Ring-opening metathesis/oxy-cope rearrangement: a new strategy for the synthesis of bicyclic medium ring-containing compounds

Ring-opening/ring-closing metathesis on cyclobutene-containing substrates with angular oxygen functionality provides a stereospecific introduction of 1,5-bis-dienes required for an anion-accelerated oxy-Cope rearrangement. The reaction sequence offers generally a stereocontrolled preparation of a variety of medium ring-containing bicyclic ring systems, while rearrangement to the bicyclo[7,3,0]dodecane (9-5) system leads to a mixture of olefin isomers.     

Stereocontrolled route to vicinal diamines by [3.3] sigmatropic rearrangement of allyl cyanate: asymmetric synthesis of anti-(2R,3R)- and syn-(2R,3S)-2,3-diaminobutanoic acids

A stereocontrolled route via allyl 1,2-diols to vicinal diamines based on the [3.3] sigmatropic rearrangement of allyl cyanate has been developed. Our approach consists of two consecutive steps: stereoselective construction of allyl anti- and syn-1,2-diols followed by [1,3]-chirality transfer by sigmatropic rearrangement, which allow an access to anti-(2R,3R)- and syn-(2R,3S)-2,3-diaminobutanoic acids. [reaction: see text]     

Symbiotic reagent activation: Oppenauer oxidation of magnesium alkoxides by silylglyoxylates triggers second-stage aldolization

The treatment of silylglyoxylates with magnesium alkoxides at ambient temperature results in symbiotic Oppenauer oxidation of the alkoxide and Meerwein-Ponndorf-Verley reduction of the silylglyoxylate. The reduced silylglyoxylate undergoes subsequent [1,2]-Brook rearrangement and aldol reaction with the carbonyl oxidation product. The magnesium alkoxide may be accessed via deprotonation of primary or secondary alcohols with EtMgBr, via addition of Grignard reagents to aldehydes, or via CuI-catalyzed alkylation of epoxides. For aliphatic primary alkoxides, moderate levels of anti diastereoselection are observed. A crossover experiment reveals that dissociation of the nascent aldehyde from the magnesium center is faster than [1,2]-Brook rearrangement and aldolization.     

1-Phenylthio-1-(trimethylsiloxy)cyclopropanes via the sila-Pummerer rearrangement

This first study of the sila-Pummerer rearrangement in a cyclopropane system reveals that several 1-trimethylsiloxy-1 -(phenylthio)cyclopropanes can be prepared stereoselectively through putative sulfur-stabilized carbocationic intermediates.     

First stereospecific synthesis of (E)- or (Z)-alpha-fluoroenones via a kinetically controlled Negishi coupling reaction

A highly stereospecific synthesis of (E)- or (Z)-alpha-fluoro-alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones 4, via a kinetically controlled Negishi palladium-catalyzed coupling reaction, was developed, providing an easy and general access to valuable fluorinated intermediates (pharmaceutical, peptide mimic, and so on). The synthesis involved a reaction between E/Z gem-bromofluoroolefins 2 and alkoxyvinylzinc species 6 under controlled reaction temperature. At 10 degrees C, (Z)-4 (70 to 99% yields) was obtained along with unreacted (Z)-2 (66 to 99% yields). At THF reflux, the recovered olefin was transformed into (E)-4 (up to 98% yield).     

A chiron approach to aminocytitols by petasis-borono-mannich reaction: formal synthesis of (+)-conduramine e and (-)-conduramine e

A chiron approach to a stereoselective route for the synthesis of aminocytitols from carbohydrates is described. The formal synthesis of (+)-conduramine E and (-)-conduramine E was achieved by utilizing this strategy. The key features of the synthetic strategy include one-pot three-component Petasis-Borono-Mannich reaction to introduce the syn-β-amino alcohol functionality of conduramine E and ring-closing metathesis to construct its carbocyclic core. The present synthetic approach paves the way for stereoselective synthesis of several conduramines starting from carbohydrates.     

Investigation of the reaction order for nucleophilic substitution of dialkyl methylphosphonates by alkoxides

The rate of nucleophilic substitution at the phosphorus centre of dialkyl methylphosphonates by methoxide and ethoxide has been studied to investigate the possible involvement of hexacoordinated phosphorus species in this reaction. For alkoxide concentrations less than ca. 1.5 M the rate increases with the square of alkoxide concentration. However, consideration of the activity of the alkoxides, represented by an appropriate acidity function, reveals that only one equivalent of alkoxide is involved in the rate-determining step. Thus, there is no requirement to invoke the intermediacy of a hexacoordinated species in the reaction pathway. © John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

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.     

