Photoaddition of benzophenone to azaindole,synthesis of the oxetane of 7-azaindole

7-Azaindole did not react with benzophenone on irradiation. However, irradiation of benzophenone in the presence of 1-acetyl-7-azaindole produced an oxetane by cycloaddition of the ketone to the 7-azaindole 2,3-double bond. The nmr and the mass spectra of the oxetane have also been studied in some detail.     

Mass spectrometric fragmentation of the oxetanes of 3,5-dimethylisoxazole, 2,4-dimethylthiazole and 1-acetylimidazole

The mass spectra of the oxetanes of 3,5-dimethylisoxazole, 2,4-dimethylthiazole and 1-acetylimidazole have been studied with the aid of high resolution mass spectrometry. The spectra exhibit characteristic fragmentation patterns which are common to all these oxetanes and are classified as five processes.     

A carbon 13-NMR assignment study of a series of oxetanes derived from carbonyl compounds and furan and thiophene derivatives

The assignment of the carbon-13 nmr resonances of a series of oxetanes derived from the photoaddition of benzophenone and 2-naphthaldehyde to furan and some of its methyl derivatives and of benzophenone to 2,5-dimethylthiophene has been made. The assignments were made by chemical shift arguments, by the use of C-13 labelling when required and different decoupling techniques. This information may be useful in the identification of new compounds with analogous carbon skeleton.     

Mechanism of stereo- and regioselectivity in the Paternò-Büchi reaction of furan derivatives with aromatic carbonyl compounds: importance of the conformational distribution in the intermediary triplet 1,4-diradicals

Temperature and substituent effects on the stereo- and regioselectivity have been investigated in the photochemical [2 + 2] cycloaddition reaction, the so-called Paternò-Büchi (PB) reaction, of unsymmetrically substituted furans 2a,b (2-methyl- and 3-methylfuran) with aromatic carbonyl compounds 1a,b (benzaldehyde and benzophenone). The regio-random but stereoselective (exo/endo > 97/3) formation of lower substituted oxetane 3a and higher substituted oxetane 4a is found in the reaction with benzaldehyde (1a). The exclusive stereoselectivity is not dependent on the position of methyl substituent on the furan ring and the reaction temperature. The double-bond selection (3a versus 4a) is slightly dependent on the reaction temperature (3a/4a = 55/45 to 40/60). The Eyring plots of the regioselectivity are linear. Contrastively, in the reaction with benzophenone (1b), the double-bond selection (3b versus 4b) largely depends on the reaction temperature. The Eyring plots are not linear, but the inflection points are observed. The transient absorption spectroscopic analyses (picosecond time scale) clarify the intervention of triplet 2-oxabutane-1,4-diyls in the photochemical processes. Computational studies reveal the equilibrium structures of the triplet diradicals, energy barriers between the conformers, and the equilibrium constants. A rational mechanism is herein proposed by the support of both experimental and computational investigations to account for not only the exclusive formation of the exo-configured oxetanes 3a and 4a but also the nonlinear Eyring plots observed in the reaction with 1b.     

Preparation and polymerization of the two isomeric (chloromethyl)oxetanes

2-(Chloromethyl)oxetane was prepared in 8% overall yield from 2-propen-1-ol by protection of the alcohol with dihydropyran, epoxidation, ring expansion with dimethylsulfoxonium methylide, acid deprotection, and chlorination with triphenylphosphine in CCl₄. 3-(Chloromethyl)oxetane was prepared in 22% overall yield by hydroboration-oxidation of 3-chloro-2-chloromethyl-1-propene followed by base-catalyzed cyclization. Each of the oxetanes was converted to the corresponding elastomeric homopolymer by treatment with a triethylaluminum–acetylacetone–water mixture. Poly[2-(chloromethyl)oxetane] was found to be similar to polyepichlorophydrin in reactivity toward benzoate ion, whereas poly[3-(chloromethyl)oxetane] is more reactive by a factor of 2.     

Efficient photochemical oxetane formation from 1-methyl-2,4,5-triphenylimidazole and benzophenones

In contrast to simple imidazoles, 1-methy1–2,4,5-triphenylimidazole ($\text{1}$) produced stable oxetane photoadducts $\text{3b}$ - $\text{e}$ with good efficiency upon irradiation in the presence of benzophenone derivatives $\text{2b}$ - $\text{e}$ in acetonitrile solution. Irradiation in the solid-phase was also studied. The oxetanes $\text{3b}$ - $\text{e}$ readily underwent cycloreversion by acid catalysis or by heating.     

