Synthesis of (E)-1-Propenyl Ketones from Carboxylic Esters and Carboxamides by Use of Mixed Organolithium-Magnesium Reagents. Synthesis of α-Damascone, β-Damascone,and β-Damascenone

The novel reagents formed by combination of allylmagnesium chloride and a strong non-nucleophilic lithium base (LiNR₂) convert non- or slowly enolizable carboxylic esters or carboxamides into 2-propenyl ketones which are protected from further reaction by their in situ conversion into enolates. This modified Grignard reaction is applied to efficient syntheses of α-damascone, β-damascone, β-damascenone, and various other (E)-1-propenyl ketones.     

β-Cleavage of Bis(homoallylic) Potassium Alkoxides. Synthesis of γ-damascone

Starting from the γ-lactone cis- 1 , two new syntheses of γ-damascone ((E)- 4 ) are described. In both syntheses, the key step involves the β-cleavage of a bis(homoallylic) potassium alkoxide, viz. the transformation of 3a to 20 and (E/Z)- 4 , and the conversion of 21a to 23 and (E/Z)- 24 .     

β-Cleavage of Potassium Bicyclo[2.2.2]oct-5-en-2-olates. Stereoselective synthesis of (±)-trichodiene

The transformations of 12 bicyclo[2.2.2]oct-5-en-2-ols ( V or VI ) to 3-(cyclohex-3-enyl)-2-alkanones ( III or IV ), via β-cleavage of their potassium alkoxides in HMPA, has been investigated (cf. Table 1). As an illustration of this synthetic methodology, a stereoselective synthesis of (±)-trichodiene ((±)- 1 ) is described which involves the β-cleavage of the tricyclic potassium alkoxides 46a and 47a to cyclopentanone 4 (cf. Scheme 7).     

β-Cleavage of Bis(homoallylic) Potassium Alkoxides. Preparation of 3-Hydroxypropyl and 4-Hydroxybutyl Propenyl Ketones from γ- and δ-Lactones. Synthesis of (±)-Rose oxide

Starting from γ- and δ-lactones 1 – 3 , a two-step preparation of 3-hydroxypropyl and 4- hydroxybutyl propenyl ketones 10 – 18 is described, involving as the key step the β-cleavage of the bis(homoallylic) potassium alkoxides 4a – 9a . The novel methodology is illustrated by a short synthesis of (±)-rose oxide( 20 ).     

Syntheses of the Enantiomers of γ-Cyclogeranic Acid, γ-Cyclocitral,and γ-Damascone: Enantioselective protonation of enolates

(R)-and (S)-γ-cyclogeranic acid ((R)-and (S)- 9 , resp.) were obtained by resolution of the racemate, and their absolute configurations determined by chemical correlation. The γ-acids (R)-and (S)- 9 were converted into (R)-and (S)-methyl γ-cyclogeranate ((R)-and (S)- 6 , resp.), and (R)-and (S)-γ-damascone ((R)-and (S)- 5 , resp.). A more direct entry to (R)-and (S)- 9 consisted in the enantioselective protonation of a thiol ester enolate with (?)- or (γ)-N-isopropylephedrine((?)- or (γ)- 20 ) and subsequent hydrolysis of the (R)-and (S)-S-phenyl γ-thiocyclogeranate ((R)- and (S)- 24 , resp.; 97% ee). The esters (R)- and (S)- 24 were also used as precursors of (R)- and (S)-γ-damascone ((R)- and (S)- 5 , resp.). Alternatively, (S)- 5 (75% ee) was obtained by enantioselective protonation of ketone enolate 29 with (?)-N-isopropylephedrine ((?)- 20 ). Organoleptic evaluation demonstrated that the (S)-enantiomers of methyl γ-cyclogeranate and γ-damascone are markedly superior to their (R)-enantiomers.     

Efficient Synthesis of Enantiomerically Pure α-Ionone from (R)- and (S)-α-Damascone

(R)- and (S)-α-ionone ((R)- and (S)- 1 , resp.) were prepared from (R)- and (S)-α-damascone ((R)- and (S)- 3 , resp.) without racemization in 48% yield employing a new enone transposition. The described transposition is complementary to existing methods whose application is often prohibited by the structural requirements of the substrate. The now easily accessible α-ionones of desired absolute configuration are useful as chiral building blocks for terpenoid synthesis.     

