Diastereoselective deprotonative metalation of chiral ferrocene derived acetals and esters using mixed lithium-cadmium and lithium-zinc combinations

International audienceIn situ bimetal combinations, and notably those prepared from MCl2(radical dotTMEDA) (M=Zn, Cd; TMEDA=N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylethylenediamine) and Li(TMP) (3 or 4 equiv, TMP=2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidino), were screened for their ability to diastereoselectively deprotonate ferrocenes bearing a chiral group. The ferrocene carboxylate generated from diacetone-d-glucose afforded the corresponding 2-iodo derivative in 74% yield with 90% de (SP diastereoisomer) using the base generated from CdCl2 and Li(TMP) (3 equiv), and in 85% yield with 91% de (SP diastereoisomer) through a double asymmetric induction using a chiral lithium-zinc base generated from ZnCl2*TMEDA and lithium (R)-bis(1-phenylethyl)amide (4 equiv). In contrast, using a combination prepared from ZnCl2 and Li(TMP) (4 equiv) with the ferrocene carboxylate obtained from 6-(tert-butoxycarbonylamino)-6-deoxy-3-O-methyl-1,2-O-isopropylidene-α-d-glucofuranose led to the RP-iodo derivative in 57% yield after separation. Suzuki coupling was performed satisfactorily on the isolated SP and RP diastereoisomer iodoesters