Synthesis and Reactivity of π‐Electron‐Deficient (Arylsulfonyl)acetates

Different π‐electron‐deficient (arylsulfonyl)acetates 9 were synthesized (Scheme 1, Table 1), and their behavior as soft nucleophiles in the dialkylation reaction under phase‐transfer catalysis conditions was studied (Schemes 2 and 3, Tables 2 and 3). The [3,5‐bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]sulfonyl group was shown to be the best substituent for the stereoselective synthesis of (E)‐aconitates 18 via an alkylation hydro‐sulfonyl‐elimination integrated process under very mild phase‐transfer‐catalysis conditions (Scheme 5, Table 4). Sulfonylacetates 9h , i also underwent smooth Diels‐Alder reactions with acyclic and cyclic dienes via in situ formation of the appropriate dienophile through a Knoevenagel condensation with paraformaldehyde (Scheme 6). Reductive desulfonylation with Zn and NH₄Cl in THF was shown to be an efficient method for removal of the synthetically useful sulfonyl moiety (Scheme 7).     

Eine thermische,intramolekulare [2 + 2]-Cycloaddition eines Allenyl-benzols; Synthese von Allenylbenzolen durch säurekatalysierte Dienol-Benzol-Umlagerung

A thermal Intermolecular [2 + 2]-Cycloaddition of an Allenyl-Allyl-Benzene; Synthesis of Allenylbenzenes via Acid-Catalyzed Dienol-Benzene Rearrangement A few years ago, it has been shown that the acid-catalyzed dienol-benzene rearrangement of 2-propinyl-substituted cyclohexadienols is a convenient synthesis for allenyl-substituted benzene derivatives. The cyclohexadienols 20 and 21 were prepared via C-alkylation of the corresponding phenols with 2-propinylbromide (Scheme 3), followed by reduction of the cyclohexadienone 13 and 17 with LiAlH₄. Treatment of 20 and 21 with p-toluenesulfonic acid in ether at ?15°) yielded the desired allenyl benzenes 8 and 9 , respectively, via [3,4]-sigmatropic rearrangements (Scheme 4). The 2-propinylbenzenes 22–24 , formed via [1,2]-sigmatropic shift of the 2-propinylgroup, were found as by-products. Thermolysis of allenyl benzene 8 in decane yielded two bicyclic ( 25 and 26 ) and two tricyclic products ( 27 and 28 ; Scheme 5). For the formation of 25 and 26 , a pericyclic reaction mechanism (Scheme 6) as well as a mechanism via biradical intermediates (Scheme 7) is discussed. A [2 + 2]-cycloaddition of the α,β-allenic and the allylic C,C-double bound of 8 led to the tricyclic products 27 and 28 (Scheme 9). All attempts to realize a [1,7]-sigmatropic H-shift in the allene 9 failed so far, and the starting material underwent a rapid polymerisation.     

New Routes to Fused Isoquinolines

Treatment of 6,7‐diethoxy‐3,4‐dihydroisoquinoline ( 8 ) and its 1‐methyl derivative 12 with hydrazonoyl halides 10 in the presence of Et₃N in THF under reflux afforded the corresponding 5,6‐dihydro‐1,2,4‐triazolo[3,4‐a]isoquinolines 11 and 13 , respectively, in high yield (Schemes 2 and 3). The products are formed via regioselective 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition of the intermediate nitrilimines 9 with the isoquinoline C=N bond. Reaction of 6,7‐diethoxy‐3,4‐dihydroisoquinoline‐1‐acetonitrile ( 4a ) with ethyl α‐cyanocinnamates 15 in the presence of piperidine in refluxing MeCN yielded benzo[a]quinolizin‐4‐ones 16 (Scheme 4). Under the same conditions, 12 and arylidene malononitriles 19 reacted to give benzo[a]quinolizin‐4‐imines 20 (Scheme 5). Instead of 15 and 19 , mixtures of an aromatic aldehyde, and ethyl cyanoacetate or malononitrile, respectively, can be used in a one‐pot reaction.     