Ring-opening reactions of oxetanes: A review of methodology development and synthetic applications

Ring-opening reactions of oxetanes yield important functionalized products depending upon the nature of nucleophiles as well as substitution pattern on the oxetane ring. Ring opening of oxetanes can be carried out under a variety of reaction conditions. In this review article, an up-to-date overview of major synthetic methodologies involved in the ring opening of oxetanes as well as their synthetic applications has been presented.     

Synthesis of Di‐, Tri‐, and Tetrasubstituted Oxetanes by Rhodium‐Catalyzed OH Insertion and CC Bond‐Forming Cyclization

Oxetanes offer exciting potential as structural motifs and intermediates in drug discovery and materials science. Here an efficient strategy for the synthesis of oxetane rings incorporating pendant functional groups is described. A wide variety of oxetane 2,2‐dicarboxylates were accessed in high yields, including functionalized 3‐/4‐aryl‐ and alkyl‐substituted oxetanes and fused oxetane bicycles. Enantioenriched alcohols provided enantioenriched oxetanes with complete retention of configuration. The oxetane products were further derivatized, while the ring was maintained intact, thus highlighting their potential as building blocks for medicinal chemistry.     

Synthesis of oxetanes by photoaddition of carbonyl compounds to pyrrole derivatives

Several electron attracting groups have been substituted on the nitrogen atom to decrease the electron density of the pyrrole ring in order to make it more suitable for photoaddition reactions. Once it was found that N-benzoylpyrrole is the only compound of the series studied, capable of undergoing oxetane formation, other carbonyl compounds in addition to benzophenone were tested as possible addends to the ring. Successful additions were observed when 3- and 4-benzoyl-pyridine were used.     

Intramolecular interactions in the triplet excited states of benzophenone-thymine dyads

Time-resolved and product studies on the synthesized dyads 1 and 2 have provided evidence that the benzophenone-to-thymine orientation strongly influences intramolecular photophysical and photochemical processes. The prevailing reaction mechanism has been established as a Paterno-Büchi cycloaddition to give oxetanes 3-6; however, the ability of benzophenone to achieve a formal hydrogen abstraction from the methyl group of thymidine has also been evidenced by the formation of photoproducts 7 and 8. These processes have been observed only in the case of the cisoid dyad 1. Adiabatic photochemical cycloreversion of the oxetane ring is achieved upon direct photolysis to give the starting dyad 1 in its excited triplet state. The photobiological implications of the above results are discussed with respect to benzophenone-photosensitized damage of thymidine.     

Synthesis of Di‐, Tri‐, and Tetrasubstituted Oxetanes by Rhodium‐Catalyzed O?H Insertion and C?C Bond‐Forming Cyclization

Oxetanes offer exciting potential as structural motifs and intermediates in drug discovery and materials science. Here an efficient strategy for the synthesis of oxetane rings incorporating pendant functional groups is described. A wide variety of oxetane 2,2‐dicarboxylates were accessed in high yields, including functionalized 3‐/4‐aryl‐ and alkyl‐substituted oxetanes and fused oxetane bicycles. Enantioenriched alcohols provided enantioenriched oxetanes with complete retention of configuration. The oxetane products were further derivatized, while the ring was maintained intact, thus highlighting their potential as building blocks for medicinal chemistry.     

具有光引发活性腰果酚衍生物的合成及其UV固化

以腰果酚与4-溴甲基二苯甲酮为原料,合成了具有光引发活性的腰果酚衍生物,收率86%。 该衍生物的光引发活性优于普通的二苯甲酮。 在不加其它光引发剂的情况下,UV光照30 s该液体衍生物即可固化。 该衍生物与腰果酚不同比例的混合物,也可进行UV 固化,腰果酚含量越高,所需固化时间越长。膜的硬度为3H-5H,且具有较好的耐溶剂与耐酸碱性能,可望用于防腐漆中。     

A Paterno-Büchi approach to the synthesis of merrilactone A

A six-step approach to the tetracyclic core of merrilactone A is described that uses an intramolecular Paterno-Büchi photoaddition to install the key oxetane ring. Irradiation of bicyclic enone 16, constructed through cyclopentenone alkylation followed by a domino oxy-/carbopalladation reaction, produces the tetracyclic oxetane 17 in excellent yield, having the core carbon skeleton of the target compound merrilactone A. [reaction: see text]     

