Structure of (Z)-(5R)-methyl-2-(4-phenylbenzylidene)cyclohexanone as chiral component of liquid-crystalline systems

The spatial structure of (Z)-(5R)-methyl-2-(4-phenylbenzylidene)cyclohexanone prepared by photochemical isomerization of the E-isomer was studied by analyzing the magnitudes and temperature dependence of the proton spin-spin coupling constants obtained by ¹H NMR spectroscopy and the results of molecular modeling using semiempirical quantum chemical AM1 and PM3 methods and the density functional theory (DFT). Comparison of the results obtained for the Z-and E-isomers shows that in both cases the conformational equilibrium for both isomers is characterized by significant preference of the chair conformer having an equatorial methyl group, namely, − ΔH (chair a ⇌ chair e) = 1.98–2.12 and 1.36–1.54 kcal mole⁻¹ for the Z-and E-isomers, respectively. Distinctions in the non-planarity of the enone fragment and cyclohexanone ring in the Z-and E-isomers under study following from the results of mathematical modeling were confirmed by the experimental values of the geminal spin-spin coupling constants of protons of the methylene groups in α,α ′-positions with respect to the enone group. Quantum chemical calculations of the Z-isomer revealed the existence of intramolecular hydrogen bond between the carbonyl oxygen and the nearest aromatic proton in ortho-position of the benzene ring. Possible reasons for different helical twisting power of (Z)-(5R)-methyl-2-(4-phenylbenzylidene)cyclohexanone and the E-and Z-arylidene derivatives of 1R, 4R-isomenthone in the mesophase are discussed based on the results of molecular structure studies for these compounds. In the text below the unsaturated ketones under study will be called “arylidene cyclohexanone derivatives” for convenience of comparing the characteristics of methylcyclohexanone and isomenthone derivatives. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 6, pp. 962–972, June, 2006.     

An alternative synthesis of a sex pheromone of the dry bean beetleCallosobruchus analis

A formal total synthesis of 3-methylhept-2(Z)-enoic acid, a sex pheromone of the dry bean beetleCallosobruchus analis, was performed on the basis of a highly stereoselective version of the Peterson olefination of ketones developed previously by the authors. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 7, pp. 1389–1392, July, 1999.     

Chemical transformations of reaction products of 2-methyl-3-(4-tolyl)-4(3<Emphasis Type="Italic">H</Emphasis>)-quinazolone with benzil and its 4,4′-derivatives

The reaction of 2-methyl-3-(4-tolyl)-4(3H)-quinazolone with benzil produces 2-[(Z)-3-oxo-2,3-diphenylprop-1-enyl]-3-(4-tolyl)-4(3H)-quinazolone, which is readily transformed into 2-(3,3-diphenylsuccinimido)-N-(4-tolyl)benzamide on dissolution in organic water-containing solvents. The rearrangement mechanism was suggested and investigated by the quantum chemical PM3 method. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 1, pp. 146–151, January, 2007.     

New chiral spiro[2.5]octanones as products of methylenation of (3<Emphasis Type="Italic">R</Emphasis>, 6<Emphasis Type="Italic">R</Emphasis>)-2-arylidene-6-isopropyl-3-methylcyclohexanones with dimethylsulfoxonium methylide. Synthesis,stereochemistry, and behavior in liquid-crystalline systems

Methylenation of (3R,6R)-2-(4-X-benzylidene)-6-isopropyl-3-methylcyclohexanones (X = F, Cl, Ph) with dimethylsulfoxonium methylide occurs stereoselectively to give 1(S)-(4-X-phenyl)-5(R)-isopropyl-8(R)-methyl-3(R)-spiro[2.5]octanones, whose stereochemistry was established by ¹H NMR spectroscopy. The configuration of the chiral centers in the cyclohexanone fragment and its preferred conformation (methyl is axial and isopropyl is equatorial) in the products do not change with respect to the starting enones. The mutual trans-arrangement of the carbonyl and aryl groups at the newly formed three-membered ring was established; the aryl group also occupies the trans-position with respect to the axial methyl group of the cyclohexanone fragment. Using methylenation of the compound with X = Ph as an example, a mixture of by-products resulting from oxidative hydroxylation at the α-position relative to the carbonyl group was isolated. The resulting chiral spiro[2.5]octanones induce a helical supramolecular ordering in the nematic mesophase of 4-pentyl-4′-cyanobiphenyl and exhibit a twisting power only somewhat (by 20–30%) lower than the starting enones. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 10, pp. 2331–2341, October, 2005.     

Cyanamides in cyclization reactions with anthranilates, 2-aminophenyl ketones, and methyl 2-(3-oxopiperazin-2-yl)acetate

Cyclization of aryl-, aroyl-, and (4,6-dimethylpyrimidin-2-yl)cyanamides with methyl anthranilates, 2-aminophenyl ketones, and methyl 2-(3-oxopiperazin-2-yl)acetate leads to 2-amino-3,4-dihydroquinazolin-4-one, 2-aminoquinazoline, and 6-amino-1,3,4,8,9,9a-hexahydro-2H-pyrazino[1,2-c]pyrimidine-1,8-dione derivatives, respectively. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 1, pp. 164–170, January, 2008.     