Eine neue Aminoazirin-Reaktion. Bildung von 3,6-Dihydropyrazin-2(1H)-onen

A New Aminoazirine Reaction. Formation of 3,6-Dihydropyrazin-2(1H)-ones The reaction of 3-(dimethylamino)-2H-azirines 1 and 2-(trifluoromethyl)-1,3-oxazol-5(2H)-ones 5 in MeCN or THF at 50–80° leads to 5-(dimethylamino)-3,6-dihydropyrazin-2(1H)-ones 6 (Scheme 3). Reaction mechanisms for the formation of 6 are discussed: either the oxazolones 5 react as CH-acidic heterocycles with 1 (Scheme 4), or the azirines 1 undergo a nucleophilic attack onto the carbonyl group of 5 (Scheme 6). The reaction via intermediate formation of N-(trifluoroacetyl)dipeptide amide 8 (Scheme 5) is excluded.     

Diazo-Transfer Reaction with Diphenyl Phosphorazidate

Diphenyl phosphorazidate (DPPA) was used as the azide source in a one-pot synthesis of 2,2-disubstituted 3-amino-2H-azirines 1 (Scheme 1). The reaction with lithium enolates of amides of type 2 , bearing two substituents at C(2), proceeded smoothly in THF at 0°; keteniminium azides C and azidoenamines D are likely intermediates. Under analogous reaction conditions, DPPA and amides of type 3 with only one substituent at C(2) gave 2-diazoamides 5 in fair-to-good yield (Scheme 2). The corresponding 2-diazo derivatives 6–8 were formed in low yield by treatment of the lithium enolates of N,N-dimethyl-2-phenylacetamide, methyl 2-phenylacetate, and benzyl phenyl ketone, respectively, with DPPA. Thermolysis of 2-diazo-N-methyl-N-phenylcarboxamides 5a and 5b yielded 3-substituted 1,3-dihydro-N-methyl-2H-indol-2-ones 9a and 9b , respectively (Scheme 3). The diazo compounds 5–8 reacted with 1,3-thiazole-5 (4H)-thiones 10 and thiobenzophenone ( 13 ) to give 6-oxa-1,9-dithia-3-azaspiro[4.4]nona-2,7-dienes 11 (Scheme 4) and thiirane-2-carboxylic acid derivatives 14 (Scheme 5), respectively. In analogy to previously described reactions, a mechanism via 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition, leading to 2,5-dihydro-1,3,4-thiadiazoles, and elimination of N₂ to give the ‘thiocarbonyl ylides’ of type H or K is proposed. These dipolar intermediates with a conjugated C?O group then undergo either a 1,5-dipolar electrocyclization to give spirohetrocycles 11 or a 1,3-dipolar electrocyclization to thiiranes 14 .     

Trifluoromethylation of carbon and boron with CF3SiMe3/NMe4F: formation of NMe4[trans-CF3CFCFB(CF3)3]

Trimethylamine-trifluoroethenyl-bis(trifluoromethyl)borane [F₂CCF(CF₃)₂B·NMe₃] (1) reacts with NMe₄[(CF₃)₂SiMe₃] in THF solution to form trimethylamine-bis(trifluoromethyl)pentafluoropropenylborane [trans-CF₃CFCF(CF₃)₂B·NMe₃] (3), the fluoroborate NMe₄[trans-CF₃CFCF(CF₃)₂BF] (4), the novel borates NMe₄[trans-CF₃CFCFB(CF₃)₃] (5) and NMe₄[cyclo-(CF₃)₂BCF₂CFCF₂CF₃] (6).     

Chiral Acylsilanes in Organic Synthesis. Diastereoselective 1,2-Additions to Racemic Alkoxymethyl-Substituted Acylsilanes

The synthesis of the three alkoxymethyl-substituted acyisilanes 1 – 3 is described (Schemes 1 and 2). Their reactions with NaBH₄ as well as PhLi gave the corresponding alcohols with moderate to good diastereoisomeric induction (up to 78% de; see Table), depending upon the solvent used (Scheme 3). The results indicate that in Et₂O, the reactions with PhLi proceed via 6-membered chelates (see C in Scheme 4) leading to the products with high de's (74–78%). In THF, these chelates are not formed, and as a consequence, the additions take place with reversed and lower stereoselectivities (34–50% de).     

