2-carbethoxy-1,3-butadiene irontricarbonyl : chemical transformations and reactivity of the corresponding free dienes.

Chemical transformations on the 2-carbethoxy-1,3-butadiene irontricarbonyl complex were performed. The dienic and dienophilic reactivities of the corresponding free dienes are studied.     

Synthesis and reactivity of a stable precursor of 2-cyano-1,3-butadiene

A new, productive synthesis of 3-cyano-2,5-dihydrothiophene-1,1-dioxide (3) is described. This substituted sulfolene serves as a stable precursor of 2-cyano-1,3-butadiene and can be used in the Diels-Alder reactions without isolation of the unstable diene.The Diels-Alder reactions of 2-cyano-1,3-butadiene appear to proceed in high yield only with electron-deficient dienophiles, but ¹³C NMR shows that in some cases the products are a mixture of regioisomeric cycloadducts.     

Studies on the antitumor agent CC-1065 : 1-Phenylsulfonyl-1,3-butadiene. An electrophilic equivalent to 1,3-butadiene for the synthesis of 3,31-bipyrroles.

Sequential conjugate additions of methyl TOSMIC anion and TOSMIC anion to 1-phenylsulfonyl-1,3-butadiene provides a direct route to 3,3¹-bipyrroles, and illustrates that 1-phenylsulfonyl-1, 3-butadiene can function as an electrophilic 1,3-butadiene equivalent.     

Synthesis of 1,1,4,4-tetrabromo-2-butenes and related compounds via desilylation-bromination of silylated 1,3-butadiene derivatives

The combination of zirconocene-mediated coupling of silylated alkynes with a protonation-desilylation or bromination-desilylation process afforded otherwise unavailable butadiene derivatives. When (E,E)-2,3-dialkyl-1,4-bis(trimethylsilyl)-1,3-butadienes were treated with 3 equiv of Br(2) in CH(2)Cl(2), (E)-2,3-dialkyl-1,1,4,4-tetrabromo-2-butenes were obtained in excellent yields with perfect stereoselectivity.     

Loss of methyl from ionized 2-hydroxy-1,3-butadiene

The loss of methyl from unstable, metastable and collisionally activated [CH₂?CH? C(OH)?CH₂]⁺˙ ions (1⁺˙) was examined by means of deuterium and ¹³C labelling, appearance energy measurements and product identification. High-energy, short-lived 1⁺˙ lose methyl groups incorporating the original enolic methene (C(1)) and the hydroxyl hydrogen atom (H(0)). The eliminations of C(1)H(1)H(1)H(4) and C(4)H(4)H(4)H(0) are less frequent in high-energy ions. Metastable 1⁺˙ eliminate mainly C(1)H(1)H(1)H(4), the elimination being accompanied by incomplete randomization of the five carbon-bound hydrogen atoms. The resulting [C₃H₃O]⁺ ions have been identified as the most stable CH₂?CH? CO⁺ species. The appearance energy for the loss of methyl from 1 was measured as AE[C₃H₃O]⁺ = 10.47 ± 0.05 eV. The critical energy for 1⁺˙ → [C₃H₃O]⁺ + CH₃˙ is assessed as E_c ? 173 kJ mol^?1. Reaction mechanisms are proposed and discussed.     

New cascade reactions starting from acetylenic ω-ketoesters: an easy access to electrophilic allenes and to 1,3-bridgehead ketones

Acetylenic ω-ketoesters bearing a three carboncarbon bond spacer reacted smoothly with tetra-n-butylammonium fluoride and with potassium tert-butoxide to afford either electrophilic allenes or 1,3-bridgehead ketones, the latter being potentially useful molecules for the synthesis of biologically active compounds like Garsubellin A and Hispidospermidin.     

Synthesis of 2,2,4-triphenyl-3-propenoyl-3,4-dihydro-2H-benzopyran via a lithiated allene

Synthetic routes to 2,2-disubstituted chromanes and their hetero-ring-unsaturated analogues are briefly reviewed. A variety of common alkylating agents has been involved in such routes. Here, however, the alkylating agent is the lithiated form of 4-tetrahydropyran-2-yloxybuta-1-2-diene V. This reacted with benzophenone to give XIV. The synthesis of chromane XIV is here reported for the first time. The route to XIV is also both new and may prove versatile to other hetero-ring-substituted chromanes.     

