Highly regioselective diels-alder reactions of 2-trimethylsilylmethyl- 1,3-butadiene catalyzed by a lewis acid and applications to syntheses of terpenes

2-Trimethylsilylmethyl-1,3-butadiene undergoes highly regioselective Diels-Alder reactions with dienophiles such as acrolein and methyl vinyl ketone catalyzed by aluminum chloride in which the “para” isomers are obtained almost exclusively. The adducts are converted readily to a variety of naturally occurring mono and sesquiterpenes.     

1,2-Versus 1,4-reduction of α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds in the gas phase

The regioselectivity involved in the gas-phase hydride reduction of α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds by pentacoordinate silicon hydride ions is investigated. The kinetics and product distributions of the reactions of acrolein, methyl vinyl ketone and cyclohex-2-enone with monoalkoxysiliconate ions of the general composition RSiH₃(OR′)^? were examined with the flowing afterglow–triple quadrupole technique. All three substrates react by hydride transfer and by formation of a siliconate adduct in which hydride reduction of the organic reactant has occurred. The structures of these adducts and the hydride transfer products were identified by various tandem mass spectrometric protocols, including analysis of competitive collision-induced dissociation (CID) reactions and comparisons of CID spectra obtained from reference ions with known structures. 1,4-Reduction forming an enolate ion product is found to be the dominant or exclusive process with all three substrates, i.e. acrolein (70 ± 5%), methyl vinyl ketone (72 ± 5%) and cyclohex-2-enone (100%). Comparisons are made between these gas-phase results and the regioselectivity reported for analogous condensed-phase reactions. The observed behavior is discussed in terms of the reaction thermochemistry.     

High pressure trapping in Fourier transform mass spectrometry: A radiofrequency-only-mode event

A new event for the Fourier transform mass spectrometry (FTMS) sequence is developed and demonstrated. During this event, called a radiofrequency (RF)-only mode event, the typical passive cubic trap of a Fourier transform mass spectrometer is made to operate as an active quadrupole ion trap. The transition between active and passive modes is developed so that ion loss as a consequence of the transition can be held to 15% or less. The adduct of the ion-molecule reaction of the 1,3-butadiene radical cation and methyl vinyl ether was detected during the Rf-only-mode event at a helium pressure of ～1×10^?3 torr even though this adduct is not detectable under standard FTMS operating conditions.     

Catalytic, asymmetric aza-Baylis-Hillman reaction of N-sulfonated imines with activated olefins by quinidine-derived chiral amines

The chiral nitrogen Lewis base, tricyclic cinchona alkaloid derivative TQO, is an effective promoter in the catalytic, asymmetric aza‐Baylis–Hillman reaction of N‐sulfonated imines Ar? CH?NR′ 1 (R′ = Ts, Ms, Ns, SES) with various activated olefins such as methyl vinyl ketone (MVK), ethyl vinyl ketone (EVK), acrolein, methyl acrylate, phenyl acrylate, or α‐naphthyl acrylate to give the corresponding adducts in moderate to good yields with good to high ee (up to 99 %) at ?30 °C or 45 °C in various solvents, including DMF/MeCN (1:1, v/v). The first such reaction of 1 with the simplest Michael acceptor MVK and methyl acrylate has been achieved with excellent enantioselectivity. The adducts derived from MVK and EVK had the opposite absolute configuration to those from acrolein, methyl acrylate, phenyl acrylate, and α‐naphthyl acrylate. A plausible mechanism has been proposed on the basis of previous reports and the authors’ investigations. An effective bifunctional chiral nitrogen Lewis base–Brønsted acid system has been revealed in this type of aza‐Baylis–Hillman reaction.     