Synthese von Trifluoromethyl-substituierten Schwefel-Heterocyclen unter Verwendung von 3,3,3-Trifluorobrenztraubensäure-Derivaten

Synthesis of Trifluoromethyl-Substituted Sulfur Heterocycles Using 3,3,3-Trifluoropyruvic-Acid Derivatives The reaction of methyl 3,3,3-trifluoropyruvate ( 1 ) with 2,5-dihydro-1,3,4-thiadiazoles 4a, b in benzene at 45° yielded the corresponding methyl 5-(trifluoromethyl)-1,3-oxathiolane-5-carboxylates 5a, b (Scheme 1) via a regioselective 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of an intermediate ‘thiocarbonyl ylide’ of type 3 . With methyl pyruvate, 4a reacted similarly to give 6 in good yield. Methyl 2-diazo-3,3,3-trifluoropropanoate ( 2 ) and thiobenzophenone ( 7a ) in toluene underwent a reaction at 50°; the only product detected in the reaction mixture was thiirane 8a (Scheme 2). With the less reactive thiocarbonyl compounds 9H-xanthene-9-thione ( 7b ) and 9H-thioxanthene-9-thione ( 7c ) as well as with 1,3-thiazole-5(4H)-thione 12 , diazo compound 2 reacted only in the presence of catalytic amounts of Rh₂(OAc)₄. In the cases of 7a and 7b , thiiranes 8b and 8c , respectively, were the sole products (Scheme 3). The crystal struture of 8c has been established by X-ray crystallography (Fig.). In the reaction with 12 , desulfurization of the primarily formed thiirane 14 gave the methyl 3,3,3-trifluoro-2-(4,5-dihydro-1,3-thiazol-5-ylidene)propanoates (E)-and (Z)- 15 (Scheme 4). A mechanism of the Rh-catalyzed reaction via a carbene addition to the thiocarbonyl S-atom is proposed in Scheme 5.     

Radical Arylation Reactions of 4, 6, 8-Trimethylazulene

The synthesis of 1- and 2-aryl-substituted (aryl = Ph, 4-NO₂? C₆H₄, and 4-MeO? C₆H₄) 4, 6, 8-trimethylazulenes ( 4 and 3 , respectively) in moderate yields by direct arylation of 4, 6, 8-trimethylazulene ( 8 ) with the corresponding arylhydrazines 13 in the presence of Cu^IIions in pyridine (see Scheme 4) as well as with 4-MeO? C₆H₄Pb(OAc)₃ ( 16 ) in CF₃COOH (see Scheme 5) is described. With 13 , also small amounts of 1, 2- and 1, 3-diarylated azulenes (see 14 and 15 , respectively, in Scheme 4) are formed. The 4-methoxyphenylation of 8 with 16 yielded also the 1, 1′-biazulene 17 in minor amounts (see Scheme 5). 4, 6, 8-Trimethyl-2-phenylazulene ( 3a ) was also obtained as the sole product in moderate yields by the reaction of sodium phenylclopentadienide ( 1a ) with 2, 4, 6-trimethylpyrylium tetrafluoroborate ( 2 ) in THF (Scheme 1). The attempted phenylation of 8 as well as of azulene ( 9 ) itself with N-nitroso-N-phenylacetamide ( 10 ) led only to the formation of the corresponding 1-(phenylazo)-substituted azulenes 12 and 11 , respectively (Scheme 3).     

