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).     

Exceptional Products of the Desulfurization of N,2-Diaryl-5-(arylimino)- 2,5-dihydro-4-nitroisothiazol-3-amines

The desulfurization of several N,2-diaryl-5-(arylimino)-2,5-dihydro-4-nitroisothiazol-3-amines 5 with Ph₃P led to complex mixtures of products in low yields. For instance, quinoxaline-2-carboxamide 1-oxides of type 6 (Scheme 2) and, in some cases, also 3-nitroquinolines of type 7 (Scheme 5) were isolated. By the desulfurization of the substituted derivatives 5b – e , a rearrangement of the intermediates yielded 6 and 7 with a different substitution pattern from that expected from the starting materials (Scheme 3). The additional formation of two isomeric 1,2,5-oxadiazole-3-carboxamides 8 was observed only in the case of 5d (R¹=R²=F) (Scheme 6). Under the same reaction conditions, the major product of the desulfurization of 5c was the quinoxaline-2-carboxamide 1-oxide 9 (Scheme 7). Reaction mechanisms involving intermediate ketene imines and O transfer from the NO₂ group to the neighboring ketene imine are proposed. The structures of 6a , 6e , 6k , 7b , and 8d were established by X-ray crystallography, while the structure of 9 was elucidated by 2D-NMR spectroscopy and corroborated by X-ray crystallography.     

First Examples of Reactions of Azole N-Oxides with Thioketones: A Novel Type of Sulfur-Transfer Reaction

The reactions of 1,4,5-trisubstituted imidazole 3-oxides 1a – k with cyclobutanethiones 5a , b in CHCl₃ at room temperature give imidazole-2(3H)-thiones 9a – k in high yield. The second product formed in this reaction is 2,2,4,4-tetramethylcyclobutane-1,3-dione ( 6a ; Scheme 2). Similar reactions occur with 1 and adamantanethione ( 5c ) as thiocarbonyl compound, as well as with 1,2,4-triazole-4-oxide derivative 10 and 5a (Scheme 3). A reaction mechanism by a two-step formation of the formal cycloadduct of type 7 via zwitterion 16 is proposed in Scheme 5. Spontaneous decomposition of 7 yields the products of this novel sulfur-transfer reaction. The starting imidazole 3-oxides are conveniently prepared by heating a mixture of 1,3,5-trisubstituted hexahydro-1,3,5-triazines 3 and α-(hydroxyimino) ketones 2 in EtOH (cf. Scheme 1). As demonstrated in the case of 9d , a `one-pot' procedure allows the preparation of 9 without isolation of the imidazole 3-oxides 1 . The reaction of 1c with thioketene 12 leads to a mixture of four products (Scheme 4). The minor products, 9c and the ketene 15 , result from an analogous sulfur-transfer reaction (Path a in Scheme 5), whereas the parent imidazole 14 and thiiranone 13 are the products of an oxygen-transfer reaction (Path b in Scheme 5).     