Photochemische Reaktionen. 121. Mitteilung. Zur Photochemie von ε,ζ-Methano-α,γ-dienonen und 7,8-Methano-1,3,5-trienen

Photochemistry of ε,ζ-Methano-α,γ-dienones and 7,8-Methano-1,3,5-trienes Irradiation of the δ-cyclopropyl-dienone (E)- 6 (λ ≥ 347 nm) gives (Z)- 6, 10 (1,5-sigmatropic H-shift), (E/Z)- 9 (electrocyclic process involving C(ε), C(ζ)-cleavage) and 11 (ring opening). The corresponding 6-cyclopropyl-triene (E)- 7 gives on singlet excitation (δ > 280 nm) 14 (1,5-sigmatropic H-shift) and, to a smaller extent, the bicyclo [3.2.0] heptenyl-dienes (E/Z)- 13 . However, on triplet excitation (λ ≥ 347 nm, benzophenone) (E)- 7 gives (E/Z)- 13 as the main products. On both ¹π,π*- and ³π,π*-excitation, (Z)- 7 and 15 are formed in small amounts.     

Photochemical reactions. 137th communication. Preparation and photolysis of (E/Z)-7-methyl-β-ionone

The title compounds (E/Z)- 7 were prepared in 66% overall yield by reaction of β-ionone ((E)-( 1 ) with lithium dimethylcuprate, trapping of the intermediate enolate with benzeneselenenyl bromide and oxidation with H₂O₂. Analogously, (E/Z)-7-methyl-α-inone ((E/Z)- 12 ) was obtained in 65% yield from α-ionone ((E)- 11 ). ¹n, π^*- Excitation (λ > 347 nm, pentane) of (E)-7 causes rapid (E/Z)-isomerization and subsequent reaction of (Z)- 7 to 15 (66%). The formation of 15 is explained by twisting of the dienone chromophore due to repulsive interaction of the 7-CH₃-group with the CH₃-groups of the cyclohexene ring. On the other hand, irradiation λ > 347 nm, Et₂O) of (E)- 7 in the presence of acid leads to (Z)- 7 (5%) and to the novel compound 16 (88%).     

A Stereospecific Synthesis of (E,Z)-α, β-γ, δ-Diunsaturated Aldehydes,Ketones, and Esters Using the Benary Reaction

The reaction between (Z)-1-alkenyllithium and (E)-β-(N, N-dialkylamino)-α, β-alkenals, (E)-β-(N, N-dialkylamino)-α, β-alkenones or (E)-β-(N, N-dialkylamino)-α, β-alkenoic esters yields mainly (E, Z)-α, β-γ, δ-diunsaturated aldehydes, ketones, or esters and is therefore highly stereospecific.     

Photochemische Reaktionen 111. Mitteilung [1] Zur Photochemie α, β-ungesättigter γ, δ-Epoxyester I: Singulett- versus Triplettreaktivität

On triplet excitation (E)- 2 isomerizes to (Z)- 2 and reacts by cleavage of the C(γ), O-bond to isomeric δ-ketoester compounds ( 3 and 4 ) and 2,5-dihydrofuran compounds ( 5 and 19 , s. Scheme 1). - On singulet excitation (E)- 2 gives mainly isomers formed by cleavage of the C(γ), C(δ)-bond ( 6–14 , s. Scheme 1). However, the products 3–5 of the triplet induced cleavage of the C(γ), O-bond are obtained in small amounts, too. The conversion of (E)- 2 to an intermediate ketonium-ylide b (s. Scheme 5) is proven by the isolation of its cyclization product 13 and of the acetals 16 and 17 , the products of solvent addition to b . - Excitation (λ = 254 nm) of the enol ether (E/Z)- 6 yields the isomeric α, β-unsaturated ε-ketoesters (E/Z)- 8 and 9 , which undergo photodeconjugation to give the isomeric γ, δ-unsaturated ε-ketoesters (E/Z)- 10 . - On treatment with BF₃O(C₂H₅)₂ (E)- 2 isomerizes by cleavage of the C(δ), O-bond to the γ-ketoester (E)- 20 (s. Scheme 2). Conversion of (Z)- 2 with FeCl₃ gives the isomeric furan compound 21 exclusively.     

