Stereoselective Synthesis of (7aS)-1-Methylenehexahydro-1H-pyrrolizine and (?)-Heliotridane from N-Diphenylmethyl-(S)-proline Ethyl Ester

Alkaloid (7aS)-1-methylenehexahydro-1H-pyrrolizine was synthesized from N-diphenylmethyl-(S)-proline ethyl ester by cyclopropanation of the ester group with ethylmagnesium bromide in the presence of titanium tetraisopropoxide, replacement of the protecting group on the nitrogen atom, and cationic cyclopropylallyl isomerization of (S)-1-(1-ethoxycarbonylpyrrolidin-2-yl)cyclopropyl sulfonate into the corresponding allyl bromide. Stereoselective reduction of (7aS)-1-methylenehexahydro-1H-pyrrolizine with sodium tetrahydridoborate in the presence of nickel chloride afforded (−)-heliotridane [(1S,7aS]-1-methylhexahydro-1H-pyrrolizine] in high yield.__________Translated from Zhurnal Organicheskoi Khimii, Vol. 41, No. 1, 2005, pp. 73–77.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Lysenko, Kulinkovich.     

Conformations of the Ten-membered Ring in 5, 10-Secosteroids. III: (Z)-3β- and (Z)-3α-Hydroxy-5, 10-seco-1 (10)-cholesten-5-one Esters and (Z)-5, 10-seco-1 (10)-Cholestene-3, 5-dione

(Z)-3β-Acetoxy- and (Z)-3 α-acetoxy-5, 10-seco-1 (10)-cholesten-5-one ( 6a ) and ( 7a ) were synthesized by fragmentation of 3β-acetoxy-5α-cholestan-5-ol ( 1 ) and 3α-acetoxy-5β-cholestan-5-ol ( 2 ), respectively, using in both cases the hypoiodite reaction (the lead tetraacetate/iodine version). The 3β-acetate 6a was further transformed, via the 3β-alcohol 6d to the corresponding (Z)-3β-p-bromobenzoate ester 6b and to (Z)-5, 10-seco-1 (10)-cholestene-3, 5-dione ( 8 ) (also obtainable from the 3α-acetate 7a ). The ¹H-and ¹³C-NMR. spectra showed that the (Z)-unsaturated 10-membered ring in all three compounds ( 6a , 7a and 8 ) exists in toluene, in only one conformation of type C ₁, the same as that of the (Z)-3β-p-bromobenzoate 6b in the solid state found by X-ray analysis. The unfavourable relative spatial factors (interdistance and mutual orientation) of the active centres in conformations of type C ₁ are responsible for the absence of intramolecular cyclizations in the (Z)-ketoesters 6 and 7 ( a and c ).     

1,6- and 1,7-naphthyridines. II. Synthesis from acyclic precursors

A number of 8-hydroxy-6-methyl-1,6-naphthyridin-5(6H)-one-7-carboxylic acid alkyl esters 3 and the isomeric 5-hydroxy-7-methyl-1,7-naphthyridin-8(7H)-one-6-carboxylic acid alkyl esters 4 were synthesized from acyclic precursors obtained starting from quinolinic anhydride 5. Thus, methanolysis of 5 afforded the hemiester 6 which treated with oxalyl chloride and sarcosine ethyl ester gave 3-(N-ethoxycarbonylmethyl-N-methylcarbamoyl)pyridine-2-carboxylic acid methyl ester 8. Compound 8 was cyclized to naphthyridines 3a-e with sodium alkoxides. The isomeric naphthyridines 4a-c were obtained by cyclization of the open intermediary 2-(N-ethoxycarbonylmethyl-N-methylcarbamoyl)pyridine-3-carboxylic acid methyl ester 9 obtained by a route that involves treatment of 5 with sarcosine ethyl ester and esterification with diazomethane. Spectroscopic properties (¹H nmr, uv, ir) of compounds 3 and 4 are discussed and confirmed the proposed structures.     

