[1,3]Dioxolo[5,6][1]benzothieno[2,3-c]-quinolin-6(5H)-ones

Summary The reaction of 3,4-methylenedioxycinnamic acid (1) with thionyl chloride resulted in the formation of 7-chlorothieno[2,3-f]-1,3-benzodioxole-6-carbonyl chloride (2) and cinnamoyl chloride (3). Subsequent reaction of the former withp-substituted anilines led to the formation of 7-chloro-N-(p-substituted phenyl)-thieno[2,3-f]-1,3-benzodioxole-6-carboxamides (4a–c) which on photocyclization afforded 2-substituted [1,3]dioxolo[5,6][1]benzothieno[2,3-c]quinolin-6(5H)-ones (5a–c) in fairly good yields and high purity. The structures have been confirmed by IR,¹H NMR, and analytical methods.Accepted for presentation at the Hong Kong International Symposium on Heterocyclic Chemistry (August 13–16, 1995)     

Synthesis and structures of pyridoannelated 1,2,3,4-tetrazine 1,3-dioxides

Treatment of 2- and 4-amino-3-(tert-butyl-NNO-azoxy)pyridines with nitrating agents (N₂O₅or NO₂BF₄) afforded the first representatives of pyridoannelated 1,2,3,4-tetrazine di-N-oxides, viz., pyrido[2,3-e][1,2,3,4]tetrazine 1,3-dioxide (9), 7-nitropyrido[2,3-e][1,2,3,4]tetrazine 1,3-dioxide (10), and pyrido[3,4-e][1,2,3,4]tetrazine 2,4-dioxide (11). These compounds were studied by ¹H, ¹³C, and ¹⁴N NMR spectroscopy. The 1:1 complex of compound 10 with benzene was studied by X-ray diffraction analysis.__________Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 11, pp. 2471–2477, November, 2004.     

PHOSPHONOMETHYLATION OF AMINOALKANOLS PREPARATION OF 4-(PHOSPHONOMETHYL)-2-HYDROXY-2-OXO-1,4,2-OXAZAPHOSPHORINANES1

Abstract

Treatment of aminoalkanols 1 with phosphorous acid and formaldehyde in presence of conc. hydrochloric acid gave mixtures of [(2-hydroxy alkyl)imino] dimethylene diphosphonic acids 3 and 4-(phosphonomethyl)-2-hydroxy-2-oxo-1,4,2-oxazaphosphorinanes 2 from which 2 were isolated as crystalline solids. Similar treatment of 2-amino-2-methyl-1,3-propanediol 8 gave a complex mixture from which dimethylene diphosphonic acid of 5-amino-5-methyl-1,3-dioxane 9 was isolated. 2-Aminoethanethiol, when subjected to phosphonomethylation. gave an unexpected novel quarternary nitrogen product 11. N-Alkylaminoalkanols 4 on phosphonomethylation gave 3:1 mixtures of [N-alkyl-N-(2-hydroxyalkyl)amino] methane phosphonic acid 6 and N-alkyl-2-hydroxy-2-oxo-1,4,2-oxazaphosphorinane 5. Treatment of the crude mixtures of 5 and 6 with aqueous sodium hydroxide gave disodium salts of [N-alkyl-N-(2-hydroxyalkyl)amino] methanephosphonic acid 7. The ratio of the cyclic to the open chain structures obtained as well as the formation of any unexpected novel products is dependent on the structure of the aminoalkanol that is phosphonomethylated. The ¹H, ¹³C and ³¹P spectra are reported for all new compounds.     

[f]-Fused purine-2,6-diones: Synthesis of new [1,3,5]- and [1,3,6]-thiadiazepino-[3,2-f]-purine ring systems