Gold(I)-catalyzed ring expansion of cyclopropanols and cyclobutanols

The rearrangement of 1-alkynyl cyclobutanols and cyclopropanols to alkylidene cycloalkanones catalyzed by cationic triarylphosphine gold(I) complexes is described. The reaction tolerates terminal alkynes as well as alkyl, aryl, and halo-substitution at the acetylenic position and stereoselectively provides a single olefin isomer. The gold(I)-catalyzed rearrangement is stereospecific with regard to substituents on the ring, thus providing a practical method for the stereoselective synthesis of highly substituted cyclopentanones from cyclopropanols. The reaction stereoselectively provides a single olefin isomer and is stereospecific with regard to substituents on the ring via sequential gold(I)-catalyzed ring expansion reactions.     

Total syntheses of (+)- and (-)-peribysin E

A convergent, stereocontrolled route to either antipode of the cell adhesion inhibitor, peribysin E, has been achieved from carvone. Highlights of the synthesis include a Diels-Alder reaction to generate a cis-decalin framework, followed by semipinacol-type ring contraction to secure the stereochemistry of the C7 quaternary center. Potential mechanistic pathways for the critical ring contraction were studied through deuterium incorporation studies. In addition, an optimized olefin isomerization/Saegusa oxidation protocol is described for the conversion of [4+2] cycloadducts of 2-(trialkylsilyloxy)-1,3-dienes to 1,6(2H,7H)-naphthalenediones, having stereochemical arrangements not accessible via conventional Robinson annulation protocols. Finally, the ability to independently prepare either enantiomer of peribysin E from the corresponding antipode of carvone led to a reassignment of the absolute configuration of peribysin E.     

On the radical brook rearrangement. Reactivity of alpha-silyl alcohols, alpha-silyl alcohol nitrite esters, and beta-haloacylsilanes under radical-forming conditions

Two alkoxyl radical generation methods, lead tetraacetate treatment of alcohols and photolysis of nitrites, were applied to alpha-silyl alcohols 21 and to the corresponding nitrites 25 with a view to forming alpha-silyl alkoxyl radicals 23 and studying their possible radical Brook rearrangement to alpha-silyloxy carbon radicals 24. LTA treatment of 21 led to their quick and efficient conversion into mixed acetyl-silyl acetals 33 under very mild conditions. Photolysis of alpha-alkylmonosubstituted alpha-silyl nitrites 25 to the corresponding aldehydes is considered to proceed through alpha-silyl alkoxyl radical intermediates 23. A concerted process is, however, proposed for the case of the benzyl nitrites analogues. On the basis of these results, it is postulated that resonance stabilization can have a major influence on the evolution of alpha-silyl alkoxyl radicals: should this stabilization be possible, they quickly evolve by alpha-silyl fragmentation; otherwise, they tend to undergo radical Brook rearrangement. It was also found that the radical Brook rearrangement of alpha-silyl cyclopropyloxyl radicals generated from beta-bromoacylsilanes under standard tin-radical conditions is too slow to compete with beta-fragmentation.     

Reaction intermediates in acid catalysis by zeolites: prediction of the relative tendency to form alkoxides or carbocations as a function of hydrocarbon nature and active site structure

The mechanism of protonation of ethene, propene, and isobutylene adsorbed on seven different Br?nsted acid sites of mordenite has been studied at the ONIOM (B3PW91/6-31G(d,p):MNDO) theoretical level to assess the influence of olefin size and local geometry of the active site on the species and energies involved. The activation energies for olefin protonation are determined by short- and medium-range electrostatic effects and reflect the order of stability of primary, secondary, and tertiary carbenium ions. On the other hand, the stability of covalent alkoxides depends linearly on the AlO(b)Si angle value in the complex, which in turn is determined by the corresponding value in the deprotonated zeolite. It is also shown that the mechanism of protonation of isobutylene is different from that of ethene and propene and involves a free tert-butyl carbenium ion as a true reaction intermediate. Whether this carbenium ion is converted into a covalent alkoxide depends on the T position on which the Al is located. All these findings allow us to predict, on the basis of the position and local geometry of the Br?nsted acid site, whether the reaction intermediates of olefin protonation will be covalent alkoxides or free carbenium ions.     