Formation of Heptaleno[1,2-c]furans and Heptaleno[1,2-c]furanones

The dehydrogenation reaction of the heptalene-4,5-dimethanols 4a and 4d , which do not undergo the double-bond-shift (DBS) process at ambient temperature, with basic MnO₂ in CH₂Cl₂ at room temperature, leads to the formation of the corresponding heptaleno[1,2-c]furans 6a and 6d , respectively, as well as to the corresponding heptaleno[1,2-c]furan-3-ones 7a and 7d , respectively (cf. Scheme 2 and 8). The formation of both product types necessarily involves a DBS process (cf. Scheme 7). The dehydrogenation reaction of the DBS isomer of 4a , i.e., 5a , with MnO₂ in CH₂Cl₂ at room temperature results, in addition to 6a and 7a , in the formation of the heptaleno[1,2-c]-furan-1-one 8a and, in small amounts, of the heptalene-4,5-dicarbaldehyde 9a (cf. Scheme 3). The benzo[a]heptalene-6,7-dimethanol 4c with a fixed position of the C?C bonds of the heptalene skeleton, on dehydrogenation with MnO₂ in CH₂Cl₂, gives only the corresponding furanone 11b (Scheme 4). By [²H₂]-labelling of the methanol function at C(7), it could be shown that the furanone formation takes place at the stage of the corresponding lactol [3-²H₂]- 15b (cf. Scheme 6). Heptalene-1,2-dimethanols 4c and 4e , which are, at room temperature, in thermal equilibrium with their corresponding DBS forms 5c and 5e , respectively, are dehydrogenated by MnO₂ in CH₂Cl₂ to give the corresponding heptaleno[1,2-c]furans 6c and 6e as well as the heptaleno[1,2-c]furan-3-ones 7c and 7e and, again, in small amounts, the heptaleno[1,2-c]furan-1-ones 8c and 8e , respectively (cf. Scheme 8). Therefore, it seems that the heptalene-1,2-dimethanols are responsible for the formation of the furan-1-ones (cf. Scheme 7). The methylenation of the furan-3-ones 7a and 7e with Tebbe's reagent leads to the formation of the 3-methyl-substituted heptaleno[1,2-c]furans 23a and 23e , respectively (cf. Scheme 9). The heptaleno[1,2-c]furans 6a, 6d , and 23a can be resolved into their antipodes on a Chiralcel OD column. The (P)-configuration is assigned to the heptaleno[1,2-c]furans showing a negative Cotton effect at ca. 320 nm in the CD spectrum in hexane (cf. Figs. 3–5 as well as Table 7). The (P)-configuration of (–)- 6a is correlated with the established (P)-configuration of the dimethanol (–)- 5a via dehydrogenation with MnO₂. The degree of twisting of the heptalene skeleton of 6 and 23 is determined by the Me-substitution pattern (cf. Table 9). The larger the heptalene gauche torsion angles are, the more hypsochromically shifted is the heptalene absorption band above 300 nm (cf. Table 7 and 8, as well as Figs. 6–9).     

Oligonucleosides with a Nucleobase‐Including Backbone,Part 3, Synthesis of Acetyleno‐Linked Adenosine Dimers

The adenosine‐derived dimers 14a – d and 15b – d have been prepared by coupling the protected 8‐iodoadenosines 3 and 13 with the C(5′)‐ethynylated adenosine derivatives 5 , 6 , 11 , and 12 (Scheme 4). Similarly, the 5′‐epimeric dimer 16 was prepared by coupling 3 with the alkyne 8 (Scheme 5). The propargylic alcohol 4 was transformed into the N‐benzoylated alkyne 5 and into the amine 6 , while the epimeric alcohol 7 was converted to the epimeric amine 8 and the 5′‐deoxy analogues 11 and 12 (Scheme 3). Cross‐coupling of the iodoadenosine 13 with the alkyne 5 to 14a was optimised; it is influenced by the N‐benzoyl and the Et₃SiO group of the alkyne, but hardly by the N‐benzoyl group of the 8‐iodoadenosine. The alkyne is most reactive when it is O‐silylated, but not N‐benzoylated. Cross‐coupling of the 5′‐deoxyalkynes proceeded more slowly. The dimers 14a – d , 15b – d , and 16 were obtained in good yields (Table 2). Deprotection of 14d and 16 led to 18 and 20 , respectively (Scheme 5). The diols 17 and 19 and the hexols 18 and 20 prefer the syn‐conformation in (D₆)DMSO, completely for unit II and ≥80% for unit I; they exhibit partially persistent intramolecular O(5′)−H⋅⋅⋅N(3) H‐bonds. The persistence increases from 18% (unit I of 19 ), 32% (unit II of 17 and 19 ), 45% (unit I of 17 ), 52% (unit II of 18 and 20 ), and 55% (unit I of 20 ) to 82% (unit I of 18 ).     