Summary 6-Phenyl-1,3-dimethyl-2,4-dioxo-1,2,3,4,8,9-hexahydro-[1,3,5]-thiadiazepino-[3,2-f]-purine (5) was obtained by a three-step synthesis from 8-mercapto-1,3-dimethyl-3,7-dihydro-1H-purine-2,6-dione (1) and 2-(benzoylamino)-ethyl chloride (2)via 8-(benzoylaminoethylthio)-1,3-dimethyl-3,7-dihydro-1H-purine-2,6-dione (3) and its chloromido derivative4. The analogous 9-phenyl-1,3-dimethyl-2,4-dioxo-1,2,3,4,6,7-hexahydro-[1,3,6]-thiadiazepino-[3,2-f]-purine (7) was synthesized either from compound1 and N-(2-chloroethyl)-benzimido chloridevia N-(chloroethyl)-S-(1,3-dimethyl-2,4-dioxo-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-7H-purin-8-yl)-benzothioimide (6), or alternatively from 7-(2-benzoylaminoethyl)-8-bromo-1,3-dimethyl-3,7-dihydro-1H-purine-2,6-dione (9), its 8-mercapto derivative10 and the corresponding chloroimido compound11 being the intermediates.Part of this paper was presented as a preliminary report at the Congress of Czech and Slovak Chemical Societies, Olomouc, Czech Republic, September 13–16, 1993     

Glycosphingolipid with a branched sphingosine base from soft corals from the Andaman Islands

New cerebroside with the structure of 1-(-d-glucopyranosyloxy)-2-N-(2-hydroxyacyl)-erythro-2-amino-9-methyloctadeca-4E,8E-dien-3-ol (1) was isolated from the soft coral Cladiellasp. collected on the seaboard of the Andaman Islands (Indian Ocean). The acyl groups in compound 1 were identified as residues of d-2-hydroxy-C_20:0, -C_21:0, and -C_22:0 acids.     

Diisophorone and related compounds. Part 12 Synthesis of 4-bromodiisophorones and their reactions with nucleophiles

4-Bromodiisophor-2(7)-en-1-ol-3-one (2) is accessible by the action of hydrobromic acid on 2,7-epoxydiisophoran-1-ol-3-one (1), and is convertible into the corresponding 1-carboxylic acid (9) by theKoch-Haaf reaction. Nucleophilic substitution displaces the halogen in both the 4-bromoketol (2) and the 4-bromoketo-acid (9). Amongst the products thus obtained, 4-hydroxy-1-carboxydiisophor-2(7)-en-3-one (11) is of special interest as a source of the 3,4-diketo-1-carboxylic acid (13).

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Diisophoron und verwandte Verbindungen, 12. Mitt.: Synthese von 4-Bromdiisophoronen und ihre Reaktion mit Nucleophilen

Zusammenfassung 4-Bromdiisophor-2(7)-en-1-ol-3-on (2) ist durch Einwirkung von Bromwasserstoffsäure auf 2,7-Epoxydiisophoran-1-ol-3-on (1) erhältlich und wird mittels derKoch-Haaf-Reaktion zur entsprechenden 1-Carbonsäure (9) umgesetzt. Durch nucleophile Reagenzien wird das Halogen sowohl im 4-Bromketol (2) als auch in der 4-Bromoketosäure (9) substituiert. Unter den so erhältlichen Produkten ist das 4-Hydroxy-1-carboxydiisophor-2(7)-en-3-on als Ausgangsmaterial für die 3,4-Diketo-1-säure (13) von zusätzlichem Interesse.

     

13C, 15N and 113Cd NMR and Molecular Orbital Studies of Novel Bile Acid N-(2-aminoethyl)amides and Their Cd2+-complexes

Lithocholic acid N-(2-aminoethyl)amide (1) and deoxycholic acid N-(2-aminoethyl)amide(2) have been prepared and characterized by¹H, ¹³C and ¹⁵N NMR. The accurate molecular masses of 1 and 2 have been determined by ESI MS. The formation of the Cd²⁺-complexes (1+Cd and 2+Cd) in CD₃OD solution have been detected by ¹H,¹³C, ¹⁵N and ¹¹³Cd NMR. The ¹³C NMR chemical shift assignments of 1 and 2 and their Cd²⁺-complexes are based on DEPT-135 and z-GS ¹H,¹³C HMQC experiments as well as comparison with the assignments of the related structures. The ¹⁵N NMR chemical shiftassignments of the ligands and theirCd²⁺-complexes are based on z-GS¹H,¹⁵N HMBC experiments. ¹³C NMR chemical shift differences between 1and its 1:1 Cd²⁺-complex based on ab initiocalculations at Hartree-Fock SCI-PCM level using3-21G(d) basis set are in agreement with theexperimental shift changes observed onCd²⁺-complexation.     

