Face Selectivity of the Diels-Alder Reaction of 5,6-Bis((D)methylidene)-2-bicyclo[2.2.2]octene

The face selectivity (endo-face vs. exo-face attack onto the exocyclic s-cis-butadiene moiety) of the [4+2]cycloadditions of 5,6-bis((D)methylidene)-2-bicyclo-[2.2.2]octene ( 11 ) to strong dienophiles has been determined in benzene at 25°. It is ca. 95/5, 75/5, 70/30, 60/40 and 50/50 for N-phenyltriazolinedione (NPTAD), tetracyanoethylene (TCE), dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate (DMAD), maleic anhydride (MA) and singlet oxygen (¹O₂), respectively. The endo-face preference is probably due to a participation of the homoconjugated double bond at C(2), C(3) which makes the etheno bridge more polarizable than the ethano bridge in 11. The absence of face selectivity with ¹O₂ is consistent with an entropy-controlled mechanism involving the intermediacy of an exciplex.     

Synthesis of (+)-1,3:2,5-dianhydroviburnitol ((+)-(1R,2R,3S,5R,6S)-4,7-dioxatricyclo[3.2.1.03,6]octan-2-ol)

Epoxidation of (?)-(1R,2R,4R)-2-endo-cyano-7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-en-2-exo-yl acetate ((?)-5) followed by saponification afforded (+)-(1R,4R,5R,6R)-5,6-exo-epoxy-7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]heptan-2-one ((+)-7). Reduction of (+)-7 with diisobutylaluminium hydride (DIBAH) gave (+)-1,3:2,5-dianhydroviburnitol ( = (+)-(1R,2R,3S,4R,6S)-4,7-dioxatricyclo[3.2.1.0^3,6]octan-2-ol; (+)-3). Hydride reductions of (±)-7 were less exo-face selective than reductions of bicyclo[2.2.1]heptan-2-one and its derivatives with NaBH₄, AlH₃, and LiAlH₄ probably because of smaller steric hindrance to endo-face hydride attack when C(5) and C(6) of the bicyclo-[2.2.1]heptan-2-one are part of an exo oxirane ring.     

Face Selectivity of the Diels-Alder Additions of 2-Substituted 5,6-bis((E)-chloromethylidene)bicyclo[2.2.2]octanes

The preparation of 5,6-bis((E)-chlorommethylidene)bicyclo[2.2.2]oct-2-ene ( 13 ), 2,3-bis((E)-chloromethyl idene)-5exo,6exo- and -5endo,6endo-epoxybicyclo[2.2.2] octane ( 14 and 15 ), 5,6-bis((E)-chloromethylidene)-2exo- and -2endo-bicyclo[2.2.2] octanol ( 16 and 17 ) and 5,6-bis((E)-chloromethylidene)-2-bicyclo[2.2.2]octanone ( 18 ) are described. The face selectivity (endo-face vs. exo-face attack onto the exo-cyclic diene) of their cycloadditions to tetracyanoethylene has been determined in benzene at 20°. It is 78/22, 80/20, 60/40, 68/32, 3/97 and 30/70 for 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 and 18 , respectively.     

Secondary 2-Norbornyl Cation Intermediates Substituted at C(5) and C(7) by Electron-withdrawing Groups. Addition of fluorosulfuric acid to unsaturated norbornane derivatives

