Synthesis and properties of 4,9-methanoundecafulvenes and their transformation to 3-substituted 7,12-methanocycloundeca[4,5]furo[2,3-d]pyrimidine-2,4(1H,3H)-diones: photo-induced autorecycling oxidizing reaction toward amines

The synthesis and properties of 4,9-methanoundecafulvene [5-(4,9-methanocycloundeca-2′,4′,6′,8′,10′-pentaenylidene)pyrimidine-2,4,6(1,3,5H)-trione] derivatives 8a,b were studied. Their structural characteristics were investigated on the basis of the ¹H and ¹³C NMR and UV-vis spectra. The rotational barrier (ΔG^‡) around the exocyclic double bond of 8a was found to be 12.55 kcal mol⁻¹ by the variable temperature ¹H NMR measurement. The electrochemical properties of 8a,b were also studied by CV measurement. Furthermore, the transformation of 8a,b to 3-substituted 7,12-methanocycloundeca[4,5]furo[2,3-d]pyrimidine-2,4(1H,3H)-diones 16a,b was accomplished by oxidative cyclization using DDQ and subsequent ring-opening and ring-closure. The structural details and chemical properties of 16a,b were clarified. Reaction of 16a with deuteride afforded C13-adduct 19 as the single product, and thus, the methano-bridge controls the nucleophilic attack to prefer endo-selectivity. The photo-induced oxidation reaction of 16a and a vinylogous compound, 3-methylcyclohepta[4,5]furo[2,3-d]pyrimidine-2,4(3H)-dione 2a, toward some amines under aerobic conditions were carried out to give the corresponding imines (isolated by converting to the corresponding 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazones) with the recycling number of 6.1-64.0 (for 16a) and 2.7-17.2 (for 2a), respectively.     

Carbonyl complexes of manganese, rhenium and molybdenum with ethynyliminopyridine ligands

[MBr(CO)₅] reacts with m-ethynylphenylamine and pyridine-2-carboxaldehyde in refluxing tetrahydrofuran to give, fac-[MBr(CO)₃(py-2-CHN-C₆H₄-m-(CCH))] (M = Mn, 1a; Re, 2a). The same method affords the tetracarbonyl [Mo(CO)₄{py-2-CHN-C₆H₄-m-(CCH)}] (3a) starting from [Mo(CO)₄(piperidine)₂]; and the methallyl complex [MoCl(η³-C₃H₄Me-2)(CO)₂{py-2-CHN-C₆H₄-m-(CCH)}] (4a) from [MoCl(η³-C₃H₄Me-2)(CO)₂(NCMe)₂]. The use of p-ethynylphenylamine gives the corresponding derivatives (1b, 2b, 3b, and 4b) with the ethynyl substituent in the para-position at the phenyl ring of the iminopyridine. All complexes have been isolated as crystalline solids and characterized by analytical and spectroscopic methods. X-ray determinations, carried out on crystals of 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3b, 4a, and 4b, reveals the same structural type for all compounds with small variations due mainly to the different size of the metal atoms. The reaction of complexes 1a or 2a with dicobalt octacarbonyl affords the tetrahedrane complexes [MBr(CO)₃{py-2-CHN-C₆H₄-m-{(μ-CCH)Co₂(CO)₆}}] (M = Mn, 5; Re, 6), the structures of which have been confirmed by an X-ray determination on a crystal of compound 5.     

Synthesis and properties of novel 5-(cyclohepta-2′,4′,6′-trienylidene)pyrimidine-2(1H),4(3H),6(5H)-triones: methodology for synthesizing cyclohepta[b]pyrimido[5,4-d]furan-8(7H),10(9H)-dionylium tetrafluoroborates

