Synthesis of 1,1′-methylenedi[(1R,1′R,3R,3′R,5R,5′R)-8-oxabicyclo[3.2.1]oct-6-en-3-ol] and derivatives: precursors of long-chain polyketides

Racemic 1,1′-methylene[(1RS,1′RS,3RS,3′RS,5RS,5′RS)-8-oxabicyclo[3.2.1]oct-6-en-3-ol] ((±)-6) derived from 2,2′-methylenedifuran has been resolved kinetically with Candida cyclindracea lipase-catalysed transesterification giving 1,1′-methylenedi[(1R,1′R,3R,3′R,5R,5′R)-8-oxabicyclo[3.2.1]oct-6-en-3-ol] (−)-6 (30% yield, 98% ee) and 1,1′-methylenedi[(1S,1′S,3S,3′S,5S,5′S)-8-oxabicyclo[3.2.1]oct-6-en-3-yl] diacetate (+)-8, (40% yield, 98% ee). These compounds have been converted into 1,1′-methylenedi[(4S,4′S,6S,6′S)- and (4R,4′R,6R,6′R)-cyclohept-1-en-4,6-diyl] derivatives.     

Studies on triacetic acid lactone-annulated heterocycles: synthesis of 3-aryloxyacetyl-6-methyl-2,3-dihydrothieno[3,2-c]pyran-4-ones by tandem cyclization

The hitherto unreported 3-aryloxyacetyl-6-methyl-2,3-dihydrothieno[3,2-c]pyran-4-ones were synthesized in 62–71% yield by the sulfoxide rearrangement of 4-(4′-aryloxybut-2′-ynylthio)-6-methyl-2-pyrone. The substrates were synthesized by phase-transfer-catalysed alkylation of the hitherto unreported 4-mercapto-6-methylpyran-2-one.     

The chemistry of phenalenium system—II 7,8,2′,3′,4′,5′-Hexachloro-11-methoxy-6H-cyclopenta[a]pyrene-6-spiro-1′-cyclopenta-2′,4′-diene

7,8,2′,3′,4′,5′-Hexachloro-11-methoxy-6H-cyclopenta[a]pyrene-6-spiro-1′-cyclopenta-2′,4′-diene 5 has been obtained by the reaction of phenalenone and 1,2,3,4-tetrachlorocyclopentadiene. The gross structure of 5 has been determined by the X-ray analysis. The ground-state properties of 5were discussed from the spectroscopic data, dipole moment and bond lengths.     

Molecular and crystal structures of N,N′-propylene- and N,N′-phenylene-diylbis [3-(1-aminoethyl)-6-methyl-2H-pyran-2,4(3H)-dione]

Two macrocyclic ligands, N,N′-propylene-diylbis[3-(1-aminoethyl)-6-methyl-2H-pyran-2,4(3H)-dione] I and N,N′-phenylene-diylbis[3-(1-aminoethyl)-6-methyl-2H-pyran-2,4(3H)-dione] II, have been prepared by the condensation of dehydroacetic acid (3-acetyl-4-hydroxy-6-methyl-2H-pyran-2-one) with 1,2-phenylenediamine and 1,3-propylenediamine. They have been characterized by means of elemental analysis, IR spectroscopy as well as by X-ray crystallography. The molecular structures of the compounds I and II can be described as consisting of two β-enaminone-2-pyrone rings interlaced with either alkyl chain in I or phenyl ring in II. The X-ray studies confirmed the existence of strong N–HO intramolecular hydrogen bonds in both structures. Their lengths are in accordance to lengths of RAHB intramolecular hydrogen bonds in 1,3-diketones, aryl-hydrazones, β-enaminones and related heterodienes (2.5–2.6 Å) [P. Gilli, V. Bertolasi, V. Ferretti and G. Gilli, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 122 (2000) 10405].     