Carbenoid Reactions of Dimethyl Diazomalonate with Aromatic Thioketones and 1,3-Thiazole-5(4H)-thiones

Dimethyl diazomalonate ( 4 ) and thiobenzophenone ( 2a ) do not react in toluene even after warming to 50°. After addition of catalytic amounts of Rh₂(OAc)₄, a smooth reaction under N₂ evolution afforded a mixture of thiiranedicarboxylate 5 and (diphenylmethylidene)malonate 6 (Scheme 2). A reaction mechanism via an intermediate ‘thiocarbonyl ylide’ 7 , formed by the addition of the carbenoid species 8 to the S-atom of 2a , is plausible. Similar reactions were carried out with 9H-xanthene-9-thione ( 2b ), 9H-thioxanthene-9-thione ( 2c , Scheme 4), and 1,3-thiazole-5(4H)-thione 18 (Scheme 6). In the cases of 2b and 2c , spirocyclic 1,3-dithiolanetetracarboxylates 14a and 14b , respectively, were obtained as the third product. Reaction mechanisms for their formation are proposed in Scheme 5: S-transfer from intermediate thiirane 12 to the carbenoid species yielded thioxomalonate 15 which underwent a 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition with ‘thiocarbonyl ylide’ 16 . An alternative is the formation of ‘thiocarbonyl ylide’ 17 via carbene addition to 15 , followed by 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition with 2b and 2c , respectively.     

Chemoselectivity of the Reactions of Diazomethanes with 5‐Benzylidene‐3‐phenylrhodanine

The reactions of 5‐benzylidene‐3‐phenylrhodanine ( 2 ; rhodanine=2‐thioxo‐1,3‐thiazolidin‐4‐one) with diazomethane ( 7a ) and phenyldiazomethane ( 7b ) occurred chemoselectively at the exocyclic C?C bond to give the spirocyclopropane derivatives 9 and, in the case of 7a , also the C‐methylated products 8 (Scheme 1). In contrast, diphenyldiazomethane ( 7c ) reacted exclusively with the C?S group leading to the 2‐(diphenylmethylidene)‐1,3‐thiazolidine 11 via [2+3] cycloaddition and a ‘two‐fold extrusion reaction’. Treatment of 8 or 9b with an excess of 7a in refluxing CH₂Cl₂ and in THF at room temperature in the presence of [Rh₂(OAc)₄], respectively, led to the 1,3‐thiazolidine‐2,4‐diones 15 and 20 , respectively, i.e., the products of the hydrolysis of the intermediate thiocarbonyl ylide. On the other hand, the reactions with 7b and 7c in boiling toluene yielded the corresponding 2‐methylidene derivatives 16, 21a , and 21b . Finally, the reaction of 11 with 7a occurred exclusively at the electron‐poor C?C bond, which is conjugated with the C?O group. In addition to the spirocyclopropane 23 , the C‐methylated 22 was formed as a minor product. The structures of the products (Z)‐ 8, 9a, 9b, 11 , and 23 were established by X‐ray crystallography.     

Reactions of Stable α‐Chlorosulfanyl Chlorides with CS‐Functionalized Compounds

The smooth reaction of 3‐chloro‐3‐(chlorosulfanyl)‐2,2,4,4‐tetramethylcyclobutanone ( 3 ) with 3,4,5‐trisubstituted 2,3‐dihydro‐1H‐imidazole‐2‐thiones 8 and 2‐thiouracil ( 10 ) in CH₂Cl₂/Et₃N at room temperature yielded the corresponding disulfanes 9 and 11 (Scheme 2), respectively, via a nucleophilic substitution of Cl^? of the sulfanyl chloride by the S‐atom of the heterocyclic thione. The analogous reaction of 3‐cyclohexyl‐2,3‐dihydro‐4,5‐diphenyl‐1H‐imidazole‐2‐thione ( 8b ) and 10 with the chlorodisulfanyl derivative 16 led to the corresponding trisulfanes 17 and 18 (Scheme 4), respectively. On the other hand, the reaction of 3 and 4,4‐dimethyl‐2‐phenyl‐1,3‐thiazole‐5(4H)‐thione ( 12 ) in CH₂Cl₂ gave only 4,4‐dimethyl‐2‐phenyl‐1,3‐thiazol‐5(4H)‐one ( 13 ) and the trithioorthoester derivative 14 , a bis‐disulfane, in low yield (Scheme 3). At ?78°, only bis(1‐chloro‐2,2,4,4‐tetramethyl‐3‐oxocyclobutyl)polysulfanes 15 were formed. Even at ?78°, a 1 : 2 mixture of 12 and 16 in CH₂Cl₂ reacted to give 13 and the symmetrical pentasulfane 19 in good yield (Scheme 5). The structures of 11, 14, 17 , and 18 have been established by X‐ray crystallography.     