Novel condensation reaction of tropone with N-substituted and N,N′-disubstitued barbituric acids in Ac₂O afforded 5-(cyclohepta-2′,4′,6′-trienylidene)pyrimidine-2(1H),4(3H),6(5H)-trione derivatives (8a-f) in moderate to good yields. The ¹³C NMR spectral study of 8a-f revealed that the contribution of zwitterionic resonance structures is less important as compared with that of 8,8-dicyanoheptafulvene. The rotational barriers (ΔG^‡) around the exocyclic double bond of mono-substituted derivatives 8a-c were obtained to be 14.51-15.03 kcal mol⁻¹ by the variable temperature ¹H NMR measurements. The electrochemical properties of 8a-f were also studied by CV measurement. Upon treatment with DDQ, 8a-c underwent oxidative cyclization to give two products, 7 and 9-substituted cyclohepta[b]pyrimido[5,4-d]furan-8(7H),10(9H)-dionylium tetrafluoroborates (11a-c·BF₄⁻ and 12a-c·BF₄⁻) in various ratios, while that of disubstituted derivatives 8d-f afforded 7,9-disubstituted cyclohepta[b]pyrimido[5,4-d]furan-8(7H),10(9H)-dionylium tetrafluoroborate (11d-f·BF₄⁻) in good yields. Similarly, preparation of known 5-(1′-oxocycloheptatrien-2′-yl)-pyrimidine-2(1H),4(3H),6(5H)-trione derivatives (14a-d) and novel derivatives 14e,f was carried out. Treatment of 14a-c with aq. HBF₄/Ac₂O afforded two kinds of novel products 11a-c·BF₄⁻ and 12a,c·BF₄⁻ in various ratios, respectively, while that of 14d-f afforded 11d-f. The product ratios of 11a-c·BF₄⁻ and 12a-c·BF₄⁻ observed in two kinds of cyclization reactions were rationalized on the basis of MO calculations of model compounds 20a and 21a. The spectroscopic and electrochemical properties of 11a-f·BF₄⁻ and 12a-c·BF₄⁻ were studied, and structural characterization of 11c·BF₄⁻ based on the X-ray crystal analysis and MO calculation was also performed.     

Preparation of new pyrido[3,4-b]thienopyrroles and pyrido[4,3-e]thienopyridazines

Two new types of pyrido-fused tris-heterocycles (1a,b and 2a,b) have been prepared from 3-aminopyridine in five/six steps. A synthetic strategy for the preparation of the novel pyrido[3,4-b]thieno[2,3- and 3,2-d]pyrroles (1a,b) and pyrido[4,3-e]thieno[2,3- and 3,2-c]pyridazines (2a,b) has been studied. The Suzuki cross coupling of the appropriate 2- and 3-thienoboronic acids (3,4) and 4-bromo-3-pyridylpivaloylamide (9) afforded the biaryl coupling products (10,11) in high yields (85%). Diazotization of the hydrolysed (2-thienyl)-coupling product (12) and azide substitution gave the 3-azido-4-(2-thienyl)pyridine intermediate (72%, 14). 3-Azido-4-(3-thienyl)pyridine (15) was prepared by exchanging the previous order of reactions. The desired β-carboline thiophene analogues (1a,b) were obtained via the nitrene by thermal decomposition of the azido precursors (14,15). By optimising conditions for intramolecular diazocoupling, the corresponding pyridazine products (72-83%, 2a,b) were afforded.     

Synthesis of (3′R,5′S)-3′-hydroxycotinine using 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of a nitrone

To synthesize (3′R,5′S)-3′-hydroxycotinine [(+)-1], the main metabolite of nicotine (2), cycloaddition of C-(3-pyridyl)nitrones 3a, 3c, and 15 with (2R)- and (2S)-N-(acryloyl)bornane-10,2-sultam [(2R)- and (2S)-8] was examined. Among them, l-gulose-derived nitrone 15 underwent stereoselective cycloaddition with (2S)-8 to afford cycloadduct 16, which was elaborated to (+)-1.     

Efficient synthesis and applications of 2-substituted azulene derivatives: towards highly functionalized carbo- and heterocyclic molecules

An efficient synthesis of 2-substituted azulene derivatives (3-6) was accomplished from ethyl 2-oxo-2H-cyclohepta[b]furan-3-carboxylate 1 and its derivative 2, which in turn were prepared from readily available tropolone. Compounds 1 and 2 were utilized to construct densely functionalized benz[a]azulene and azulene-furan frameworks (16-25, 29-34, 37, 38).     

Microwave assisted synthesis of novel imidazo [2,1-b]thiazole derivative attached to quinoxalinones

3-(6-Phenylimidazo[2,1-b]thiazol-5-yl)quinoxalin-2(1H)-ones (qunoxalinone) (6a-q) have been synthesized by the reaction of ethyl 2-oxo-2-(6-phenylimidazo[2,1-b]thiazol-5-yl)acetates (4a-e) with suitably substituted o-phenylenediamines (5a-f) under microwave heating. The ethyl 2-oxo-2-(6-phenylimidazo[2,1-b]thiazol-5-yl)acetates (4a-e) were prepared by the reaction of 6-phenylimidazo[2,1-b]thiazoles (3a-e) with ethyl chlorooxoacetate in refluxing 1,4-dioxane whereas the thiazoles (3a-e) were synthesized by the reaction of 2-bromo-1-phenylethanones (2a-e) with thiazol-2-amine in refluxing acetone.     

