Studies on the catalytic hydrogenation of Baylis-Hillman derivatives of substituted isoxazolecarbaldehydes. Unusual retention of isoxazole ring during Pd-C-promoted hydrogenation of Baylis-Hillman adducts

Results of the catalytic hydrogenation of Baylis-Hillman adducts obtained from substituted 3, 4- and 5-isoxazolecarboxaldehydes and their corresponding acetates in the presence of Raney-Ni and Pd-C are presented. The hydrogenation of Baylis-Hillman adducts of substituted 5-isoxazolecarbaldehydes and 3-isoxazolecarbaldehydes in the presence of Raney-Ni furnishes diastereoselectively syn enaminones over anti and in the presence of boric acid as an additive further enhancement of diastereoselectivity in favor of syn isomer is observed. The Pd-C-promoted hydrogenation of these substrates is also diastereoselective in favor of syn isomer but occurs without the hydrogenolysis of isoxazole-ring. The presence of boric acid as an additive in this hydrogenation exhibits no pronounced effect on diastereoselectivity. The Raney-Ni-mediated hydrogenation of Baylis-Hillman adducts of substituted 4-isoxazolecarbaldehydes yield pyridone derivatives and Pd-C-promoted hydrogenation of the same substrate is diastereoselective to afford the anti isomer of the resulting products. The enaminones derived from Baylis-Hillman adducts of 3- and 5-isoxazolecarbaldehydes serve as versatile precursors for alpha'-hydroxy-1,3-diketones, which undergo acid-catalyzed ring-closure reaction to afford the furanone derivatives in excellent yields. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.