Low temperature (?130° to ?110°) addition of exo-norborn-5-en-2-ol ( 7 ) to excess HSO₃F in SO₂CIF yielded a mixture of exo-5-(fluorosulfonyloxy)-exo-2- and endo-2-norbornylhydroxonium ions ( 9+10 ) under kinetic control that was different from the mixture of 9+10 obtained by addition of endo-norborn-5-en-2-ol ( 8 ) to HSO₃F under kinetic control. These mixtures differed from the mixture of 9+10 observed at higher temperature (?80° to ?60°) (thermodynamic control). Addition of 3-nortricyclanol ( 23 ) or exo-2, 3-epoxynorbornane ( 24 ) to HSO₃F at -?120° ± 10° yielded a mixture containing the exo-2-(fluorosulfonyloxy)-anti-7- and syn-7-norbornylhydroxonium ions ( 26+27 ) as major adducts. Qualitative rates of the isomerization of 26+27 to the more stable ions 9+10 and of the isomerization 9 ? 10 were evaluated. The solvolysis of 9+10 in HSO₃F yielded the exo-2, exo-5- and exo-2, endo-5-norbornanediyl bis (fluorosulfates) ( 21+22 ). Norbornadiene and quadricyclane added 2 equivalents of HSO₃F and furnished kinetically a mixture of exo-2, anti-7- and exo-2, syn-7-norbornanediyl bis (fluorosulfates) ( 36+37 ) as major adducts. The latter 36+37 were isomerized into a kinetic mixture of the more stable isomers 21+22 . The rates of these isomerizations were compared. The use of DSO₃F and (exo-2-D)-norborn-5-en-2-ol ( 15 ) confirmed that heterolyses of the fluorosulfates were responsible for the observed isomerization; elimination-addition processes occurred but much more slowly. The results are interpreted in terms of substituted classical and σ-bridged secondary 2-norbornyl cation intermediates. It appears that the electron withdrawing substituents FSO₃ and H₂O⁺ (HO) destabilize the σ-bridged 2-norbornyl cation more at C(5) than C(7). If the σ-bridged ions 5-Z substituted at C(5) by Z = FSO₃ or H₂O⁺ (HO) are transition states in the isomerization of the corresponding classical ions 3-Z, 4-Z , the free enthalpy difference between the ‘non-classical’ σ-bridged ion and the classical ions is not higher than the energy barrier to the quenching of the latter intermediates by FSO in HSO₃F/SO₂CIF.     

The Acetolysis of exo- and endo-5,6-Dimethylidene-2-Norbornyl p-Bromobenzenesulfonates and of their Optically Active and Deuterium-Labelled Derivatives

The buffered (AcOK) acetolyses of exo, (11) and endo-5, 6-dimethylidene-2-norbornyl brosylate (12) yielded exo5, 6-dimethylidene-2-norbornyl (16) and (3-methylidene-2-nortricyclyl)methyl acetates (18) . Endo-5, 6-dimethylidene-2-norbornyl (17) and 2-methylidene-3-tricyclo [3.2.1.0^3,6]octyl acetates (20) could not be detected. The titrimetric rate constants of the acetolysis of 11 (k_t(exo)=4.49 ± 0.02) · 10^?5 s^?1 at 25°, ΔH^≠=23.6 ±0.7 kcal mol^?1, ΔS^≠=0.7 ±2 calmol^?1 K^?1 and 12 (k_t(endo)=1.9 ±0.08) · 10^?9 s^?1 at 25°, ΔH^≠=27 ±1 kcal mol^?1, ΔS^≠=-8 ±2.5 calmol^?1 K^?1) were measured and compared with the polarimetric rate constants (k_α/k_(exo)=6.8 at 25°,(k_α/k_(exo)=1.0 at 121°) of the buffered acetolyses of the optically active brosylates (+)- 11 and (+)- 12 . Neither a common-ion (KOBs) nor a special ion effect (LiClO₄) on k_t(endo) could be detected, although external return might well intervene as some exo-5,6-dimethylidene-2-norbornyl tosylate (21) was formed upon solvolysis in the presence of KOTs. Acetolysis of (+)- 11 yielded completely racemized products, whereas (+)- 12 led to incomplete racemization. The buffered acetolysis of exo-(3exo-D)-5,6-dimethylidene-2-norbornyl brosylate (24) furnished (3exo-D)-( 26 :37.5%), exo-(7syn-D)-5,6-dimethylidene-2-norbornyl brosylate (27 : 37.5%) and [(5anti-D)-3-methylidene-2-nortricyclyl]methyl acetates (28 : 25 %). The acetolysis of endo-(2exo-D)-5,6-dimethylidene-2-norbornyl brosylate (25) yielded (2endo-D)-( 29 : 54%), exo-(1-D)-5,6-dimethylidene-2-norbornyl ( 30 : 36%) and [(6-D)-3-methylidene-2-nortricyclyl]methyl acetates ( 31 : 10%). Product analysis and deuterium label distribution was established by a combination of GC., ¹H-NMR., ²H-{¹H}-NMR. and MS. techniques. The results are rationalized by invoking anchimerically assisted ionization of the exo-brosylate 11 to symmetrical ion-pairs (cyclopropylcarbinyl cation intermediates) which undergo internal (and probably also external) return. Acetolysis of the endo-brosylate 12 is not anchimerically assisted and leads initially to non-symmetrical ion pairs. These evolve to symmetrical ion pair intermediates or, to a minor extent, are intercepted by solvent.     