A simple synthesis of (±)-2,6-dimethylocta-5(<Emphasis Type="Italic">Z</Emphasis>),7-diene-4-ol and its attractant activity for the bark beetle <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ips typographus</Emphasis>

A simple method for the synthesis of (±)-2,6-dimethylocta-5(Z),7-diene-4-ol possessing a high pheromone activity for the bark beetle Ips typographus was developed.__________Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 10, pp. 2245–2247, October, 2004.     

Synthesis of 2-alkyl-2-(3-cyanopyridin-2-ylthio)propionic acids

Derivatives of 2-alkyl-2-mercaptopropionic acid were synthesized based on the substituted 3-cyanopyridin-2(1H)-thiones. The synthesis was carried out by the heating of a mixture of thione, alkyl methyl ketone, and chloroform in the presence of a base. The reaction proceeds readily for acetone, whereas alkyl methyl ketones require a prolonged heating in the presence of a phase-transfer catalyst. Methyl esters were prepared from the acids obtained. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 10, pp. 1967–1970, October, 2007.     

New method for the synthesis of (3<Emphasis Type="Italic">R</Emphasis>,7<Emphasis Type="Italic">R</Emphasis>)-hexahydrofarnesyl bromide based on the microwave-activated regioselective enolization of homochiral phytone

Short and efficient synthesis of (3R,7R)-hexahydrofarnesyl bromide ((3R,7R)-1-bromo-3,7,11-trimethyldodecane), the terpenoid synthon for the natural α-tocopherol, has been elaborated based on the microwave-activated regioselective enolization of homochiral phytone. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 12, pp. 2360–2363, December, 2007.     

Synthesis of isomeric 2-oxazolidinones from (1<Emphasis Type="Italic">R</Emphasis>,2<Emphasis Type="Italic">R</Emphasis>)-and (1<Emphasis Type="Italic">S</Emphasis>,2<Emphasis Type="Italic">S</Emphasis>)-2-amino-1-(4-nitrophenyl)-1,3-propanediols

A synthesis is reported for (4R,5R)-and (4S,5S)-4-hydroxymethyl-5-(4-nitrophenyl)oxazolidin-2-ones and (1′R,4R)-and (1′S,4S)-4-[hydroxy(4-nitrophenyl)methyl]oxazolidin-2-ones from (1R,2R)-and (1S,2S)-2-amino-1-(4-nitrophenyl)-1,3-propanediols. The effect of the experimental conditions on the formation of these compounds was studied. __________ Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 10, pp. 1562–1570, October, 2007.     

Preparation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">α</Emphasis>-methyl-<Emphasis Type="Italic">γ</Emphasis>-butyrolactone: Mechanism of its formation and utilization in 2-methyl-1-tetralone synthesis

α-Methyl-γ-butyrolactone (III) has been prepared directly from γ-butyrolactone (I) in 89 % yield by selective monomethylation conditions: K₂CO₃/DMC/210°C/7 h. The reaction mechanism was elucidated and described. An intermediate and two byproducts: methyl tetrahydro-3-methyl-2-oxofuran-3-carboxylate (II), 3-(methoxycarbonyl)propyl methyl carbonate (IV) and 3-(methoxycarbonyl)butyl methyl carbonate (V) were identified. The high temperature disproportionation of K₂CO₃ in the presence of dimethyl carbonate to MeOK was observed. The new selective synthesis of 2-methyl-1-tetralone (VI) from α-methyl-γ-butyrolactone (III) by Friedel-Crafts conditions was performed in 79 % yield.     

Reduction of (<Emphasis Type="Italic">E</Emphasis>)-3-aryl-2-(thiazol-2-yl)acrylonitriles with lithium aluminum hydride

Reduction of (E)-3-aryl-2-(4-arylthiazol-2-yl)acrylonitriles with lithium aluminum hydride in dry ether afforded (Z)-1-amino-3-aryl-2-(thiazol-2-yl)prop-1-ene derivatives in 15 to 40% yields. The structure of (Z)-1-amino-3-(2-chlorophenyl)-2-[4-(4-methylphenyl)thiazol-2-yl]prop-1-ene was confirmed by X-ray diffraction analysis. Dedicated to Academician N. K. Kochetkov on the occasion of his 90th birthday. __________ Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 5, pp. 1301–1303, May, 2005.     

Highly stereoselective synthesis of a sex pheromone of the dry bean beetleCallosobruchus analis

Total synthesis of 3-methylhept-2(Z)-enoic acid, a sex pheromone of the dry bean beetleCallosobruchus analis, has been performed using a previously developed highly stereoselective method of the construction of disubstituted (Z)-methylolefins based on the higher thermodynamic stability of (E)-isomers of α,β-disubstituted acroleins. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 7, pp. 1385–1388, July, 1999.     