Naupliolide, a sesquiterpene lactone with a novel tetracyclic skeleton from Nauplius graveolens subsp. odorus

The aerial parts of Nauplius graveolens subsp. odorus (Schousb) Wikl. afforded a novel sesquiterpene lactone (1) named naupliolide together with the known 6,7,9,10-tetradehydroasteriscanolide 2 and asteriscunolides A-D 3a-d. The structure of compound 1 corresponds to a novel skeleton of 14,15-dimethyl-7,13-dioxotricyclic[6.4.0.0^9,11]dodeca-12,13-olide, and was established on the basis of spectroscopic methods including 2D-NMR. The coexistence of naupliolide 1 together with the structurally related sesquiterpene lactones asterisculolides A-D (3a-d) and 6,7,9,10-tetradehydroasteriscanolide 2, seems to indicate their biosynthetic relationship.     

Reversible pyranyl complex formation and the mechanism of rearrangement to (η-6-oxocycloheptadienyl)Mn(CO)3 complexes in the reaction of β-cyclomanganated 1,5-diarylpenta-1,4-dien-3-ones and alkynes; the crystal structure of [2,4-diphenyl-6-(2-phenylethenyl)pyranyl-η]tricarbonylmanganese

[1-Phenyl-2-[(E)-3-phenylprop-2-en-1-oyl-κO]ethenyl-κC¹]tetracarbonylmanganese (1a) reacts with PhCCH in CCl₄ at room temperature to form [2,4-diphenyl-6-(2-phenylethenyl)pyranyl-η⁵]tricarbonylmanganese (2a), whose X-ray crystal structure is reported to complement that of its isomer [6-oxo-2,4,7-triphenylcyclohepta-1,4-dienyl-1,2,3,4,5-η]tricarbonylmanganese (3a), previously obtained from the reaction under reflux; but for 1a and PhCCPh the pyranyl complex cannot be isolated before rearrangement to the 3a analogue occurs. More forcing reaction conditions for 1a with Me₃SiCCH and for [1-(2-trifluoromethylphenyl)-2-[(E)-3-(2-trifluoromethylphenyl)prop-2-en-1-oyl-κO]ethenyl-κC¹]tetracarbonylmanganese (1b) with Me₃SiCCH and PhCCH give new analogues of 3a where previously only 2a analogues had been isolated.The reaction in CCl₄ under reflux of PhCCH and the β-deuterio analogue of 1a, [1-phenyl-2-[(E)-3-phenylprop-2-en-1-oyl-3d-κO]ethenyl-κC¹]tetracarbonylmanganese, gave deuteriated 3a with exo-D at the α-carbon, C7. This is inconsistent with the Mn-mediated Ph migration mechanism originally proposed to accommodate the endo position of Ph in 3a, and instead it implicates a cyclopropyl carbonyl-addition intermediate or a cyclopropyl acyl-substitution transition state in the key rearrangement step for 2a → 3a.     

The effect that 6-tert-butoxyhexyl functionalization has on ethylene polymerization in ansa-zirconocene dichlorides

Ethylene polymerization studies have been carried out with novel precatalysts of the type: [(η⁵-C₁₃H₈)-X(t-BuOC₆H₁₂)Me-(η⁵-C₅H₄)]ZrCl₂ [X=C [1a], Si [2a]], [(η⁵-C₁₃H₈)-XMe₂-(η⁵-(t-BuOC₆H₁₂C₅H₃))] ZrCl₂ [X=C [3a], Si [4a]] in the presence of excess methylalumoxane (MAO) to compare their catalytic activity and to delineate the effect of the 6-t-butoxyhexyl functionality on ethylene polymerization. The precatalysts [1a] and [2a] with the bridge functionality showed higher activity in ethylene polymerization than the corresponding complexes [3a] and [4a] which have it on the Cp ring moiety. On the other hand the silyl bridged complexes [2a] and [4a] produced a higher molecular weight polyethylene than the carbon-bridged one, regardless of the location of functional group.     

