Diastereoselective conjugate addition to chiral alpha,beta-unsaturated carbonyl systems in aqueous media: an enantioselective entry to alpha- and gamma-hydroxy acids and alpha-amino acids.

The stereoselectivity of the ultrasonically induced zinc--copper conjugate addition of iodides to chiral alpha,beta-unsaturated carbonyl systems under aqueous conditions was studied. Alkyl iodides add diastereoselectively to methylenedioxolanone 1 and methyleneoxazolidinone 2 to afford the 1,4-addition products in good yields (38-95 %) and with high diastereomeric excess (44-90 % de). The 1,4-addition to chiral gamma,delta-dioxolanyl-alpha,beta-unsaturated esters 3-5 also proceeds with good yields (51-99 %). The diastereoselectivity is dependent on the geometry of the olefin: the Z isomer 3 gives high diastereoselectivity, while the reactions with the E isomer 4 are nonstereoselective. The reaction proceeds with excellent chemoselectivity and allows the use of iodides bearing ester, hydroxy, and amino groups. Since the 1,4-addition products can be readily hydrolyzed, this methodology constitutes a novel entry for the enantioselective synthesis of alpha- and gamma-hydroxy acids and alpha-amino acids in aqueous media. The results obtained support the radical mechanism proposed by Luche, and represent one of the few examples of a radical stereoselective conjugate addition in aqueous medium.