The adamantane rearrangement of syn- and anti-Tricyclo[4.2.1.1.12,5] decane. Part II. Rearrangements initiated by regioselective formation of carbocations at C(3) and C(9)

The endo- and exo-alcohols 5–12 of syn-( 1 ) and anti-tricyclo[4.2.1. 1^2.5]decane ( 2 ) were treated with BF₃/Et₃SiH (ionic hydrogenation) in order to study the behaviour of the corresponding regioselectively generated carbocations at C(3) ( a (syn), b (anti)) and C(9) ( c (syn), d (anti)). The anti-hydrocarbon 2 is practically the sole product obtained starting with the four 3-alcohols (via a → b from 5 and 6 (syn) and via b from 9 and 10 (anti)). The four 9-alcohols in each case yield a mixture of 2-endo, 3-endo- ( 3 ) and 2-exo,3-exo-trimethylene-8,9,10-trinorbornane (4) (via c → e from 7 and 8 (syn) and via d → f from 11 and 12 (anti)), but no hydrocarbon 2 , i.e. none of the 1,3-H shifts c → a and d → b is involved.     

Face Selectivity of the Diels-Alder Additions of Sulfur-Substituted Dienes and Tetraenes Grafted onto 7-Oxabicyclo[2.2.1]heptanes

Stereoselective synthesis of 2-methylidene-3-[(Z)-(2-nitrophenylsulfenyl)methylidene]-7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]-heptane ( 16 ), 1,4-epoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-5,8-dimethoxy-2-methylidene-3-[(Z)-(2-nitrophenylsulfenyl)methylidene]anthracene ( 18 ), and 1,4-epoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-5,8-dimethyoxy-2-methylidene-3-[(Z)-(phenylsulfenyl)-methylidene]anthracene ( 19 ) are presented. The Diels-Alder additions of these S-substituted dienes and those of 2,5-dimethylidene-3,6-bis{[(Z)-(2-nitrophenyl)sulfenyl]methylidene}-7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane ( 17 ) have been found to be face selective and ‘ortho’ regiospecific. The face selectivity depends on the nature of the dienophile. It is exo-face selective with bulky dienophiles such as ethylene-tetracarbonitrile (TCNE) and 2-nitro-1-butene and endo-face selective with methyl vinyl ketone, methyl acrylate, and 3-butyn-2-one. In the presence of a Lewis acid, the face selectivity of the Diels-Alder reaction can be reversed. The addition of the first equivalent of a dienophile to tetraene 17 is at least 100 times faster than the addition of the second equivalent of the same dienophile to the corresponding mono-adduct. The X-ray structure of the crystalline bis-adduct 43 , a 7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]hepta-2,5-diene system annellated to two cyclohexene rings, resulting from the successive additions of methyl acrylate and methyl vinyl ketone to tetraene 17 is presented. Only one of the two endocyclic double bonds of the 7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]hepta-2,5-diene deviates from planarity, the substituents bending towards the endo face by 5.7°.     