Absolute photoionization cross-section of the methyl radical

The absolute photoionization cross-section of the methyl radical has been measured using two completely independent methods. The CH3 photoionization cross-section was determined relative to that of acetone and methyl vinyl ketone at photon energies of 10.2 and 11.0 eV by using a pulsed laser-photolysis/time-resolved synchrotron photoionization mass spectrometry method. The time-resolved depletion of the acetone or methyl vinyl ketone precursor and the production of methyl radicals following 193 nm photolysis are monitored simultaneously by using time-resolved synchrotron photoionization mass spectrometry. Comparison of the initial methyl signal with the decrease in precursor signal, in combination with previously measured absolute photoionization cross-sections of the precursors, yields the absolute photoionization cross-section of the methyl radical; sigma(CH3)(10.2 eV) = (5.7 +/- 0.9) x 10(-18) cm(2) and sigma(CH3)(11.0 eV) = (6.0 +/- 2.0) x 10(-18) cm(2). The photoionization cross-section for vinyl radical determined by photolysis of methyl vinyl ketone is in good agreement with previous measurements. The methyl radical photoionization cross-section was also independently measured relative to that of the iodine atom by comparison of ionization signals from CH3 and I fragments following 266 nm photolysis of methyl iodide in a molecular-beam ion-imaging apparatus. These measurements gave a cross-section of (5.4 +/- 2.0) x 10(-18) cm(2) at 10.460 eV, (5.5 +/- 2.0) x 10(-18) cm(2) at 10.466 eV, and (4.9 +/- 2.0) x 10(-18) cm(2) at 10.471 eV. The measurements allow relative photoionization efficiency spectra of methyl radical to be placed on an absolute scale and will facilitate quantitative measurements of methyl concentrations by photoionization mass spectrometry.     

Controlled nitroxide‐mediated radical polymerization of methyl and phenyl vinyl ketone

The article describes unprecedented nitroxide‐mediated radical polymerization of methyl and phenyl vinyl ketone (MVK and PVK) using a sterically highly hindered alkoxyamine as initiator/regulator. It is shown that controlled polymerization of PVK is far more difficult to achieve than controlled MVK polymerization. Whereas for MVK high conversion resulting in polyvinyl ketone with low polydispersity index is readily obtained, the PVK polymerization provides good results only in the presence of free nitroxide and styrene as additives. Vinyl ketone polymerizations are analyzed by ESI mass spectrometry. These MS studies provide insights into the problems associated with the controlled nitroxide‐mediated polymerization of PVK. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012     

Multifunktionellebis-(trifluormethyl)-substituierte Synthesezwischenstufen aus 4,4-Bis-(trifluormethyl)-1-oxa-3-azabuta-1,3-dienen viaBaylis-Hillman Reaktion

Summary TheBaylis-Hillman reaction of 4,4-bis-(trifluoromethyl)-1-oxa-3-azabuta-1,3-dienes with acrolein, methyl vinyl ketone, ethyl vinyl ketone, acrylonitrile, ethyl acrylate, andn-butyl acrylate provides useful multifunctional partial fluorinated building blocks in one step.

Prof. Dr. Rolf Huisgen zum 75. Geburtstag gewidmet     

Measurement of acrolein and 1,3-butadiene in a single puff of cigarette smoke using lead-salt tunable diode laser infrared spectroscopy

Acrolein and 1,3-butadiene in cigarette smoke generally are measured using two separate analytical methods, a carbonyl derivative HPLC method for acrolein and a volatile organic compound (VOC) GC/MS method for 1,3-butadiene. However, a single analytical method having improved sensitivity and real-time per puff measurement will offer more specific information for evaluating experimental carbon filtered cigarettes designed to reduce the smoke deliveries of these constituents. This paper describes an infrared technique using two lead-salt tunable diode lasers (TDLs) operating with liquid nitrogen cooling with emissions at 958.8 cm(-1) and 891.0 cm(-1) respectively for the simultaneous measurement of acrolein and 1,3-butadiene, respectively, in each puff of mainstream cigarette smoke in real time. The dual TDL system uses a 3.1l volume, 100 m astigmatic multiple pass absorption gas cell. Quantitation is based on a spectral fit that uses previously determined infrared molecular line parameters generated in our laboratory, including line positions, line strengths and nitrogen-broadened half-widths for these species. Since acrolein and ethylene absorption lines overlap and 1,3-butadiene, ethylene and propylene absorption lines overlap, the per puff deliveries of ethylene and propylene were determined since their overlapping absorption lines must be taken into account by the spectral fit. The acrolein and 1,3-butadiene total cigarette deliveries for the 1R5F Kentucky Reference cigarette were in agreement with the HPLC and GC/MS methods, respectively. The limit of detection (LOD) for 1,3-butadiene and acrolein was 4 ng/puff and 24 ng/puff, respectively, which is more than adequate to determine at which puff they break through the carbon filter. The retention and breakthrough behavior for the two primary smoke constituents depend on the cigarette design and characteristics of the carbon filter being evaluated.     

