Electron-transfer photooxygenation. 8. dicyanoanthracene-sensitized photooxidation of ortho-dimethoxybenzene

Two cleavage products, $\text{cis,cis}$-dimethylmuconate ($\text{1}$) and $\text{trans,trans}$-dimethyl-muconate ($\text{2}$), are inefficiently produced in the 9,10-dicyanoanthracene (DCA) sensitized photooxidation of $\text{ortho}$-dimethoxybenzene ($\text{o}$-DMB) in polar solvents. An electron transfer mechanism is proposed in which superoxide ion (O^?₂0 combines with ortho-dimethoxybenzene to form a dioxetane (3), which cleaves to form ($\text{1}$). The initial products is $\text{1}$, which is rapidly converted to $\text{2}$ and other products under the conditions; $\text{no}$ cis-trans isomer is formed.     

Nucleophilic reaction of fluoroolefins. V. Regioselectivity and stereochemistry in the reactios of 1-phenylpentafluoropropenes with lithium dialkylamides

1-Phenylpentafluoropropenes $\text{1}$ readily react with lithium dialkylamides to give, in most cases, mixtures of 1-aminosubstituted alkenes $\text{2}$ and 2-amino-substituted alkenes $\text{3}$, with the latter being the favoured products. The reactions with bulky lithium diethylamide and lithium 2-methylpiperidinoamide gave exclusively 1-amino-substituted products $\text{2}$. The effect of the increased bulk of N-nucleophiles is opposite to that observed for the reactions of alkenes $\text{1}$ with C-nucleophiles Increasing electronegativity of the phenyl ring substituents in alkenes $\text{1}$ shifts the regioselectivity of the attack of lithium amides towards the C2 carbon atom. The E to Z isomer ratios of enamines $\text{2}$ were found to be time dependent and the slow isomerisation of the kinetic isomers E to the thermodynamic isomers Z was observed, while the ratio of isomers of enamines $\text{3}$ did not change with time.A concerted, single-step process is suggested for the reactions of alkenes $\text{1}$ with lithium dialkylamides, and a tentative explanation of the different stereochemistry of enamines $\text{2}$ and $\text{3}$ is given.     

β-Carbonyl radicals as three-carbon building blocks for carbon-carbon bond forming reactions

From aldehydes, ketones and esters β-carbonyl radicals $\text{47}$ can be generated via enolization, cyclopropanation, solvomercuration and reduction with NaBH₄. Radicals $\text{47}$ react with electron-poor alkenes $\text{27}$ to give products of CC-bond forming reactions (Tables 1–3). Carbonyl compounds are therefore precursors of three-carbon building blocks. The products result from reactions with “Umpolung”.     

Nucleophilic reactions of fluoroolefins. I. Reactions of 1-(2-tetrahydrofuryl)-pentafluoropropene with alkoxide ions

Unlike unsubstituted perfluoropropene [1,2] 1-(2-tetrahydrofuryl)-pentafluoropropene $\text{1}$ reacts with sodium alkoxides in parent alcohol solutions to give 1-alkoxy-1-(2-tetrahydrofuryl)-tetrafluoropropenes $\text{2}$ as major products and 1-alkoxy-2H-1-(2-tetrahydrofuryl)-pentafluoropropanes $\text{3}$ as very minor products. The yield of adducts $\text{3}$ is, to some extent, increased by the reduced basicity of the alkoxide ion. Results are discussed in terms of the supposed properties of the carbanionic intermediates involved.N.m.r., m.s., and i.r. data for, and some chemical properties of compounds $\text{2}$, viz., further reactions with sodium alkoxides and hydrolysis are described.     

Intramolecular cyclisation of α,β-epoxy-artemisia ketone

α,β-epoxy-artemisia ketone, $\text{2}$ undergoes intramolecular cyclisation by OM-DM yielding the tetrahydrofuran derivatives $\text{3}$ – $\text{6}$, while on treatment with BF₃,-etherate $\text{2}$ cyclises to the cyclopentanones $\text{8}$ and $\text{9}$. The structure of all products has been elucidated by spectral methods. The mechanism of the cyclisation reaction is discussed briefly.     

The photochemistry of benzotricyclo[3.1.0.02,6]Hex-3-ene1

Irradiation of $\text{1}$ in methanoi with λ 254 nm yields $\text{3}$ and $\text{4}$ as the main primary products which result from the excited singlet state hy initial cyclopropane bond homolysis, but no primary photosolvolysis products.     

