Total syntheses of (±)‐cis‐ and trans‐11‐methoxydeethyleburnamonine

The total syntheses of 11‐methoxydeethyleburnamonines ( 4 ) and ( 13 ) were carried out with use of 6‐methoxytryptophyl bromide ( 5 ) as starting material. Compound 5 was converted in three steps to trans‐ester 8 . Acid‐catalysed epimerization of 8 , lithium aluminum hydride reduction of the ester group, tosylation and substitution with cyanide gave the cis‐nitrile 12 . Acid‐induced cyclization of 12 yielded mainly (±)‐trans‐11‐methoxydeethyleburnamonine ( 13 ), whereas base‐induced cyclization gave (±)‐cis‐11‐methoxydeethyleburnamonine ( 4 ).     

Studies on the syntheses of heterocyclic compounds. Part DCXII. A simple synthesis of benzopyran and dibenzopyran derivatives

trans-2-(3-Hydroxyphenyl)cyclohexanol (1b) was converted into 6-methyl-6-phenylbenzopyran (11a) and 6-spirocyclohexanobenzopyran (11b) by phenolic cyclization or under acidic condition. This type of reaction was also applied to the synthesis of 3,4-dihydro-6-methoxy-1-methoxycarbonyl-1-methyl-1H-2-benzopyran (IV).     

Cyclopolymerization: Cyclization of diallylcyanamide to pyrrolidine derivatives

Free-radical addition of perfluoroalkyl iodides (R_FI) to diallylcyanamide gave cis- and trans-1-cyano-3-iodomethyl-4-(perfluoroalkyl)methylpyrrolidine (Ia,b). Five-membered ring products were preferentially formed in this reaction by other 1,6-dienes having terminal vinyl groups. This strongly suggests that cyclopolymerization of such monomers occurs in analogous fashion, instead of leading to 6-membered rings as has been previously understood. Dehydrohalogenation of Ia,b gave 3-methylenepyrrolidine derivatives as expected. Infrared and NMR spectra clearly show the exocyclic CH₂? group. The influence of reaction conditions on the yield of cyclization product Ia,b and certain side products was investigated.     

Synthèse de céphalosporine-lactones

Condensation of azetidinones 2a and 2b with mercaptan 3 gave respectively compound 10 or a 1:1 mixture of 17 and 17 ′. Bromination of 10 , afforded cis and trans-bromohydrins 13a and of 17 and 17 ′ cis and trans-bromohydrins 18a . Acetylation and reduction with zinc and acetic acid of these bromohydrins gave cephems 4a or 4b and 4b ′ respectively.     

Synthesis and configuration of trans-1-amino-4-benzyl-2,6-dimethylpiperazine as an intermediate of semi-synthetic rifamycins

The synthesis of trans-1-amino-4-benzyl-2,6-dimethylpiperazine (1b), trans-4-benzyl-2,6-dimethylpiperazine (VIIb) and trans-2,6-dimethylpiperazine (IIb) are described, by condensation of N-benzyl-1,2-propanediamine with α-bromopropionate and successive thermal cyclization and reduction with lithium aluminum hydride. The assignment of the cis, trans configuration to the isomers was based on a thorough examination of the ring proton nmr signals of the two isomers of 4-benzyl-2,6-dimethylpiperazine (VIIa and VIIb) interpreted in terms of conformational considerations.     

Reduction of the 1,2,5-thiadiazole ring of 3,6:12,15-di-1,4-benzo[6.6](3,4)-1,2,5-thiadiazolo- and 3,5:11,13-di-1,3-benzo-[6.6](3,4)-1,2,5-thiadiazolocyclophanes. Selective preparation of cis- and trans-[23]cyclophane-1,2-diacetoamide

The effect of the [2.2.2]cyclophane ring structure on the reduction of 1,2,5-thiadiazole ring incorporated in cyclophanes 1a-c and 2a-c was investigated. When reduced by sodium metal in ethanol followed by acetylation, para[2³]cyclophane 1 gave a mixture of the expected cis- and trans-diamides, 3 and 4 , in which 4 was the major product. On the other hand, reduction of 1 with lithium aluminum hydride proceeded in a cis-selective manner and gave 3 as a major product after a treatment of the reduced products with acetic anhydride. The reduction of metacyclophane 2 , which is less strained than 1 , proceeded exclusively in cis-fashion and a subsequent treatment of the reduction product with acetic anhydride gave only cis-diamide 6 .     

