# Preparation ofα-Bromoketones Involving the Reaction of Enol Triethyl Borates with N-Bromosuccinimide

Authors: Izabella Jastrzebska
Journal: Journal of Chemistry
 (2013)

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## Abstract

The ketones (5α- and 5β-cholestan-3-one and (1S,7aS)-1-tert-butoxy-hexahydro-7a-methyl-1H-inden-5-one) were efficiently α-monobrominated by treatment of the corresponding enol triethyl borates with N-bromosuccinimide (NBS).


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## Body

## 1. Introduction

Bromination of ketones is an important reaction in synthetic organic chemistry [1] because bromoketones  obtained this way are common intermediates in the synthesis of biologically active compounds. The bromination reaction constitutes the first step of introducing a heteroatom to generate stabilized carbanions [2] and support conjugation of the carbonyl group.In the classic procedures forα-bromination of ketones, hazardous molecular bromine is utilized [5–7]. N-bromosuccinimide (NBS) is a safer brominating reagent which can be used in milder reaction conditions. It has been reported that NBS brominates ketones in α position using radical initiators, such as azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) [8] or dibenzoyl peroxide [9]. Recently, methods of α-bromination using NBS in the presence of SiO2-NaHSO4 [10], trimethylsilyl trifluoromethanesulfonate (TMS-OTf) [11], ammonium acetate [12], and solvent-free reaction conditions have been developed [13–15]. Photochemical α-bromination (λ = 200–600 nm) has also been described [16].


