1,4,4a,10b-Tetrahydro-N,N-dimethyl-4-phenanthridinamines and 1,4,4a,5,6,10b-hexahydro-N,N-dimethyl-4-phenanthridinamines

Synthetic procedures to prepare the title compounds are described. Diels-Alder cycloaddition of β-nitrostyrene derivatives 5 to N,N-dimethyl-1,3-butadien-1-amine, 6 , gave 5-aryl-N,N-dimethyl-6-nitro-2-cyclohexen-1-amines 7. Reduction of 7 with zinc in acetic acid gave the diamino derivatives 8 . Schotten-Baumann acylation of 8 gave amides 9 . Treatment of 8 with alkyl isocyanates gave the aminourea derivatives 10 . Bischler-Napieralski cyclodehydration procudure of 9 and 10 gave 1,4,4a,10b-tetrahydrophenanthridinamines 3 and N⁶-alkyl-1,4,4a,10b-tetrahydro-N⁴,N⁴-dimethyl-4,6-phenanthridinediamines 11 , respectively. Condensation of diamines 8 with aryl aldehydes under azeotropic conditions gave imines 12 which on treatment with acids yielded 6-aryl-1,4,4a,5,6,10b-hexahydro-N,N-dimethyl-4-phenanthridinamines 4 . The stereochemistry of these materials is assigned from the proton magnetic resonance studies.     

Light-Induced and Thermal π-Skeletal Rearrangement of Heptalenes with Retention of Configuration

It is shown that dimethyl 5, 6, 8, 10-tetramethyl- ( 3 ) and 8- (tert-butyl)-5,6,10-trimethylheptalene-1, 2-dicarboxylate ( 5 ), and their derivatives rearrange reversibly on irradiation or on heating to yield the corresponding 1,6,8,10-tetramethyl- ( 4 ) and 8-(tert-butyl)-1,6,10-trimethylheptalene-1,2-dicarboxylate ( 6 ), and their derivatives by double-bond shift (π-skeletal rearrangement) via a transition state with D₂ symmetry as the highest possible one. This follows from the fact that (?)-(P)- 3 is photochemically as well as thermally rearranged to give (?)-(P)- 4 i.e. the π-skeletal rearrangement occurs with retention of configuration of the heptalene skeleton and without loss of optical purity.     

Effect of non-planarity on the spin distribution in the radical anions containing the stilbene or the azobenzene π-system: An ESR and ENDOR Study

The radical anions of 5H-dibenzo[a,d]cycloheptene ( 9 ), 5 H-dibenzo[c,f][1,2]diazepine ( 10 ), 5,6-dihydrodibenzo[a,e]cyclooctene ( 11 ), 5,6-dihydrodibenzo[c,g][1,2]diazocine ( 12 ), and (E)-2,2,5,5-tetramethyl-3,4-diphenylhex-3-ene ( 13 ) were characterized by ESR and ENDOR spectroscopy. Their hyperfine data were compared with those previously reported for radical anions also containing the stilbene or the azobenzene π-system. Whereas the π-spin distribution in the radical anions of the stilbene series is only moderately sensitive to deviations of the π-system from planarity, the radical anions of the azobenzene series respond to steric strain by shifting the π-spin population from the benzene rings to the azo group. This finding is impressively demonstrated by the similar hyperfine data for 9 ^{· ?} and 11 ^{· ?} which contrast with the strongly highly hindered 13 ^{· ?}. A. plausible interpretation is readily provided by the electron affinities of the constituent π-moieties in stilbene and azobenzene. While those of benzene and ethene are both comparatively low, the azo group has a considerably higher electron affinity.     

Organoboron compounds : CCCXCIX. The matteson-pasto rearrangement in the series of 3-borabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane compounds