The π-Anisotropy of the Double Bond of a syn-11-Oxasesquinorbornene Derivative.. Stereoselectivity of the Diels–Alder additions of (2-norborneno)[c]furan. Crystal structure of 11-oxa-endo-tetracyclo[6.2.1.13,6.02,7]-dodec-2(7)-ene-9,10-exo-dicarboxylic anhydride

The reaction of (2-norborneno)[c]furan ( 4 ) with maleic anhydride gave 11-oxa-endo-tetracyclo[6.2.1.1^3,6.0^2,7]dodec-2(7)-ene-9,10-exo-dicarboxylic anhydride ( 5 ) and, with methyl acetylenedicarboxylate, methyl 11-oxa-endo-tetracyclo [6.2.1.1^3,6.0^2,7]dodeca-2(7),9-diene-9,10-dicarboxylate ( 7 ). The syn-11-oxa-sesquinorbornenes 5 and 7 could be equilibrated with their cycloaddents. They are at least 2 kcal/mol more stable than the corresponding anti-sesquinorbornenes 6 and 8 . The structure of 7 was deduced from its spectral data, by epoxidation with air or a peracid to give the exo-epoxide 13 and by catalytic hydrogenation to give 14 . The structure of 5 was established by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. A dihedral angle of 163° was measured between the C(1,2,7,8) and C(2,3,6,7) planes in 5 . This important deviation from planarity for the C(2,7) double bond is attributed to (π, ω)-repulsive interactions that make the π-electron density of 2-norbornene and 7-oxa-2-norbornene derivatives preferentially polarized toward the exo-face. This finding is discussed in relation with the relative stability of the syn- and anti- 11-oxasesquinorbornenes and with the endo-stereoselectivity of the cycloadditions of the norbornenofuran 4 .     

Extensive hydrogen and halogen bonding,and absence of intramolecular hydrogen bonding between alcohol and nitro groups in a series of endo‐nitronorbornanol compounds

The influence of the substituent at the C2 position on the hydrogen‐bonding patterns is compared for a series of five related compounds, namely (±)‐3‐exo,6‐exo‐dibromo‐5‐endo‐hydroxy‐3‐endo‐nitrobicyclo[2.2.1]heptane‐2‐exo‐carbonitrile, C₈H₈Br₂N₂O₃, (II), (±)‐3‐exo,6‐exo‐dibromo‐6‐endo‐nitro‐5‐exo‐phenylbicyclo[2.2.1]heptan‐2‐endo‐ol, C₁₃H₁₃Br₂NO₃, (III), (±)‐methyl 3‐exo,6‐exo‐dibromo‐5‐endo‐hydroxy‐3‐endo‐nitrobicyclo[2.2.1]heptane‐2‐exo‐carboxylate, C₉H₁₁Br₂NO₅, (IV), (±)‐methyl 3‐exo,6‐exo‐dibromo‐7‐diphenylmethylidene‐5‐endo‐hydroxy‐3‐endo‐nitrobicyclo[2.2.1]heptane‐2‐exo‐carboxylate, C₂₂H₁₉Br₂NO₅, (V), and (±)‐methyl 3‐exo,6‐exo‐dibromo‐5‐endo‐hydroxy‐3‐endo‐nitro‐7‐oxabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane‐2‐exo‐carboxylate, C₈H₉Br₂NO₆, (VI). The hydrogen‐bonding motif in all five compounds is a chain, formed by O—H...O hydrogen bonds in (III), (IV), (V) and (VI), and by O—H...N hydrogen bonds in (II). All compounds except (III) contain a number of Br...Br and Br...O halogen bonds that connect the chains to each other to form two‐dimensional sheets or three‐dimensional networks. None of the compounds features intramolecular hydrogen bonding between the alcohol and nitro functional groups, as was found in the related compound (±)‐methyl 3‐exo,6‐exo‐dichloro‐5‐endo‐hydroxy‐3‐endo‐nitrobicyclo[2.2.1]heptane‐2‐exo‐carboxylate, (I) [Boeyens, Denner & Michael (1984b). J. Chem. Soc. Perkin Trans. 2, pp. 767–770]. The crystal structure of (V) exhibits whole‐molecule disorder.     