Concise Synthesis of [1,1′‐Biisoquinoline]‐4,4′‐diol via a Protecting Group Strategy and Its Application for Potential Liquid‐Crystalline Compounds

The [1,1′‐biisoquinoline]‐4,4′‐diol ( 4a ), which was obtained as hydrochloride 4a ?2 HCl in two steps starting from the methoxymethyl (MOM)‐protected 1‐chloroisoquinoline 8 (Scheme 3), opens access to further O‐functionalized biisoquinoline derivatives. Compound 4a ?2 HCl was esterified with 4‐(hexadecyloxy)benzoyl chloride ( 5b ) to give the corresponding diester 3b (Scheme 4), which could not be obtained by Ni‐mediated homocoupling of 6b (Scheme 2). The ether derivative 2b was accessible in good yield by reaction of 4a ?2 HCl with the respective alkyl bromide 9 under the conditions of Williamson etherification (Scheme 4). Slightly modified conditions were applied to the esterification of 4a ?2 HCl with galloyl chlorides 10a – h as well as etherification of 4a ?2 HCl with 6‐bromohexyl tris(alkyloxy)benzoates 11b , d – h and [(6‐bromohexyl)oxy]‐substituted pentakis(alkyloxy)triphenylenes 14a – c (Scheme 5). Despite the bulky substituents, the respective target 1,1′‐biisoquinolines 12, 13 , and 15 were isolated in 14–86% yield (Table).     

Chiral Acylsilanes in Organic Synthesis. Part 3. Silicon-directed stereoselective preparation and Ireland ester-enolate rearrangement of O-acyl-substituted α-silylated allyl alcohols

Stereocontrolled addition of alk-1-enylmetal reagents to the chiral (alkoxymethyl)-substituted acylsilanes (±)- 6 gave rise to α-silylated allyl alcohols, which were converted to the corresponding acetates or propionates 11–16 (Scheme 2). Deprotonation and silylation with Me₃SiCl afforded – in an Ireland ester-enolate-accelerated Claisen rearrangement – stereoselectively αδ-silylated γδ-unsaturated carboxylic acids 18–24 (Scheme 4). The Me₃Si groups in α-position to the COOH group of these compounds were removed chemoselectively in presence of the chiral silyl group in δ-position by treatment with Bu₄NF · 3 H₂O or Et₃N · 3 HF (→ 27–32 ; Scheme 5). The reaction sequence allows a novel stereocontrolled access to chiral C-frameworks possessing a vinylsilane moiety with its full reaction potential.     

Regioselectivity of the 1,3‐Oxathiolane Formation in the Lewis Acid‐Catalyzed Reaction of Thioketones with Asymmetrically Substituted Oxiranes

The reactions of the aromatic thioketone 4,4′‐dimethoxythiobenzophenone ( 1 ) with three monosubstituted oxiranes 3a – c in the presence of BF₃⋅Et₂O or SnCl₄ in dry CH₂Cl₂ led to the corresponding 1 : 1 adducts, i.e., 1,3‐oxathiolanes 4a – b with R at C(5) and 8c with Ph at C(4). In addition, 1,3‐dioxolanes 7a and 7c , and the unexpected 1 : 2 adducts 6a – b were obtained (Scheme 2 and Table 1). In the case of the aliphatic, nonenolizable thioketone 1,1,3,3‐tetramethylindane‐2‐thione ( 2 ) and 3a – c with BF₃⋅Et₂O as catalyst, only 1 : 1 adducts, i.e. 1,3‐oxathiolanes 10a – b with R at C(5) and 11a – c with R or Ph at C(4), were formed (Scheme 6 and Table 2). In control experiments, the 1 : 1 adducts 4a and 4b were treated with 2‐methyloxirane ( 3a ) in the presence of BF₃⋅Et₂O to yield the 1 : 2 adduct 6a and 1 : 1 : 1 adduct 9 , respectively (Scheme 5). The structures of 6a , 8c , 10a , 11a , and 11c were confirmed by X‐ray crystallography (Figs. 1 – 5). The results described in the present paper show that alkyl and aryl substituents have significant influence upon the regioselectivity in the process of the ring opening of the complexed oxirane by the nucleophilic attack of the thiocarbonyl S‐atom: the preferred nucleophilic attack occurs at C(3) of alkyl‐substituted oxiranes (O−C(3) cleavage) but at C(2) of phenyloxirane (O−C(2) cleavage).     