Reactions of (E)-1,2-di(3-guaiazulenyl)ethylene and 2-(3-guaiazulenyl)-1,1-bis(4-methoxyphenyl)ethylene with tetracyanoethylene (TCNE) in benzene: comparative studies on the products and their spectroscopic properties

Reactions of the title ethylene derivatives, (E)-1,2-di(3-guaiazulenyl)ethylene (1) and 2-(3-guaiazulenyl)-1,1-bis(4-methoxyphenyl)ethylene (2), with a 2 M amount of TCNE in benzene at 25 °C for 24 h under argon give new cycloaddition compounds, 1,1,2,2,11,11,12,12-octacyano-3-(3-guaiazulenyl)-8-isopropyl-5,10-dimethyl-1,2,3,6,9,10a-hexahydro-6,9-ethanobenz[a]azulene (3) from 1 and 1,1,2,2,11,11,12,12-octacyano-8-isopropyl-3,3-bis(4-methoxyphenyl)-5,10-dimethyl-1,2,3,6,9,10a-hexahydro-6,9-ethanobenz[a]-azulene (4) from 2, respectively, in 66 and 87% isolated yields. Comparative studies on the above reactions as well as the spectroscopic properties of the unique products 3 and 4, possessing interesting molecular structures, are reported and, further, a plausible reaction pathway for the formation of these products is described.     

Synthesis of 2,3-dihydroimidazo[1,2-a]pyrimidin-5(1H)-ones by the domino Michael addition retro-ene reaction of 2-alkoxyiminoimidazolidines and acetylene carboxylates

2-Alkoxyiminoimidazolidines 2-3 react with acetylene dicarboxylates and ethyl phenylpropiolate to give 8-alkoxy-imidazo[1,2-a]pyrimidin-5(3H)-ones C, which subsequently undergo a sterically induced multihetero-retro-ene fragmentation to give imidazo[1,2-a]pyrimidin-5(1H)-ones 4-7 together with formaldehyde or benzaldehyde. On the other hand, a similar reaction of 2-3 with ethyl propiolate gives corresponding 8-alkoxy-imidazo[1,2-a]pyrimidin-5(3H)-ones 8-10. The unsubstituted imidazo[1,2-a]pyrimidin-5(1H)-one 11 can be prepared by retro-ene reaction of 9 upon prolonged heating in refluxing ethanol. A direct synthetic approach to 1-formyl-7-phenyl-imidazo[1,2-a]pyrimidine-5(1H)-one 14 is reported using DMF/sulfonyl chloride as a new Vilsmeier-type N-formylating reagent.     

Ferrocenoyl peptides with sulfur-containing side chains: synthesis, solid state and solution structures

The synthesis and full characterization of a number of amino acid and dipeptide derivatives with sulfur-containing side chains derived from ferrocene carboxylic acid and ferrocene-1,1′-dicarboxylic acid is presented. In particular, compounds Fc-CO-(Aaa)_n-OMe (4) and Fe[C₅H₄-CO-(Aaa)_n-OMe]₂ (3) with (Aaa)_n = Cys(Bzl) (a), Cys(Bzl)-Cys(Bzl) (b), Cys(p-OMe-Bzl) (c), Cys(p-OMe-Bzl)-Cys(p-OMe-Bzl) (d), Met (e), and Met-Met (f) were prepared. Also, the free acid derivatives Fe[C₅H₄-CO-Met-OH]₂ (6e) and Fc-CO-Met-OH (7e) were prepared and characterized. The solid state structures of 3a, 4b, and 4e were determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction. Compound 3a shows a 1,3′ substitution pattern on the Cp rings in the solid state. Structures in solution were determined by NMR, IR and CD spectroscopy, with particular emphasis on the question of hydrogen bonding and helical chirality of the metallocene. As an example, the full assignment for the Cp signals in the disubstituted derivative 3a was achieved by simulation of the ¹H NMR signals from the cyclopentadienyl ring in combination with 2D-NOESY spectra. In solution, 3a has the known 1,2′ substitution pattern, which is stabilized by intramolecular hydrogen bonds.     

