The reaction of rapamycin (1) with different reductive agents has been studied. As expected, the C-14 ketone of the ''tricarbonyl'' unit is the most electrophilic center in the molecule and could be selectively converted to either the alcohol (Zn/AcOH or DIBAL) or to the C-14 methylene (H2S, pyridine/MeOH). Under Luche's conditions, the C-14 carbonyl was protected and reduction took place stereoselectively at both C-24 and C-30 (NaBH4/CeCl3) or exclusively at C-30 (NaBH3CN/CeCl3). Selective reaction at C-30 also took place under Evans conditions with NaBH(OAc)(3). These reactions allow the selective manipulation of the rapamycin ''effector domain''.
The reaction of rapamycin (1) with different reductive agents has been studied. As expected, the C-14 ketone of the ''tricarbonyl'' unit is the most electrophilic center in the molecule and could be selectively converted to either the alcohol (Zn/AcOH or DIBAL) or to the C-14 methylene (H2S, pyridine/MeOH). Under Luche's conditions, the C-14 carbonyl was protected and reduction took place stereoselectively at both C-24 and C-30 (NaBH4/CeCl3) or exclusively at C-30 (NaBH3CN/CeCl3). Selective reaction at C-30 also took place under Evans conditions with NaBH(OAc)(3). These reactions allow the selective manipulation of the rapamycin ''effector domain''.