α-Phosphoryl Cyclopentanones as Possible Intermediates in the Total Synthesis of Sarkomycin

Abstract

In an effort to synthesize sarkomycin 1 trans-2-diphenylphosphinoyl-3-tris (methylthio) methyl-cyclopentanone 7 and trans-2-diphenylphosphinoyl-3-carbo-methoxy-cyclopentanone 8 were prepared. The Horner-Wittig reaction of the latter with formaldehyde failed. (±)-Sarkonycin 1 was prepared by a sequence of reactions starting from diethyl 2-oxopropanephosphonate. The key steps in this synthesis involve the intramolecular carbenoid cyclization of 1-diazo-2-oxopropanephosphonate 10 and the Horner-Wittig reaction of 2-diethoxyphosphoryl-3-carboxy-cyclopentanone 12 with formaldehyde.