Flash vacuum thermolysis of spirocyclohexadienones

In an attempt to prepare short-bridged hydroxymetacyclophanes $\text{1b-d}$, the spirocyclohexadienones $\text{2b-d}$ were pyrolyzed by flash vacuum thermolysis (FVT). Instead of $\text{1b-d}$, variable amounts of 4-(5-hexenyl)phenol ($\text{4b}$), β-hydroxybenzocycloalkenes ($\text{5b-d}$) and 4-(trans-1-alkenyl) phenols ($\text{6c-d}$) were obtained. The formation of these products is explained by invoking cleavage of a spiro bond in $\text{2}$ under formation of the intermediate diradical $\text{3}$ which, depending on the length of the aliphatic chain and on the temperature, has several pathways open for isomerization to spin-paired products.     

Photoinduced cyclization of 3β-acetoxy-C(14a)-homo-B-norlanosta-8(14a),9(11)-diene as a route towards B(9a)-homo-C-norlanostane derivatives

The synthesis of diketones $\text{6}$, $\text{7}$ and $\text{8}$ starting from diene $\text{3}$ by photochemical cyclization followed by RuO₄ oxidation is described and stereochemistry of products is proposed.     

The oxidation of the benzotropylium cation

Oxidation of benzotropylium ($\text{1}$) fluoborate with Na₂O₂ and KO₂ gives the benzotropones, $\text{5}$ and $\text{6}$, as the major products with no naphthalene ($\text{9}$) or other ring contracted products formed. Oxidation with $\text{m}$-chloroperoxybenzoic acid produces a small amount of naphthaldehydes ($\text{10}$ and $\text{11}$) and even less naphthalene, a long with the benzotropones, while oxidation with H₂O₂ and $\text{t}$-butyl peroxyacetate gives slightly more of the ring contracted naphthaldehydes than benzotropones, in addition to a small quantity of naphthalene. All reactions produce some 1,2-benzotropilidene ($\text{8}$)     

Regioselectivity in the free radical deoxygenation of diol thiocarbonates involving the tertiary hydroxy group of branched chained sugars

The cyclic thiocarbonates $\text{1}$ to $\text{3}$ react with tri(n-butyl)tin hydride under formation of the deoxygenation products $\text{10}$, $\text{11}$, $\text{12}$, and $\text{14}$. The unexpected regioselectivity of this reaction with the compounds $\text{2}$ and $\text{3}$ will be discussed in the following.     

Diborane as a reducing agent - VI the novel reduction of indole-1-carboxaldehydes to 1-methyl- indoles,di(indolyimethyl) ethers and indolylmethyl indolines

Reduction of the indole-1-carboxaldehydes ($\text{1a}$-$\text{1f}$) with borane /THF gives the 1-methylindoles ($\text{4}$) in 42-91-% yields together with the di(indolylmethyl)ethers ($\text{8}$), the indolyl-methyl indolines ($\text{7}$), the unsymmetric ether($\text{10}$) and the indolenine ($\text{11}$) as the minor products, except $\text{7a}$. This appears to be the first report on the formation of symmetric ethers in the borane/THF reduction of an oxygen function. The formation of $\text{7a}$ and $\text{7b}$ from $\text{1a}$ and $\text{1b}$ implies that electrophilic substitution takes place primarily at position 3 of 3-substituted indoles, $\text{1c - 1f}$ did not form the corresponding $\text{7}$ probably because of steric hindrance. These results are discussed in relation to the mechanisms of borane/THF reduction, origin of the different products and electrophilic substitution in 3-substituted indoles.     

Dimetalated tertiary succinamides. alkylation and annelation reactions

The reactions of dimetalated succinamides $\text{1}$ with a variety of electrophiles give 2,3-disubstituted adducts ($\text{2}$ with high diasterioselectivity and annelated products ($\text{6}$–$\text{9}$).     

Conjugative cycloaddition of N-chlorosulfonyl isocyanate across vinylcyclopropane system. A new pathway towards macro-heterocycles

trans- -Isopropenyl-4-methylene-spiro[2.x]alkanes ($\text{4a}$ and $\text{4b}$) react at 0°C with CSI to give as major products the trans bicyclic cycloazanondienones ($\text{12a}$-$\text{12b}$) and as the minor products bicyclodihydro-azepinones ($\text{11a}$ and $\text{11b}$), and the respective cis isomer of bicyclic cycloazanondienones ($\text{13a}$ and $\text{13b}$).     