Probes for a Regulatory Site on the Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor-Channel. Synthesis of (±)-7-Debutylperhydrohistrionicotoxin, (±)-2-Depentyl-7-debutylperhydrohistrionicotoxin,and their Analogues

Reaction of glutarimide with pent-4-enylmagnesium bromide, followed by cyclization of intermediate ketoamide, and hydrolysis of the formates 10 and 13 led to the mixture of the hydroxylactams 11 (cis) and 14 (trans) which could be separated via their benzenecarbamates. Reduction of cis-hydroxylactam 11 with LiAlH₄ yielded 2-depentyl-7-debutylperhydrohistrionicotoxin ( 6 ), whereas reduction of trans-isomer 14 gave the epimeric alcohol 9 . cis-Hydroxylactam 11 was converted via thiolactam 17 and the methylthio derivative 18 to ketimine 19 which was reduced with NaBH₄ yielding a mixture of natural 4 and unnatural 7 , analogues of perhydrohistrionicotoxin ( 2 ). Reduction of 4 with H₂ in the presence of Pd/C yielded (±)-7-debutylperhydrohistrionicotoxin ( 5 ).     

The syntheses of 4b,5a-dihydrodibenz[3,4:5,6]anthra[1,2-b]oxirene and 4b,5a-dihydro-5H-dibenz[3,4:5,6]anthra[1,2-b]azirine

The syntheses of the K-oxide and K-imine derivatives of dibenz[a,j]anthracene ( 1 ) are described. The parent hydrocarbon 1 that was obtained as a side product in the Elbs pyrolysis of (2-methyl-1-naphthyl)-1′-naphthylmethanone ( 10 ) was oxidized to 3-(2-formylphenyl)-3-phenanthrenecarboxaldehyde ( 3 ). Treatment of the dialdehyde with tris(dimethylamino)phosphine gave 4b,5a-dihydrodibenz[3,4:5,6]anthra[1,2-b]oxirene ( 4 ). Reaction of the oxirane with sodium azide followed by triethyl phosphite cyclization of the mixture of trans azido-alcohols so formed, yielded mainly 4b,5a-dihydrodibenz[3,4:5,6]anthra[1,2-b]azirine ( 5 ).     

Synthese des Pyrrolizidin-Alkaloides (±)-Trachelanthamidin

Synthesis of the Pyrrolizidine Alkaloid (±)-Trachelanthamidine The important intermediate in the synthesis of the title compound 8 is the diastereoisomer mixture of ethyl 2-[2-(1,3 dioxolan-2-yl)ethyl]-5-oxopyrrolidine-3-carboxylate ( 3a/3b ) which was prepared from nitromethane, acrylaldehyde, and diethyl fumarate (Scheme). Its reduction (NaBH₄, t-BuOH, MeOH) gave exclusively the trans-alcohol 4a , which was converted to the protected pyrrolidine derivative 6 . The deprotection and reduction of 6 gave the pyrrolizidine alkaloid 8 , characterized as its hydrochloride.     

Cycloaddition of Dialkylalumanyl Anion toward Unsaturated Hydrocarbons in (1+2) and (1+4) Modes

The reactivity of dialkylalumanyl anion ( 1 ) towards naphthalene, anthracene, diphenylacetylene, and (E)/(Z)-stilbenes was investigated. The compound 1 reacts with naphthalene and anthracene through (1+4) cyclization, giving Al-containing norbornadiene derivatives. In the reaction of 1 with diphenylacetylene and (E)/(Z)-stilbenes, (1+2) cyclization proceeded to form Al-C-C three-membered rings. Cyclization toward (E)- or (Z)-stilbenes solely gave a trans-cycloadduct. DFT calculations revealed that the cycloaddition of 1 with (Z)-stilbene proceeds via a single transition state with a carbanion character, which results in the selectivity towards the trans-cycloadduct.     