Polycondensed heterocycles. III. Synthesis of 5,11-dioxo-1,2,3,1 1a-tetrahydro-5H,11H- and 5-oxo-2,3,11,1 1a-tetrahydro-1H,5H-pyrrolo[2,1-c][1,4]benzothiazepine

The syntheses of 5,11-dioxo-1,2,3,11a-tetrahydro-5H11H- and 5-oxo-2,3,11,11a-tetrahydro-1H,5H-pyrrolo-[2,1-c][1,4]benzothiazepine 10 and 11 have been studied. The former was obtained by intramolecular cyclization with CDI of N-(2-mercaptobenzoyl)-L-proline 19 , prepared on one hand by demethylation of N-(2-methylthiobenzoyl)-L-proline t-butyl ester 15 , obtained via the Pummerer rearrangement of the corresponding sulphoxide 17 and successive alkaline hydrolysis, and by deprotection of the mercapto ester 18 with TFA or trimethylsilyl iodide. The ester 15 was achieved by reaction of o-(methylthio)benzoic acid 12 with L-proline t-butyl ester or by treatment of the corresponding acid chloride 13 with L-proline and successive esterification of N-(2-methylthiobenzoyl)-L-proline 16 . On the other hand the proline 19 was also obtained by reduction with sodium dithionite of (S)-bis[2-[[2-(hydroxycarbonyl)-1-pyrrolidinyl]carbonyl]phenyl] disulphide 20 , prepared by condensation of bis(2-chlorocarbonylphenyl) disulphide 14 with L-proline. The reduction of (S)-bis[2-[[2-(chloromethyl)-1-pyrrolidinyl]carbonyl]phenyl] disulphide 28 with sodium borohydride in boiling ethanol afforded directly the benzothiazepinone 11 in 85% yield. The disulphide 28 was synthesized treating the corresponding alcohol 24 or N-(2-mercaptoben-zoyl)-L-prolinol 25 with thionyl chloride. Compound 25 was obtained by demethylation of the corresponding methylthio ether 26 oxidized to sulphoxide 27 via the Pummerer rearrangement. The acid chloride 14 by condensation with (S)-2-(chloromethyl)pyrrolidine hydrochloride gave disulphide 28 as well. The acid chlorides 13 and 14 by reaction with L-prolinol provided respectively alcohols 26 and 24 . Attempts to cyclodehydrate the mercapto alcohol 25 , obtained also by reduction of disulphide 24 , failed.     

A modified bischler-napieralski reaction. Synthesis of 2,3,4,9- tetrahydro-1H-pyrido[3,4-B]indole derivatives and their base-catalyzed transformation to N-acetyl-N-[2-[1 -acetyl-2-[1 -(acetyloxy)-1-propenyl]- 1H-indol-3-yl]ethyl]acetamides

The treatment of N-[2-(1H-indol-3-yl)ethyl]alkanamide, 1 (1), with phosphorus oxychloride under controlled conditions gave l-alkyl-2,3,4,9-tetrahydro-1H-pyrido[3,4-b]indol-1-ol, 2 . The reaction of 2 with acetic anhydride or with methyl isocyanate at room temperature resulted in the formation of amido carbinol 3 and urea carbinol 7, respectively. The former was transformed into amido ester 4 by boiling acetic anhydride. When the reaction of 3 with acetic anhydride was carried out in the presence of excess triethylamine at 105°, C-N bond cleavage of the tetrahydropyridine ring took place with concurrent bis(N-acetylation) to give the enol ester derivative 5 . The structures of all compounds are consistent with chemical and spectral evidence.     

Regioselective synthesis of polyfluoroalkyl-substituted 7-(1<Emphasis Type="Italic">H</Emphasis>-1,2,3-triazol-1-yl)-6,7-dihydro-1<Emphasis Type="Italic">H</Emphasis>-indazol-4(5<Emphasis Type="Italic">H</Emphasis>)-ones

3-Polyfluoroalkyl-6,6-dimethyl-7-(1H-1,2,3-triazol-1-yl)-6,7-dihydro-1H-indazol-4(5H)-ones were synthesized with high regioselectivity by 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of terminal alkynes (phenylacetylene, hex- 1-yne, hept-1-yne, and but-3-yn-1-ol) to 7-azido-6,6-dimethyl-3-polyfluoroalkyl-6,7-dihydro-1H-indazol-4(5H)-ones which were prepared by bromination of 6,6-dimethyl-3-polyfluoroalkyl-6,7-dihydro-1H-indazol- 4(5H)-ones with N-bromosuccinimide in anhydrous carbon tetrachloride, followed by treatment of the corresponding 7-bromo derivatives with sodium azide.     