Cycloaddition reactions of 2,3-didehydrothiophene generated by flow vacuum thermolysis of thiophene-2,3-dicarboxylic anhydride

Flow vacuum thermolysis (FVT) of thiophene-2,3-dicarboxylic anhydride ($\text{2}$) in the presence of 2,3-dimethylbutadiene ($\text{6}$) gives, in addition to 5,6-dimethylthianaphthene ($\text{9}$). small quantities of a dihydrodimethylthianaphthene ($\text{12}$) and another dimethylthianaphthene ($\text{13}$) which is probably also formed by dehydrogenation of $\text{12}$ with chloranil. The partial structures of these minor products are consistent with their being formed by a [2+2]-cycloaddition between $\text{6}$ and an intermediate aryne, 2,3-didehydrothiophene ($\text{1}$), followed by a rearrangement of the resulting adduct $\text{11}$ and dehydrogenation. FVT of $\text{2}$ in the presence of 2,5- ($\text{17b}$) or 3,4-dimethylthiophene ($\text{17c}$) also gave a mixture of the dimethylthianaphthenes ($\text{18}$$\text{22}$, $\text{23}$) which can be rationalized as arising by a [4+2]- and two [2+2]-cycloadditions of the aryne $\text{1}$ to the thiophenes $\text{17}$ with subsequent desulfurization. The lack of equilibration of the products $\text{18}$, $\text{22}$ and $\text{23}$, was demonstrated and their origin as a function of the structure and reactivity of the aryne $\text{1}$ discussed.     

Unexpected regiochemistry in the reaction of some γ-trimethylsilylated 3-dialkylamino-crotonate esters with carbonyl electrophiles.

4-Trimethysilyl-3-dialkylaminocrotonate esters ($\text{4}$) react with a number of carbonyl electrophiles and titanium tetrachloride to give products with substitution at γ-position. A dynamic equilibrium of $\text{4}$ and its O-silyl isomer $\text{16}$ is proposed to explain the regiochemistry.     

Nucleophilic reactions of fluoroolefins.IV. Regioselectivity in the reactions of 1-phenylpentafluoropropenes with alkyllithium reagents

Reactions of 1-phenylpentafluoropropenes $\text{1a}$–$\text{c}$ with a number of alkyllithium reagents were investigated in detail. In all cases mixtures of 1-alkly-1-phenyltetrafluoropropenes $\text{2}$ and 2-alkyl-1-phenyltetrafluoropropenes $\text{3}$ were obtained. The ratio of products $\text{2}$ and $\text{3}$ is strongly influenced by both the electronegativity of the benzene ring substituents and the bulk of the alkyl group of the alkyllithium reagents. The increase of both of these factors favours formation of 2-alkyl-substituted alkenes $\text{3}$ with a reduced yield of 1-alkyl-substituted alkenes $\text{2}$. The influence of the benzene ring substituents in alkenes $\text{1}$ obeys the Hammett type correlation, while the influence of the bulk of the alkyllithium reagents exhibits good relationships with the Fellous and Luft scale of steric substituent constants E^x_s ; no linear correlation with other scales of steric constants was found. Overall regioselectivity, in the reaction of 1-phenylpentafluoropropenes $\text{1}$ with alkyllithium reagents, considering both the influence of the benzene ring substituents and steric factors, is expressed by the Pavelich-Taft type equation. Observed direction of the influence of the bulk of the alkyllithium reagents on the ratio of products $\text{2}$ and $\text{3}$ is interpreted in terms of steric strains influencing the geometry and free energy of the supposed intermediates involved in these reactions.     

Unusual fragmentations under polonovski reaction conditions

N_b-oxides $\text{2a}$ and $\text{2b}$ in the presence of acetic anhydride led to products $\text{5}$, $\text{7}$ or $\text{8}$ with participation of the indole nucleus during the fragmentation reaction.     

Chiral quaternary carbon compounds. II. An asymmetric synthesis of (R) or (S)-4,4-dialkyl-2-cyclopentenones

The chiral bicyclic lactam ($\text{5}$) derived from levulinic acid and (S)-valinol is sequentially alkylated and then cleaved to 2,2-dialkyl levulinaldehyde ($\text{8}$) which is cyclized to the title products ($\text{9}$) in > 99% ee.     

Vinyl cations 33 : 1-alkene-3-yne-2-yl triflates,precursors of triple bond stabilized vinyl cations - synthesis and first solvolytic studies.

The α-alkynyl vinyl triflates ($\text{3}$) are synthesized and the solvolyses reactions studied in different solvents. The solvolysis products and kinetic data indicate, that the hitherto unknown triple bond stabilized vinyl cation $\text{2a}$ ? $\text{2b}$ is formed as an intermediate.     

Condensation of a p-diazooxide with dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate: formation of a spiro [4.5] Decatetraenone and a nonenolizable naphthalenone in a single reaction

The condensation of p-diazooxide $\text{1}$ with dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate at 90°–100°C yields two C₂₆H₃₂O₉ products, corresponding to addition of two molecules of ester to one of the carbene $\text{2}$. The major product is the novel spirodecatetraenone $\text{4}$, and the minor product is the remarkable, nonenolizable naphthalenone $\text{5}$. Spirodecatetraenone $\text{4}$ is not a precursor of $\text{5}$, since the former is stable to acids and rearranges only above 200° to give the blocked azulenone $\text{8}$. A mechanism for the concomitant formation of product $\text{4}$ and $\text{5}$ is proposed.