Synthesis and thermolysis of tetrasubstituted cyclopropenes

Photolysis of 5-benzyl-2-methoxy-2,5-dimethyl-³-1, 3,4-oxadiazoline and of the 5,5-dibenzyl analogue with 300-nm light afforded 1-phenyl-2-diazopropane and 1,3-diphenyl-2-diazopropane, respectively. The diazoalkanes were intercepted, in situ, with dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate to afford 3-benzyl-4,5-bis(methoxycarbonyl)-3-methyl-3H-pyrazole and 3,3-dibenzyl-4,5-bis(methoxycarbonyl)-3H-pyrazole, respectively. Those pyrazoles are short-lived under the reaction conditions and undergo two major reactions. Photolysis prior to rearrangement affords the corresponding 3,3-dialkyI-1,2-bis(methoxycarbonyl)-cyclopropenes. Thermal 1,5-benzyl migration converts the two 3H-pyrazoles in part into the corresponding 4H-pyrazoles, which undergo photolysis to 2,3-dialkyl-1,3-bis(methoxycarbonyl)cyclopropenes.Thermolysis of the 3,3-dialkyl-1,2-bis(methoxycarbonyl) cyclopropenes affords conjugated dienes, presumably through the sequence cyclopropene vinyl carbene diene. The stereochemistry of the dienes was determined and a mechanism consistent with that stereochemistry is proposed.The 2,3-dialkyl-1,3-bis(methoxycarbonyl)cyclopropanes are very stable under conditions that convert isomeric 3,3-dialkyl-1,2-bis(methoxycarbonyl)cyclopropenes to conjugated dienes. It is proposed that the effect of substitution pattern on the thermolysis rate constants is the result of combined ground state and transition state factors.