Synthesis of α-(aminomethylene)-9H-purine-6-acetic acid derivatives

α-(Aminornethylene)-9H-purine-6-acetamide ( 3a ) and the corresponding ethyl acetate 9 have been synthesized by catalytic hydrogenation of 6-cyanomethylenepurine derivatives 2 and 7 which were obtained by the substitution of 6-chloropurine derivatives with α-cyanoacetamide and ethyl cyanoacetate, respectively. Substitution of α-(aminomethylene)-9-(tetrahydrofuran)-9H-purine-6-acetamide ( 3b ) with amines gave the corresponding N-alkyl- and N-arylamines 5 , which were treated with acid to give N-substituted α-(aminomethylene)-9H-purine-6-acetamides 6 . Substitution of 9 with amines gave the corresponding N-alkyl- and N-aryl substituted amines 10 .     

Synthesis of the penta-glutamyl derivative of N-[4-[N-[3-(2,4-diamino-1,6-dihydro-6-oxo-5-pyrimidinyl)-propyl]amino]benzoyl]-L-glutamic acid (5-DACTHF). An acyclic analogue of tetrahydrofolic acid

The penta-glutamyl derivative of N-[4-[N-[3-(2,4-diamino-1,6-dihydro-6-oxo-5-pyrimidinyl)propyl]amino]-benzoyl)-L-glutamic acid (1, 5-DACTHF, 543U76) was synthesized by a convergent route. L-γ-Glutamyl-L-γ-glutamyl-L-γ-glutamyl-L-γ-glutamyl-L-γ-glutamyl-L-glutamic acid heptakis t-butyl ester ( 20 ) was prepared in ten steps from L-glutamic acid di-t-butyl ester and N-(benzyloxycarbonyl)-L-glutamic acid α-t-butyl ester. 4-[N-[3-(2,4-Diamino-1,6-dihydro-6-oxo-5-pyrimidinyl)propyl]trifluoroacetamido]benzoic acid ( 6 ), which was synthesized from pyrimidinylpropionaldehyde 3 in three steps, was condensed with 20 , followed by deprotection to provide N-[4-[N-[3-(2,4-diamino-1,6-dihydro-6-oxo-5-pyrimidinyl)propyl]amino]benzoyl]-L-γ-glutamyl-L-γ-glutamyl-L-γ-glutamyl-L-γ-glutamyl-L-γ-glutamyl-L-glutamic acid ( 2 ). Hexaglutamate 2 is a potent inhibitor of glycinamide ribonucleotide transformylase.     

Ring closure reaction of 4-(2-hydroxyanilino)-2-phenyl-5-pyrimidinecarboxylic acid with acetic anhydride. Synthesis of pyrimido[5,4-c] [1,5]benzoxazepin-5(11H)ones

Syntheses of 11-acety1-2-phenylpyrimido[5,4-c][1,5]benzoxazepin-5(11H)one ( 16a ) and analogs ( 16b,c, 22 ) were described. The reaction of 4-chloro-2-phenyl-5-pyrimidinecarboxylic acid ethyl ester ( 7 ) with 2-aminophenol afforded 4-(2-hydroxyanilino)-2-phenyl-5-pyrimidine-carboxylic acid ethyl ester ( 8a ). The latter was also prepared by catalytic reduction of 4-(2-nitrophenoxy)-2-phenyl-5-pyrimidinecarboxylic acid ethyl ester ( 9 ), which was obtained from 7 and 2-nitrophenol. Involvement of 4-(2-aminophenoxy)-2-phenyl-5-pyrimidinecarboxylic acid ethyl ester ( 12a ) in this reduction as an intermediate was demonstrated by an independent synthesis of 12a and its subsequent rearrangement to 8a. Hydrolysis of 8a or 12a gave 4-(2-hydroxyanilino)-2-phenyl-5-pyrimidinecarboxylic acid ( 15a ). Reaction of 15a with acetic anhydride afforded 16a , the first member of a novel ring system, the pyrimido[5,4- c ][1,5]-benzoxazepin. Additional examples ( 16b,c ) were prepared similarly. The corresponding 11-ethyl derivative ( 22 ) was prepared in similar fashion, starting with 7 and 2-ethylaminophenol. A possible reaction mechanism for the formation of 16a-c from 15a-c and acetic anhydride was discussed.     

