On the synthesis of 3,4-dihydroxyprolines. II. Synthesis, stereochemistry and reactivity of some 3,4-Epoxy-DL-proline derivatives

Abstract

N-Protected esters of 3,4-dehydro-DL-proline react with trifluoroperacetic acid to give, in high yield, approximately equal amounts of the corresponding stereoisomeric 3,4-epoxy-DL-proline derivatives, direct separation of which proved difficult. However individual members of the two families were obtained by discovery of selective transformations and fractionations. Relative configurations of the two 3,4-epoxy-N-tosylproline methyl esters were established by borohydride reduction to authentic 4-hydroxy-N-tosylprolinols. Epoxide reduction is regioselective. Extensive p.m.r. analyses then permitted stereochemical assignment of other derivatives. These epoxides are remarkably resistant to catalytic hydrogenolysis, and to hydration in acid or alkali. N-Substituted 3,4-epoxyproline methyl esters undergo ready β-elimination in alkali to yield the corresponding 4-hydroxy-2,3- dehydroproline esters and ultimately the N-substituted pyrrole-2- carboxylic acid or ester. Prolonged aqueous acid hydrolysis of 3,4- epoxy-N-tosylprolines, or of their methyl esters, gives mixtures of 3,4-dihydroxy-N-tosyl-DL-prolines in the 2,3-cis-3,4-trans and 2,3- trans-3,4-trans families. Their stereochemistry was allotted from p.m.r. of the diacetate methyl esters. During acid hydrolysis of 3,4- epoxy-N-tosylproline methyl esters, the ester of the trans stereoisomer hydrolyses selectively, and some epimerization of the cis stereoisomer occurs. Ester hydrolysis is much faster than epoxide hydration. Anhydrous acid cleavage of 3,4-epoxy-N-tosyl-DL-proline t-butyl esters to the epoxy acids is unusually slow.