Substituent effects in pericyclic reactions of radical cations: the ring opening of 3-substituted cyclobutene radical cations

The substituent effects on the ring-opening reaction of cyclobutene radical cations have been studied at the Becke3LYP/6-31G* level of theory. The effect on the reaction energies and activation energies of the concerted and stepwise pathways of electron-donating substituents such as methyl and methoxy as well as electron-withdrawing substituents such as nitrile and carboxaldehyde in the 3-position of the cyclobutene is discussed. The exothermicity of the reaction correlates well with the ability of the substituent to stabilize the 1,3-butadiene radical cation by electron donation or conjugation. The relative stability of the (E) and (Z) isomers of the resulting 1,3-butadiene radical cations depends largely on steric effects. Similarly, steric effects are responsible for the relative energies of the different diastereomeric transition structures. The cyclopropyl carbinyl intermediate of the stepwise pathway resembles the nonclassical carbocation and is stabilized by electron-donating substituents. In the case of electron-donating substituents, this species becomes a minimum on the potential energy hypersurface, whereas unstabilized or destabilized cyclopropyl carbinyl radical cations are not minima on the hypersurface. The stabilization of the cyclopropyl carbinyl radical cation by substituents correlates qualitatively with the Brown-Okamoto substituent parameter sigma+. However, in all cases studied here, the concerted mechanism is the lowest energy pathway.     

Preparation of 1,3-dienyl organotrifluoroborates and their Diels-Alder/cross-coupling reactions

2-BF₃-substituted 1,3-butadienes with potassium and tetrabutyl ammonium counterions have been prepared in gram quantities from chloroprene via a simple synthetic procedure. The potassium salt of this new main group element substituted diene has been characterized by ¹H, ¹³C, ¹¹B, and ¹⁹F NMR and the tetra n-butyl ammonium salt was also characterized by X-ray crystallography. Diels-Alder reactions of these dienes with dienophiles such as ethyl acrylate, methyl vinyl ketone, and N-phenylmaleimide are reported as well as subsequent Pd-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions of those Diels-Alder adducts. 4-Phenyl-2-BF₃-substituted 1,3-diene was prepared by magnesium-halogen exchange from the corresponding 2-bromo and iodo dienes. The 4-phenyl-2-bromo-1,3-butadiene was also characterized by X-ray crystallography. 4-Phenyl-2-BF₃-1,3-butadiene was used in Diels-Alder/cross-coupling reactions and the product of a Diels-Alder reaction with N-phenylmaleimide followed by cross-coupling with 4-bromo-benzonitrile was also characterized by X-ray crystallography.     

The simplest Diels–Alder reactions are not endo-selective

There is a widespread perception that the high level of endo selectivity witnessed in many Diels–Alder reactions is an intrinsic feature of the transformation. In contrast to expectations based upon this existing belief, the first experimental Diels–Alder reactions of a novel, deuterium-labeled 1,3-butadiene with commonly used mono-substituted alkenic dienophiles (acrolein, methyl vinyl ketone, acrylic acid, methyl acrylate, acrylamide and acrylonitrile) reveal kinetic endo : exo ratios close to 1 : 1. Maleonitrile, butenolide, α-methylene γ-butyrolactone, and N-methylmaleimide behave differently, as does methyl vinyl ketone under Lewis acid catalysis. CBS-QB3 calculations incorporating solvent and temperature parameters give endo : exo product ratios that are in near quantitative agreement with these and earlier experimental findings. This work challenges the preconception of innate endo-selectivity by providing the first experimental evidence that the simplest Diels–Alder reactions are not endo-selective. Trends in behaviour are traced to steric and electronic effects in Diels–Alder transition structures, giving new insights into these fundamental processes.

Cycloadditions of deuterium-labeled 1,3-butadiene with monosubstituted alkenic dienophiles challenge the widespread assumption of endo-selectivity in prototypical Diels–Alder reactions.     