Synthesis, characterization and catalytic activity in Heck-type reactions of orthometallated Pd and Pt complexes derived from (1R,2R)-1,2-diaminocyclohexane

The chiral bis-imine (1R,2R)-C₆H₁₀-[E---N=CH---C₆H₃---3,4-(OMe)₂]₂ 1 (LH) reacts with [Pd(OAc)₂] (1:1 molar ratio; OAc=acetate) giving the orthometallated [Pd(OAc)(C₆H₂---4,5-(OMe)₂---2-CH=N-(1R,2R)-C₆H₁₀---N=CH---C₆H₃-3′,4′-(OMe)₂-κ-C,N,N)] 2 (abbreviated as [Pd(OAc)(L-κ-C,N,N)]), through C---H bond activation on only one of the aryl rings and N,N-coordination of the two iminic N atoms. 2 reacts with an excess of LiCl to give [Pd(Cl)(L-κ-C,N,N)] 3. The reaction of 3 with AgClO₄ and neutral or anionic ligands L′ (1:1:1 molar ratio) affords [Pd(L-κ-C,N,N)(L′)](ClO₄) (L′=PPh₃ 4a, NCMe 5, pyridine 6, p-nitroaniline 7) or [Pd(I)(L-κ-C,N,N)] 8. Complex 4a reacts with wet CDCl₃ giving [Pd(C₆H₂---4,5-(OMe)₂---2-CH=N-(1R,2R)---C₆H₁₀---NH₂-κ-C,N,N)(PPh₃)](ClO₄) 4b as a result of the hydrolysis of the C=N bond not involved in the orthometallated ring. The molecular structure of 4b·CH₂Cl₂ has been determined by X-ray diffraction methods. Cleavage of the Pd---N bond trans to the C_aryl atom can be accomplished by coordination of strongly chelating ligands, such as acetylacetonate (acac) or bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane (dppe), forming [Pd(acac-O,O′)(L-κ-C,N)] 9 and [Pd(L-κ-C,N)(dppe-P,P′)](ClO₄) 12, while classical N,N′-chelating ligands such as 1,10-phenantroline (phen) or 2,2′-bipyridyl (bipy) behave as monodentate N-donor ligands yielding [Pd(L-κ-C,N,N)(κ¹-N-phen)](ClO₄) 10 and [Pd(L-κ-C,N,N)(κ¹-N-bipy)](ClO₄) 11. Treatment of 1 with PtCl₂(DMSO)₂ (1:1 molar ratio) in refluxing 2-methoxyethanol gives Cl₂Pt[(NH₂)₂C₆H₁₀---N,N′] 13a and [Pt(Cl)(C₆H₂---4,5-(OMe)₂---2-CH=N-(1R,2R)---C₆H₁₀---NH₂-κ-C,N,N)] 13b, while [Pt(Cl)(L-κ-C,N,N)] 14 can be obtained by reaction of [Pt(μ-Cl)(η³-2-Me---C₃H₄)]₂ with 1 in refluxing CHCl₃. Complexes 2 and 3 catalyzed the arylation of methyl acrylate giving good yields of the corresponding methyl cinnamates and TON up to 847 000. Complex 3 also catalyzes the hydroarylation of 2-norbornene, but with lower yields and without enantioselectivity.     

Preparation and steric structures of saturated or partially saturated cyclopentane-and cyclohexane[b]pyrrolo[1,2-a][3,1]benzoxazine isomers [1]

The reactions of 2-ethoxycarbonylmethyleyclopentanone (1) with cis- (3a) and trans-2-hydroxymethylcyclohex-4-enyl-1-amine (3b) and of 2-ethoxycarbonylmethylcyclohexanone (2) with stereoisomeric 2-hydroxymethyl-1-cyclohexylamines (4a,b) yield the isomeric cyclopentane-(5a,b) and cyclohexane[b] pyrrolo[1,2-a][3,1]benzoxazinones (6a,b) with unsaturated (5) or saturated (6) ring A. The steric structures were elucidated by means ¹H, ¹³C NMR and X-ray measurements.     