Photochemical reactions. 141st communication. Photochemistry of α,β-unsaturated δ,ϵ-epoxyketones of the ionone series

On n,π*- as well as on π,π*-excitation, the 4,5-epoxy-α-ionones (E)- 1 , (E)- 2 , and (E)- 3 undergo (E)/(Z)-isomerization and subsequent γ-H-abstraction leading to the corresponding 4-hydroxy-β-ionones (E/Z)- 9 , (E/Z)- 13 , and (E/Z)- 17 as primary photoproducts. On photolysis of (E)- 3 , as an additional primary photoproduct, the β,γ-unsaturated σ,?-epoxy ketone 18 was obtained. The other isolated compounds, namely the 2H-pyrans 10A + B and 14A + B as well as the retro γ-ionones 11 and 15A + B , represent known types of products, which are derived from the 4-hydroxy-β-ionones (E/Z)- 9 and (E/Z)- 13 , respectively.     

Photochemical Reactions 150th Communication. Wavelength Dependence of the Photochemistry of 7-Methyl-β-ionone

The wavelength dependence of the photolysis of 7-methyl-β-ionone ((E)- 1 ) was investigated. Irradiation of (E)- 1 with light of λ > 347 nm leads primarily to (E/Z)-isomerization followed by transformation to the tricyclic enol ether 3 as the only secondary photoproduct. On photolysis of (E)- 1 with light of shorter wavelength (λ > 280 nm or λ = 254 nm), however, a series of other products was formed (via a) photocyclization of the dienone chromophore (→ 5 ), (b) photo-enolization (→ 8 ), and (c) a 1,5-sigmatropic H-shift (→ (E/Z)- 7 ). For the structure elucidation of the new products, 7-[¹³C]methyl-β-ionone ((E)-[7-methyl-¹³C]- 1 ) was prepared and irradiated furnishing the corresponding ¹³C-labelled photoproducts.     

Synthesen der stereoisomeren (±)-γ-Damascone

Under the conditions of the Wharton reaction, the (±)-epoxy-γ-dihydroionones 2 and 3 are transformed into the allylic alcohols 4–10 . γ-Damascols 4, 5 and 8 were oxidised to cis- and trans-γ-damascone 12 and 13 . Alternatively, dehydro-γ-damascol 18 was obtained by Wittig rearrangement of butinyl ether 17 , and converted into damascones 12 and 13 .     

Photochemische Reaktionen 94. Mitteilung. Vinyloge β-Spaltung bei Epoxy-enonen der Jonon-Reihe

Photoinduced Vinylogous β-Cleavage of Epoxy-enones of the Ionone Series The photochemistry of the α,β-unsaturated γ,δ-epoxy-enones 1–3 is determined by: (i) C(γ)-O-scission of the epoxide (vinylogous β-cleavage of Type A); (ii) C(γ)-C(δ)-cleavage of the oxirane (vinylogous β-cleavage of Type B); (iii) (E/Z)-isomerization of the enone chromophore. In contrast, 4 with tertiary C(β) shows no Type B cleavage. Type A cleavage is induced both by n,π*- and π,π*-excitation and arises probably from the T₁-state, but Type B cleavage is observed only on π,π*-excitation and represents presumably a S₂-reaction. On Type A cleavage 1–4 undergo 1,2-alkyl-shifts to 1,5-dicarbonyl compounds ( 15–18, 25–28, 34 and 35 ) or rearrange to dihydrofuranes ( 7 and 30 ). The isomerization 1→7 proceeds by a stereoselective [1,3]-sigmatropic shift. On Type B cleavage 1–3 isomerize to a bicyclic enol-ether ( 8, 29 ) or to a monocyclic enol-ether ( 9 ; product of a homosigmatropic [1,5]-shift) or undergo fragmentation to isomers such as allenes 10, 22 and 31 or cyclopropenes 11 and 21 . The non-isolated, unstable (Z)-epoxy-enones 14, 19, 24 and 38 isomerize by fragmentation to the furanes 12, 23, 33 and 39 respectively, on contact with traces of acid or by heating. However, for 19 and 4 , Type B cleavage may lead to the furanes 23 and 39 . On UV. irradiation of the epoxy-enone 4 the initially formed (E/Z)-isomers 34 and 35 yield on π,π*-excitation the enones 37 and 40 by a vinylogous β-fragmentation. In addition, on n,π*-excitation 34 isomerizes to 35 , which decarbonylates exclusively to the enone 37 . The reactions of 1–4 with BF₃ · O(C₂H₅)₂ were also studied (see appendix). The epoxy-enones 1 and 2 isomerize by an 1,2-alkyl shift in good yield to the 1,4-dicarbonyl compounds 79 and 81 , whereas 3 gives the 1,4-diketone 83 , and in small amounts the 1,5-diketone 84 . On the other hand, 4 is converted to the fluorohydroxy-enone 85 and to the 1,5-dicarbonyl product 34 , the only isomer in this series which is identical with one of the photoproducts.     