New Studies on [2+3] Cycloadditions of Thermally Generated N‐Isopropyl‐ and N‐(4‐Methoxyphenyl)‐Substituted Azomethine Ylides

The thermal reaction of 1‐substituted 2,3‐diphenylaziridines 2 with thiobenzophenone ( 6a ) and 9H‐fluorene‐9‐thione ( 6b ) led to the corresponding 1,3‐thiazolidines (Scheme 2). Whereas the cis‐disubstituted aziridines and 6a yielded only trans‐2,4,5,5‐tetraphenyl‐1,3‐thiazolidines of type 7 , the analogous reaction with 6b gave a mixture of trans‐ and cis‐2,4‐diphenyl‐1,3‐thiazolidines 7 and 8 . During chromatography on SiO₂, the trans‐configured spiro[9H‐fluorene‐9,5′‐[1,3]thiazolidines] 7c and 7d isomerized to the cis‐isomers. The substituent at N(1) of the aziridine influences the reaction rate significantly, i.e., the more sterically demanding the substituent the slower the reaction. The reaction of cis‐2,3‐diphenylaziridines 2 with dimethyl azodicarboxylate ( 9 ) and dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate ( 11 ) gave the trans‐cycloadducts 10 and 12 , respectively (Schemes 3 and 4). In the latter case, a partial dehydrogenation led to the corresponding pyrroles. Two stereoisomeric cycloadducts, 15 and 16 , with a trans‐relationship of the Ph groups were obtained from the reaction with dimethyl fumarate ( 14 ; Scheme 5); with dimethyl maleate ( 17 ), the expected cycloadduct 18 together with the 2,3‐dihydropyrrole 19 was obtained (Scheme 6). The structures of the cycloadducts 7b, 8a, 15b , and 16b were established by X‐ray crystallography.     

Thermal [2+3]‐Cycloadditions of trans‐1‐Methyl‐2,3‐diphenylaziridine with CS and CC Dipolarophiles: An Unexpected Course with Dimethyl Dicyanofumarate

The thermal reaction of trans‐1‐methyl‐2,3‐diphenylaziridine (trans‐ 1a ) with aromatic and cycloaliphatic thioketones 2 in boiling toluene yielded the corresponding cis‐2,4‐diphenyl‐1,3‐thiazolidines cis‐ 4 via conrotatory ring opening of trans‐ 1a and a concerted [2+3]‐cycloaddition of the intermediate (E,E)‐configured azomethine ylide 3a (Scheme 1). The analogous reaction of cis‐ 1a with dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate ( 5 ) gave dimethyl trans‐2,5‐dihydro‐1‐methyl‐2,5‐diphenylpyrrole‐3,4‐dicarboxylate (trans‐ 6 ) in accord with orbital‐symmetry‐controlled reactions (Scheme 2). On the other hand, the reactions of cis‐ 1a and trans‐ 1a with dimethyl dicyanofumarate ( 7a ), as well as that of cis‐ 1a and dimethyl dicyanomaleate ( 7b ), led to mixtures of the same two stereoisomeric dimethyl 3,4‐dicyano‐1‐methyl‐2,5‐diphenylpyrrolidine‐3,4‐dicarboxylates 8a and 8b (Scheme 3). This result has to be explained via a stepwise reaction mechanism, in which the intermediate zwitterions 11a and 11b equilibrate (Scheme 6). In contrast, cis‐1,2,3‐triphenylaziridine (cis‐ 1b ) and 7a gave only one stereoisomeric pyrrolidine‐3,4‐dicarboxylate 10 , with the configuration expected on the basis of orbital‐symmetry control, i.e., via concerted reaction steps (Scheme 10). The configuration of 8a and 10 , as well as that of a derivative of 8b , were established by X‐ray crystallography.     

Syntheses and Structures of Ruthenium(II) N,S‐Heterocyclic Carbene Diphosphine Complexes and their Catalytic Activity towards Transfer Hydrogenation