Are Oxazolidinones Really Unproductive,Parasitic Species in Proline Catalysis? – Thoughts and Experiments Pointing to an Alternative View

The N,O‐acetal and N,O‐ketal derivatives (oxazolidinones) formed from proline, and aldehydes or ketones are well‐known today, and they are detectable in reaction mixtures involving proline catalysis, where they have been considered ‘parasitic dead ends’. We disclose results of experiments performed in the early 1970's, and we describe more recent findings about the isolation, characterization, and reactions of the oxazolidinone derived from proline and cyclohexanone. This oxazolidinone reacts (THF, room temperature) with the electrophiles β‐nitrostyrene and chloral (=trichloroacetaldehyde), to give the Michael and aldol adduct, respectively, after aqueous workup (Scheme 5). The reactions occur even at ?75° when catalyzed with bases such as 1,8‐diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec‐7‐ene (DBU) or EtN(i‐Pr)₂ (DIPEA) (10%; Table 1). It is shown by NMR (Figs. 1 and 3) and IR analysis (Figs. 2 and 4) that the primarily detectable product (before hydrolysis) of the reaction with the nitro‐olefin is again an oxazolidinone. When dissolved in hydroxylic solvents such as MeOH, ‘hexafluoroisopropanol’ ((CF₃)₂CHOH; HFIP), AcOH, CF₃COOH, or in LiBr‐saturated THF, the ring of the oxazolidinone from cyclohexanone and proline opens up to the corresponding iminium ion (Tables 2–4), and when treated with strong bases such as DBU (in (D₈)THF) the enamino‐carboxylate derived from proline and cyclohexanone is formed (Scheme 8). Thus, the two hitherto putative participants (iminium ion and enamine) of the catalytic cycle (Scheme 9) have been characterized for the first time. The commonly accepted mechanism of the stereoselective C,C‐ or C,X‐bond‐forming step (i.e., A – D ) of this cycle is discussed and challenged by thoughts about an alternative model with a pivotal role of oxazolidinones in the regio‐ and diastereoselective formation of the intermediate enamino acid (by elimination) and in the subsequent reaction with an electrophile (by trans‐addition with lactonization; Schemes 11–14). The stereochemical bias between endo‐ and exo‐space of the bicyclo[3.3.0]octane‐type oxazolidinone structure (Figs. 5 and 6) is considered to possibly be decisive for the stereochemical course of events. Finally, the remarkable consistency, with which the diastereotopic Re‐face of the double bond of pyrrolidino‐enamines (derived from proline) is attacked by electrophiles (Schemes 1 and 15), and the likewise consistent reversal to the Si‐face with bulky (Aryl)₂C‐substituents on the pyrrolidine ring (Scheme 16) are discussed by invoking stereoelectronic assistance from the lone pair of pyramidalized enamine N‐atoms.     

Synthesis of (±)‐Glaucine and (±)‐Neospirodienone via an One‐Pot Bischler?Napieralski Reaction and Oxidative Coupling by a Hypervalent Iodine Reagent

Condensation of 3,4‐dimethoxybenzeneethanamine ( 3d ) and various benzeneacetic acids, i.e., 4a – e , via a practical and efficient one‐pot Bischler–Napieralski reaction, followed by NaBH₄ reduction, produced a series of 1‐benzyl‐1,2,3,4‐tetrahydroisoquinolines, i.e., 5a – e , in satisfactory yields (Scheme 3). Oxidative coupling of the N‐acyl and N‐methyl derivatives 6a – e of the latter with hypervalent iodine ([IPh(CF₃COO)₂]) yielded products with two different skeletons (Scheme 4). The major products from N‐acyl derivatives 6a – c were (±)‐N‐acylneospirodienones 2a – c , while the minor was the 3,4‐dihydroisoquinoline 7 . (±)‐Glaucine ( 1 ), however, was the major product starting from N‐methyl derivative 6e . Possible reaction mechanisms for the formation of these two types of skeleton are proposed (Scheme 5).     