Regioselective Synthesis of Partially Protected Trehalose Analogues and Assignment of Ring Size in Isopropylidene Acetal Derivatives by 13 C Nmr Spectroscopy

ABSTRACT

The ¹³C NMR spectra of a range of di-O-isopropylidene acetals of α,α-trehalose and its analogues 1, 2, 4-7 have been studied Attention has been focussed on the chemical shifts of the acetal carbon and methyl groups of the acetals. These parameters are characteristic of ring-size (1,3-dioxolane and 1,3-dioxane). Di-n-butylstannylene and cyclic orthoester intermediates 9 and 12 of 2,6-di-O-benzoyl-α-D-galactopyranosyl 2,6-di-O-benzoyl-α-D-galactopyranoside (8) were used to synthesize the partially protected trehalose analogue having chain extension at positions 4,4′ and 3,3′ (10 and 13) respectively. Acetonation of the synthetic trehalose type disaccharide yielded mainly 3,4:3′,4′-di-O-isopropylidene derivative 4. The benzoylation of 4 followed by acid hydrolysis gave 8 in 85% yield, which was the key intermediate for the synthesis of 10 and 13     

Structure of products of the reaction of 2-cyanoaziridine with carbonyl compounds

The structure of azimexone (3), the product of the reaction of 2-cyanoaziridine with acetone, was confirmed on the basis of¹H and¹³C NMR spectra. The formation of this product is accounted for by the -aziridinoalkylating action of an intermediate containing a good leaving iminoyloxy group. Similar reactions were observed for 1-chloromethylaziridine and a 1-aziridinylmethylammonium salt (6), but not for 1-methoxymethylaziridine (7) and 1-aziridinemethanol.Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 12, pp. 2136–2139, December, 1993.     

[1]Benzofuro[3,2-<Emphasis Type="Italic">c</Emphasis>]pyridine synthesis and coordination reactions

(E)-3-(1-Benzofuran-2-yl)propenoic acid (1) was prepared from 1-benzofuran-2-carbaldehyde under the Doebner’s conditions. The obtained acid was converted to the corresponding azide 2, which was cyclized by heating in diphenyl ether to [1]benzofuro[3,2-c]pyridine-1(2H)-one (3). This compound was aromatized with phosphorus oxychloride to chloroderivative 4 which was reduced with zinc and acetic acid to the title compound 5. [1]Benzofuro[3,2-c]pyridine-2-oxide (6) was synthesized by reaction of 5 with 3-chloroperoxybenzoic acid in dichloromethane. Treatment of 6 with benzoyl chloride and potassium cyanide (Reissert-Henze reaction) was shown to produce the corresponding [1]benzofuro[3,2-c]pyridine-1-carbonitrile (7). The title compound was used for preparation of complexes Cu₂(ac)₄(bfp)₂ (8) and CoCl₂(bfp)₂ (9), where ac=CH₃CO₂⁻ and bfp=[1]benzofuro[3,2-c]pyridine. Both oxygen atom of carboxylate ions is used in the coordination to Cu(II). Thermal properties of the complexes 8 and 9 have been studied by TG and DTA and both complexes exhibited high thermal stability while complex 9 are thermally more stable than complex 8.     

New synthetic approach to 8-allyltheophylline

Summary The synthesis of 8-allyltheophylline (8) from 5,6-diamino-1,3-dimethyluracil (1) and 3-butenoic acid byTraube's methodvia 6-amino-5-(3-butenoylamino)-1,3-dimethyluracil (2) failed because an attempted alkaline cyclization of the intermediate2 afforded (E)-8-(1-propenyl)-theophylline (3) under rearrangement of the terminal C=C bond. Therefore, the cyclodehydratation of 6-(3-butenylamino)-5-nitroso-1,3-dimethyluracil (7), available from 6-chloro-1,3-dimethyluracil (5)via 6-(3-butenylamino) derivative6 has to be used for obtaining the required product8.