New Results in the Synthesis of Styrylazulene Derivatives: Application of the ‘Anil synthesis’ to the preparation of azulenes substituted with styryl groups at the seven-membered ring

The synthesis of 4,6,8-trimethyl-1-[(E)-4-R-styryl]azulenes 5 (R=H, MeO, Cl) has been performed by Wittig reaction of 4,6,8-trimethylazulene-1-carbaldehyde ( 1 ) and the corresponding 4-(R-benzyl)(triphenyl)phosphonium chlorides 4 in the presence of EtONa/EtOH in boiling toluene (see Table 1). In the same way, guaiazulene-3-carbaldehyde ( 2 ) as well as dihydrolactaroviolin ( 3 ) yielded with 4a the corresponding styrylazulenes 6 and 7 , respectively (see Table 1). It has been found that 1 and 4b yield, in competition to the Wittig reaction, alkylation products, namely 8 and 9 , respectively (cf. Scheme 1). The reaction of 4,6,8-trimethylazulene ( 10 ) with 4b in toluene showed that azulenes can, indeed, be easily alkylated with the phosphonium salt 4b . 4,6,8-Trimethylazulene-2-carbaldehyde ( 12 ) has been synthesized from the corresponding carboxylate 15 by a reduction (LiAlH₄) and dehydrogenation (MnO₂) sequence (see Scheme 2). The Swern oxidation of the intermediate 2-(hydroxymethyl)azulene 16 yielded only 1,3-dichloroazulene derivatives (cf. Scheme 2). The Wittig reaction of 12 with 4a and 4b in the presence of EtONa/EtOH in toluene yielded the expected 2-styryl derivatives 19a and 19b , respectively (see Scheme 3). Again, the yield of 19b was reduced by a competing alkylation reaction of 19b with 4b which led to the formation of the 1-benzylated product 20 (see Scheme 3). The ‘anil synthesis’ of guaiazulene ( 21 ) and the 4-R-benzanils 22 (R=H, MeO, Cl, Me₂N) proceeded smoothyl under standard conditions (powered KOH in DMF) to yield the corresponding 4-[(E)-styryl]azulene derivatives 23 (see Table 4). In minor amounts, bis(azulen-4-yl) compounds of type 24 and 25 were also formed (see Table 4). The ‘anil reaction’ of 21 and 4-NO₂C₆H₄CH=NC₆H₅ ( 22e ) in DMF yielded no corresponding styrylazulene derivative 23e . Instead, (E)-1,2-bis(7-isopropyl-1-methylazulen-4-yl)ethene ( 27 ) was formed (see Scheme 4). The reaction of 4,6,8-trimethylazulene ( 10 ) and benzanil ( 22a ) in the presence of KOH in DMF yielded the benzanil adducts 28 to 31 (cf. Scheme 5). Their direct base-catalyzed transformation into the corresponding styryl-substituted azulenes could not be realized (cf. Scheme 6). However, the transformation succeeded smoothly with KOH in boiling EtOH after N-methylation (cf. Scheme 6).     

Umwandlung von 6-Methylen-tricyclo[3.2.1.02,7]oct-3-en-8-onen mit Ameisensäure in kernmethylierte Phenylessigsäuren