Bromination of 3-isopropyl-7-methyl- and 3-isopropyl-7-bromomethyl-3-borabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane leads to corresponding 3-(2-bromo-2-propyl) derivatives, which, on treatment with alcohols or pyridine as well as on heating, undergo the Matteson-Pasto rearrangement to convert into 3-X-4,4,8-trimethyl- and 3-X-4,4-dimethyl-8-bromomethyl-3-borabicyclo[4.3.1]decane (X = Br, OR). Interaction between triethylamine and 3-(2-bromo-2-propyl)-7-methyl-3-borabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane is accompanied by dehydrobromination leading to 3-isopropenyl-7-methyl-3-borabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane. Carbonylation of 3,4,4,8-tetramethyl-3-borabicyclo[4.3.1]decane at 140°C is accompanied by migration of two alkyl groups from the boron to the carbon atom, and subsequent oxidation with H₂O₂ produces 1-(2-hydroxy-2-methyl-1-propyl)-3-acetonyl-5-methyl-cyclohexane. Under more forcing conditions (180-195°C), the third alkyl group also migrates to give, after oxidation, a mixture of isomeric 3,4,4,8-tetramethylbicyclo[4.3.1]decan-3-ols. 3-n-Butoxy-4,4-dimethyl-8-bromomethyl-3-borabicyclo[4.3.1]decane, on treatment with Lì, undergoes cyclization to afford 4,4-dimethyl-3-borahomoadamantane, carbonylation and subsequent oxidation of which gave 4,4-dimethylhomoadamantan-3-ol.     

Isolation of Toxic and Potentially Toxic Sesqui- and Monoterpenes from the Tropical Green Seaweed Caulerpa taxifolia Which Has Invaded the Region of Cap Martin and Monaco

The green seaweed Caulerpa taxifolia (VAHL ) C. AGARDH (Caulerpales), which, after its recent accidental introduction, is growing in the region of Cap Martin much more vigorously than in the tropics, is shown to contain the known sesquiterpenic toxins caulerpenyne ( 1 ) – in larger amounts than in tropical Caulerpales – and oxytoxin 1 ( 2 ). Novel, potentially toxic products isolated in small amounts from this seaweed include the sesquiterpenes taxifolial A ( = (5E)-6,10-dimethyl-2-[(E)2-oxoethylidene]undeca-5,9-dien-7- yne-1,3-diyl diacetate; 3 ), taxifolial B (= (1E,6E,10E)-3-[( Z )-acetoxymethylidene]-7, 11-dimethyl-12-oxododeca-1,6,10-trien-8-yne-1,4-diyl diacetate; 4 ), 10,11-epoxycaulerpenyne ( = (1E,6E)-3-[(Z)-acetoxymethylidene]-10,11-epoxy-7, 11-dimethyldodeca-1,6-dien-8-yne-1,4-diyl diacetate; 1:1 diastereoisomer mixture; 5 ), and taxifolial C ( = (2Z,6E)-3-formyl-7,11-dimethyldodeca-2,6,10-trien-8-yne-1,1, 4-triyl triacetate; 6 ), besides, as the first example of a monoterpene from the Caulerpales, taxifolial D ( = (2Z)-3,7-dimethylocta-2, 6-dien-4-ynal; 7 ).     

Pyrimidine derivatives. VI. Synthesis of mono-, di-, tri-, and tetrabromo-substituted pyrimidine derivatives

The following bromo-2,4(1H,3H)-pyrimidinediones possessing a bromo substituent at the 5-position and side chains at the 1- and 6-positions were prepared. The three types of mono-bromo derivatives are: 1-(bromoalkyl)-3,6-dimethyl- 3a-d , 5-bromo-3,6-dimethyl-1-(hydroxyalkyl)- 4a-d , and 1-(acetoxyalkyl)-5-bromo-3,6-dimethyl-2,4(1H,3H)-pyrimidinediones 11a-d . The three types of dibromo derivatives are: 5-bromo-1-(bromoalkyl)-3,6-dimethyl- Sa-d , 1-(acetoxyalkyl)-5-bromo-6-bromomethyl- 8a, 8c , and 8d , and 5-bromo-6-bromomethyl 1-(hydroxyalkyl)-2,4(1H,3H)-pyrimidinediones 9a, 9c , and 9d . Likewise one group of tribromo and one group of tetrabromo derivatives are: 5-bromo-1-(bromoalkyl)-6-bromomethyl -7a-d and 5-bromo-1-(bromoalkyl)-6-dibromomethyl-2,4(1H,3H)-pyrimidinediones 6a-d .     