Reactions of models of the growth center during anionic polymerization of methacrylate esters

Reactions of α-lithioisobutyric acid esters were studied as models of partial reaction taking place during anionic polymerization of methacrylate esters. The rates of selfcondensation reactions and condensations with nonmetalated esters were determined for these models. In both cases ketoesters were the final products. Besides esters of α,α,α′-trimethylglutaric acid expected according to Michael's reaction scheme the addition of methacrylate esters to α-lithio esters also yielded oligomeric compounds due to repeated addition of methacrylate esters. The α-lithio oligomers of methacrylate esters underwent cyclization condensation which gave rise to esters of substituted cyclohexanonedicarboxylic acids. The alkali metal alkoxides slowed down all the condensation reactions of α-lithio esters investigated here. Such effect of alkoxides also appeared in the cyclization condensation of compounds formed by repeated addition of methacrylate esters, because in the presence of alkoxides the reaction mixture contained a higher amount of higher molecular weight compounds than in a system without alkoxide. The effect of alkoxides observed here is in accordance with the view that the cyclization condensation is one of the termination reactions of the anionic polymerization of methacrylate esters.     

Stereoselective synthesis of (E)-trisubstituted alpha,beta-unsaturated amides and acids

Potassium alkoxides of N-acyl-oxazolidin-2-one-syn-aldols undergo stereoselective elimination reactions to afford a range of trisubstituted (E)-alpha,beta-unsaturated amides in >95% de, that may be subsequently converted into their corresponding (E)-alpha,beta-unsaturated acids or (E)-alpha,beta-unsaturated oxazolines in good yield. syn-Aldols derived from alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes gave their corresponding trisubstituted (E)-alpha,beta-unsaturated-amides with poorer levels of diastereocontrol, whilst there was a similar loss in (E)-selectivity during elimination of syn-aldols derived from chiral aldehydes. These elimination reactions proceed via rearrangement of the potassium alkoxide of the syn-aldol to a 1,3-oxazinane-2,4-dione enolate intermediate that subsequently eliminates carbon dioxide to afford a trisubstituted (E)-alpha,beta-unsaturated amide. The (E)-selectivity observed during the E1cB-type elimination step has been rationalised using a simple conformational model that employs a chair-like transition state to explain the observed stereocontrol.     

Anionic graft polymerization and homopolymerization of phenyl glycidyl ether

Phenyl glycidyl ether was found to react with potassium starch alkoxide in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) to give graft polymers in almost quantitative yields, both the monomer and the starch being incorporated completely into the graft polymer. No transfer reactions to monomer or solvent leading to homopolymerization was found. For this reason this system was used as a model for the study of the rate of the graft polymerization of alkylene oxides on starch and other carbohydrates. Comparison of the rates of the graft polymerization of phenyl glycidyl ether on starch alkoxide with that of the homopolymerization by potassium naphthalene in DMSO under comparable conditions showed that the former reaction was much slower. Rates of the graft polymerizations on dextrin and sucrose under comparable conditions, were similar to those obtained with starch. On the other hand, the rates of polymerization on poly(ethylene oxide) alkoxides of different molecular weights were similar to those obtained in the corresponding homopolymerization by potassium naphthalene, showing that neither the molecular weight of the initiator nor the viscosity of the reaction medium were the governing factors. This suggested that the lower rates obtained by using the carbohydrate alkoxides as initiators were connected with the heterogeneity of these reaction systems, the polymeric alkoxide being insoluble in DMSO. The systematic study carried out on the homopolymerization by potassium naphthalene in DMSO showed that the effective initiator was dimsyl anion obtained by interaction of potassium naphthalene with DMSO. The reaction was bimolecular, being first order to monomer and to initiator. The molecular weights increased with increasing monomer concentration and decreasing catalyst concentration, in accordance with a “living” polymerization system.     