Polymerization and copolymerization of 2-phthalimidomethyll 1,3-butadiene. II. Kinetic study of the polymerization of 1,3-butadiene and of the copolymerization of 1,3-butadiene with 2-phthalimidomethyl 1,3-butadiene initiated by bis-(η3-allyl nickel trifluoroacetate)

The kinetics of the polymerization of 1,3-butadiene initiated by bis(η³-allyl nickel trifluoroacetate) prepared in benzene was studied in methylene chloride at 40°C. The reaction is first order with respect to the monomer, second order with respect to the catalyst in contrast to the case in which solvent is benzene. We have shown that the presence of a polar molecule (fe, N-methyl phthalimide) decreases the overall rate of polymerization. The apparent reactivity ratios for the system 2-phthalimidomethyl 1,3-butadiene (1)-1,3-butadiene (2) are r₁ = 0.65 ± 0.006 and r₂ = 0.48 ± 0.015.     

Aminobutadienes. VI. Polymerization and Copolymerization of 2-Phthalimido-1,3-butadiene

2-Phthalimido-1,3-butadiene (2-PB) was polymerized either radically or thermally in bulk and in solution. While the polymer obtained by solution polymerization was soluble in some solvents such as halogenated hydrocarbons, dioxane, and dimethylformamide and had a softening point in the range of 160–170°C., that obtained by polymerization in bulk was insoluble in any solvent and only swollen on being immersed in such solvents as above. The reduced viscosity of the soluble polymer obtained by solution polymerization was approximately 1.0, and this value remained almost unchanged with varying polymerization time. Likewise the cationic polymerization in acetylene tetrachloride or in chloroform at 20°C. with the use of cationic catalysts such as boron trifluoride and stannic chloride was attempted, but no formation of polymer was observed. This monomer preferentially reacted with acrylonitrile, methyl methacrylate, styrene, and N-vinylphthalimide to form the respective copolymers; it reacted somewhat less readily with vinyl acetate. The monomer reactivity ratios in the copolymerization with styrene were calculated by the Fineman and Ross method and found to be r₁ (2-PB) = 5.2 and r₂ (styrene) = 0.11, respectively, from which the Q, e parameters were successively evaluated to be Q = 5.0 and e = ?0.05. The fact that e value is close to zero, easily explains why this monomer can copolymerize well both with acrylonitrile, which has a highly positive value of e (1.2) and with styrene, for which e is considerably negative (-0.8).     

Aminobutadienes. X. Polymerization and copolymerization of 2-phthalimidomethyl-1,3-butadiene

The polymerization and copolymerization of 2-phthalimidomethyl-1,3-butadiene were investigated. This monomer was easily polymerized by benzoyl peroxide catalyst in bulk or in solvent, and by γ-radiation in the solid state to give polymers having a softening point of 135–145°C. Although these resulting polymers did not give x-ray diffraction patterns, they showed crystalline patterns by electron diffraction. On the other hand, cationic polymerization with the use of boron trifluoride diethyl etherate in chloroform was attempted, but no formation of the polymer was observed. Also, this monomer was easily copolymerized with styrene in N,N-dimethylformamide. The monomer reactivity ratios and Alfrey-Price Q and e values calculated from the copolymerization data of this monomer (M₁) with styrene (M₂) were r₁ = 2.0 ± 0.13, r₂ = 0.15 ± 0.02, and Q₁ = 2.78, e₁ = 0.30.     

Synthesis of 2(3H)-furanones via electrophilic cyclization

A variety of highly substituted 2(3H)-furanones are readily prepared from 3-alkynoate esters and the corresponding acids via electrophilic cyclization. Successful electrophiles in this process include I2, ICl, and PhSeCl. This highly efficient process proceeds under mild conditions, tolerates various functional groups, and generally provides substituted 2(3H)-furanones in good to excellent yields.     