Synthesis and stereochemical studies of 6-substituted 1H,3H,6H,7aH-3,3-dimethylimidazo-[1,5-c]thiazol-5-one-7-thiones

The reaction of (4S)-5,5-dimethyl-4-thiazolidine-carboxylic acid 1 with alkyl and aryl isothiocyanates 2 gave bicyclic thiohydantoins 3 . The (2R,4S)- and (2S,4S)-mixtures of 2-substituted 5,5-dimethyl-4-thiazolidine-carboxylic acids 4 and 8 containing two centers of chirality in the analogous reaction afforded thiohydantoins 7 and 10 , respectively, with (1R)-configuration. In some cases we managed to isolate the thioureido acid intermediates 6 and 9 or their triethylamine salts which afforded the corresponding bicycles 7 and 10 under thermal cyclization or acidification. The stereochemistry has been elucidated by high resolution ram studies, optical rotation measurements and X-ray crystallography.     

Relative reactivities of cyclic ketene acetals via cationic 1,2-vinyl addition copolymerization1

The relationship between the relative reactivities of ten cyclic ketene acetals and their structures was determined via cationic copolymerizations of eight different monomer pairs. Thus, 2-methylene-1,3-dioxolane (1) was copolymerized with 2-methylene-4-methyl-1,3-dioxolane (2), 2-methylene-4,5-dimethyl-1,3-dioxolane (3), 2-methylene-4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3-dioxolane (4), 2-methylene-4-phenyl-1,3-dioxolane (5), and 2-methylene-4-(t-butyl)-1,3-dioxolane (6). Also 2-methylene-1,3-dioxane (7) was copolymerized with 2-methylene-4-methyl-1,3-dioxane (8), 2-methylene-4,4,6-trimethyl-1,3-dioxane (9), and 2-methylene-4-isopropyl-5,5-dimethyl-1,3-dioxane (10). The relative reactivities of these monomers are: 3 > 5 > 4 > 2 > 1 > 6; and 10 > 9 > 8 > 7. In spite of steric demands, substituents at the 4- or 5-positions in 2-methylene-1,3-dioxolane and substituents at the 4- or 6-positions in 2-methylene-1,3-dioxane serve to increase the copolymerization reactivity. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 2841–2852, 1999     

Effects of Non-planarity in the Radical Anions of Tribenzo[a,c,e]cyclooctenes

Reduction of tribenzo[a,c,e]cyclooctene ( 2 ) and its 2,3- and 1,4-dimethyl derivatives ( 4 and 5 ), as well as of 1,1-dimethyl-10,11-propane-2,2-diylidene-1H-benzo[5,6]cycloocta[1,2,3,4-def]fluorene ( 6 ) and its 5,6-didehydro derivative ( 7 ) was followed by cyclic voltammetry. The radical anions of these compounds and those of their derivatives (D) 2 , (D) 5 , and (D) 6 , deuteratsd at C(9) in 1 and 5 or in the corresponding position of 6, have been characterized with the use of ESR, ENDOR, and TRIPLE-resonance spectroscopy. The cyclic-voltammetric and proton-hyperfine data are consistent with the increasing deviations of the radical anions from planarity in the order These deviations, due to steric or interferences in the peri-positions 1?14 and 4?5, are removed in and by the introduction of bridging groups. The non-plalarity affects the thermodynamic and kinetic stabilities of the radical anions and causes a shift in the π-spin distribution away from that benzene ring which is linked to the two others by the essential single bonds C(4a)? C(4b) and C(14a)? C(14b). This finding suggests that the steric hindrance in , and is alleviated by twisting this ring out of coplanarity with the remaining (Z)-stilbene-like π-system.     

Synthesis of 4H-pyrazolo- and 4H-pyrrolophenothiazin-4-one derivatives

5-Methyl- and 6-methyl-2-phenyl-2H-indazole-4,7-diones were condensed with 2-aminobenzenethiol or 6-substituted-3-aminopyridine-2(1H)thiones 4 to produce a new type of 5-methyl-2-phenyl-4H-pyrazolophenothiazin-4-ones or 8-substituted-7-aza-5-methyl-2-phenyl-4H-pyrazolophenothiazin-4-one derivatives. From 6-bromo-2,5-dimethyl-1,3-diphenyl-2H-isoindole-4,7-dione and 4 8-substituted-7-aza-2,5-dimethyl-1,3-diphenyl-4H-pyrrolophenothiazin-4-one derivatives were also prepared.     