In a preceding communication [5] it was shown that 1, 5-dimethyl-6-methylene-tricyclo[3.2.1.0^2,7]oct-3-en-8-one ( 2 ) and related tricyclic ketones are converted by strong acids (CF₃COOH, FSO₃H) into polymethylated tropylium salts with loss of carbon monoxide, e.g. the 1, 2, 4-trimethyltropylium ion 4 from 2 (Scheme 1). Under the influence of neat formic acid at 20°, 2 gives rise to ring-methylated phenylacetic acids, i.e. 2, 4, 5-trimethylphenylacetic acid ( 5 , main product) as well as smaller amounts of 2, 4, 6-and 2, 3, 5-trimethylphenylacetic acids ( 6, 7 resp.; Scheme 2). –On rearrangement of 2 in HCOOD, ca. 2 D-atoms are incorporated (formula d₂-5) into the 2, 4, 5-trimethylphenylacetic acid. The tricyclic 15 , containing 3 methyl groups, gives 2, 3, 5, 6-tetramethylphenylacetic acid ( 11 ; Scheme 4) with formic acid; the isomeric tricyclic 16 , 2, 3, 4, 5-tetramethylphenylacetic acid ( 12 ; Scheme 5). From 1, 2, 4, 5-tetramethyl-6-methylene-tricyclo[3.2.1.0^2,7]oct-3-en-8-one ( 17 ) one obtains pentamethylphenylacetic acid ( 14 ; Scheme 6). Similarly from 18 , a phenylacetic acid derivative, most probably 4-ethyl-2, 5-dimethyl-phenylacetic acid ( 19 ; Scheme 17), has been obtained. –In no case was the formation of α-phenylpropionic acid derivatives observed, not even from the tricyclic 23 containing six methyl groups. From the tricyclic ketone 2 in 70% formic acid a trimethyl-cyclohepta-2, 4, 6-triene-1-carboxyclic acid with partial formula 24 , besides 2, 4, 5-trimethylphenylacetic acid ( 5 ), is formed. 24 remained practically unchanged on standing in neat formic acid and thus does not represent an intermediate product arising by the rearrangement of 2 in that solvent. On standing in methanolic sulfuric acid, tricyclic 2 furnishes the two stereioisomeric methanol-addition products Z- 26 and E- 26 (Scheme 10); these are converted into the phenylacetic acids 5 , 6 and 7 by neat formic acid. The conversion of 2 and related compounds into ring-polymethylated phenylacetic acids, represents a novel and rather complicated reaction. In our opinion the reaction paths represented in Schemes 12 and 18 are responsible for the conversion of 2 into the trimethylphenylacetic acids, compound 40 representing a key intermediate. Analogous reaction paths can be assumed for the other tricyclic ketone transformations. The use of shift reagents in the NMR. spectroscopy and the high-resolution gas-chromatography of the corresponding methyl esters proved particularly important for the analysis of the reaction mixtures. The majority of the polymethylated phenylacetic acids were independently synthesised by means of the Willgerodt-Kindler reaction (chap. 3.2.), whose course is strongly influenced by methyl groups in the ortho-positions of the acetophenone derivatives employed.     

Dipeptide Derivatives with a Phosphonate Instead of Carboxylate Terminus by C-Alkylation of Protected (Decarboxy-dipeptidyl)phosphonates

Z-Protected diphenyl (decarboxy-dipeptidyl)phosphonates 5a - c with a (decarboxysarcosinyl)phosphonate moiety are prepared from Z-L-alanine ( 1a ). Z-L-valine ( 1b ), and Z-L-phenylalanine ( 1c ) by the following series of steps: coupling with methyl sarcosinate (→ 2a – c ), saponification (→ 3a – c ), Hofer-Moest oxidative decarboxyiation by electrolysis in MeOH (→ 4a – c ), and Arbuzov reaction with P(OPh)₃/TiCl₄ (Scheme 3). Double deprotonation and alkylation lead to non-stereoselective incorporation of side chains next to the phosphonate group (products of type 6 – 8 , nine examples, see Scheme 4). In the cases of 6a – c and 8c , the diastereoisomers could be separated and the configuration of the newly formed stereogenic center deduced. We assign the L,D-configuration to the diastereoisomers for which the ³¹ P-NMR signal appears at higher field.     

Generation and Trapping of Triafulvene

Substituted methylidenecyclopropanes 12a – d , being easily available from 1,1-dibromo-2-(phenylthio)-cyclopropane ( 9a ), are attractive precursors of triafulvene (2-methylidene-1-cyclopropene; 1 ). Both the sulfoxide 12b and the sulfone 12c react with an excess of alkoxides (t-BuOK and NaOMe) to give 12e and 12f , respectively, while the sulfinyl group of 12b may be replaced by the PhCH₂S substituent in the presence of PhCH₂SH/t-BuOK. These reactions (Scheme 4) may be explained by assuming 1 as a reactive intermediate, although an alternative sequence including carbene 20 (Scheme 6) is not completely ruled out. D -labelling experiments (Scheme 5) do not give conclusive evidence due to D scrambling, but deprotonation/methylation sequences show that H? C(2) of 12a – c is the most acidic proton. Final evidence for 1 results from the reaction of 12d with cyclopentadienide (Scheme 7): the reaction of 1 with cyclopentadiene produces the expected [4 + 2]-cycloaddition product 23 , while some mechanistic insight results from the sequence 12d → 24 → 25 .     