The Homoconjugated Electron-Releasing Carbonyl Group of 1-Methylbicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-en-2-one. Regioselective syntheses of 5-chloro- and 6-chloro-1-methylbicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-en-2-one

Syntheses of (±)-2-exo-cyano-1-methyl-7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-en-2-endo-yl acetate ( 1 ) and of (±)-1-methyl-7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-en-2-one ( 2 ) are reported. The additon of PhSeCl to 1 afforded (±)-5-endo-chloro-2-exo-cyano-1-methyl-6-exo-(phenylselenenyl)-7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-endo-yl acetate ( 6 ), whereas 2 added to PhSeCl with the opposite regioselectivity giving (±)-6-endo-chloro-1-methyl-5-exo-(phenylselenenyl)-7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]heptan-2-one ( 7 ). These adducts were converted into 5-chloro-1-methyl-7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-en-2-one ( 9 ) and 6-chloro-1-methyl-7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-en-2-one ( 10 ), respectively.     

Solvolysen von 4-Alkylidenbicyclo[3.2.0]hept-2-en-6-olen. Synthese von 1-Vinylfulvenen und 8,8-Diphenylheptafulven

Solvolysis of 4-Alkydenbicyclo[3.2.0]hept-2-en-6-oles. Synthesis of 1-Vinylfulvenes and 8,8-Diphenylheptafulvene Four 4-alkylidenebicyclo[3.2.0]hept-2-en-6-ones 2–5 , obtained via ketene cycloaddition to fulvenes, were reduced to separated mixtures of the ‘endo’ -alcohols ‘endo’- 6 to ‘endo’- 9 (68–73%) and ‘exo’- 6 to ‘exo’- 9 (3–20%). Treatment of some of these alcohols with (CF₃SO₂)₂O in CH₂Cl₂/pyridine caused a spontaneous solvolysis to yield unsaturated 7-membered rings as pyridinium triflates 10–12 or 1-vinylfulvenes 13 and 14 , a new class of reactive tetraenes: Both ‘endo’- 9 and ‘exo’- 9 , having two methyl groups at C(7), were converted into the vinylfulvene 13 (≈ 80%). The alcohols with two H-atoms at C(7) exhibited a stereochemically controlled reaction selectivity, inasmuch as ‘endo’- 6 to ‘endo’- 8 afforded only the corresponding 7-membered-ring pyridinium salts 10–12 (66–79%), while ‘exo’- 6 produced only the vinylfulvene 14 (77%). A stereoelectronic control argument explains the C(1), C(5)-bond cleavage with ‘endo’- B and ‘endo’– 6 -‘endo’- 8 , as well as the C(1), C(7)-bond cleavage with ‘exo’- B , ‘exo’- 6 , and with both ‘endo’- and ‘exo’- 9 . Thermolysis (120°) of the pyridinium triflates 10 and 11 yielded the 3-isopropenyl-cycloheptatrienes 18 and 19 , respectively (≈90%); similar conditions (145°) applied to the triflate 12 produced the doubly cyclized fluorene derivative 21 (60%). When the iodide 22 derived from the triflate 12 with Nal was heated in refluxing toluene, 8,8-diphenylheptafulvene ( 23 , 86%) was obtained.     