Effect of ortho-substituents on the stereochemistry of 2-(o-substituted phenyl)-1H-imidazoline-palladium complexes

Palladium complexes composed of [Pd(Ln)₂Cl₂] (n = 1, 2, 3, 4, 6), [L5a]₂[PdCl₄] and [Pd(L5b)₂], where L1 = 4,5-dihydro-2-phenyl-1H-imidazole (=2-phenyl-1H-imidazoline), L2 = 2-(o-fluorophenyl)-1H-imidazoline, L3 = 2-(o-methylphenyl)-1H-imidazoline, L4 = 2-(o-tert-butylphenyl)-1H-imidazoline, L5a = 2-(o-hydroxyphenyl)-1H-imidazolinium, L5b = 2-(1H-imidazolin-2-yl)phenolate, and L6 = 2-(o-methylphenyl)-1H-imidazole, were synthesized. Molecular structures of the isolated palladium complexes were characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The effect of ortho-substituents on the phenyl ring on trans-chlorine geometry was noted for complexes [Pd(L1)₂Cl₂] 1a and 1b, [Pd(L2)₂Cl₂] 2 and [Pd(L6)₂Cl₂] 6, whereas cis-chlorine geometry was observed for [Pd(L3)₂Cl₂] 3 and [Pd(L4)₂Cl₂] 4. PdCl₂ reacts with 2-(o-hydroxyphenyl)-1H-imidazoline in DMF to give [L5a]⁺ and [L5b]^- so that [L5a]₂[PdCl₄] 5a and [Pd(L5b)₂] 5b were obtained. In complex 5b, as an N,O-bidentate ligand, two ligands L5b coordinated with the central Pd(II) ion in the trans-form. The coordination of PdCl₂ with 2-(o-hydroxyphenyl)-1H-imidazolines in solution was investigated by NMR spectroscopy.     

A simple approach for the regioselective synthesis of imidazo[1,2-a]pyrimidiones and pyrimido[1,2-a]pyrimidinones

Several imidazo and pyrimido[1,2-a]pyrimidinones of type 1 and 2 were synthesized through intramolecular cyclization of pyrimidines 9 or pyrimidinones 10 bearing a variety of β and γ-aminoalcohols at the 2-position. Ring closure of the pyrimidinones of type 10 under Mitsunobu conditions lead to mixtures of both bicyclic regioisomers 1 and 2. Treatment of pyrimidines of type 9 with H₂SO₄ provided an efficient and operationally simple one-pot hydrolysis-cyclization procedure for obtaining imidazo and pyrimido[1,2-a]pyrimidinones 1 in good yields as the sole regioisomeric bicyclic product.     

Structure of N,C,N-chelated organotin(IV) fluorides

The set of starting tri-, di- and monoorganotin(IV) halides containing N,C,N-chelating ligand (L^NCN = {1,3-[(CH₃)₂NCH₂]₂C₆H₃}⁻) has been prepared (1-5) and two compounds structurally characterized ([L^NCNPh₂Sn]⁺I₃⁻ (1c), L^NCNSnBr₃ (5)) in the solid state. These compounds were reacted with KF with 18-crown-6, NH₄F or L^CNnBu₂SnF to give derivatives containing fluorine atom(s). Triorganotin(IV) fluorides L^NCNMe₂SnF (2a) and L^NCNnBu₂SnF (3a) revealed monomeric structural arrangement with covalent Sn-F bond both in the coordinating and non-coordinating solvents, except the behaviour of 3a that was ionized in the methanol solution at low temperature. The products of fluorination of L^NCNSnPhCl₂ (4) and 5 were described by NMR in solution as the ionic hypervalent fluorostannates or the oligomeric species reacting with chloroform, methanol or moisture to zwitterionic monomeric stannate L^NCN(H)⁺SnF₄⁻ (5c), which was confirmed by XRD analysis in the solid state.     

Preference of di-n-butyltin compounds to build O?Sn bonds in fused rings with five-six members

The reaction of salicylaldehyde (1), o-aminophenols (2a-2f), and di-n-butyltin^IV oxide (3) to give six di-n-butyltin^IV compounds (4a-4f) was achieved in good yields. All compounds were characterized by ¹H, ¹³C, ¹⁵N, ¹¹⁹Sn NMR, mass spectrometry, IR, elemental analysis and in the case of compounds 4a, 4b, 4d and 4e by X-ray diffraction analysis. Compound 4a crystallized with trigonal bipiramidal (TPB) geometry surrounding the tin atom while 4b and 4e crystallized as dimeric molecules joined by two O?Sn bonds with distorted octahedron (DOC) geometry. The X-ray structure of 4d presents one cocrystallized monomeric TBP with one dimeric DOC molecule. Correlations of σ_Hammett vs. spectroscopic values were found for 4a-4b and 4d-4f, indicating the substituents in the aromatic ring derived from o-aminophenol serve as modulators of the O?Sn supramolecular interaction. The O?Sn bond formation is selective for the five-membered ring oxygen atom.     