A very short synthesis of steroids from 1,3-butadiene and benzocyclobutenes.

Lewis acid mediated addition of 1,8-bis(trimethylsilyl)octa-2,6-diene (BISTRO) 1 to succinic anhydride led to spirolactone 2 [(+/-)-6,9-divinyl-1-oxaspiro[4.4]nonan-2-one]. Methoxycarbonylation followed by stereoselective alkylation by various benzocyclobutenes afforded the substituted benzocyclobutene steroid precursors 5. Thermolysis of 5 gave rise to steroids (+/-)-6 with a trans-anti-cis configuration in five steps and in a highly stereoselective manner. Modifications of the sequence allowed the preparation of steroids (+/-)-11 with trans-anti-trans configuration.     

Formation of filamentous carbon from 1,3-butadiene over a Ni-Pd/Al2O3 catalyst

The formation of carbon filaments from 1,3-butadiene over a Ni-Pd/Al₂O₃ catalyst at 400–450?C was studied by high-resolution electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis. The carbon filaments differ in morphology and in the arrangement of active metal inclusions: (1) abundant ～ 1000 å thick filaments contain biconical alloy particles in the middle of the filament, (2) thin filaments of a thickness less than 500 å rolled in helical fashion contain oval-shaped alloy particles in the middle, and (3) in a few filaments that are less than 200 å thick, alloy particles are positioned at the ends. When the first two types of filaments grow, decomposition of the hydrocarbon occurs at the active sites of the surface with the formation of a carbide microphase with a hexagonal structure. This phase is called the active microphase. When the reaction stops, the active phase decomposes to form carbon and hexagonal nickel. Extensive defects like grain boundaries and stacking fault dislocations are present in the bulk of Ni-Pd alloy particles. The origin of these defects is related to the epitaxial effect of the active microphase particles on the alloy.     

Synthesis of carbo- and heterocycles via a palladium-catalysed allene insertion-nucleophile incorporation-Michael addition cascade

A novel palladium catalysed three-component cascade process is described involving allenylation of an aryl iodide to generate a (π-allyl)palladium species which is intercepted by a carbon or nitrogen nucleophile followed by intramolecular Michael addition to afford carbo- and heterocycles in good yield.     

Borylene transfer from an iron bis(borylene) complex: synthesis of 1,4-diboracyclohexadiene and 1,4-dibora-1,3-butadiene complexes

Diene to be made: By tuning the size of acetylenic substituents, 1,4-diboracyclohexadiene and unprecedented 1,4-dibora-1,3-butadiene complexes were generated in a controlled manner by borylene transfer from an iron bis(borylene) complex to alkynes (see scheme).     

Enantioselective palladium-catalyzed addition of 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds to an allene derivative

Enhancing atom economy of the metal‐catalyzed asymmetric allylic alkylation (AAA) shifts from the usual nucleophilic displacement of a leaving group to an addition of a pronucleophile to a double bond. Using 1‐alkoxyallenes as proelectrophiles, the palladium‐catalyzed AAA proceeds with 1,3‐dicarbonyl compounds as pronucleophiles with excellent regioselectivity and enantiomeric excess under optimized conditions. The pH of the medium proved crucial for reactivity/selectivity. By using the more acidic Meldrum's acids, the reactions required a co‐catalytic amount of Brønsted acid, such as trifluoroacetic acid. Single regioisomeric products of 82–99 % ee were obtained. On the other hand, the less acidic 1,3‐diketones failed to react under such conditions. The fact that a less acidic acid like benzoic acid sufficed, suggested the need for general base catalysis as well. Thus, a mixture of triethylamine and benzoic acid proved optimal (ee's 93–99). Employment of the (R,R)‐phenyl Trost ligand gave a product with S configuration. A model to rationalize the results has been developed.     

Novel synthesis of fused isoxazolidines via a palladium catalysed allene insertion-intramoleculer 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition cascade reaction

A one pot, three component palladium catalysed allenation of aryl iodides, in combination with a nitrone cycloaddition, leads to formation of fused isoxazolidines, creating two rings, two stereocentres and one tetrasubstituted carbon centre.