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Ein neuer synthetischer Zugang zu 8-Allyltheophyllin

Zusammenfassung 8-Allyltheophyllin (8) kann nicht mittels derTraube-Synthese aus 5,6-Diamino-1,3-dimethyluracil und 3-Butensäurevia 6-Amino-5-(3-butenoylamino)-1,3-dimethyluracil (2) hergestellt werden, wei bei der alkalischen Cyclisierung des Zwischenproduktes2 Umlagerung der terminalen C=C-Doppelbindung unter Bildung von (E)-8-(1-Propenyl)theophyllin (3) erfolgt. Zur Darstellung der Verbindung8 muss man daher die Dehydratationscyclisierung von 6-(3-Butenylamino)-5-nitroso-1,3-dimethyluracil (7) anwenden. Letzteres ist aus 6-Chloro-1,3-dimethyluracil über das 6-(3-Butenylamino)-Derivat6 zugänglich.

     

Synthesis of optically active hydridocarbonyl triosmium clusters with terpene derivatives as ligands. Molecular structure and absolute configuration of a cluster with a bridging dihydroimidazole ligand

Reactions of the triosmium clusters Os₃(CO)₁₁(NCMe) (1) and Os₃(CO)₁₀(NCMe)₂ (2) with terpene derivatives,viz., (1S,3S,4R,6R)-3-(N,N-dimethylamino)-4-amino-3,7,7-trimethylbicyclo [4.1.0]heptane (3). (3bR,4aR)-(3,4,4-trimethyl-3b,4,4a,5-tetrahydrocyclopropa [3,4]cyclopenta[1,2-c]pyrazol-1-yl)acetic acid (4a), and (3bR,4aR)-3-(3,4,4-trimethyl-3b, 4,4a,5-tetrahydrocyclopropa[3,4]cyclopenta[1,2-c]pyrazol-1-yl)propionic acid (4b), were studied. A complex with the terminally coordinated ligand is formed in the first step of the reaction of diamine3 with cluster1. Heating of the resulting complex is accompanied by activation of one of the methyl groups of the ligand to form diastereomers with the bridging tricyclic dihydroimidazole ligand. One of these diastereomers was studied by X-ray diffraction analysis and its absolute configuration was established. Pyrazolycarboxylic acids react with cluster2 as simple organic acids and are coordinated as a bridge at the Os—Os bond through the carboxyl group. Published inIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 8, pp. 1447–1454, August, 2000.     

Studies on the Thioglycosides of N-Acetylneuraminic Acid. 6: Synthesis of Ganglioside GM4 Analogs1

Abstract

Two kinds of ganglioside GM₄ thioanalogs having different fatty acyl groups at the ceramide moiety, (2S, 3R, 4E)-1-O-[3-S-(5-acetamido-3,5-di-deoxy-D-glycero-α-D-galacto-2-nonulopyranosylonic acid)-3-thio-β-D-galacto-pyranosyl]-2-octadecanamido (or -tetracosanamido)-4-octadecene-1,3-diol (12, 13), have been synthesized. Condensation of the trichloroacetimidate 7, derived from 1,2,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-3-S-(methyl 5-acetamido-4,7,8,9-tetra-O-acetyl-3,5-dideoxy-D-glycero-α-D-galacto-2-nonulopyranosylonate)-3-thio-β-D-galactopyranose (6) by selective 1-O-deacetylation and subsequent trichloroacetimidation, with (2S, 3R, 4E)-2-azido-3-O-benzoyl-4-octadecene-1,3-diol (4), gave the coupling product (8), which was converted into the title compounds via selective reduction of the azide group, condensation with fatty acids, and removal of the protecting groups.     

A study of the Claisen rearrangement of 7-(3-phenyl-2-propenyloxy)-3-phenyl-(4H)-1-benzopyran-4-one derivatives

Summary The Claisen rearrangement of 7-(3-phenyl-2-propenyloxy)-3-phenyl-(4H)-1-benzopyran-4-one (2 a) gave 7-hydroxy-8-(1-phenyl-2-propenyl)-3-phenyl-(4H)-1-benzopyran-4-one (3 a) and 2,3-dihydro-2,6-diphenyl-3-methyl-(7H)furo[2,3-h]-1-benzopyran-7-one (7 a). 2-Methyl-7-(3-phenyl-2-propenyloxy)-3-phenyl-(4H)-1-benzopyran-4-one (2 b) afforded4 b and7 b. 8-Methyl-7-(3-phenyl-2-propenyloxy)-3-phenyl-(4H)-1-benzopyran-4-one (12) gave only the alkali soluble product 7-hydroxy-8-methyl-6-(1-phenyl-2-propenyl)-3-phenyl-(4H)-1-benzopyran-4-one (13).3 a,4 b, and13 were further cyclized in acidic medium to9 a,10 b, and14 followed by dehydrogenation.This paper is dedicated to Dr. F. M. Dean, Department of Organic Chemistry, Robert Robinson Laboratories, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, U. K., on his retirement     