Cationic polymerization of α,β-disubstituted olefins. V. Reactivity of propenyl alkyl ethers in cationic polymerization

To elucidate the effect of the introduction of a methyl group in the β-position of a vinyl monomer, propenyl alkyl ethers were copolymerized with vinyl ethers having the same alkoxy group. Propenyl alkyl ethers with an unbranched alkoxy group (ethyl or n-butyl propenyl ether) were more reactive than the corresponding vinyl ethers. This behavior is quite different from that of β-methylstyrene derivatives. However, propenyl alkyl ethers with branched alkoxy groups at the α carbon atom (isopropyl or tert-butyl propenyl ether) were less reactive than the corresponding vinyl ethers. Also, cis- isomers were more reactive than the trans isomers, regardless of the kind of alkoxy group and the polarity of the solvent.     

Cationic polymerization of α,β-disubstituted olefins. IV. Stereospecific polymerization of propenyl alkyl ethers catalyzed by BF3·O(C2H5)2 and Al2(SO4)3–H2SO4 complex

The cis- and trans-propenyl alkyl ethers were polymerized by a homogeneous catalyst [BF₃·O(C₂H₅)₂] and a heterogeneous catalyst [Al₂(SO₄)₃–H₂SO₄ complex]. Methyl, ethyl, isopropyl, n-butyl and tert-butyl propenyl ethers were used as monomers. The steric structure of the polymers formed depended on the geometric structures of monomer and the polymerization conditions. In polymerizations with BF₃·O(C₂H₅)₂ at ?78°C., trans isomers produced crystalline polymers, but cis isomers formed amorphous ones except for tert-butyl propenyl ether. On the other hand, highly crystalline polymers were formed from cis isomers, but not from the trans isomers in the polymerization by Al₂(SO₄)₃–H₂SO₄ complex at 0°C. The x-ray diffraction patterns of the crystalline polymers obtained from the trans isomers were different from those produced from the cis isomers, except for poly(methyl propenyl ether). The reaction mechanism was discussed briefly on these basis of these results.     

Synthese von diastereo- und enantio-selektiv deuterierten β,ε-, β,β-, β,γ- und γ,γ-Carotinen

Synthesis of Diastereo- and Enantioselectively Deuterated β,ε-, β,β-, β,γ- and γ,γ-Carotenes We describe the synthesis of (1′R, 6′S)-[16′, 16′, 16′-²H₃]-β, εcarotene, (1R, 1′R)-[16, 16, 16, 16′, 16′, 16′-²H₆]-β, β-carotene, (1′R, 6′S)-[16′, 16′, 16′-²H₃]-γ, γ-carotene and (1R, 1′R, 6S, 6′S)-[16, 16, 16, 16′, 16′, 16′-²H₆]-γ, γ-carotene by a multistep degradation of (4R, 5S, 10S)-[18, 18, 18-²H₃]-didehydroabietane to optically active deuterated β-, ε- and γ-C₁₁-endgroups and subsequent building up according to schemes \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}${\rm C}_{11} \to {\rm C}_{14}^{C_{\mathop {26}\limits_ \to }} \to {\rm C}_{40} $\end{document} and C₁₁ → C₁₄; C₁₄+C₁₂+C₁₄→C₄₀. NMR.- and chiroptical data allow the identification of the geminal methyl groups in all these compounds. The optical activity of all-(E)-[²H₆]-β,β-carotene, which is solely due to the isotopically different substituent not directly attached to the chiral centres, is demonstrated by a significant CD.-effect at low temperature. Therefore, if an enzymatic cyclization of [17, 17, 17, 17′, 17′, 17′-²H₆]lycopine can be achieved, the steric course of the cyclization step would be derivable from NMR.- and CD.-spectra with very small samples of the isolated cyclic carotenes. A general scheme for the possible course of the cyclization steps is presented.     