Phosphine exchange of [Ru^IIBr(MeCOO)(PPh₃)₂(3‐RBzTh)] (3‐RBzTh=3‐benzylbenzothiazol‐2‐ylidene) with a series of diphosphines (bis(diphenylphosphino)methane (dppm), 1,2‐bis(diphenylphosphino)ethylene (dppv), 1,1′‐bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene (dppf), 1,4‐bis(diphenylphosphino)butane (dppb), and 1,3‐(diphenylphosphino)propane (dppp)) gave mononuclear and neutral octahedral complexes [RuBr(MeCOO)(η²‐P₂)(3‐RBzTh)] (P₂=dppm ( 2 ), dppv ( 3 ), dppf ( 4 ), dppb ( 5 ), or dppp ( 6 )), the coordination spheres of which contained four different ligands, namely, a chelating diphosphine, carboxylate, N,S‐heterocyclic carbene (NSHC), and a bromide. Two geometric isomers of 6 ( 6a and 6 b ) have been isolated. The structures of these products, which have been elucidated by single‐crystal X‐ray crystallography, show two structural types, I and II, depending on the relative dispositions of the ligands. Type I structures contain a carbenic carbon atom trans to the oxygen atom, whereas two phosphorus atoms are trans to bromine and oxygen atoms. The type II system comprises a carbene carbon atom trans to one of the phosphorus atoms, whereas the other phosphorus is trans to the oxygen atom, with the bromine trans to the remaining oxygen atom. Complexes 2 , 3 , 4 , and 6a belong to type I, whereas 5 and 6 b are of type II. The kinetic product 6 b eventually converts into 6a upon standing. These complexes are active towards catalytic reduction of para‐methyl acetophenone by 2‐propanol at 82 °C under 1 % catalyst load giving the corresponding alcohols. The dppm complex 2 shows the good yields (91–97 %) towards selected ketones.     

Reactions of salicylaldehyde with some conjugated olefins

Some condensation reactions of salicylaldehyde with various conjugated olefins, 1a, 1b, 1c, 2a, 2b, 2c , and 3 , were studied. In the condensations with 1a, 1b , and 1c gave 2,2-dimethyl-2H-chromene derivatives via “3–2 cyclization”, while the condensations with 2a, 2b, 2c , and 3 gave 2-methyl-2H-chromen-2-yl)acetic acid derivatives via “3–4 cyclization”.     

Synthesis of Coumarins and Derivatives. Part 1. Biomimetic synthesis of esculetin and halogenated derivatives

Esculetin ( 1 ) and the novel compounds 5-chloroesculetin ( 5 ) and 5-bromoesculetin ( 6 ) were obtained from a light-induced cyclization of trans-caffeic acid ( 3 ) catalyzed by [FeNa(edta)] and/or H₂SO₄, HCI, or HBr (Scheme 1). The experimental conditions for trans-cis-isomerization of the cinnamic-acid derivative 3 and subsequent non-enzymatic cyclization were described. The photoperiod and the presence of air and iron-chelate catalyst are shown to be important parameters that markedly affect yields. The reactions probably occur by a free-radical mechanism involving a photo-initiated one-electron redox process (Scheme 2).     

The fused quinuclidine-valerolactone system Synthesis and conformation of 4-alkyl or 4-aryl-6-oxa-1-azatricyclo (4.2.2.027) dodecan-5-one

Michael addition of ethyl malonate, alkylmalonate and phenylacetate to 2-methylene-quinuclidin-3-one, followed by NaBH₄ reduction of the 3-oxo group in the resulting adduct, then acid hydrolysis and decarboxylation (in the case of malonates) gave 6-oxa-1-azatricyclo-(4.2.2.0^2,7)dodecan-5-one, its 4-alkyl and 4-aryl derivatives. A minor byproduct is 2-(trans-3-hydroxyquinuclidin-2-yl)-α-alkyl-propanoic acid which is unable to undergo cyclization to δ-lactone.     

Synthesis of 1‐azabicyclic systems by double cyclization

5‐Cyano‐1‐azabicyclo[3.3.0]octane ( 1 ) was prepared in one step from 1,7‐dichloro‐4‐heptanone ( 4 ) under mild conditions. The application of this method for the preparation of 5‐cyano‐4,6‐dimethyl‐1‐azabicy‐clo[3.3.0]octane ( 11 ) gave two diastereomers in equilibrium. The NMR measurements of 11 and its reduced compound 15 showed that the major isomer is the cis‐exo form, and the minor isomer is the trans form. Molecular orbital calculations indicated that the cis‐exo form is more stable than the trans form, in agreement with the experimental results. Furthermore, 6‐cyano‐1‐azabicyclo[4.3.0]nonane ( 17 ) and 1‐azabicy‐clo[4.4.0]decane ( 19 ), both including a six‐membered ring, were prepared from appropriate haloketones by using this double cyclization method.     

