Formylation of alkyl cyanofurylmethanphosphonates at the active methylene group

Abstract

Alkyl cyanofurylmethanephosphonates are formylated with ethyl formate in the presence of sodium foil to form sodium derivatives of phosphonoacetic aldehyde. If phosphonoacetic aldehyde and nitrile groups occupy remote positions in the furan ring, the sodium derivative in DMSO solution exists in the form of carbanion carrying charge on the carbon atom adjacent to the aldehyde group. If the substituents are located at the adjacent carbons of furan ring, the solution equilibrium between the carbanionic (major product) and Z-enolate forms of salts is established. Alkylation of the formed salts with methyl iodide occurs exclusively at the oxygen atom to give methyl enolates. In most cases, a mixture of E-and Z-isomers is formed, the E one being prevailing. In the case of 2,5-location of the substituents in furan ring, the sodium salt is inactive, and the alkylation does not occur.