Thermische (E), (Z)-Isomerisierungen bei substituierten Propenylbenzolen

Thermal (E), (Z)-Isomerizations of Substituted Propenylbenzenes The thermal isomerizations of (E)- and (Z)-3,5-dimethyl-2-(1′-propenyl)phenol ((E)- and (Z)- 3 ), (E)- and (Z)-N-methyl-2-(1′-propenyl)anilin ((E)- and (Z)- 4 ), (E)- and (Z)-3,5-dimethyl-2-(1′-propenyl)anilin ((E)- and (Z)- 5 , (E)- and (Z)-2-(1′-propenyl)mesitylene ((E)- and (Z- 6 ), (E)- and (Z)-2-(1′-propenyl)mesitylene ((E)- and (Z)- 7 ), (E)- and (Z)-2-(1′-propenyl)toluene ((E)- and (Z)- 8 ), (E)- and (Z)-4-(1′-propenyl)toulene ((E)- and (Z)- 9 ) as well as of (E)- and (Z)-2-(2′-butenyl)-mesitylene ((E)- and (Z)- 10 ) in decane solution were studied (Scheme 2). Whereas the isomerization of the 2-propenylphenols (E)- and (Z)- 3 occurs already between 130 and 150° (cf. Table 1), the isomerization of the 2-propenylanilins 4 and 5 takes place only at temperatures between 220 and 250° (cf. Tables 2 and 3). The activation values and the experiments using N-deuterated 4 (cf. Scheme 4) show that 2-propenylphenols and -anilins isomerize via sigmatropic [1,5]-hydrogen-shifts. For the isomerization of the methyl-substituted propenylbenzenes temperatures > 360° are required (cf. Tables 4 and 5). The activation values of the isomerization of (E)- and (Z)- 6 and (E)- and (Z)- 9 are in accord with those of other (E), (Z)-isomerizations which occur via vibrationally excited singlet biradicals (cf. Table 7). Nevertheless, thermal isomerization of 2′-d-(Z)- 8 (cf. Scheme 6) demonstrates that during the reaction deuterium is partially transfered into the ortho-methyl group, i.e. 1,5-hydrogen-shifts must have participated in isomerization of (E)- and (Z)- 8 (cf. Scheme 8). Under the equilibrium conditions 2,4,6-trimethylindan ( 17 ) is formed slowly at 368° from (E)- and (Z)- 6 , very probably via a radical 1,4-hydrogen-shift (cf. Scheme 9). In a similar way 2-ethyl-4,6-dimethylindan ( 19 ; cf. Table 6) arises from (E)- and (Z)- 7 . Thermolysis of (E)- and (Z)- 10 in decane solution at 367° results in almost no (E),(Z)-isomerization. At prolonged heating 19 and 2,5,7-trimethyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene ( 20 ) are formed; these two products arise very likely from an intermolecular radical process (cf. Scheme 10).     

Photochemical Reactions 151st Communication. Photo-oxygenation of (E)- and (Z)-7-Methyl-β-ionone

Photo-oxygenation of (E)-7-methyl-β-ionone ((E)? 1 ) and (E)-8-methyl-β-ionone ((E)? 2 ) gave rise to the formation of the hydroperoxy-enones (E)? 10 and (E)? 15 , respectively, which, in part, underwent intramolecular epoxidation to the hydroxy-epoxy-ketones 11 and 16 , respectively, The product distribution of the photo-oxidation of (Z)? 1 shows a marked influence of the skewed ground-state conformation of the dienone chromophore. Thus, singlet oxygen (¹O₂) was added to C(γ) of the dienone chromophore leading to the spirocyclic peroxy-hemiacetal 12 and to the endoperoxide 13 . In addition, the tricyclic peroxide 14 was formed as a new type of product via primary addition of ¹O₂ to C(γ) of the dienone chromophore. The structure of 14 was established by X-ray crystal-structure analysis of the hemiacetal 22 .     

Synthesis of (R)- and (S)-5-(Hydroxymethyl)-3-isopropyloxazolidin-2-one,intermediates in the preparation of optically active β-blockers

The (R)- and (S)-5-(hydroxymethyl)-3-isopropyloxazolidin-2-ones, ((R)- and (S)- 2 , resp.), pivotal intermediates in the preparation of optically active β-blockers, were synthesized using (R,E)-2-hydroxypent-3-enenitrile ( 1 ) as the chiral starting material. In the synthesis of (R)- 2 , a known cyclization/inversion step was applied.