X-ray study of the hetero ring flexibility in trans-5,6- trimethylene- and tetramethylene-5,6-dihydro 2-phenyl-[4H]-1,3-thiazines

The structures to two 1,3-thiazine derivatives differing only in the number of CH₂ groups in their trans fused hydrocarbon ring (_n = 3 for I and n = 4 for II) have been established by X-ray crystallography from diffractometer data. Crystals of I (trans-5,6- trimethylene-5,6-dihydro-2-phenyl-[4H] - 1,3-thiazine) are triclinic, space group P with a = 7.661(1), b = 8.282(1), c = 9.566(2) Å, = 91.75(1), β = 100.72(1), γ = 105.45(1)° Z = 2, D_c = 1.260 g cm^-3. Crystals of II (trans-5,6-tetramethylene-5,6-dihydro-2-phenyl [4H]-1,3-thiazine) are monoclinic, space group P2₁/c with a = 7.914(2), b = 19.362(13), c = 8.440(1) Å, β = 109.16(2)°C Z = 4, D_c = 1.258 g cm^-3. The structures determined by Patterson (I) and direct (II) methods were refined to R = 0.050 for 1330 reflections of I and R = 0.082 for 1012 reflections of II. The proper treatment of the positional disorder of the carbon atoms (C(5) and C(6)) forming the trans ring junction in I discovered two discrete conformations with a ratio of 1:2. The opposite chirality of atoms C(51) and C(52), and C(61) and C(62), indicates a simultaneous configurational disorder with a pattern of total disorder: A A . The puckering parameters of the hetero rings in the same enantiomers of molecules IA, IB and II indicate a connection between the conformers: ⁵E(II)→⁵H₆(IB)→E₆IA) via pseudorotation. Their relationship is discussed and compared with the conformational freedom of the analogous 1,3-oxazine derivatives.     

H, C, N NMR, ESI mass spectral and single crystal X-ray structural characterization of three spiro[pyrrolidine-2,3′-oxindoles]

Three spiro[pyrrolidine-2,3′-oxindoles], 1,1′,2,2′,5′,6′,7′,7′a-octahydro-2-oxo-1′-phenyl-spiro[3H-indole-3,3′-[3H]-pyrrolizine]-2′-carboxylic acid methyl ester (1), 1,1′,2,2′,5′,6′,7′,7′a-octahydro-2-oxo-1′-nitro-2′-phenyl-spiro[3H-indole-3, 3′-[3H]-pyrrolizine] (2) and 1,1′,2,2′,5′,6′,7′,7′a-octahydro-2-oxo-1′-nitro-2′-(4″-chlorophenyl)-spiro[3H-indole-3,3′-[3H]-pyrrolizine] (3) have been synthesized and their ¹H, ¹³C and ¹⁵N spectra assigned. The chemical shift assignments are based on Pulsed Field Gradient (PFG) Double Quantum Filter (DQF) ¹H, ¹H correlation spectroscopy (COSY), PFG ¹H, ¹³C Heteronuclear Multiple Quantum Coherence (HMQC) and PFG ¹H,X (X = ¹³C and ¹⁵N) Heteronuclear Multiple Bond Correlation (HMBC) experiments. The single crystal X-ray structures of 1–3 have been determined. Compounds 1 and 2 crystallized in monoclinic space group C2/c and compound 3 in monoclinic space group P2₁/c, respectively. Also the ESI-TOF MS data of 1–3 are given.     