Pyrimidine derivatives. IX . Synthesis of bromosubstituted 5-nitro-2,4(1H,3H)-pyrimidinedione derivatives

The following 5-nitro-2,4(1H,3H)-pyrimidinediones possessing bromo substituted side chains at the 1- and 6-positions were prepared by bromination of 3,6-dimethyl-1-(ω-hydroxyalkyl)-5-nitro-2,4(1H,3H)-pyrimidinediones 4a and 4b and its nitrates 2a and 2b . The three of mono-bromo derivatives are: 1-(ω-acetoxyalkyl and ω-hydroxyalkyl)-6-bromomethyl-3-methyl. 6a, 6b, 7a and 7b and 1-(ω-bromoalkyl)-3,6-dimethyl-2,4(1H,3H)- pyrimidinediones 8a and 8b . The one type dibromo derivatives are: 1-(ω-bromoalkyl)-6-bromomethyl-3-methyl-2,4(1H,3H)-pyrimidinediones 5a and 5b .     

Reactions of 4-hydrazinoquinazoline with derivatives of 1,3-cyclanediones

In reactions of 4-hydrazinoquinazoline with 2 formyl- and 2-acetyldimedones, 2 formyl-1,3-indandione, dehydroacetic acid, and 2, 2-dimethyl-5-ethoxymethylene-1, 3-dioxane-4, 6-dione, the corresponding hydrazinomethylene and 1-hydrazinoethylidene derivatives have been obtained. Attempts to convert the 2-hydrazinomethylene- and 2-(1-hydrazinoethylidene)dimedones to indazole derivatives were unsuccessful. In reactions of 4-hydrazinoquinazoline with 2-cyano-3-ethoxy-5,5-dimethylcyclohex-2-en-1-one, 3-hydrazino derivatives were obtained; with 2-amino-5-oxo-7, 7-dimethyl-5, 6, 7, 8-tetrahydroquinazoline and 1 phenyl-4,5-dioxo-6, 6-dimethyl-4, 5, 6, 7-tetrahydroindazole, the corresponding 5(4-quinazolylhydrazino) derivatives were obtained.     

Intramolekulare Diels-Alder-Additionen in 6-(But-3-enyl)-6-methyl-cyclohexa-2,4-dien-1-on-Systemen; eine neue Synthese von Twistanderivaten

Alkylation of the sodium salt of mesitol with 2-bromomethyl-buta-1,3-diene ( 7 ) in benzene and subsequent refluxing of the reaction mixture gave 7% 2-methylene-3-butenyl-mesitylether ( 8 ), 12% 5-methylene-1,3,8-trimethyl-tricyclo[4,3,1,0^3,7]-8-decen-2-one ( 9 ) and 44% 9-methylene-1,3,5-trimethyl-tricyclo[4,4,0,0^3,8]-4-decen-2-one ( 10 ), a twistane derivative. The same procedure, when applied to the sodium salt of 2,6-dimethyl-4-methoxyphenol, gave in 73% yield a 26:18:54 mixture of 2,6-dimethyl-4-methoxyphenyl-(2-methylene-3-butenyl)-ether ( 11 ), 1,3-dimethyl-8-methoxy-5-methylene-tricyclo[4,3,1,0^{3, 7}]-8-decen-2-one ( 12 ), and 1,3-dimethyl-5-methoxy-9-methylene-tricyclo[4,4,0,0^{3, 8}]-4-decen-2-one ( 13 ). The tricyclic ketones 9 and 10 , or 12 and 13 , were also obtained on heating 8 or 11 respectively at 176° in decane solution. Alkylation of the sodium salt of 2,6-dimethylphenol with 3-butenylbromide in boiling toluene gave 1,3-dimethyl-tricyclo[4,3,1,0^3,7]-8-decen-2-one ( 17 ) as the only tricyclic product in 8% yield. The structures of the twistane derivatives 10 and 13 as well as those of the ketones 9, 12 and 17 were mainly deduced from spectroscopic data. Furthermore, the ketones 10 and 13 could be converted to the twistane derivatives 20 and 22 , possessing C₂-symmetry. On the other hand, compounds 9 and 17 gave only the asymmetric derivatives 18 and 21 .     

