organic chemistry - Rearrangements of α-aminoketones in Clemmensen reduction

What is the possible mechanism for this reaction? Activated zinc in presence of concentrated hydrochloric acid is used for Clemmensen reduction, that is conversion of ketone group to methylene group. I'd expect the product to be 1-methyl-2-propylpyrrolidine:

However, ring expansion occurs leading to a piperidine derivative. Could anyone please explain or provide a mechanism for the conversion? Thanks!

Answer

Regarding this question, there are two things that should be stated beforehand.

Firstly, the mechanism of the Clemmensen reduction is not well-understood. There are two plausible pathways that have been proposed:¹

so, the mechanism for this rearrangement is equally unclear.

Secondly, this compound does not actually undergo rearrangement in the Clemmensen reduction, according to studies by Leonard and Ruyle.² Curiously, the authors could only isolate the alcohol product. No explanation was offered as to why the alkane was not obtained.

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However, α-aminoketones are known to undergo rearrangement when the nitrogen and the carbonyl carbon are in the same ring. Two examples which Leonard and Ruyle studied are offered below:^2,3

Their proposed mechanism occurs via migration of the C–N bond, following protonation of the carbonyl oxygen. The carbocation is captured by what appears to be hydride, although the existence of hydride is inconsistent with the proposed mechanisms we have seen above. It might just be their shorthand for sequential electron + proton transfer; I can't really tell.

The second half of the mechanism is not explained, but it is plausible to protonate the hydroxyl group and use the nitrogen lone pair to expel water.

The authors posit that the tendency to undergo rearrangement here is related to a "geometrical directing effect": in the case where the nitrogen and the carbonyl carbon are in the same ring, the nitrogen lone pair has a larger opportunity to approach the carbonyl carbon.² In modern-day terms, this might be considered to be a stereoelectronic effect.

How can this be reconciled with the proposed mechanisms in Kürti-Czakó? Considering that the mechanism of the reduction itself is unclear, I do not want to make any assertions about what the exact mechanism of this rearrangement is. However, I think it would be plausible that C–N bond migration can occur at some stage in the above mechanism - especially in the intermediates where the carbon bears a positive charge.

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References

1. 
   

   Kürti, L.; Czakó, B. Strategic Applications of Named Reactions in Organic Synthesis; Elsevier: Amsterdam, 2005; p 92.

   
   


2. 
   

   Leonard, N. J.; Ruyle, W. V. Rearrangement of α-Aminoketones During Clemmensen Reduction. II. Contraction of a Six-membered Ring in the Monocyclic Series. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1949, 71 (9), 3094–3098. DOI: 10.1021/ja01177a043.

   
   
   


3. 
   

   Leonard, N. J.; Wildman, W. C. Rearrangement of α-Aminoketones During Clemmensen Reduction. I. Bicyclic Compounds Containing a Bridge-head Nitrogen. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1949, 71 (9), 3089–3093. DOI: 10.1021/ja01177a042.