Furopyridines. II. Bromination and nitration of furo[2,3-b]-, furo[3,2-b]-, furo[2,3-c]- and furo[3,2-c]pyridine

In order to reveal the reactivities of furopyridines, we undertook bromination and nitration of four furopyridines ( 1, 2, 3 and 4 ) whose chemical properties had been almost unknown. Bromination of 1, 2, 3 and 4 gave the corresponding trans-2,3-dibromo-2,3-dihydro derivatives 6, 8, 10 and 12 , respectively, which were converted to 3-bromofuropyridines 7, 9, 11 and 13 by treatment with sodium hydroxide in aqueous methanol. Nitration of 1 with a mixture of fuming nitric acid and sulfuric acid afforded a mixture of addition products 14a, 14b and 14c and 2-nitro derivative 15 . Both 14a and 14b were easily converted to 15 by treatment with sodium bicarbonate. Compound 2 was nitrated to give a mixture of cis- and trans-2-nitro-3-hydroxy-2,3-dihydro derivative 16a and 16b and 2-nitro derivative 17 . The cis isomer 16a was transformed to the trans isomer 16b by refluxing on silica gel in ethyl acetate. Compound 16b was dehydrated with acetic anhydride to give 17 . Nitration of 3 gave a nitrolic acid derivative 20 . Nitration of 4 gave a mixture of 2-nitro derivative 22 and 3-(trinitromethyl)pyridin-4-ol ( 23 ). The structures of 20 and 23 were established by single crystal X-ray analysis. The differences of behavior observed in these reactions are discussed in connection with the results of the determination of pKa values and the relative reactivities of deuteriodeprotonation of these furopyridines.     

Synthesis and chemical reactivity of indenoisoxazoles

Treatment of 2-pivaloyl-1,3-indandione ( 1 ) with hydroxylamine under acidic conditions, results in formation of 8-t-butylindeno[1,2-c]isoxazol-7-one ( 2 ) while treatment of the triketone with hydroxylamine at neutral or basic pH gave 6 which upon cyclization gave the isomeric 3-t-butylindeno[1,2-c]isoxazol-4-one ( 7 ). Compound 7 was readily reduced to amine 12 by treatment with hydrazine or hydrogen over platinum. The amine, although quite unreactive, was converted to 3-t-butylindeno[1,2-c]pyrazol-4-one ( 13 ) with hydrazine or reduced to 15 and 16 with sodium in liquid ammonia and alcohol. Surprisingly, the amine 3 obtained from isoxazole 2 gave reduction product 15 from a sodium-liquid ammonia reduction and not the expected product 18. Spectral evidence for each of the structures is discussed.     

New tetracyclic compounds containing the β-carboline moiety

Oxidation of 1-methyl-3-methoxycarbonyl-β-carboline with selenium dioxide gave 1-formyl-3-methoxycarbonyl-β-carboline II . Compound II reacted with acetic or propionic anhydride to give easily the 2-methoxycarbonyl-6H-indolo[3,2,1-d,e][1,5]naphthyridin-6-ones III ; reaction of II with some primary amines led to the formation of the Schiff bases IV , which were reduced to the 1-aminomethyl-3-methoxycarbonyl-β-carbolines V with sodium borohydride. Cyclization of V with aqueous formaldehyde led to the pyrimido[3,4,5-lm]pyrido[3,4-b]indoles VI . Analogously, cyclization with formaldehyde, acetone or 1,1′-carbonyldiimidazole of the 3-aminomethyl- 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-β-carbolines VIII , obtained by reaction of 3-methoxycarbonyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-β-carboline VII with amines followed by lithium aluminium hydride reduction of the resulting amides, gave the imidazo[1′,5′-1,6]pyrido[3,4-b]indoles IX and X . Dieckmann cyclization of 3-methoxycarbonyl-2-[(3-ethoxycarbonyl)-1-propyl]-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-β-carboline XI led to a 1:1 mixture of the β-ketoesters XII and XIII , which underwent deethoxycarbonylation to 5,6,8,9,10,11,11a,12-octahydroindolo[3,2-b]quinolizin-11-one XIV . Finally, the polyphosphoric acid (or esters) catalyzed cyclization of the N-acyl derivatives XVI of 3-hydrazinocarbonyl-β-carboline XV led smoothly to the 3-(1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-yl)-β-carbolines XVII .