The Reaction of Singlet and Triplet Oxygen with 2-Phenylnorbornene

The reaction of singlet oxygen with 2-phenylnorbornene ( 1 ) in aprotic solvents gives 3-formylcyclopentyl phenyl ketone ( 2 ) (10%) and uncharacterized polymer (90%). When methanol is used as solvent, endo-2-phenyl-exo-2-methoxy-exo-3-hydroperoxynorbornane ( 4 ) and endo-2-(anti-1′, 4′-epidioxy-5′,6′-epoxycyclohex-2′-enyl)-exo-2,3-epoxynorbornane ( 6 and 7 ) are obtained in addition to 2 . Triplet oxygen with 1 gave 2 , endo-2-phenyl-exo-2,3-epoxynorbornane ( 8 ), and the trimer 9 or 10 of exo-2,3-epidioxy-endo-2-phenylnorbornane. With protic solvents the amount of epoxide increased at the expense of trimer. The singlet and triplet oxygen reactions are discussed in the light of possible intermediates.     

Synthese von Triafulven-Vorstufen für Retro-Diels-Alder-Reaktionen

Synthesis of Triafulvene Precursors for Retro-Diels-Alder Reactions Triafulvene precursors exo? 15 and endo? 15 have been prepared by addition of dibromocarbene to benzobarrelene 12 followed by a lithium-halogen exchange, methylation, and elimination of HBr ( 12→13→14→15 ), (Scheme 2). Gas-phase pyrolysis of exo/endo-mixtures of 15 above 400° gave minor amounts of naphthalene ( 16 ), traces of a hydrocarbon C₄H₄ identified by MS (presumably triafulvene 1 ) and predominantly (36%) the isomerization product 17 (Scheme 3). In a second synthetic approach the well-known cycloheptatriene-norcaradiene equilibrium of type 26?27 has been utilised to prepare various endo-trans-3-(X-methyl) tricyclo[3.2.2.0^2,4]nona-6,8-dienes 31 (Scheme 5). However, numerous elimination experiments 31→9 failed so far. The structure of two rearrangement products 33 and 34 (Scheme 6) has been elucidated.     

Copper(I)- and Copper(II)-catalyzed Diels-Alder Additions of α-Substituted Acrylonitrile to Furan. The Synthesis of 7-Oxa-bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-en-2-one

The difficult Diels-Alder additions of α-acetoxy- and α-chloroacrylonitrile to furan can be run at 20–35° and atmospheric pressure in the presence of CuCl. Cu(BF₄) · 6 H₂O, Cu(OOCCH₃)₂ · H₂O or cupric tartrate · 3H₂O. Under kinetic control, the exo-carbonitrile adducts 2 and 8 , respectively, are favoured. Saponification of the 2endo-acetoxy-7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-ene-2exo-carbonitrile ( 2 ) furnished the 7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-en-2-one ( 4 ). Basic hydrolysis of the adducts ( 8 + 9 ) of α-chloroacrylonitrile to furan and its 5exo, 6exo-isopropylidenedioxy derivatives did not give the corresponding ketones, the carboxamides 14 + 15 and 16 + 17 , respectively, were isolated.     

Face Selectivity of the Diels-Alder Additions of Exocyclic Dienes Grafted onto 7-Oxabicyclo[2.2.1]heptanes

Stereoselective syntheses of 2exo, 3exo-bis (chloromethyl)-5-[(Z)-chloromethylidene]- ( 9 ), 2exo, 3exo-bis (chloromethyl)5-[(E)-chloromethylidene]- ( 10 ) and 2exo, 3exo-bis(chloromethyl)-5-[(E)-methoxymethylidene]-6-niethylidene-7-oxa-bicyclo[2.2.1]heptane ( 13 ) are presented. Double elimination of HCI from 9, 10 and 13 yielded 2-[(Z)-chloromethylidene]- ( 14 ), 2-[(E)chloromethylidene]- ( 15 ) and 2-[(E)-methoxymethylidene]-3,5,6-mmethylidene-7-oxabicycio[2.2.1]heptane ( 18 ), respectively, without loss of the olefin configuration. Ethylene tetracarbonitrile (TCE) and N-phenyltriazolinedione (NPTAD) added to these new exocyclic dienes and tetraenes preferentially onto their exo-face. The same face selectivity was observed for the cycloadditions of TCE to the (Z)- and (E)-chlorodienes 9 and 10 , thus realizing a case where the kinetic stereoselectivity of the additions is proven not to be governed by the stability of the adducts. The exo-face selectivity of the Diels-Alder additions of dienes grafted onto 7-oxabicyclo [2,2.1]heptanes contrasts with the endo-face selectivity reported for a large number of cycloadditions of dienes grafted onto bicyclo[2.2.1]heptane skeletons.     

