Pure and Applied Chemistry

Abstract: (Schiff-base)vanadium(V) complexes catalyze the oxidation of Br^- (formation of Br₂) and the stereoselective synthesis of functionalized tetrahydrofurans from substituted bishomoallylic alcohols. In both instances, tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) serves as primary oxidant. The oxidation of Br^- was applied as the key step for stereo- and 6-endo-selectively constructing the 2,2,3,5,6,6-substituted tetrahydropyran nucleus of the marine natural product aplysiapyranoid A starting from an adequately substituted bishomoallylic alcohol. In the absence of Br^-, 1-alkyl-, 1-vinyl-, and 1-phenyl-5,5-dimethyl-substituted bishomoallylic alcohols are selectively oxygenated to furnish 2,5-cis-configured tetrahydrofurans as major products. 2- Or 3-substituted ω,ω-dimethyl-substituted bishomoallylic alcohols afford trans-disubstituted tetrahydrofurans under these conditions. Oxidation of substituted 4-penten-1-ols, i.e., substrates with a terminal π-bond, proceeds with a preference for formation of trans-disubstituted tetrahydrofurans. According to data from (i) ⁵¹V NMR spectroscopy, (ii) mass spectrometry, (iii) a structure-selectivity survey, (iv) competition kinetics, and (v) a stereochemical analysis, the oxygen atom transfer onto a bishomoallylic alcohol occurs in a peroxide- and alkenol-loaded (Schiff-base)vanadium(V) complex.