Regioselective 1,3-Dipolar Cycloaddition Reactions of Unsymmetrical Münchnones (1,3-Oxazolium-5-olates) with 2- and 3-Nitroindoles. A New Synthesis of Pyrrolo[3,4-b]indoles

The unsymmetrical mesoionic münchnones 13 (3-benzyl-2-methyl-4-phenyl-1,3-oxazolium-5-olate) and 14 (3-benzyl-4-methyl-2-phenyl-1,3-oxazolium-5-olate) react with the N-protected 2- and 3-nitroindoles 1 (ethyl 2-nitroindole-1-carboxylate), 6 (3-nitro-1-(phenylsulfonyl)indole), and 17 (ethyl 3-nitroindole-1-carboxylate) in refluxing THF to afford in good to excellent yields the pyrrolo[3,4-b]indoles 15 (2-benzyl-1-methyl-3-phenyl-4-carboethoxy-2,4-dihydropyrrolo[3,4-b]indole), 16 (2-benzyl-3-methyl-1-phenyl-4-carboethoxy-2,4-dihydropyrrolo[3,4-b]indole), 18 (2-benzyl-1-methyl-3-phenyl-4-(phenylsulfonyl)-2,4-dihydropyrrolo[3,4-b]indole), and 19 (2-benzyl-3-methyl-1-phenyl-4-(phenylsulfonyl)-2,4-dihydropyrrolo[3,4-b]indole). In several cases the regiochemistry, which is opposite to that predicted by FMO theory, is very high and leads essentially to a single pyrrolo[3,4-b]indole; e.g., 6+13→19 in 74% yield.     

Structural, spectral and thermal studies of N-2-(4-picolyl)- and N-2-(6-picolyl)-N′-(2-chlorophenyl)thioureas and N-2-(6-picolyl)-N′-(2-bromophenyl)thiourea

N-2-(4-picolyl)-N′-2-chlorophenylthiourea, 4PicTu2Cl, monoclinic, P2₁/c, a=10.068(5), b=11.715(2), β=96.88(4)°, and Z=4; N-2-(6-picolyl)-N′-2-chlorophenylthiourea, 6PicTu2Cl, triclinic, P-1, a=7.4250(8), b=7.5690(16), c=12.664(3) Å, =105.706(17), β=103.181(13), γ=90.063(13)°, V=665.6(2) ų and Z=2 and N-2-(6-picolyl)-N′-2-bromophenylthiourea, 6PicTu2Br, triclinic, P-1, a=7.512(4), b=7.535(6), c=12.575(4) Å, a=103.14(3), β=105.67(3), γ=90.28(4)°, V=665.7(2) ų and Z=2. The intramolecular hydrogen bonding between N′H and the pyridine nitrogen and intermolecular hydrogen bonding involving the thione sulfur and the NH hydrogen, as well as the planarity of the molecules, are affected by the position of the methyl substituent on the pyridine ring. The enthalpies of fusion and melting points of these thioureas are also affected. ¹H NMR studies in CDCl₃ show the NH′ hydrogen resonance considerably downfield from other resonances in their spectra.     

Mild synthesis of enantiomerically pure imidazo-[1,2-a]azepines mediated by Yb(OTf)3

The reaction of various chiral 2,2′-diaryldialdehydes with achiral and chiral 1,2-diamines in the presence of Lewis acids to give imidazo[1,2-a]azepines was investigated. Best results were achieved with Yb(OTf)₃; the reaction outcome is strongly dependent upon the geometric features of both reactants. Kinetic resolution of rac-2,2′-dinaphthyldialdehyde with (R,R)-1,2-diphenyl-1,2-diamminoethane (up to 92% e.e.) was achieved.     

The reactions of oxindoles and isatin with nitrobenzyl chlorides Formation of 2′-hydroxy-spiro[2H-indole-2,3′-3′H-indole]

Oxindole reacts with p-nitrobenzyl chloride ot give 3-(4′-nitrobenzyl) oxindole, but with o-nitrobenzyl chloride abnormal product, 2′-hydroxy-spiro[2H-indole-2,3′-3′H-indole] (Vb) is produced. The structure of Vb has been elucidated on the basis of the IR, UV and mass spectra, and confirmed by the analogous reactions of 3-methyl-, 4-methyl- and 3,3-dimethyloxindoles with o-nitrobenzyl chloride. Isatin reacts with o-nitrobenzyl chloride to give o-nitrobenzyloxireno[,3]-oxindole (X).     