Observation of singlet cycloreversion of thymine oxetanes by direct photolysis

An ultrafast broadband transient absorption spectroscopic study of the direct photolysis of oxetane DMT-BP [which is the oxetane adduct of 1,3-dimethylthymine (DMT) with benzophenone (BP)] is presented. Previous nanosecond time-resolved absorption studies by other researchers observed that direct photolysis of such oxetanes results in a rare, adiabatic photochemical reaction to produce a triplet excited-state carbonyl species. However, the mechanism for this adiabatic photochemical reaction remained unclear for the reaction sequence of the bond scission and the intersystem crossing (ISC) because of the time resolution for the experiments, and this prompted us to further study its mechanism with ultrafast time-resolution. The ultrafast time-resolved spectra presented here indicate that the cycloreversion reaction occurs in a stepwise manner on a singlet excited-state, and then intersystem crossing (ISC) occurs to produce the triplet carbonyl product observed in the previously reported nanosecond time-resolved experiments.     

Reactions of substituted pyridines and their N-oxides with ethanolic sodium hydroxide and various alkoxides

2-Benzoylpyridine 1-oxide with ethanoiic sodium hydroxide yielded acyl nucleophilic displacement products and a redox product, 2-(α-hydroxybenzyl)pyridine. 3-Benzoylpyridine 1-oxide under the same conditions yielded only a reduction product, 3-(α-hydroxybenzyl)-pyridine 1-oxide, whereas 4-benzoylpyridine 1-oxide yielded only a redox product, 4-(α-hydroxy-benzyl)pyridine. The redox reaction which is promoted by base occurs with an α-hydroxybenzylpyridine 1-oxide which results from a carbonyl reduction of the starting material. The benzoyl-pyridine 1-oxides reacted qualitatively the same with sodium ethoxide or isopropoxide as they did with ethanoiic sodium hydroxide, but they reacted differently with potassium t-butoxide or aluminum isopropoxide. The cyano- and benzenesulfonyl-pyridine 1-oxides reacted with ethanolic sodium hydroxide to yield pyridinecarboxylic acids and 1-hydroxypyridones, respectively.     

Photopolymerization via the Paterno-Büchi reaction. II. Reaction of aromatic diketones with furans

Attempts to photopolymerize 1:1 mixtures of furan and aromatic diketones of the benzophenone type by irradiation of benzene solutions at 350 nm were unsuccessful. An alternative route via furan-diketone 2:1 adducts was more successful but was complicated by the intervention of hydrogen abstraction reactions in competition with oxetane formation, leading to crosslinking and insolubilization in some cases.     

Organocatalytic Strategy for the Enantioselective Cycloaddition to Trisubstituted Nitroolefins to Create Spirocyclohexene‐Oxetane Scaffolds

The first catalytic enantioselective cycloaddition reaction to α,β,β‐trisubstituted nitroolefins is reported. For this purpose, nitroolefin oxetanes were employed in the reaction with 2,4‐dienals promoted by trienamine catalysis. This methodology provides a facile and efficient strategy for the synthesis of highly functionalized chiral spirocyclohexene‐oxetanes with two adjacent tetrasubstituted carbon atoms in high yields and excellent selectivities. This strategy also enabled access to chiral spirocyclohexene‐cyclobutanes and ‐azetidines. Additionally, the obtained scaffolds can undergo diverse transformations leading to complex structures with up to four stereocenters, and we demonstrate that the nitro group, under nucleophilic conditions, can be applied for ring‐opening of the oxetane.     

Highly Chemoselective Catalytic Coupling of Substituted Oxetanes and Carbon Dioxide

The chemoselective coupling of oxetanes and carbon dioxide to afford functional, heterocyclic organic compounds known as six‐membered cyclic carbonates remains a challenging topic. Here, an effective method for their synthesis relying on the use of Al catalysis is described. The catalytic reactions can be carried out with excellent selectivity for the cyclic carbonate product tolerating various (functional) groups present in the 2‐ and 3‐position(s) of the oxetane ring. The presented methodology is the first general approach towards the formation of six‐membered cyclic carbonates (6MCCs) through oxetane/CO₂ coupling chemistry. Apart from a series of substituted six‐membered cyclic carbonates, also the unprecedented room‐temperature coupling of oxetanes and CO₂ is disclosed giving, depending on the structural features of the substrate, a variety of five‐ and six‐membered heterocyclic products. A mechanistic rationale is presented for their formation and support for the intermediary presence of a carbonic acid derivative is given. The presented functional carbonates may hold great promise as building blocks in organic synthesis and the development of new, biodegradable polymers.     