Nucleosides and Oligonucleotides with Diynyl Side Chains: Base Pairing and Functionalization of 2′‐Deoxyuridine Derivatives by the Copper(I)‐Catalyzed Alkyne?Azide ‘Click’ Cycloaddition

Oligonucleotides containing the 5‐substituted 2′‐deoxyuridines 1b or 1d bearing side chains with terminal C?C bonds are described, and their duplex stability is compared with oligonucleotides containing the 5‐alkynyl compounds 1a or 1c with only one nonterminal C?C bond in the side chain. For this, 5‐iodo‐2′‐deoxyuridine ( 3 ) and diynes or alkynes were employed as starting materials in the Sonogashira cross‐coupling reaction (Scheme 1). Phosphoramidites 2b – d were prepared (Scheme 3) and used as building blocks in solid‐phase synthesis. T_m Measurements demonstrated that DNA duplexes containing the octa‐1,7‐diynyl side chain or a diprop‐2‐ynyl ether residue, i.e., containing 1b or 1d , are more stable than those containing only one triple bond, i.e., 1a or 1c (Table 3). The diyne‐modified nucleosides were employed in further functionalization reactions by using the protocol of the Cu^I‐catalyzed Huisgen–Meldal–Sharpless [2+3] cycloaddition (‘click chemistry’) (Scheme 2). An aliphatic azide, i. e., 3′‐azido‐3′‐deoxythymidine (AZT; 4 ), as well as the aromatic azido compound 5 were linked to the terminal alkyne group resulting in 1H‐1,2,3‐triazole‐modified derivatives 6 and 7 , respectively (Scheme 2), of which 6 forms a stable duplex DNA (Table 3). The Husigen–Meldal–Sharpless cycloaddition was also performed with oligonucleotides (Schemes 4 and 5).     

Photochemical Reactions of N‐(2‐Halogenoalkanoyl) Derivatives of Anilines

The photochemical reactions of 2‐substituted N‐(2‐halogenoalkanoyl) derivatives 1 of anilines and 5 of cyclic amines are described. Under irradiation, 2‐bromo‐2‐methylpropananilides 1a – e undergo exclusively dehydrobromination to give N‐aryl‐2‐methylprop‐2‐enamides (=methacrylanilides) 3a – e (Scheme 1 and Table 1). On irradiation of N‐alkyl‐ and N‐phenyl‐substituted 2‐bromo‐2‐methylpropananilides 1f – m , cyclization products, i.e. 1,3‐dihydro‐2H‐indol‐2‐ones (=oxindoles) 2f – m and 3,4‐dihydroquinolin‐2(1H)‐ones (=dihydrocarbostyrils) 4f – m , are obtained, besides 3f – m . On the other hand, irradiation of N‐methyl‐substituted 2‐chloro‐2‐phenylacetanilides 1o – q and 2‐chloroacetanilide 1r gives oxindoles 2o – r as the sole product, but in low yields (Scheme 3 and Table 2). The photocyclization of the corresponding N‐phenyl derivatives 1s – v to oxindoles 2s – v proceeds smoothly. A plausible mechanism for the formation of the photoproducts is proposed (Scheme 4). Irradiation of N‐(2‐halogenoalkanoyl) derivatives of cyclic amines 5a – c yields the cyclization products, i.e. five‐membered lactams 6a , b , and/or dehydrohalogenation products 7a , c and their cyclization products 8a , c , depending on the ring size of the amines (Scheme 5 and Table 3).     