The adamantane rearrangement of 1,2-trimethylenenorbornanes. Part IV. Hydride-ion abstraction in 1,2-exo-trimethylenenorbornane

In the AlBr₃-catalyzed adamantane rearrangement in CS₂ of 1,2-exo-trimethylenenorbornane ( 1 ) to 2-endo,6-endo-trimethylenenorbornane ( 3 ), hydride-ion abstraction occurs at C(6) from the exo-side. The k_H/k_D value for competition between 1 and 5 (D_exo-C(6)) was 1.58 ± 0.05, whereas no kinetic isotope effect was operative for competition between unlabeled 1 and 4 (D_endo-C(5)) and between 1 and 6 (D_endo-C(6)).     

Stereoselective Synthesis of 2,4,6-Trimethylcyclohex-4-ene-1,3-diol Derivatives and of polypropionate fragments with four contiguous stereogenic centers

The Diels-Alder adduct (±)- 3 of 2,4-dimethylfuran and 1-cyanovinyl acetate was converted stereoselectively into benzyl 6-(4-chlorophenylsulfonyl)-1,3-exo,5-trimethyl-7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-en-2-exo-yl ( 26 ) and -2-endo-yl ether ( 36 ). Addition of LiAlH₄ to the latter led to the 3-O-benzyl derivatives 28 and 37 of (1RS,2SR,3SR,6SR)- and (1RS,2SR,3RS,6SR)-5-(4-chlorophenylsulfonyl)-2,4,6-trimethylcyclohex-4-ene-1,3-diol, respectively. Methylenation of 6-exo-(4-chlorophenylthio)-1-methyl-5-methylidene-7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]heptan-2-one ( 16 ), obtained by reaction of (±)- 3 with 4-Cl-C₆H₄SCl and saponification gave, 6-exo-(4-chlorophenylthio)-1-methyl-3,5-dimethylidene-7-oxabicyclo [2.2.1]heptan-2-one ( 43 ), the reduction of which with K-Selectride afforded 6-exo-(4-chlorophenylthio)-1,3-endo-dimethyl-5-methylidene-7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]heptan-2-endo-ol ( 44 ). The 3-O-benzyl derivative 48 of (1RS,2RS,3RS,6SR)-5-(4-chlorophenylsulfonyl)- 2,4,6-trimethylcyclohex-4-ene-1,3-diol was derived from 44 via based-induced oxa-ring opening of benzyl 6-endo-(4-chlorophenylsulfonyl)-1,3-endo-5-endo-trimethyl-7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-endo-yl ether ( 49 ). Benzylation of 28 , followed by reductive desulfonylation and oxidative cleavage of the cyclohexene moiety afforded (2RS,3SR,4RS,5RS)-3,5-bis(benzyloxy)-2,4-dimethyl-6-oxoheptanal ( 32 ).     

Diels-Alder Approach to Highly Functionalized Tertiary α-Hydroxy Ketones: A Novel Route to the Hexahydrobenzofuran Portion of the Avermectins and Milbemycins

A highly regio- and stereoselective Diels-Alder reaction between dienophiles of type I and dienes of type II (Scheme 1) gives rise to Diels-Alder adducts of type III . Upon treatment with BF₃.Et₂O, these adducts are smoothly converted into the corresponding enones (Scheme 6). Under mild acidic conditions, enone (±)- 33 gave bicyclic diketone (±)- 34 via an intramolecular Michael-type addition. Diketone (±)- 34 has the correct relative configuration and a suitable ketone function at C(6) for further conversion into the hexahydrobenzofuran portion of the avermectins and milbemycins.     