Synthesis, properties, and oxidizing function of 6-substituted 7,9-dimethylcyclohepta[b]pyrimido[5,4-d]pyrrole-8(7H),10(9H)-dionylium tetrafluoroborates

Uracil-annulated heteroazulenes, 6-substituted 7,9-dimethylcyclohepta[b]pyrimido[5,4-d]pyrrole-8(7H),10(9H)-dionylium tetrafluoroborates 7a,b·BF₄⁻, which are the isoelectronic compounds of 5-dezazaflavin, were synthesized. X-Ray crystal analysis and MO calculations were carried out to clarify the structural characteristics of 7a,b·BF₄⁻. The stability of cations 7a,b is expressed by the pK_R+ values which were determined spectrophotometrically to be 10.9 and 11.2, respectively. The electrochemical reduction of 7a,b exhibited high reduction potentials at −0.84 and −0.87 (V vs Ag/AgNO₃) upon cyclic voltammetry (CV). A good linear correlation between the pK_R+ values and reduction potentials (E1_red) of 7a,b·BF₄⁻ and reference compounds 4·BF₄⁻ and 5·BF₄⁻ was obtained. In a search of the reactivity, reactions of 7a,b·BF₄⁻ with some nucleophiles, hydride and diethylamine, were carried out to clarify that the introduction of nucleophiles to give regio-isomers is dependent on the nucleophile. The photo-induced oxidation reactions of 7a,b·BF₄⁻ toward some alcohols under aerobic conditions were carried out to give the corresponding carbonyl compounds in more than 100% yield [based on compounds 7a,b·BF₄⁻], suggesting the oxidizing function of 7a,b·BF₄⁻ toward alcohols in the autorecycling process.     

2-Allyl-N-benzyl substituted α-naphthylamines as building blocks in heterocyclic synthesis. New and efficient syntheses of benz[e]naphtho[1,2-b]azepine and naphtho[1,2-b]azepine derivatives

A new series of 13-acetyl-7,12-dihydro-7-ethylbenz[e]naphtho[1,2-b]azepine (4a-d) and 2-aryl-4-hydroxy-2,3,4,5-tetrahydronaphtho[1,2-b]azepine derivatives (6a-d) have been synthesized from N-allyl-N-benzyl substituted α-naphthylamines (1a-d) by utilizing aromatic amino-Claisen rearrangement, intramolecular Friedel-Crafts alkylation and intramolecular dipolar 1,3-cycloaddition nitrone-olefin reactions.     

Photoinduced cycloadditions of N-methyl-1,8-naphthalenedicarboximides with alkynes

Photoinduced cycloadditions of N-methyl-1,8-naphthalenedicarboximide 1 with phenylacetylenes 2a-2c, cyclopropylacetylene 2d, diphenylacetylenes 2e-2f and 1-phenylpropyne 2g were investigated. In the case of phenylacetylenes 2a, 2b and cyclopropylacetylene 2c, photoreaction with 1 takes place at the naphthalene C(1)C(2) bond to give the cyclobutene products. For 4-methoxyphenylacetylene 1c, the cyclobutene 3c is obtained together with the 4-benzo[a]thebenidinone 4c derived from a primary oxetene product formed by [2+2] addition of the imide carbonyl with the alkyne. Similar to 2c, photocycloaddition of 1 with 2e and 2f gave the cyclobutenes 7e, 7f, 8f and the 4-benzo[a]thebenidinone products 9e, 9f and 10f, respectively, derived from the corresponding oxetenes. Photoreaction of 1 with 2g gave cyclobutene 7g and benzo[a]thebenidinone 9g. Sensitization experiment and internal heavy atom effect study showed that these reactions proceed from the ππ* singlet excited state of 1. Estimation of the free energy change for electron transfer between ¹1* and the alkynes and the calculation of charge and spin density distribution in the anion radical of 1 and the cation radical of the alkynes suggested that the cyclobutene products are formed by direct [2+2] cycloaddition of ¹1* with the alkyne, while the formation of the oxetene products is the result of electron transfer interaction between ¹1* and the alkyne. The regioselectivity in the oxetene formation is accounted for by charge and spin density distribution in the anion radical of 1 and the cation radical of the alkyne.