Annelation of drotaverine by <Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-quinones to form hydroxyindolo- and hydroxybenzindoloisoquinoline derivatives

1-(3, 4-Diethoxybenzyl)-6, 7-diethoxy-3, 4-dihydroisoquinoline (drotaverine, 1a) reacts with p-benzoquinone (2) and p-naphthoquinone (3) in nitromethane or during fusion to give 5-(3, 4-diethoxyphenyl)-7, 8-diethoxy-3-hydroxy-5a, 10, 11, 12-tetrahydroindolo[2, 1-a]isoquinoline (4) and 7-(3, 4-diethoxyphenyl)-9, 10-diethoxy-5-hydroxy-7a, 12, 13, 14-tetrahydrobenz[g]indolo[2, 1-a]isoquinoline (5), respectively. Compounds 4 and 5 are smoothly alkylated at the oxygen atom in the presence of bases. The structure of one alkylation product, viz., 3-allyloxy-5-(3, 4-diethoxyphenyl)-7, 8-diethoxy-5a, 10, 11, 12-tetrahydroindolo[2, 1-a]isoquinoline, was established by X-ray diffraction analysis.__________Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 3, pp. 761–769, March, 2005.     

On triazoles XIX: The reaction of 5-amino-1,2,4-triazoles with functionalized acetoacetic esters

Summary Different functionalized alkyl 3-oxo-butyrates (2) were reacted with 5-amino-3-Q-1H-1,2,4-triazoles (1) to yield3 and4 type 1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidinones. In case of2 (R ¹=methyl,R ²=1-ethoxycarbonylethyl,R ³=ethyl) beside the corresponding derivative4 the unexpected 5,6-dihydro-6,8-dimethyl-7-ethoxycarbonyl-3-methylthio-1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-a]-1,3-diazepin-5(9H)-one (7) was isolated, representing a novel ring system.

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Über Triazole, 19. Mitt.: Die Reaktion von 5-Amino-1,2,4-triazolen mit funktionalisierten Acetoessigestern

Zusammenfassung Verschiedene funktionalisierte 3-Oxo-buttersäurealkylester (2) wurden mit 5-Amino-3-Q-1H-1,2,4-triazolen (1) umgesetzt, wobei 1,2,4-Triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidinone der Typen3 und4 erhalten wurden. Im Fall von2 (R ¹=Methyl,R ²=1-Ethoxycarbonylethyl,R ³=Ethyl) wurde neben dem erwarteten Derivat4 das unerwartete 5,6-Dihydro-6,8-dimethyl-7-ethoxycarbonyl-3-me-thylthio-1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-a]-1,3-diazepin-5(9H)-on (7) isoliert, welches ein neues Ringsystem darstellt.

     

Reaktionen mit cyclischen Oxalylverbindungen,XXIV. Zur Reaktion von 4-Benzoyl-5-phenyl-furan-2,3-dion mit Phenylhydrazonen bzw. Phenylhydrazin

4-Benzoyl-5-phenyl-furan-2,3-dione (1) reacts with various phenylhydrazones2 at 60–80°C to the pyrazole carboxylic acid3 a, which then can be decarboxylated to 4-benzoyl-1,5-diphenyl-pyrazole (5).1 and phenylhydrazine combine again yielding3 a as the main product and the isomeric pyridazinone6 as by-product. At higher temperatures (120–140°C) the reaction of1 with2 a leads to the formation of dibenzoyl acetic acid hydrazide derivatives8.The structures of all products were confirmed by IR, MS,¹⁵N- and¹³C-NMR spectroscopic measurements, in the case of the pyridazinone6 also by an X-ray study.6 crystallizes with one moleDMSO monoclinically in space group P 2₁/n (Nr. 14) with 4 molecules6 andDMSO per cell.The reaction pathways leading to the compounds3, 6 and8 are discussed.