Synthesis and electrochemistry of (5Z,5′Z)-2,2′-(alkane-α,ω-diyldisulfanyldiyl)-bis(5-(2-pyridylmethylene)-3,5-dihydro-4H-imidazol-4-one) complexes with cobalt(II ) chloride

A series of S-alkylated 2-thiohydantoin derivatives containing two 5-(2-pyridylmethylene)-2-sulfanyl-3,5-dihydro-4H-imidazol-4-one moieties linked through a polymethylene bridge with different numbers of carbon atoms was synthesized for the first time. These compounds were obtained by the alkylation of 3-phenyl-5-(2-pyridylmethylene)-2-thiohydantoin or 3-methyl-5-(2-pyridylmethylene)-2-thiohydantoin with different α,ω-dibromoalkanes in acetone or DMF in the presence of potassium carbonate. Complexes of these compounds (L) with CoCl₂ were synthesized. In all cases, the complexes L(CoCl₂)₂ were formed regardless of the ratio of L and inorganic salt introduced into the reaction. According to electronic spectroscopic data, the cobalt atom in the complexes has a tetrahedral coordination environment. The synthesized ligands and complexes were electrochemically studied by cyclic voltammetry. Dedicated to Academician N. S. Zefirov on the occasion of his 70th birthday. Deceased. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 9, pp. 2099–2104, September, 2005.     

Synthesis of optically active analogs of α-tocopherol based on (S)-(+)-dihydromyrcene

New optically active analogs of α-tocopherol (vitamin E) were synthesized starting from enantiomerically enriched (ee≈50%) (S)-(+)-dihydromyrcene. Published inIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 9, pp. 1631–1634, September, 2000.     

Z-Stereoselective Peterson olefination of ketones

A highly-stereoselective method (90 % of theZ-isomer) was developed for the Peterson olefination of ketones with nerylacetone (1) as an example. The method is based on the introduction of a PhS group, which is removed after completion of the reaction, at the ketone C(3) atom.DeceasedFor the perliminary communication, see Ref. 10.Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 3, pp. 509–516, March, 1995.The authors are grateful to the Russian Foundation for Basic Research (grant No. 94.03.08904) and the International Science Foundation (grant NGO000) for financial support of this work.     

Effective synthesis of methyl 3β-amino-3-deoxybetulinate

A practical method for preparing methyl 3β-amino-3-dexoybetulinate that is based on column chromatographic separation of 3α- and 3β-t-butoxycarbonates and subsequent removal of the protecting group using formic acid is proposed. The structure of methyl 3β-N-(t-butoxycarbonyl)-3-deoxybetulinate was established by an x-ray structure analysis. Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 5, pp. 488–490, September-October, 2008.     

Synthesis of 3,5-disubstituted 4-aminoisoxazoles by cyclization of <Emphasis Type="Italic">O</Emphasis>-(β-oxoalkyl)-substituted α-hydroxyimino nitriles

4-Amino-5-benzoyl(acetyl)isoxazole-3-carboxamides were prepared by cyclization of α-hydroxyimino nitriles O-alkylated with bromoacetophenones (bromoacetone). The purity of the target 4-aminoisoxazoles can be substantially increased by treating O-alkylated oximes with LiClO₄ before cyclization. __________ Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 5, pp. 1159–1165, May, 2005.     

Functionalization of <Emphasis Type="Italic">N-tert</Emphasis>-butoxycarbonyl-7-and <Emphasis Type="Italic">N-tert</Emphasis>-butoxycarbonyl-8-bromo-10-azabicyclo[4.3.1]deca-3,7-dienes. A route to a ferruginine homolog

N-tert-Butoxycarbonyl-7-and N-tert-butoxycarbonyl-8-bromo-10-azabicyclo[4.3.1]deca-3,7-dienes are convenient substrates for further modification using replacement of the Br atom by a cyano group or a Li atom. Treatment of lithium derivatives with dimethylformamide and N-methoxy-N-methylacetamide gave the corresponding α,β-unsaturated aldehydes (67–84%) and ketones (∼70%). Ketone 4b is a direct precursor of a homolog of the alkaloid ferruginine. Dedicated to Academician G. A. Abakumov on the occasion of his 70th birthday. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 9, pp. 1794–1796, September, 2007.     

Pyrano[4,3-<Emphasis Type="Italic">d</Emphasis>]pyrimidinium salts

5-Aroyl-1,3,6-trimethyluracils were converted to pyrano[4,3-d]pyrimidinium salts. Reactions of the salts obtained with ammonia, primary amines, and hydrazine were studied. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 11, pp. 2251–2257, November, 2007.     

α,ω-dicarbonyl 1,5-unsaturated isoprenoids with (Z)-and (E)-configured Δ-bonds in the synthesis of low-molecular-weight bioregulators

Syntheses carried out with participation of the author of terpenoids, polyprenols, prenylcarboxylic acids, insect pheromones, and juvenoids based on α,ω-dicarbonyl 1,5-unsaturated isoprenoid compounds with (Z)- and (E)-configurations, obtained by controlled ozonolysis of isoprene cyclic oligomers and polyisoprene rubbers, are considered. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 11, pp. 2040–2051, November, 1999.