Rhenium(I) methoxo carbonyl complexes containing tetraphosphine or triphosphine ligands; facile separation and X-ray crystallographic studies of d/l- and meso-[{Re2(μ-OMe)2(CO)6}2(μ,μ′-1,1,4,7,10,10-hexaphenyl-1,4,7,10-tetra-phosphadecane)]

Reaction of the activated mixture of Re₂(CO)_10, Me₃NO and MeOH with a 1:1 mixture of rac (d/l)- and meso-1,1,4,7,10,10-hexaphenyl-1,4,7,10-tetraphosphadecane (hptpd) yields a mixture of (d/l)- and meso-[{Re₂(μ-OMe)₂(CO)₆}₂(μ,μ′-hptpd)] 1. The diastereomers can be easily separated by selective dissolution of d/l-1 in benzene, and give clearly distinguishable ¹H- and ³¹P-NMR spectra. The fluxional behavior of d/l-1 in solution has been studied by variable-temperature ¹H- and ³¹P-{¹H}-NMR spectroscopy. The crystal structures of both d/l- and meso-1 have been determined. Both molecules consist of two {Re₂(μ-OMe)₂(CO)₆} moieties which are bridged by the two P---CH₂---CH₂---P moieties of the hptpd ligand. Whilst the molecules of meso-1 possess crystallographic i-symmetry, those of d/l-1 do not have any crystallographic symmetry. These diastereomers therefore give clearly distinguishable Raman spectra in the solid state. Reaction of tris[2-(diphenylphosphino)ethyl]phosphine (tdppep) with the activated mixture affords the complex [{Re₂(μ-OMe)₂(CO)₆}(μ,η²-tdppep)] 2, and the analogous reaction involving bis[2-diphenylphospinoethyl)phenylphosphine (triphos) gives [{Re₂(μ-OMe)₂(CO)₆}(μ,μ′,η³-triphos){Re₂(CO)₉}] 3 and [{Re₂(μ-OMe)₂(CO)₆}(μ,η²-triphos)] 4.     

3-exo,3′-exo-(1R,1′R)-Bithiocamphor — a versatile source for functionally different 3,3′-bibornane derivatives, II. 1 An access to 3-exo,3′-exo-(1r,1′r)-bicamphor and related compounds

3-exo,3′-exo-(1R,1′R)-bicamphor (12) is obtained from 3-exo,3′-exo-(1R,1′R)-bithtiocamphor (3) by condensation with hydrazine hydrate followed by hydrolysis of the resulting dihydropyridazine 11. Deprotonation of 12 with NaH and subsequent treatment with potassium hexacyanoferrate (III) furnishes the 2,2′-dioxo-3,3′-bibornanylidene 13, whilst reduction of 12 with L1AlH₄ affords the 3,3′-biisoborneol 16. Further related transformations to various 2,2′-difunctional 3,3′-bibornane derivatives are described, which are could be of interest as chiral ligands     

Synthesis of 1,2-diazepino[3,4-b]quinoxalines and pyrido[3′,4′:9,8][1,5,6]oxadiazonino[3,4-b]quinoxalines via a 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction

