Iterative Catalyst-Controlled Diastereoselective Matteson Homologations Enables the Selective Synthesis of Benzestrol Isomers

J Am Chem Soc. 2024 Oct 31. doi: 10.1021/jacs.4c12857. Online ahead of print.

Abstract

We report the development of an iterative Matteson homologation reaction with catalyst-controlled diastereoselectivity through the design of a new catalyst. This reaction was applied to the selective synthesis of each stereoisomer of benzestrol, a bioactive compound with estrogenic activity featuring three contiguous stereocenters. The different stereoisomers were assayed to determine their binding affinity for the estrogen receptor α (ERα), and the absolute configuration of the compound having uniquely high activity was determined. This research lays a framework for the catalytic synthesis and study of complete stereoisomeric sets of other bioactive molecules and chemical probes containing contiguous stereocenters.