Copolymerization and homopolymerization reactions in systems containing electron-donor monomer,electron-acceptor monomer,and lewis acid

Investigations of the copolymerization of acrylonitrile, methacrylonitrile, methyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate, acrylic acid, acryloyl chloride, methyl vinyl ketone, and acrolein with styrene, and of acrylonitrile with acenaphthylene and 1,3-cyclopentadiene in the presence of Lewis acids as catalysts have been carried out. It was found that the free-radical alternating copolymerization and ionic copolymerization or homopolymerization reactions can proceed in these systems. The yield of the competitive free-radical and ionic reactions was related to the type of monomers and strength of the Lewis acid. The mechanism of the catalytic effect of Lewis acids in the reactions studied is discussed.     

Tandem Michael addition and intramolecular aldol cyclization of 1,2-dideoxy-1-nitroheptitols derived from sugars

The base-catalyzed Michael addition of primary nitro compounds derived from sugars with 2 equiv of methyl vinyl ketone or acrolein was followed, in situ, by an asymmetric intramolecular aldol cyclization, thus yielding 2-acyl-4-glyco-4-nitrocyclohexanol derivatives with high diastereoselectivity.     

The first density functional study on the

The hetero-Diels-Alder reactions of 1,2-diaza-1,3-butadiene with ethylene, methyl vinyl ether, and methyl acrylate have been investigated theoretically with the aid of density functional theory using the Becke3LYP/6-31G(d) computational level. In the reactions with substituted alkenes, the transition states are concerted but asynchronous; the shortest bond-forming distance involves the nonsubstituted carbon of the alkene. In agreement with the experimental results, the reaction with methyl vinyl ether proceeds with high endo stereoselectivity and with complete regioselectivity to form the 6-methoxy cycloadduct. The conformational study of the transition states shows a sharp s-trans preference. In contrast, the [4 + 2]-cycloaddition of 1,2-diaza-1,3-butadiene with methyl acrylate have been found to occur with low regio- and stereoselectivity but with a s-cis preference in the transition structures.     

New Carbonyl Compounds in the High-Boiling Fraction of Lavender Oil. 3rd Communication

The occurrence of a series of new constituents which can be considered as Diels-Alder adducts of methyl vinyl ketone and ocimene (→1–4), myrcene (→ 9 , 10 ) or β-far-nesene ( → 11 , 12 ), respectively, was reported. Furthermore, the structures of four isomeric cyclohexene derivatives could be established as adducts 21–24 of (E, Z)- and (E, E)-1,3,5-undecatrience and methyl vinyl ketone. Another series of constituents having the norbornane skeleton represents adducts 25–32 , and 33–40 of methyl cyclopentadiene and 1-octen-3-one or methyl vinyl ketone, respectively. In accordance with Alder's endo-rule the endo-isomers are preponderant in the natural as well as in the synthetic mixtures. Most of these constituents could also be identified in a lavender absolute as well as in a freshly prepared hexane extract of lavender flowers (Lavandula officinalis CHAIX ).     

The Diels-Alder Reaction of Dienes Derived from Substituted 3-(Phenyl-Thio)-3-Sulfolenes

Substituted 3-(phenylthio)-3-sulfolenes (3) and (4) are good precursors for 2-(phenylthio)-1,3-butadienes (5) and (6). The Diels-Alder reaction of the dienes derived from (3) and (4) with various dienophiles was studied. It was found that heating of sulfolenes (3) with methyl propiolate and N-phenylmaleimide afforded the Diels-Alder adducts of (5) directly and with complete regio- and stereospecificity. The same reaction with methyl vinyl ketone gave a mixture of endo and exo addition products. If sulfolenes (3) were first converted to the dienes (5) using lithium aluminum hydride and then reacted with methyl vinyl ketone in the presence of anhydrous zinc chloride, the stereoselectivity could be improved. Sulfolenes (4) also underwent cycloreversion/cycloaddition with methyl acrylate, methyl vinyl ketone, and N-phenylmaleimide, but gave mostly the double bond-isomerized cycloaddition products. The regiochemistry of cycloaddition was delicately dependent on the dienophiles used.     