Synthesis of α-(aminomethylene)-9-(methoxymethyl)-9H-purine-6-acetic acid derivatives

α-(Aminomethylene)-9-(methoxymethyl)-9H-purine-6-acetamide and the ethyl acetate, 3 and 8 , have been synthesized by catalytic hydrogenation of 6-cyanomethylene-9-methoxymethylpurine derivatives 2 and 7 which were obtained by the substitution of 6-chloro-9-(methoxymethyl)purine ( 1 ) with α-cyanoacetamide and ethyl cyanoacetate, respectively. Substitution of 3 and 8 with amines gave the corresponding N-substituted α-(aminomethylene)-9-(methoxymethyl)-9H-purine-6-acetamide and the ethyl acetate 4 and 10 . Reaction of 3 with piperidine gave 9-(methoxymethyl)-9H-purine-6-acetamide ( 5 ).     

A novel regioselective t-butylation as applied to the synthesis of 5-cyano-1-(1,1-dimethylethyl)-N-methyl-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxamide

The title compound was synthesized in a regiocontrolled way from 5-cyano-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxylic acid, ethyl ester ( 5 ) with isobutylene, p-toluenesulfonic acid and methylamine.     

A Convergent Synthesis of (±)-α- and β-Himachalenes

(±)-α and β-Himachalene, 5 and 6 , have been synthesized in a convergent manner from 3,3-dimethylacrolein ( 9 ), the ester enolate 10 and the silyloxypentadienyllithium 7 . The key steps are the regioselective γ-addition of the dienal 13 to 7 and the intramolecular Diels-Alder addition 15 → 16 . Hydrogenolysis of the diethylphosphate group and functionalization at C (5) completed the synthesis of 5 and 6 .     

Synthesis,reactions, and antioxidant activity of 3-(pyrrol-1-yl)-4,6-dimethyl selenolo[2,3-b]pyridine derivatives

Ethyl 4,6-dimethyl-3-(pyrrol-1-yl) selenolo[2,3-b]pyridine-2-carboxylate (2) was synthesized by the reaction of previously prepared ethyl 3-amino-4,6-dimethyl selenolo[2,3-b]pyridine-2-carboxylate (1) with 2,5-dimethoxytetrahydrofuran in acetic acid. The pyrrolyl ester (2) was converted into the corresponding carbohydrazide 3 which reacted with acetyl acetone, aromatic aldehydes, carbon disulfide in pyridine, and sodium nitrite to afford the corresponding dimethyl pyrazolyl 4, arylidene carbohydrazides 5a–d, oxadiazolyl thiole 6, and caboazide compound 8, respectively. The carboazide 8 reacted with different alcohols and amines to give the corresponding carbamates 9a–c and the aryl urea derivatives 10a–d. Heating of carboazide 8 in dry xylene afforded the pyridoselenolo-pyrrolopyrazinone 11. The latter compound was used as a versatile starting precursor for synthesis of other pyridoselenolo-pyrrolopyrazine compounds. The newly synthesized compounds and their derivatives were characterized by elemental analysis and spectroscopy (IR, ¹H-NMR, and mass spectra). Some of the newly synthesized pyrrolyl selenolopyridine compounds showed remarkable antioxidant activity compared to ascorbic acid.     

Synthesis and characterization of novel 2-(1-benzyl-3-[4-fluorophenyl]-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-7-fluoro-4H-chromen-4-one derivatives

Novel 1-benzyl-3-(4-fluorophenyl)-1H-pyrazole-4-carbaldehydes 3a to 3e were synthesized via Vilsmeier-Haack reaction of the appropriate 1-benzyl-2-(1-(4-fluorophenyl)ethylidene)hydrazines, derived from 4-fluoroacetophenone 1 with substituted 2-benzylhydrazines 2a to 2e . The base catalyzed condensation of 1-benzyl-3-(4-fluorophenyl)-1H-pyrazole-4-carbaldehydes 3a to 3e with 1-(4-fluoro-2-hydroxyphenyl)ethanone 4 gave (E)-3-(1-benzyl-3-(4-fluorophenyl)-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-1-(4-fluoro-2-hydroxyphenyl)prop-2-en-1-ones 5a to 5e . On cyclization with dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)/I₂, compounds 5a to 5e gave 2-(1-benzyl-3-(4-fluorophenyl)-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-7-fluoro-4H-chromen-4-ones 6a to 6e . Structures of all novel compounds were confirmed by infrared (IR), proton nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H NMR), carbon nuclear magnetic resonance (¹³C NMR), and mass spectral data. All the synthesized compounds were screened for their antibacterial activities.     