Reductive Elimination of Phenylsulfonyl Groups in the 3‐Position of Benzo[a]heptalene‐2,4‐diols

3‐(Phenylsulfonyl)benzo[a]heptalene‐2,4‐diols 1 can be desulfonylated with an excess of LiAlH₄/MeLi?LiBr in boiling THF in good yields (Scheme 6). When the reaction is run with LiAlH₄/MeLi, mainly the 3,3′‐disulfides 6 of the corresponding 2,4‐dihydroxybenzo[a]heptalene‐3‐thiols are formed after workup (Scheme 7). However, the best yields of desulfonylated products are obtained when the 2,4‐dimethoxy‐substituted benzo[a]heptalenes 2 are reduced with an excess of LiAlH₄/TiCl₄ at ?78→20° in THF (Scheme 10). Attempts to substitute the PhSO₂ group of 2 with freshly prepared MeONa in boiling THF led to a highly selective ether cleavage of the 4‐MeO group, rather than to desulfonylation (Scheme 13).     

Synthesis of (±)‐Kempa‐6,8‐dien‐3‐ol (=(2aRS,3SR,4aSR,7RS,7aSR,10bSR,10cSR)‐2,2a,3,4,4a,5,6,7,7a,8,10b,10c‐Dodecahydro‐2a,7,10,10c‐tetramethylnaphth[2,18‐cde]azulen‐3‐ol)

The synthesis of kempa‐6,8‐dien‐3β‐ol ( 4a ), as a synthetic leading model of the natural product 4b , was carried out starting from intermediate 12 , the synthetic route of which has been developed previously (Scheme 1). The conversion of 12 to the model compound 4a involved the elaboration of three structure modifications by three processes, Tasks A, B, and C (see Scheme 2). Task A was achieved by epoxy‐ring opening of 41 with Me₃SiCl (Scheme 9), and Task B being performed by oxidation at the 13‐position, followed by hydrogenation, and then epimerization (Schemes 4 and 5). The removal of the 2‐OH group from 12 (Task C) was achieved via 30b according to Scheme 6, whereby 30b was formed exclusively from 30a / 31a 1 : 1 (Scheme 7). In addition, some useful reactions from the synthetic viewpoint were developed during the course of the present experiments.     

Regio‐ and Stereoselectivity of the SiO2‐Catalyzed Reaction of Thiocamphor (=1,7,7‐Trimethylbicyclo[2.2.1]heptane‐2‐thione) with Optically Active Monosubstituted Oxiranes

The reactions of the enolizable thioketone (1R,4R)‐thiocamphor (=(1R,4R)‐1,7,7‐trimethylbicyclo[2.2.1]heptane‐2‐thione; 1 ) with (S)‐2‐methyloxirane ( 2 ) in the presence of a Lewis acid such as SnCl₄ or SiO₂ in anhydrous CH₂Cl₂ led to two diastereoisomeric spirocyclic 1,3‐oxathiolanes 3 and 4 with the Me group at C(5′), as well as the isomeric β‐hydroxy thioether 5 (Scheme 2). The analogous reactions of 1 with (RS)‐, (R)‐, and (S)‐2‐phenyloxirane ( 7 ) yielded two isomeric spirocyclic 1,3‐oxathiolanes 8 and 9 with Ph at C(4′), an additional isomer 13 bearing the Ph group at C(5′), and three isomeric β‐hydroxy thioethers 10, 11 , and 12 (Scheme 4). In the presence of HCl, the β‐hydroxy thioethers 5, 10, 11 , and 12 isomerized to the corresponding 1,3‐oxathiolanes 3 and 4 (Scheme 3), and 8, 9 , and 13 , respectively (Scheme 5). Under similar conditions, an epimerization of 3, 8 , and 9 occurred to yield the corresponding diastereoisomers 4, 14 , and 15 , respectively (Schemes 3 and 6). The structures of 9 and 15 were confirmed by X‐ray crystallography (Figs. 1 and 2). These results show that the Lewis acid‐catalyzed addition of oxiranes to enolizable thioketones proceeds with high regio‐ and stereoselectivity via an S_n 2‐type mechanism.     