## 2. Results and Discussion

Here, I report a new procedure for the preparation ofα-bromoketones involving the reaction of enol triethyl borate with NBS (Scheme 1). The potassium enolate was prepared by treatment of the ketone with potassium hexamethyldisilazide (KHMDS). Potassium enoxytriethylborate was easily obtained by reaction of the corresponding potassium enolate with triethylborane. The generation of potassium enoxytriethylborate required a low temperature (−78°C), while the reaction of potassium enoxytriethylborate with NBS occurred at room temperature. Anhydrous reaction conditions (argon atmosphere, anhydrous solvent, and reagents) are necessary.Scheme 1
(a) 1,1 equivalent of KHMDS, rt; (b) 1,1 equivalent of BEt3, −78°C; (c) 2 equivalents of NBS, rt.As a model for examination of theα-bromination process, 5α- and 5β-cholestan-3-one and the indenone system [1, (1S,7aS)-1-tert-butoxy-hexahydro-7a-methyl-1H-inden-5(6H)-one], and some others were chosen.Theα-bromination method described in Scheme 1 showed high regioselectivity (Table 1). In addition, the yields of α-brominated compounds were superior (87% and 90%, respectively, for 5α- (2) and 5β-cholestan-3-one (3)). Furthermore, the tert-butoxy protecting group tolerated the described reaction conditions. Some examples (cyclopentanone and 2-methylcyclohexanone) gave a mixture of products. A likely mechanism of compound 1 reaction is outlined in Scheme 2. A separate experiment of cholestanone (3) with KHMDS and NBS yielded a mixture of various products.Table 1
Results ofα-bromination of ketones.
Entry
Starting material
Product
Yield
dr %
1
55%a
100
2
87%b
100
3
90%c
100
4
90%d
90 : 10
5
85%e
50 : 50
6
90%f
75 : 25
7
30%
—
8
Mixture of products
—
—
aThe selected spectral data of (1S,6R,7aS)-tert-butoxyheksahydro-6-bromo-7a-methyl-1H-inden-5-one (1A): mp (CH2Cl2/hexane) 88–91°C; IR (CHCl3) νmax(cm−1) 1725, 1193; 1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3): δH 4.81 (1H, dd, J1=6.7, J2=12.8 Hz, CH–Br), 3.52 (1H, dd, J1=7.5, J2=8.8 Hz, CH–OBut), 1.15 (9H, s, OC(CH3)3), 1.06 (3H, s, CH3); 13C NMR (ppm): 201.3 (C), 78.6 (CH), 72.8 (C), 54.1 (C), 48.5 (CH2), 45.1 (CH), 45.0 (C), 41.7 (CH2), 32.1 (CH2), 28.6 (CH3 × 3), 25.4 (CH2), 10.9 (CH3); HRMS: calculated 325.0779,  found 325.0779 for C14H23O2BrNa.
bData of 2α-bromocholestan-3-one (2A) have been found to be identical with those reported [3].
cThe selected spectral data of 4β-bromocoprostan-3-one (3A): mp (CH2Cl2/hexane) 93–95°C; IR (CHCl3) νmax (cm−1) 1726, 1468, 555; 1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3): δH 4.98 (1H, d, J=12 Hz, CH–Br), 2.95 (1H, m), 2.50 (1H, d, J=12 Hz, CH3), 1.08 (3H, s, CH3), 0.90 (3H, d, J=7.7 Hz, CH3), 0.87 (3H, d, J=6.6 Hz, CH3), 0.69 (3H, s, CH3); 13C NMR (ppm): 202.5 (C), 60.05 (CH), 56.4 (CH), 56.3 (CH), 54.2 (CH), 42.7 (C), 41.9 (CH), 39.9 (CH2), 39.5 (CH2), 38.3 (C), 36.7 (CH2), 36.5 (CH2), 36.1 (CH2), 35.7 (CH), 35.6 (CH), 28.2 (CH2), 27.9 (CH), 25.6 (CH2), 25.1 (CH2), 24.1 (CH2), 23.8 (CH2), 23.2 (CH3), 22.8 (CH3), 22.5 (CH3), 21.2 (CH2), 18.6 (CH3), 12.0 (CH3); HRMS: calculated 487.2551,  found 487.2545 for C27H45OBrNa.
dThe selected spectral data of 4β-bromosmilagenin (4A): mp (CH2Cl2/hexane) 135-136°C; IR (CHCl3) νmax (cm−1) 1727, 1179; 1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3): 4.96 (1H, d, J=12.1 Hz, CH–Br), 4.41 (1H, m, H16), 3.48 (1H, m, H26), 3.37 (1H, m, H26), 1.10 (1H, s, CH3), 0.97 (1H, d, J=6.9 Hz, CH3), 0.80 (1H, s, CH3), 0.79 (1H, d, J=6.0 Hz, CH3); 13C NMR (ppm): 202.2 (C), 109.2 (C), 80.7 (CH), 66.9 (CH2), 62.2 (CH), 59.8 (CH), 56.2 (CH), 54.1 (CH), 42.0 (CH), 42.0 (CH), 40,7 (C), 40.0 (CH2), 38.3 (C), 36.7 (CH2), 36.5 (CH2), 35.3 (CH), 31.7 (CH2), 31.4 (CH2), 30.2 (CH), 28.8 (CH2), 25.5 (CH2), 25.3 (CH2), 23.2 (CH3), 21.1 (CH2), 17.1 (CH3), 16.4 (CH3), 14.4 (CH3); HRMS: calculated 515.2137,  found 515.2135 for C27H41O3BrNa.
eSpectral data identical with those from [4].
fSpectral data identical with those from Spectra Database for Organic Compounds (SDBS), number 4818. Mixture of bromides 6Ain ratio 25 : 75, respectively, α-bromo : β-bromo; HRMS: calculated 253.0204, found 253.0201 for C10H15OBrNa.Scheme 2
Proposed mechanism of bromination reaction.The typical experimental procedure was as follows: to KHMDS (1.1 equivalent of 0.5 M solution in toluene) under argon at room temperature a solution of ketone (1 equivalent) in dry THF was added. The reaction mixture became turbid. After 0.5 hour, the reaction mixture was cooled to −78°C, and BEt3 (1.1 equivalent of 1.0 M solution in THF) was added. The reaction mixture then turned transparent. After 15 minutes, NBS (2 equivalents) in dry THF was added. The reaction mixture was allowed to reach room temperature, and stirring under argon was continued overnight. The organic solvent was evaporated. The residue was washed by 3N HCl solution and then extracted with CH2Cl2. The combined organic layers were washed with saturated NaHCO3, dried over MgSO4, and evaporated.


## 3. Conclusions

In conclusion, I have developed a mild and efficient method for theα-monobromination of ketones by treatment of their enol triethylborates with NBS. The simple procedure, high yields, and regioselectivity of the products are the advantages of the described method.



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*Source: 294107-2013-03-04.xml*