     

Zu den Umlagerungsreaktionen des Acetyl-benzoylcarbens

Labelled acetyl-benzoylcarbene (13) formed by photolytic nitrogen elimination from [2-¹³C]1-phenyl-2-diazo-1,3-butadione (8) rearranges in the presence of ethanol to ethyl 2-phenylacetoacetate (26%) and ethyl 2-benzoylpropionate (74%). The¹³C-labelling in ethyl 2-phenylacetoacetate is found to the extend of ca.58% in the ester carbonyl function (20) and to ca. 42% in the adjacent tertiary carbon atom (21). This proves the isomerisation of carbene13 to carbene11 via the intermediate acetyl-phenyloxirene (12). The [1-¹³C]-labelled ester20 is formed by acetyl migration in11 to the ketene16 and subsequent addition of ethanol. In contrast, ethyl 2-benzoylpropionate is exclusively generated by migration of the methyl group in carbene13 since it contains the complete¹³C-labelling at the tertiary carbon atom (22).

     

Excellent Ag+ selective receptors: Syntheses and complexation properties of novel biscalix[4]arene with benzalazine groups

By reacting mono-substituted or 1,3-bi-substituted [2-(p-formylphenyloxy)ethyloxy]-p-tert-butylcalix[4]arene (3 or 4) with hydrazine hydrate in ‘1+2’ or ‘2+2’ condensation mode, novel benzalazine-bridging biscalix[4]arenes 5 and 7 were conveniently obtained in the yields of 76 and 81%, respectively. Condensation of compound 4 and salicylide hydrazone gave a novel calix[4]arene benzalazine derivative 6 in the yield of 85%. The structures and conformations of all new compounds were characterised by elemental analyses, ESI-MS, ¹H NMR and ¹H–¹H COSY techniques. Biscalix[4]arene 7 adopts a symmetrical cone conformation with tube cavity. The liquid–liquid extraction experiment showed that all new hosts possessed excellent complexation abilities towards soft metal cations. Compound 7 exhibited high complexation selectivity towards Ag⁺. The Ag⁺/Na⁺ and Ag⁺/Hg²⁺ extraction percentages of host 7 were as high as 73.1 and 54.9, respectively. The UV–vis spectra complexation experiments revealed that the complexation constant of receptor 7 with Ag⁺ was 1.9 × 10⁵ M^? 1 and the 1:1 stoichiometry of receptor 7–Ag⁺ complex was formed. The ¹H NMR spectra complexation experiments suggested that Ag⁺ was bound in a cavity composed of two benzalazine groups on bridging chains.     

Umsetzung von 1,5-Dimethyl-2,3,3,4-tetrachlor-1,5,2,4-diazadiphosphorinan-6-on mit Anilinderivaten,Heptamethyldisilazan und tert.-Butylamin: Oxidative Addition von Tetrachlor-o-benzochinon an einige P(III)-haltige Produkte

The reaction of the title compound 1 with the p-R-aniline derivatives (R═H, F, OCH₃, NO₂, and NH₂) led to the formation of the aza-2σ³,4σ³-diphosphetidines 2a– 2e, whereas 2-trimethylsiloxyaniline furnished the azadiphosphetidine 2f. The reaction of the sterically crowded 2,6-dimethylaniline with 1 furnished the disubstituted derivative 3. The tricyclic compound 5 was formed during the reaction of 1,2-phenylenediamine with 1. Heptamethyldisilazane formed the aza-2σ ³ ,4σ ³ -diphosphetidine 6 on reaction with 1. The bulkier tert.-butylamine formed with 1 a mixture of the aza-2,4-diphosphetidine 7a and the disubstituted derivative 7b, which could not be separated. The reaction of 2b and 6 with tetrachloro-o-benzoquinone resulted in the formation of the bis-spirophosphoranes 8 and 9b, respectively. The formation of the monospirophosphorane 9a was observed in the ³¹P NMR spectrum. The characterization of compounds is based in particular on NMR investigations (¹H, ¹³C, ³¹P). 2a was characterized by a single-crystal X-ray structure analysis. The dimethylurea fragment is planar; the four-membered ring is folded about the P···P vector by 38.7°.