New ethylzinc reagents with remarkable properties in palladium-catalyzed zinc-ene reactions

Pd-Catalyzed Zn-ene allylic olefinations with the new ethylzinc reagents Et? Zn? OSO₂CF₃ ( 4 ) and Et? Zn? OC(O)CF(MeO)CF₃ ( 5 ) in CH₂Cl₂ showed an unexpected trans-selectivity in the ring closure to cyclopentane derivatives (see Scheme 2 and Table 1). This strong trans-selectivity is in contrast with the corresponding known Zn-ene reaction using Et₂Zn in Et₂O which shows a high cis-selectivity (Table 1). The probable radical origin of the observed trans-selectivity is discussed. The Zn-ene reaction products of the type R? Zn? OSO₂CF₃ could be derivatized by the known protonation, iodination, and cyanation yielding 8–10 (Scheme 4 and Table 2), these derivatizations could furthermore be extended by allylation and oxidation reaction (→ 13, 15 , and 16 ; see Scheme 5).     

A Novel Synthetic Approach to (±)‐Desoxynoreseroline

(±)‐Desoxynoreseroline ( 3 ), the basic ring structure of the pharmacologically active alkaloid physostigmine ( 1 ), was synthesized starting from 3‐allyl‐1,3‐dimethyloxindole ( 9 ). The latter was prepared from the corresponding 2H‐azirin‐3‐amine 6 by a BF₃‐catalyzed ring enlargement via an amidinium intermediate 7 (Scheme 1). An alternative synthesis of 9 was also carried out by the reaction of N‐methylaniline with 2‐bromopropanoyl bromide ( 12 ), followed by intramolecular Friedel–Crafts alkylation of the formed anilide 13 to give Julian's oxindole 11 . Further alkylation of 11 with allyl bromide in the presence of LDA gave 9 in an excellent yield (Scheme 3). Ozonolysis of 9 , followed by mild reduction with (EtO)₃P, gave the aldehyde 14 , whose structure was chemically established by the transformation to the corresponding acetal 15 (Scheme 4). Condensation of 14 with hydroxylamine and hydrazine derivatives, respectively, gave the corresponding imine derivatives 16a – 16d as a mixture of syn‐ and anti‐isomers. Reduction of this mixture with LiAlH₄ proceeded by loss of ROH or RNH₂ to give racemic 3 (Scheme 5).     

Synthesis of 4‐(Phenylamino)quinazoline‐2(1H)‐selones and Diselenides from Isoselenocyanates: Dimroth Rearrangement of an Intermediate

The reaction of anthranilonitriles 8 with phenyl isoselenocyanates ( 1a ) in dry pyridine under reflux gave 4‐(phenylamino)quinazoline‐2(1H)‐selones 9 (Scheme 2). They are easily oxidized and converted to diselenides of type 11 . The analogous reaction of 8a with phenyl isothiocyanate ( 1b ) yielded the quinazoline‐2(1H)‐thione 10 (Scheme 2). A reaction mechanism via a Dimroth rearrangement of the primarily formed intermediate is presented in Scheme 3. The molecular structures of 10 and 11a have been established by X‐ray crystallography. Unexpectedly, no selone or diselenide was obtained in the case of the reaction with 3‐aminobenzo[b]furan‐2‐carbonitrile ( 14 ). The only product isolated was the selenide 16 (Scheme 4), the structure of which has been established by X‐ray crystallography.