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 Bis(homoallylic) Potassium Alkoxides. Two-Step Preparation of Propenyl Ketones from Carboxylic Esters. Synthesis of ar-Turmerone, α-Damascone, β-Damascone,and β-Damascenone

The transformation of 36 bis(homoallylic) alcohols VII to alkenones IX and X via β-cleavage of their potassium alkoxides VIIa in HMPA has been investigated (cf. Scheme 2). These studies have established an order of β-cleavage for 2-propenyl, 1-methyl-2propenyl, 2-methyl-2-propenyl, 1,1-dimethyl-2propenyl, and benzyl groups in alkoxides 49a – 56a and have allowed a comparison between the β-cleavege reaction and the oxy-Cope rearrangement in alkoxides 74a – 83a . As illustrative syntheti applications, a two-step preparatio of propenyl ketones 15 – 42 from carboxylic esters is described, together with syntheses of ar-turmerone ( 48 ), α-damascone ((E)- 71 ), β-damascone ((E)- 109 ), and β-damascenone ((E)- 111 ).     

Synthesis of δ-Lactones from Glutaraldehyde

A novel and general synthesis of δ-lactones from glutaraldehyde is described. The dialdehyde is first reacted with an alkyl or substituted alkyl Grignard reagent to afford a δ-hydroxyaldehyde in good yield. These aldehydes exist preferentially in the cyclic hemiacetal form (δ-lactols). Oxidation of the latter compounds to give δ-lactones is readily achieved with silver oxide or bromine. The δ-lactols and δ-lactones serve as intermediates for the total synthesis of steroids.     

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).     

Preparation and Mechanism of Solvolysis of N-Hydroxy-α-oxobenzeneethanimidoyl Chloride,a 2-(Hydroxyimino)-1-phenylethan-1-one Derivative: Molecular Structure of α-Oxo-oximes (=α-(Hydroxyimino) Ketones)

Acid-catalyzed methanolysis of N-hydroxy-α-oxobenzeneethanimidoyl chloride ( 1 ), a 2-(hydroxyimino)-1-phenylethan-1-one derivative obtained in one step from acetophenone, leads to a constant ratio of methyl α-oxobenzeneacetate ( 2 ) and methyl α-(hydroxyimino)benzeneacetate ( 3 ). ¹³C(α) Labelled [¹³C]- 1 affords ¹³C(α) labelled [¹³C]- 3 , thus discarding the hypothesis of its formation via 1,2-arene migration. The reported sequence opens a novel approach to phenylglyoxylic and mandelic acid esters (=α-oxobenzeneacetic and α-hydroxybenzeneacetic acid esters), from acetophenone. The molecular structures of 1 and 3 were determined by X-ray structure analysis and compared with previously reported crystallographic data of α-oxo-oximes (=α-(hydroxyimino) ketones) 4 and 6 – 8 . The unique stereoelectronic characteristics of the α-oxo-oxime moiety are discussed. All α-oxo-oximes share the following structural characteristics: (E)-configuration of the oxime C=N−OH bond (i.e. OH and C=O trans), the s-trans conformation of the oxo and imino moieties about the C(α)-C(=NOH) single bond, and intermolecular H-bonding. They differ from the isostructural β-diketone enols by the absence of resonance-assisted intramolecular H-bonding.     

Identification and Synthesis of New γ-Lactones from Tuberose Absolute (Polianthes tuberosa)

Six unsaturated γ-lactones, (Z)-5-octen-4-olide ( 1 ), (Z)-5-decen-4-olide ( 2 ).(Z)-6-nonen-4-olide ( 3 ), (Z)-6-dodecen-4-olide ( 4 ), (Z, Z)-6,9-dodecadien-4-olide ( 5 ), and tuberolide ( 6 ) have been identified for the first time in tuberose absolute (from Polianthes tuberosa L.). All structures were corroborated by synthesis and all, except 3 and 4 , are new.

1 The name ‘tuberolactone’ has been suggested for (Z, Z)-2,7-decadien-5-olide [1]. We propose the name ‘tuberolide’ for the bicyclic lactone 6 . (IUPAC name (1R*,5S*,Z)-6-(2′-pentenyl)-2-oxabicyclo[3.3.0]octan-3-one).

An improved method for the stereoselective synthesis of (±)-cis-bicyclo [4.3.0]-non-3-en-7-one ( 23 ) by an AlCl₃-catalyzed Diels-Alder reaction is reported.     

Carbon Magnetic Resonance Spectra of α, β, γ, δ- and α, β, α′, β′- Unsaturated Ketones

Carbon-13 spectra of a series of 26 unsaturated ketones (ortho- and para-cyclo-hexadienones and corresponding open-chain analogues) have been measured by Fourier-transform. Pulse spectroscopy. A complete analysis has been achieved by means of double resonance experiments using noise-modulated and coherent off-resonance proton irradiation and with the aid of non-decoupled spectra. Chemical shifts are interpreted in terms of charge distribution in the dienone system and of methyl substituent effects. Carbon chemical shifts were also obtained for O-protonated ortho- and para-cyclohexadienones. One-bond and long-range carbon-proton and carbon-fluorine spin coupling constants are reported for several compounds.