Flavan derivatives. XII. Conversion of Flavan-3,4-cis-diols into trans-Diacetates, and a new route to 3,4-trans-Diacetoxy-2,3-cis-flavans

Abstract

Reaction of trans-trans-3-bromoflavan-4-ols with ethanolic potassium acetate is shown to lead to 2,3-cis-3,4-trans-4-ethoxy- and -4-acetoxy-flavan-3-ols, as well as to 2,3-cis-flavan-3,4-trans-diols. Flavan-3,4-cis-diols are converted into 3,4-trans-diacetates by acetylation with a mixture of acetic acid, acetic anhydride, and potassium acetate. cis-cis-Flavan-3,4-diols are thus converted into 3,4-trans-diacetoxy-2,3-cis-flavans, and 2,3-trans-flavan-3,4-cis-diols give trans-trans-diacetates. Epimerization of cis-cis-glycols to cis-trans-diacetates provides the most convenient route to 3,4-trans-3',4'-dimethoxy-6-methyl-2,3-cis-flavan, and to the corresponding 4'-methoxy analogue, and reduction with lithium aluminium hydride then gives the 2,3-cis-flavan-3,4-trans-diols. 3',4'-Dimethoxy-6-methyl-2,3-cis-flavan-3,4-trans-diol prepared in this way was converted into the corresponding carbonate, which is the first example of a 2,3-cis-3,4-trans-carbonate and completes the set of the four possible racemates in this series. The bromine atom is unreactive in cis-cis-3-bromo-3',4'- dimethoxy-6-methylflavan, but reductive dehalogenation with lithium aluminium hydride gave the ,β-flavan-4-ol (2,4-cis).