Novel cembranolides (Coralloidolide D and E) and a 3,7-Cyclized cembranolide (Coralloidolide C) from the mediterranean coral Alcyonium coralloides

The Mediterranean alcyonacean Alcyonium (= Parerytkropodium) coralhides (PALLAS, 1766) is shown to contain three novel diterpenes which are of biogenetic significance: the 3,7-cyclized cembranoid Coralloidolide C ( = (+)-(6R*, 7R*, 11S*, 12aS* 3aE)-7,8-epoxy-3,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,12a-decahydro-12a-hydroxy-11-isopropenyl-1,4-dimethyl-3-oxocyciopentacydoundecene-8,6-carbolactone; (?)- 3 ), the O-bridged diketonic cembranolide Coralloidolide D (= (+)-(1R*, 2S*, 3R*, 5R*, 12S*, 8Z)-2,5-epoxy-1-hydroxy-12-isopropenyl-5,9-dimethyl-7,10-dioxocyclotetradeca-8-ene-1,3-carbolactone; (+)- 4 ), and the diketonic epoxycembranolide coralloidolide E (=(+)-(1R*, 2R*, 3R*, 12S*, 5Z, 8Z)-1,2-epoxy-12-isopropenyl-5,9-dimethyl-7,10-dioxocyclotetra-deca-5,8-diene-1,3-carbolactone; (+)- 5 ), The latter in pyridine at r. t. undergoes a double bond shift from C(4) = C(5) to C(4) = C(18) to give the isomer (?)- 7 . Structural assignments are mainly based on ID and 2D NMR and MS spectral data. Either corailoidolide A ((?)- 1 ) or the hypothetic unsaturated 1,4-diketone 9 can be envisaged as the precursors of all coralloidolides.     

无外加催化剂条件下邻取代芳香醛与5, 5-二甲基-1, 3-环己二 酮的反应研究

在DMF溶剂中,不外加催化剂使邻取代芳香醛(1)与5,5-二甲基-1,3-环己二酮(2)发生缩合和加成反应生成3,3,6,6-四甲基-4a-羟基-9-芳基-1,8-二氧代-2,3,4,4a,5,6,7,8,9,9a-十氢化-1H-氧杂蒽(3a-3d)。在同样条件下,邻羟基芳香醛与5,5-二甲基-1,3-环己二酮则发生缩合、加成和脱水反应生成3,3-二甲基-9-(5,5-二甲基-3-羟基-2-环己烯-1-酮-2-基)-1-氧代-2,3,4,9-四氢化-1-氧杂蒽(4a-4b)。用单晶X-射线分析法确定了产物3a和4a的晶体结构。     

A New Synthesis Method and Crystal Structure of 2-Phenyl-5,6,7,8- tetrahydro-6,6-dimethyl-5,7-methano-8-quinolinol

The title compound 2-phenyl,5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-6,6-dimethyl-5,7-methano-8- quinolinol 1 has been synthesized by the oxidation of corresponding anion with 02. The oxidation gave a convenient method for synthesizing pyridylalcohol 1 in good yield. The suitable single crystals for X-ray diffraction were obtained by recrystallization from a mixture of solvents （ether and ethyl acetate）. The configuration of C6 in the title compound is in R form and there are strong face-to-face offset π-π interactions between pyridine rings. Crystallographic data for 1： C18H19NO, Mr = 265.34, monoclinic, space group P21/c with a = 13,4073（4）, b = 10.2866（3）, c = 10,5570（3）A, β = 108.413（2）°, V = 1381.43（7） A^3, Z = 4, De= 1.276 g/cm^3, μ = 0.078 mml, F（000） = 568, R = 0.0721 and wR = 0.2054 for 2241 observed reflections （I〉 2σ（I））.     

Anticancer Drugs ( Ⅳ )——New Derivatives of Podophyllotoxin

Four new derivatives of podophyllotoxin, N'-podophyllic acid-N-[3-(2, 2, 5, 5-te-tramethyl-pyrrolinenyloxy)] semicarbazide(GP-11, 6), podophyllic acid [3-(2,2,5,5-te-tramethyl-pyrrolinenyloxy)]hydrazone (GP-12, 7), podophyllic acid-[4-(2, 2, 6, 6-tetramethyl-1-hydroxy piperidine)]hydrazone(GP-1-OH, 8) and podophyllic acid[4-(2,2, 6, 6-tetramethyl piperidine)]hydrazone(GP-1-H, 9) were synthesized. The inhibition effect of the four new compounds on L-1210 cells were determined. The antitumor activity and toxicity of GP-1(2), GP-1-OH(8), GP-1-H(9) and VP-16-213(1) were discussed.     