Synthesis of N-1-(Indanyloxymethyl) and N-1-(4-Hydroxybut-2-enyloxymethyl) Analogues of the HIV Drugs Emivirine and GCA-186

A series of Emivirine and GCA-186 analogues substituted at N-1 with indan-1-yloxymethyl (6a–6c) and indan-2-yloxymethyl (6d–6f) were synthesized by reaction of the corresponding bis(indanyloxy)methans with uracils having 5-ethyl or 5-isopropyl and 6-benzyl or 6-(3,5-dimethylbenzyl) substituents. A route to the corresponding N-1 substituted 4-hydroxybut-2-enyloxymethyl analogue was also devised. All newly synthesized compounds showed potent activity against wild-type HIV-1, the most active compound being 5-ethyl-1-(indan-1-yloxymethyl)-6-(3,5-dimethylbenzyl)uracil (6b), which was 50-fold more active than Emivirine.     

Synthesis,characterization and anticancer evaluation of 2-(naphthalen-1-ylmethyl/naphthalen-2-yloxymethyl)-1-[5-(substituted phenyl)-[1,3,4]oxadiazol-2-ylmethyl]-1H-benzimidazole

In the present study o-phenylenediamine and naphtene-1-acetic acid/2-naphthoxyacetic acid were used as a starting material through a series of steps and 2-(naphthalen-1-ylmethyl/Naphthalen-2-yloxymethyl)-1H-benzimidazol-1-yl]acetohydrazide 5a, 5b were obtained. In the first series 1,3,4-oxadiazole derivatives have been synthesized from Schiff base of the corresponding hydrazide i.e. 2-[2-(naphthalen-1-ylmethyl)-1H-benzimidazol-1-yl]acetohydrazide 5a by using Chloramin-T. In the second series 1,3,4-oxadiazole has been synthesized from 2-{2-[(naphthalen-2-yloxy)methyl]-1Hbenzimidazol-1-yl}acetohydrazide 5b by using phosphorous oxychloride and aromatic acid. These compounds were evaluated by IR, NMR, Mass spectrometry, elemental analysis and finally in vitro anticancer evaluation was carried out by NCI 60 Cell screen at a single high dose (10–5 M) on various panel/cell lines. One compound 7c was found to be the most active on breast cancer cell line and compounds 4b and 7d were moderately active.     

Synthesis of elastomeric polypropylene in bulk using C 1-symmetric ansa-metallocenes. New aspects of the synthesis of 1-(fluoren-9-yl)-2-(2-methyl-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta [f]-1H-inden-1-yl)ethane and complexes of zirconium and hafnium with this ligand

Isomeric 1-(fluoren-9-yl)-2-(2-methyl-5, 6-dihydrocyclopenta [f]-1 H-indenyl) ethanes 1a,b and C ₁-symmetric metallocenes, viz., rac-1-(η⁵-fluoren-9-yl)-2-(2-methyl-5, 6-dihydrocyclopenta [f]-η⁵-inden-1-yl) ethanezirconium dichloride (9) and rac-1-(η⁵-fluoren-9-yl)- 2-(2-methyl-5, 6-dihydrocyclopenta [f]η⁵-inden-1-yl)ethanehafnium dichloride (10), with these ligands were synthesized by modified procedures. The structures of compounds 1b (two crystalline modifications) and 10 were established by X-ray diffraction analysis. The synthesis of polypropylene (PP) in bulk was studied in the presence of polymethylalumoxane-activated metallocenes 9 and 10 in the temperature range of 30–70°C. It was demonstrated that triisobutylaluminum can be used as a cocatalyst. In this case, the molecular weight of PP increases by a factor of ∼2. An increase in the reaction temperature leads to an increase in stereoregularity and crystallinity of PP. The polymer synthesized at high temperatures crystallizes in the γ form. The resulting PP is characterized by a wide range of properties from rigid crystalline thermoplastic to amorphous elastomeric. Samples, which have a high molecular weight and moderate isotacticity, exhibit high elastomeric and durability properties.__________Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 2, pp. 400–413, February, 2005.     