Stereoselectivity control in Diels–Alder reactions of 4-thiosubstituted 5-alkoxyfuranones: synthesis and reactivity of enantiopure 4-sulfinyl and sulfonyl 5-(l-menthyloxy)furan-2(5H)-ones

The synthesis of enantiomerically pure (S)-4-phenylsulfinyl- and 4-phenylsulfonyl-(5S)-5-(l-menthyloxy)furan-2(5H)-ones 5a and 6 and (5R)-5-(l-menthyloxy)-4-phenylsulfonylfuran-2(5H)-one 8 and the study of their reactions with cyclopentadiene are described. The sulfur substituents at C-4 modify (sulfone 8, anti/syn=78/22) and invert (sulfoxide 5a and sulfone 6, anti/syn≈27/73) the trend imposed by C-5 on the π-facial selectivity and the syn-adducts become the favoured ones. The endo or exo approach mode is favoured for anti (endo/exo ratio ranging between 26 and 5) or syn (exo/endo ratio ranging between 4.5 and 2.3) attack, respectively.     

Synthesis of Polypropionate Fragments Containing Tertiary-Alcohol Moieties. Cross-aldolisations with lithium enolates of 7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]heptan-2-one derivatives

The Diels-Alder adduct of 2,4-dimethylfuran to 1-cyanovinyl (1′R)-camphanate ((+)-(1R,2S,4R)-2-exo-cyano-1,5-dimethyl-7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-en-2-endo-yl (1′R)-camphanate ((+)- 1 )) was converted into (+)-2,7-dideoxy-2,4-di-C-methyl-L -glycero- ((+)- 6 ) and -D -glycero-L -altro-heptono-1,4-lactone ((+)- 7 ), into (?)-(3R,4R,5R,6S)-3,4:5,7-bis(isopropylidenedioxy)-4,6-dimethylheptan-2-one ((?)- 22 ), and into (+)-(2R,3R,4R,5S,6S)-3,4:5,6-bis(isopropylidenedioxy)-2,4-dimethylheptanal ((+)- 34 ). Condensation of ((+)- 34 with the lithium enolate of (?)-(1R,4R,5S,6R)-6-exo-[(tert-butyl)dimethylsilyloxy]-1,5-endo-dimethyl-7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1] heptan-2-one ((?)- 38 ; derived from (+)- 1 ) gave a 3:2 mixture of aldols (+)- 39 and (+)- 40 (mismatched pairs of a α-methyl-substituted aldehyde and (E)-enolate) whereas the reaction of (±)- 34 with (±)- 38 gave a 10:1 mixture of aldols (±)- 41 and (±)- 39 . A single aldol, (?)- 44 , was obtained to condensing (+)- 34 with the lithium enolate of (+)-(1S,4S,5S,6S)-5-exo-(benzyloxy)-1,5-endo-dimethyl-7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]heptan-2-one ((+)- 43 ; derived from (?)-(1S,2R,4S)-2-exo-cyano-1,5-dimethyl-7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-en-2-endo-yl (1′S)-camphanate ((?)- 3 )). All these cross-aldolisations are highly exo-face selective for the bicyclic ketones. The best stereochemical matching is obtained when the lithium enolates and α-methyl-substituted aldehydes can realize a ‘chelated transition state’ that obeys the Cram and Felkin-Anh models (steric effects). Polypropionate fragments containing eleven contiguous stereogenic centres and tertiary-alcohol moieties are thus prepared with high stereoselectivity in a convergent fashion. The chiral auxiliaries ((1R)- and (1S)-camphanic acid) are recovered at the beginning of the syntheses.