The reaction of 6-chloro-2-(1-methylhydrazino)quinoxaline 4-oxide 8 with furfural, 3-methyl-2-thiophene-carbaldehyde, 2-pyrrolecarbaldehyde, 4-pyridinecarbaldehyde and pyridoxal hydrochloride gave 6-chloro-2-[2-(2-furylmethylene)-1-methylhydrazino]quinoxaline 4-oxide 5a , 6-chloro-2-[1-methyl-2-(3-methyl-2-thienyl-methylene)hydrazino]quinoxaline 4-oxide 5b , 6-chloro-2-[1-methyl-2-(2-pyrrolylmethylene)hydrazino]quinoxa-line 4-oxide 5c , 6-chloro-2-[1-methyl-2-(4-pyridylmethylene)hydrazino]quinoxaline 4-oxide 5d and 6-chloro-2-[2-(3-hydroxy-5-hydroxymethyl-2-methyl-4-pyridylmethylene)-1-methylhydrazino]quinoxalme 4-oxide 5e , respectively. The reaction of compound 5a or 5b with 2-chloroacrylonitrile afforded 8-chloro-3-(2-furyl)-4-hydroxy-1-methyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-1,2-diazepino[3,4-b]quinoxaline-5-carbonitrile 6a or 8-chloro-4-hydroxy-1-methyl-3-(3-methyl-2-thienyl)-2,3-dihydro-1H-1,2-diazepino[3,4-b]quinoxaline-5-carbonitrile 6b , respectively, while the reaction of compound 5e with 2-chloroacrylonitrile furnished 11-chloro-7,13-dihydro-4-hydroxy-methyl-5,14-methano-1,7-dimethyl-16-oxopyrido[3′,4′:9,8][1,5,6]oxadiazonino[3,4-b]quinoxaline 7.     

Thermally and photochemically induced vinyl-hydrogen activation of [η-1,2:3,4-(trans-1,3,5-hexatriene)](η-cyclopentadienyl)cobalt: Regio- and stereospecific hydrogen migrations

[η⁴-1,2:3,4-(trans-1,3,5-hexatriene)](η⁵-cyclopentadienyl)cobalt (3) undergoes dimerization to form a flyover carbene, 5, with concomitant elimination of one equivalent of trans-1,3,5-hexatriene. Structure 5 thermally rearranges via a metal-mediated [1,5]-H shift to carbene 6: E_a = 29.1 ± 0.4 kcal mol⁻¹, log A = 11.6 ± 0.6. The structures of 5 and 6 were confirmed by single crystal X-ray determination. Low temperature irradiation of 6 generates 13 which undergoes a thermally induced reversion to 6: E_a = 19.4 ± 0.9 kcal mol⁻¹, log A = 10.0 ± 1.3. Deuterium labeling studies indicate the mechanisms involved in these C---H transformations are intramolecular, regio-, and stereospecific. The chemical study of this system is extended to include a variety of homologous CpCo(triene) complexes. A comparison between the triene approach to the formation of these flyover pentadienyl carbenes and direct carbene addition is described.     

Structural and spectral studies of N-2-(pyridyl)-, N-2-(3-, 4-, 5-, and 6-picolyl)- and N-2-(4,6-lutidyl)-N′-2-thiomethoxyphenylthioureas

Structures of the following compounds have been obtained: N-(2-pyridyl)-N′-2-thiomethoxyphenylthiourea, PyTu2SMe, monoclinic, P2₁/c, a=11.905(3), b=4.7660(8), c=23,532(6) Å, β=95.993(8)°, V=1327.9(5) ų and Z=4; N-2-(3-picolyl)-N′-2-thiomethoxyphenyl-thiourea, 3PicTu2SeMe, monoclinic, C2/c, a=22.870(5), b=7.564(1), c=16.941(4) Å, β=98.300(6)°, V=2899.9(9) ų and Z=8; N-2-(4-picolyl)-N′-2-thiomethoxyphenylthiourea, 4PicTu2SMe, monoclinic P2₁/a, a=9.44(5), b=18.18(7), c=8.376(12) Å, β=91.62(5)°, V=1437(1) ų and Z=4; N-2-(5-picolyl)-N′-2-thiomethoxyphenylthiourea, 5PicTu2SMe, monoclinic, C2/c, a=21.807(2), b=7.5940(9), c=17.500(2) Å, β=93.267(6)°, V=2893.3(5) ų and Z=8; N-2-(6-picolyl)-N′-2-thiomethoxyphenylthiourea, 6PicTu2SMe, monoclinic, P2₁/c, a=8.499(4), b=7.819(2), c=22.291(8) Å, β=90.73(3)°, V=1481.2(9) ų and Z=4 and N-2-(4,6-lutidyl)-N′-2-thiomethoxyphenyl-thiourea, 4,6LutTu2SMe, monoclinic, P2₁/c, a=11.621(1), b=9.324(1), c=14.604(1) Å, β=96.378(4)°, V=1572.4(2) ų and Z=4. Comparisons with other N-2-pyridyl-N′-arylthioureas having substituents in the 2-position of the aryl ring are included.     