Reaction of lumichrome or 2-thiolumichrome with alkylamines

The reaction of lumichrome ( 2 ) with alkyl (or allyl)amines such as n-butylamine, n-hexylamine and allylamine gave 2,3-disubstituted 6,7-dimethylquinoxalines 4a-d, 5a-d, 6a-d, 7a-d and 8a-d . Similar reaction of 2-thiolumichrome ( 3 ) with alkyl (or allyl)amines gave 2,3-disubstituted 6,7-dimethylquinoxalines 6a-c, 9a-c and 10a-c , 2-alkyl (or allyl)amino-6,7-dimethyl-3,4-dihydrobenzo[g]pteridine-4-ones 11a-c and 2,4-dialkyl (or allyl)amino-6,7-dimethylbenzo[g]pteridines 12a-c .     

Cyanoacetylene and Its Derivatives: XXVIII. Reactions of 2-Mercaptobenzothiazole with Nitriles of αα,ββ-Acetylene γγ-Hydroxyacids and with 3-Phenyl-2-propynonitrile

Nucleophilic addition of 2-mercaptobenzothiazole to 4-alkyl-4-hydroxy-2-alkynonitriles at 1:1 ratio in the presence of 4-6 wt% of Et₃N occurs regio- and stereospecifically to afford (Z)-4-alkyl-3-(benzothiazolyl-2-thio)-4-hydroxy-2-alkenonitriles (yield 40-51%). In the presence of 1.3 wt% of Dabco the thiazole and 4-hydroxy-4-methyl-2-pentynonitrile (1:1) give rise to a mixture of 2-alkenonitrile and 2-(3,3,6,6-tetramethyl-2-cyanomethyl-5-cyanomethylene-1,4-oxathian-2-yl)thiobenzothiazole. At the use of 4-6 wt% of LiOH arises an intractable mixture containing 1,4-oxathiane, benzothiazol-2-one, 2-[1-(5,5-dimethyl-2-cyanomethyl)-4-cyanomethylene-1,3-oxathiolan-2-yl)-1-methylethyl]thiobenzothiazole, bis(2,2,5,5-tetramethyl-6-cyanomethyl-3-cyanomethylene-1,4-oxathian-6-yl) disulfide, bis[1-(5,5-dimethyl-2-cyanomethyl-4-cyanomethylene-1,3-oxathiolan-2-yl)-1-methylethyl] disulfide, and 3-[1-(5,5-dimethyl-2-cyanomethyl-4-cyanomethylene-1,3-oxathiolan-2-yl)-1-methylethyl]benzothiazol-2-one (according to ¹H and ¹³C NMR data). 2-mercaptobenzothiazole adds to 3-phenyl-2-propynonitrile in the presence of 7 wt% of KOH with regio- and stereospecific formation of (Z)-3-(benzothiazolyl-2-thio)-3-phenyl-2-propenonitrile (88%).     

Studies on ketene and its derivatives. CXI . Photoreaction of diketene with 2(1H)-quinolone derivatives

Photoreaction of diketene with 4-methyl-2(1H)-quinolone and 1,4-dimethyl-2(1H)-quinolone gave 2R*,2aR*,SbR*- and 2R*,2aS*8bS*-8b-methyl-3-oxo-1,2,2a,3,4,8b-hexahydrocyclobuta[c]quinoline-2-spiro-2′-(oxetan)-4′-one ( 6a and 6b ), and their 4-methyl derivatives 7a and 7b , respectively. Thermolysis of compounds 6 and 7 afforded 2aR*,8bS*-8b-methyl-2-methylene-3-oxo-1,2,2a,3,4,8b-hexahydrocyclobuta[c]quinoline ( 8 ) and its 4-methyl derivatives 9 , respectively. Similarly, photolysis of diketene and 4-acetoxy-2(1H)-quinolone gave 1R*,2aS*,8bS*- and 1R*,2aR*,8bR*-8b-acetoxy-3-oxo-1,2,2a,3,4,8b-hexahydrocyclobuta[c]-quinoline ( 11a and 11b ). Alcoholysis of compounds 11a and 11b with hydrogen chloride in methanol gave 1-hydroxy-1-(methoxycarbonyl)methylcyclobuta[c]quinoline derivative 12 and 13 which were transformed to 4-acetyl-3-methyl-2(1H)-quinolone ( 15 ) by further alcoholysis. Photoreaction of diketene with 2(1H)-quinolone derivatives gave the corresponding cyclobuta[c]quinoline spirooxetanone derivatives 18 and 23 , which, by thermolysis, were transformed to 2-methylenecyclobuta[c]quinoline 23 and 25 , respectively.