Triplet-sensitized photolysis of the photoisomer of a 2,11-diaza[3,3](9,10)anthracenoparacyclophane: an adiabatic cycloreversion and a [2pia + 2pia + 2sigmas] rearrangement in a triplet state of the biplanophane system

The triplet-sensitized photoreactions of the title biplanophane system 6, the photoisomer of a 2,11-diaza[3,3](9,10)anthracenoparacyclophane derivative 5, were investigated by stationary and laser-flash photolyses using xanthone (XT) and benzophenone (BP) as triplet sensitizers. When photoisomer 6 underwent XT-sensitized irradiation, a triplet cyclophane 5 and a novel polycyclic product 7 were obtained via an adiabatic cycloreversion and a formal [2pia + 2pia + 2sigmas] rearrangement, respectively. The maximum quantum yield for the formation of cyclophane 5 (0.69) and the upper-limit efficiency for the formation of polycycle 7 (0.31) were determined by laser photolysis techniques. For BP-sensitized photolysis of photoisomer 6, oxetane 8, in addition to triplet cyclophane 5 and polycycle 7, was formed by a Paterno-Buchi reaction. The quenching rate constant (k(q)) of triplet BP by photoisomer 6 (3.4 x 10(8) dm(3) mol(-)(1) s(-)(1)) was found to be 1 order of magnitude smaller than that for XT (5.0 x 10(9) dm(3) mol(-)(1) s(-)(1)). On the basis of the relationship between k(q) and the triplet donor-acceptor energy gap, the triplet energy level of photoisomer 6 was estimated to be approximately 71 kcal mol(-)(1). The photochemical and the photophysical processes involved in the sensitized photolyses are summarized in an energetic reaction diagram and discussed in detail.     

Concentration and temperature dependency of regio- and stereoselectivity in a photochemical [2 + 2] cycloaddition reaction (the Paternò-Büchi reaction): origin of the hydroxy-group directivity

A set of photochemical oxetane formation reactions, i.e., the Paterno?-Bu?chi (PB) reactions, of tetrahydrobenzofuranol derivatives 1a-d with benzophenone (BP) was investigated to examine poorly understood hydroxy-group directivity on regio- and stereoselectivity. The selectivities of the PB reactions for allylic alcohols 1a,d were found to be largely dependent upon the concentration of the allylic alcohols and the reaction temperature. The temperature-dependent change of the regioselectivity at high concentrations of allylic alcohols was similar to that of the hydroxy-protected methyl ether 1b and tetrahydrobenzofuran (1c). The effect of concentration on regioselectivity can be explained by the hydrogen-bonded aggregates, which mimic the selectivities observed during the PB reaction of 1b,c. The hydroxy-directed cis-selectivity of the higher-substituted oxetane 3a,d formed at low concentration of 1a,d was found to be larger than that at the higher concentration of 1a,d. The cis-selectivity of 3a,d was found to be higher than that of the lower-substituted oxetane 2a,d. The regioselectivity of the cis-configured oxetanes was higher than that of the trans-configured oxetanes. These experimental results strongly suggest that hydroxy-group directivity, induced by hydrogen-bonding stabilization, plays a role in controlling the regio- and stereoselectivity of the PB reactions. The steric effect was also responsible for the diastereoselectivity, as shown by the fact that the cis selectivity in 3d was higher than that in 3a. Computational studies at the (U)MP2 and (U)DFT level of theory revealed that hydrogen-bonding stabilization becomes important only in the excited complex (exciplex) between the triplet excited state of carbonyls and alkenes, in which the charge transfer occurs from the alkene to the excited carbonyl to make the carbonyl oxygen nucleophilic. No significant stabilization energy was found in the intermediary triplet state of biradicals. The combined experimental and computational studies have clarified the origin of the poorly understood hydroxy-group effect on a high degree of regio- and stereoselectivity, i.e., the cooperative effect of hydrogen-bonding stabilization in exciplexes and the steric bulk of the substituents.