Photolysis of benzoyl esters of 2,2′-dinitrodiphenylcarbinols in neutral and basic media

The photolysis of 2,2′-dinitrodiphenylmethylbenzoates (1a–1d) in 2-propanol gives dibenzo-[c, f]-[1,2]diazepin-11-one-oxides (5a–5d) as the major product. Dibenzo[c, f]-[1,2]diazepin-11-ones (2a–2d), 2,2′-dinitrobenzophenones (3a–3d), 2-amino-2′-nitrobenzophenones (4a–4d) and N-hydroxyacridones (6a–6d) are also formed in the reaction. When the irradiation is carried out in benzene, 3-(2′-nitrophenyl)-2,1-benzisoxazoles (7a–7d) are also obtained together with the above products.     

Synthesis and X-ray crystal structures of rac- and meso-2,2′-propylidene-bis(1-indenyl) zirconium dichlorides

An improved synthesis of 2,2′-bis(1-indenyl)propane and the corresponding ansa-complexes of zirconium are reported. Synthesis of a mixture of rac- and meso-2,2′-propylidene-bis(1-indenyl)zirconium dichlorides involves a treatment of ZrCl₄ with bis[3-(trialkyltin)inden-1-yl]propane, where alkyl = ethyl, butyl, in toluene. This reaction gives the products in 92% yield and might be a convenient synthetic pathway to a number of straightforward ansa-metallocenes. Both rac- and meso-2,2′-propylidene-bis(1-indenyl)zirconium dichlorides were separated and isolated using simple work-up processes, and characterized by X-ray crystal structure analysis (rac:C2/c; a = 15.903(3) Å, b = 11.105(2) Å and c = 11.520(2) Å; β = 121.61(3)°; Z = 4; V = 1732.6(5) ų; R = 0.0350; meso-: P1¯; a = 9.739(2) Å, b = 12.798(4) Å and c = 15.322(4) Å; = 101.18(2)°; β = 121.61(2)°; γ = 90.54(2)°, Z = 4; V = 1795.4(8) ų; R = 0.0417).     

Synthesis of the β-lactam antibiotic (+)- thienamycin via an intermediate π-allyltricarbonyliron lactone complex

The π-allyltricarbonyliron lactone complex (7), formed by reaction of E-1,2-epoxy-2-methyl-6,6-dimethoxyhex-3-ene(5) with co-ordinatively unsaturated iron carbonyl species, was reacted with benzylamine to give a lactam complex (8) by an S_N'-like mechanism. This complex upon oxidation with Ce(IV) afforded cis-3-isopropenyl-4-[(2',2'-dim (9) which was chemically modified into trans-3-(1'-hydroxyethyl)-4-[(2',2-dimethoxy)ethyl] azetidin-2-one (13), a key intermediate previously used in the synthesis of the antibiotic thienamycin. Similar reaction with (S)-(-)--methylbenzylamine afforded a separable mixture of diastereoisomeric iron lactam complexes (16 and 17). These complexes could be individually converted to the corresponding optically active β-lactam derivatives (27 and 28) and, hence, are precursors for the synthesis of either natural (+)-thienamycin or unnatural (-)-thienamycin.