Reaction of 3-Amino-2H-azirines with 2-Amino-4,6-dinitrophenol (Picramic Acid): Synthesis of Quinazoline- and 1,3-Benzoxazole Derivatives

The reaction of 3-(dimethylamino)-2H-azirines 1a–c and 2-amino-4,6-dinitrophenol (picramic acid, 2 ) in MeCN at 0° to room temperature leads to a mixture of the corresponding 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinazoline-2-one 5 , 3-(dimethylamino)-1,2-dihydroquinazoline 6 , 2-(1-aminoalkyl)-1,3-benzoxazole 7 , and N-[2-(dimethylamino)phenyl]-α-aminocarboxamide 8 (Scheme 3). Under the same conditions, 3-(N-methyl-N-phenyl-amino)-2H-azirines 1d and 1e react with 2 to give exclusively the 1,3-benzoxazole derivative 7 . The structure of the products has been established by X-ray crystallography. Two different reaction mechanisms for the formation of 7 are discussed in Scheme 6. Treatment of 7 with phenyl isocyanate, 4-nitrobenzoyl chloride, tosyl chloride, and HCl leads to a derivatization of the NH₂-group of 7 (Scheme 4). With NaOH or NaOMe as well as with morpholine, 7 is transformed into quinazoline derivatives 5 , 14 , and 15 , respectively, via ring expansion (Scheme 5). In case of the reaction with morpholine, a second product 16 , corresponding to structure 8 , is isolated. With these results, the reaction of 1 and 2 is interpreted as the primary formation of 7 , which, under the reaction conditions, reacts with Me₂NH to yield the secondary products 5 , 6 , and 8 (Scheme 7).     

7‐Halogenated 7‐Deazapurine 2′‐Deoxyribonucleosides Related to 2′‐Deoxyadenosine, 2′‐Deoxyxanthosine,and 2′‐Deoxyisoguanosine: Syntheses and Properties

A series of 7‐fluorinated 7‐deazapurine 2′‐deoxyribonucleosides related to 2′‐deoxyadenosine, 2′‐deoxyxanthosine, and 2′‐deoxyisoguanosine as well as intermediates 4b – 7b, 8, 9b, 10b , and 17b were synthesized. The 7‐fluoro substituent was introduced in 2,6‐dichloro‐7‐deaza‐9H‐purine ( 11a ) with Selectfluor (Scheme 1). Apart from 2,6‐dichloro‐7‐fluoro‐7‐deaza‐9H‐purine ( 11b ), the 7‐chloro compound 11c was formed as by‐product. The mixture 11b / 11c was used for the glycosylation reaction; the separation of the 7‐fluoro from the 7‐chloro compound was performed on the level of the unprotected nucleosides. Other halogen substituents were introduced with N‐halogenosuccinimides ( 11a → 11c – 11e ). Nucleobase‐anion glycosylation afforded the nucleoside intermediates 13a – 13e (Scheme 2). The 7‐fluoro‐ and the 7‐chloro‐7‐deaza‐2′‐deoxyxanthosines, 5b and 5c , respectively, were obtained from the corresponding MeO compounds 17b and 17c , or 18 (Scheme 6). The 2′‐deoxyisoguanosine derivative 4b was prepared from 2‐chloro‐7‐fluoro‐7‐deaza‐2′‐deoxyadenosine 6b via a photochemically induced nucleophilic displacement reaction (Scheme 5). The pK_a values of the halogenated nucleosides were determined (Table 3). ¹³C‐NMR Chemical‐shift dependencies of C(7), C(5), and C(8) were related to the electronegativity of the 7‐halogen substituents (Fig. 3). In aqueous solution, 7‐halogenated 2′‐deoxyribonucleosides show an approximately 70% S population (Fig. 2 and Table 1).     

Radical Cyclization Reactions via Manganese(III) Acetate Leading to 2‐Thienyl‐Substituted Dihydrofuran Compounds

The 2‐thienyl‐substituted 4,5‐dihydrofuran derivatives 3 – 8 were obtained by the radical cyclization reaction of 1,3‐dicarbonyl compounds 1a – 1f with 2‐thienyl‐substituted conjugated alkenes 2a – 2e by using [Mn(OAc)₃] (Tables 1–5). In this study, reactions of 1,3‐dicarbonyl compounds 1a – 1e with alkenes 2a – 2c gave 4,5‐dihydrofuran derivatives 3 – 5 in high yields (Tables 1–3). Also the cyclic alkenes 2d and 2e gave the dihydrobenzofuran compounds, i.e., 6 and 7 in good yields (Table 4). Interestingly, the reaction of benzoylacetone (=1‐phenylbutane‐1,3‐dione; 1f ) with some alkenes gave two products due to generation of two stable carbocation intermediates (Table 5).     