Synthesis and herbicidal activities of methyl-1-(2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetoxy)alkylphosphonate monosalts

A series of 1-(2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetoxy)alkylphosphonic acid dimethyl esters 5 and its corresponding phosphonate monosalts 6 were synthesized as potential herbicide. The phosphonate monosalts can be prepared from 1-(2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetoxy)alkylphosphonic acid dimethyl esters 5, which were synthesized by the condensation of O,O-dimethyl-1-hydroxyalkylphosphonates with dichlorophenoxyacetic chloride. This method provides a simple and efficient procedure for the synthesis of phosphonate derivatives containing sensitive groups to acid, base or water such as carboxylate ester bond; and the herbicidal activity of title compounds was evaluated in a set of experiments in greenhouse. Most of the compounds exhibited notable herbicidal activity.     

Synthesis of novel acyclonucleosides. Reactions of 1-(1-bromo or 3-bromo-2-oxopropyl)pyridazin-6-ones

Reaction of 1-(3-bromo-2-oxopropyl)pyridazin-6-ones 1 and 2 with sodium azide at room temperature gave the corresponding 1-(3-azido-2-oxopropyl)pyridazin-6-ones 3 and 4 , whereas reaction of 1-(1-bromo-2-oxo-propyl)pyridazin-6-ones 5 and 6 with excess sodium azide afforded 4-azido-5-chloropyridazin-6-one 7 and 4,5-diazido-3-nitropyridazin-6-one 8 by dealkylation. Some 1-(2-hydroxypropyl)pyridazin-6-ones 9, 10, 11 were synthesized from the corresponding 1-(2-oxopropyl) derivatives 1, 2, 3 . 4,5-Dichloro-1-(2,3-dihydroxypropyl)-pyridazin-6-one 13 was also prepared from compound 9 via the corresponding 2,3-epoxypropyl derivative 12 . Treatment of compound 5 with thiourea gave 4,5-dichloro-1-(2-amino-4-methylthiazol-5-yl)pyridazin-6-one 14 . Reaction of compounds 1 and 2 with thiourea at 20° afforded the corresponding 3-formamidinylthio-2-oxo-propyl derivatives 15 and 16 , whereas treatment of compound 1 with thiourea at 45° gave 4,5-dichloro-1-[(2-aminothiazol-5-yl)methyl]pyridazin-6-one 17 . Compound 17 was also prepared from compound 15 by refluxing in ethanol.     

Novel synthesis of polyimide with pendant 1-phenylethyl ester using DBU and its thermal acid-catalyzed deesterification

A model reaction of o-(N-phenylcarbamoyl)benzoic acid (amic acid) with threefold amounts of 1-phenylethyl bromide (PEB) and 1,8-diazabicyclo-[5,4,0]-7-undecene (DBU) was carried out in NMP. The reaction gave N-[m-(1-phenylethoxycarbonyl)phenyl]phthalimide in almost quantitative yield at room temperature for 2 h. Polyimide containing pendant 1-phenylethyl ester (P-1a) was also prepared from polyamic acid with PEB using DBU according to the model reaction. The obtained polymer was exactly consistent with P-1a synthesized stepwise from the esterification of the corresponding polyimide containing pendant carboxylic acid with PEB. Therefore, the reaction of polyamic acid bearing pendant carboxylic acid with alkyl bromide proceeded quantitatively to give polyimide containing pendant ester in the presence of DBU. Also, this method was applied to the synthesis of polyimide containing 1-phenylethyl ether. However, the polyimide with quantitative etherification was not synthesized. The acid-catalyzed deesterification of P-1a film was carried out by heating the irradiated polymer film containing 10 wt % of p-nitrobenzyl 9,10-diethoxyanthracene-2-sulfonate, which produced sulfonic acid by irradiation, at various temperatures. Although thermal deesterification of P-1a started at 220°C without any acid catalyst, the deesterification occurred when the irradiated film was heated at the lower temperature. The degree of esterification can be determined from the disappearance of absorption at 700 cm⁻¹. The deesterification obeyed first-order kinetics. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.