Reductions of acetylenes and conjugated diolefins by lithium aluminum hydride

A convenient method is described for the stereospecific reduction of acetylenes by LAH. For example, 2-pentyne, 3-hexyne, 1-phenylpropyne and diphenylethyne in an ether solvent have been reduced to the corresponding trans olefin in high yield 2,4-Hexadiene was reduced in a similar manner to give a mixture of 2- and 3-hexenes. With toluene as the solvent, the main products from acetylenes are the saturated hydrocarbons. Whereas a trans addition of the hydride to the triple bond occurs in ether solvents, it appears that cis addition occurs in toluene.     

Synthesis and Reaction Chemistry of the Disodium Alkoxide of 2,6-Bis(trifluoromethyl)-2,6-dihydroxy-3,3,4,4,5,5-hexafluorooxane

The disodium alkoxide of 2,6-bis(trifluoromethyl)-2,6-dihydroxy-3,3,4,4,5,5-hexafluorooxane, C(7)F(12)O(3)Na(2), 1, was prepared by reaction of the corresponding diol with MeONa in MeOH. This cyclic alkoxide readily mimics the reaction chemistry of the lithium and sodium alkoxides of perfluoropinacol. The reaction of the alkoxide 1 with covalent dichlorides and metallocene dichlorides yields a series of novel bicyclic ring systems. The crystal structure of the trioxasilane, 3, formed from (CH(3))(2)SiCl(2) was determined to provide structural information about these ring systems. Crystal data: C(9)H(6)O(3)F(12)Si, fw = 418.21 u, orthorhombic space group, Pnma (No. 62), a = 15.822(3) ?, b = 12.163(3) ?, c = 7.373(2) ?, V = 1418.9(4) ?(3), and D(calc) = 1.96 g cm(-)(3) for Z = 4 (molecule possesses mirror symmetry). Least-squares refinement on 1075 observed reflections (I > 3sigma(I)) converged with R = 0.0357 and R(w) = 0.0478.     

A novel reactivity of SeO(2) with 1,3-dienes: formation of syn 1,2- and 1,4-diols via a facile C-Se bond oxidation

[reaction: see text] A novel reaction between 1,3-dienes and selenium dioxide to give syn 1,2- and 1,4-diol cyclic selenites was studied in detail. This study indicates that an initial concerted [4 + 2] cycloaddition followed by a stereospecific carbon-selenium bond oxidation is involved in this unprecedented syn dihydroxy addition reaction mediated by selenium dioxide.     

Reductions, Reductive Alkylations, and Intramolecular Cyclizations of Acyl Silanes with Samarium Diiodide or Tributyltin Hydride

A series of acyl silanes including aliphatic-, aromatic-, and bis-acyl silanes, as well as the acyl silanes bearing other substituents such as a bromine atom and alkenyl, succinimide, and carbonyl groups, were prepared, and their reactions with samarium diiodide or tributylstannane were studied. The reactions of acyl silanes occurred in various manners such as reductions, reductive alkylations, intramolecular radical cyclizations, pinacol couplings, aldol reactions, and Tishchenko reactions, depending on the nature of substrates and reaction conditions. Acyl silanes were generally reduced to give the corresponding alpha-silyl alcohols without transfer of silyl groups. Intramolecular radical cyclizations of 5-hexenoyl silanes and 1-silyl-1,5-pentanedione were realized to give alpha-silyl cyclopentanols and 1,2-cyclopentanediol derivatives, respectively. On treatment with samarium diiodide in tetrahydrofuran, 1-(trimethylsilyl)-1,6-hexanedione underwent a pinacol coupling reaction in the presence of t-BuOH, whereas it underwent a Tishchenko reaction in the presence of MeOH. The Tishchenko reaction of 1-silyl-1,5-pentanedione gave a delta-silyl-delta-lactone. On treating with samarium diiodide, 1-(trimethylsilyl)-1,5-hexanedione and 1,5-bis(trimethylsilyl)-1,6-hexanedione, underwent, respectively, intramolecular aldol reactions.     

Seeded growth of monodisperse gibbsite platelets to adjustable sizes

Nanosized hexagonal gibbsite seeds are grown from a mixture of dissolved alumina alkoxides at 85 degrees C. Centrifugation reduces the polydispersity by 30%. The seeds can be grown further by adding them to a fresh alkoxide mixture and heating it. This procedure was repeated several times to obtain particles of 570 nm +/- 11% diameter and a thickness of 47 +/- 23%. No indications of a size limit were observed. The thus obtained particles may form easily a columnar phase. Individual gibbsite particles in solution can be seen by confocal microscope.