, and NMR spectra for all compounds.

Funding Statement

The financial support of this work by the CNRS, the University Paris-Est Créteil and the University Paris-Est (Ph.D. grant to T. X.) is gratefully acknowledged.