Mono- and Dialkylation of Derivatives of (1R, 2S)-2-Hydroxycyclopentanecarboxylic Acid and -cyclohexanecarboxylic acid via bicyclic dioxanones: Selective generation of three contiguous stereogenic centers on a cyclohexane ring

Ethyl (1R, 2S)-2-hydroxycyclopentanecarboxylate and -cyclohexanecarboxylate ( 1a and 2a , respectively) obtained in 40 and 70% yield by reduction of 3-oxocyclopentanecarboxylate and cyclohexanecarboxylate, respectively (Scheme 2), with non-fermenting yeast, are converted to bicyclic dioxanone derivatives 3 and 4 with formaldehyde, isobutyraldehyde, and pivalaldehyde (Scheme 3). The Li-enolates of these dioxanones are alkylated (→ 5a – 5i , 5j , 6a – 6g ), hydroxyalkylated (→ 51, m, 6d, e ), acylated (→ 5k, 6c ) and phenylselenenylated (→ 7 – 9 ) with usually high yields and excellent diastereoselectivities (Scheme 3, Tables and 2). All the major isomers formed under kinetic control are shown to have cis-fused bicyclic structures. Oxidation of the seleno compounds 7–9 leads to α, β-unsaturated carbonyl derivatives 10 – 13 (Scheme 3) of which the products 12a – c with the C?C bond in the carbocyclic ring (exocyclic on the dioxanone ring) are most readily isolated (70–80% from the saturated precursors). Michael addition of Cu(I)-containing reagents to 12a – c and subsequent alkylations afford dioxanones 14a – i and 16a – d with trans-fused cyclohoxane ring (Scheme 4). All enolate alkylations are carried out in the presence of the cyclic urea DMPU as a cosolvent. The configuration of the products is established by NMR measurements and chemical correlation. Some of the products are converted to single isomers of monocyclic hydroxycyclopentane ( 17 – 19 ) and cyclohexane derivatives ( 20 – 23 ; Scheme 5). Possible uses of the described reactions for EPC synthesis are outlined. The observed steric course of the reactions is discussed and compared with that of analogous transformations of monocyclic and acyclic derivatives.     

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 and Reactions of a New Cyclobutanethione Derivative

The 3,3‐dichloro‐2,2,4,4‐tetramethylcyclobutanethione ( 4b ) was prepared from the parent diketone by successive reaction with PCl₅ and Lawesson reagent in pyridine. This new thioketone 4b was transformed into 1‐chlorocyclobutanesulfanyl chloride 5 and chloro 1‐chlorocyclobutyl disulfide 9 by treatment with PCl₅ and SCl₂, respectively, in chlorinated solvents (Schemes 1 and 2). These products reacted with S‐ and P‐nucleophiles by substitution of Cl⁻ at the S‐atom; e.g., the reaction with 4b yielded the di‐ and trisulfides 6b and 11 , respectively. Surprisingly, only pentasulfide 12 was formed in the reaction of 9 with thiobenzophenone (Scheme 3). In contrast to 5 and 9 , the corresponding chloro 1‐chlorocyclobutyl trisulfide 13 could not be detected, but reacted immediately with the starting thioketone 4b to give the tetrasulfide 14 (Scheme 4). Oxidation of 4b with 3‐chloroperbenzoic acid (mCPBA) yielded the corresponding thione oxides (= sulfine) 15 , which underwent 1,3‐dipolar cycloadditions with thioketones 3a and 4b (Scheme 5). Furthermore, 4b was shown to be a good dipolarophile in reactions with thiocarbonylium methanides (Scheme 6) and iminium ylides (= azomethine ylides; Scheme 7). In the case of phenyl azide, the reaction with 4b gave the symmetrical trithiolane 25 (Scheme 8).