Synthesis Toward Antascomicin B
by Pollard, Erika D.; Hutchison, John M.; McIntosh, Matt
A recurring problem encountered with the opening of the epoxide ring in the synthesis towards antoscomicin B is the perpetually low yields resulting from the current reaction conditions. The high temp. at which the reaction is carried out, along with the prolonged reaction, time leads to a no. of possible side reactions along with a great deal of decompn. Current literature reports the greatest yield of this reaction to be 41% (1). Within this study the reaction conditions for the opening of the epoxide were modified through the addn. of the use of a microwave reactor as a reacting medium. The conditions were varied through time, temp., and the addn. of a Lewis Acid catalyst. It was found that through the addn. of a Lewis Acid catalyst in a microwave reactor the yield of the epoxide opening decreased to 36% but under std. conditions in a microwave reactor the yield increased to 57%.