Identification by electrospray tandem mass spectrometry of spin-trapped free radicals from oxidized 2-oleoyl-1-palmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine

GPC radical species formed during oxidation of a glycerophosphocholine (16:0/18:1) under the Fenton reaction conditions were detected using a spin trap, 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrrolidine N-oxide (DMPO). The stable spin-trapped radical adducts were identified by mass spectrometry (MS) using electrospray (ES) as ionization method and characterized by tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). Radical adducts of oxidized free sn-2 fatty acid and of oxidized intact GPC, containing one, two and three additional oxygen atoms, were assigned. DMPO adducts of oxidized intact GPC were observed as singly and doubly charged ions in ES-MS, while adducts of oxidized free fatty acids were observed as singly charged ions. Oxidized free sn-2 fatty acids and intact GPC-DMPO adducts correspond to carbon- and oxygen-centered radicals that were identified by MS/MS as alkyl, hydroxy-alkyl, alkoxyl, hydroxy-alkoxyl, peroxyl and hydroperoxide-alkoxyl spin adducts. The DMPO molecule was attached predominantly at C(9) of the oleic chain. The fragmentation pathway of spin adducts with two DMPO molecules strongly suggests the presence of species that were simultaneously carbon- and oxygen-centered radicals. Several fragments identified are consistent with the presence of isomeric structures contributing to the same ions.     

Boundary-effect activated dissociation in ion trap tandem mass spectrometry

The potential of boundary-effect activated dissociation (BAD) in ion trap tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) is discussed. Several classes of compounds were investigated and the BAD product ion tandem mass spectra were compared with those from collisionally activated dissociation (CAD) where an auxilliary r.f. ‘tickle’ voltage is used. The energy deposition in BAD MS/MS is generally lower than that for optimized CAD, but the experiments are easier to perform. An example of the BAD MS/MS of C₁₀ alkylbenzenes and benzothiophene in diesel fuel using gas chromatographic introduction and predicted r.f. and d.c. voltages is presented.     

Thermal Degradation Behavior of Vinyl Ketone Polymers and Copolymers with Styrene

Thermal degradation behavior of six alkyl vinyl ketone (RVK) polymers and copolymers with styrene was investigated by means of infrared spectrometry (IR), thermogravimetry (TG), derivative TG (DTG), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The observed TG curves of the RVK polymers changed with both structure of their substituents and initiators used, and the temperature of the beginning of weight loss for the radical polymers increased in the order: poly(methyl isopro-penyl ketone) < poly(methyl vinyl ketone) < poly(ethyl vinyl ketone) < poly(isopropyl vinyl ketone) < poly(tert-butyl vinyl ketone). From the infrared spectral determination of thermally degraded polymers, the formation of a cyclized structure was observed. It was also found from the results of thermal degradation of the RVK copolymers with styrene at 210° C that the formation of such a cyclized unit tended to increase in the order: tert-butyl vinyl ketone < isopropyl vinyl ketone < ethyl vinyl ketone < methyl vinyl ketone.     

Detection and characterization by mass spectrometry of radical adducts produced by linoleic acid oxidation

The formation of linoleic acid radical species under the oxidative conditions of the Fenton reaction (using hydrogen peroxide and Fe (II)) was monitored by FAB-MS and ES-MS using the spin trap 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrrolidine-N-oxide, DMPO. Both the FAB and ES mass spectra were very similar and showed the presence of ions corresponding to carbon- and oxygen centered spin adducts (DMPO/L*, DMPO/LO*, and DMPO/LOO*). Cyclic structures, formed between the DMPO oxygen and the neighboring carbon of the fatty acid, were also observed. Electrospray tandem mass spectrometry of these ions was performed to confirm the proposed structure of these adducts. All MS/MS spectra showed an ion at m/z 114, correspondent to the [DMPO + H]+, and a fragment ion due to loss of DMPO (loss of 113 Da), confirming that they are DMPO adducts. ES-MS/MS spectra of alkoxyl radical adducts (DMPO/LO*) showed an additional ion at m/z 130 [DMPO - O + H]+, while ES MS/MS of peroxyl radical adducts (DMPO/LOO*) showed a fragment ion at m/z 146 [DMPO - OO + H]+, confirming both structures. Other fragment ions were observed, such as alkyl acylium radical ions, formed by cleavage of the alkyl chain after loss of water and the DMPO molecule. The identification of fragment ions observed in the MS/MS spectra of the different DMPO adducts suggests the occurrence of structural isomers containing the DMPO moiety both at C9 and C13. The use of ES tandem mass spectrometry, associated with spin trapping experiments, has been shown to be a valuable tool for the structural characterization of carbon and oxygen-centered spin adducts of lipid radicals.