Enzymatic desymmetrization of prochiral 2,3-bis(acetoxymethyl)bicyclo[2.2.1]hepta-2,5-diene and 2,3-bis(hydroxymethyl)bicyclo[2.2.1]hepta-2,5-diene

Enzymatic desymmetrization of the title compound 1 is reported using various commercially available lipases in hydrolysis and alcoholysis reactions or ester synthesis. In this area, lipase Amano AK (Pseudomonas sp.) proved to be the best lipase whatever the experimental conditions used. The monoacetate product 2 is indifferently obtained with more than 95% enantiomeric excess (ee) as the levorotatory enantiomer 2a or the dextrorotatory one 2b.     

The Radical Cations of Bicyclo[2.2.1]hepta-2,5-diene (8,9,10-Trinorborna-2,5-diene) and bicyclo[2.2.2]octa-2,5-diene (2,3-Dihydrobarrelene). An ESR and ENDOR study

The radical cation of bicyclo[2-2.1]hepta-2,5-diene (8,9,10-trinorborna-2,5-diene; 1 ) in CF₂ClCFCl₂, and CF₃CCl₃ matrices and that of bicyclo[2.2.2]octa-2,5-diene (2,3-dihydrobarrelene; 2 ) in CFCl₃ and CF₃CCl₃ matrices have been studied by ESR and ENDOR spectroscopy. For ${\bf 1}^{+ \atop \dot{}}$, the coupling constants of the olefinic, methano-bridge, and bridgehead protons are ?0.780 ±0.005, +0.304±0.002, and ?0.049±0.002 mT, respectively. The hyperfine tensor for the methano-bridge protons is axial, A_x = +0.263 ± 0.002 and A_y = +0.386 ± 0.002 mT, while that for the olefinic protons is orthorhombic, A_x = ?0.594 ± 0.005, A_y= ?0.913 ± 0.005, and A_z = ?0.834 ± 0.005 mT (x parallel to C? H- z parallel to 2p_π axis). For ${\bf 2}^{+ \atop \dot{}}$, the coupling constants of the olefinic, ethano-bridge, and bridgehead protons are ?0.68 ± 0.01, +0.162 ± 0.005, and ?0.108 ± 0.005 mT, respectively. The hyperfine data for ${\bf 1}^{+ \atop \dot{}}$ and ${\bf 2}^{+ \atop \dot{}}$ fully support the presentation of their singly occupied orbitals as antisymmetric combinations, b₂(π), of the two bonding ethene π-MO's.     

Reaction of bicyclo[2.2.1]hepta-2,5-diene with the arenesulfenamide—phosphorus(v) oxohalide system: chemo-, regio-, and steroselectivity

The chemo-, regio- and stereoselectivities of electrophilic sulfenylation of bicyclo[2.2.1]hepta-2,5-diene with arenesulfenamides activated by phosphorus(v) oxohalides were studied. The ratio of the products of endo- to exo-attack of the diene by the electrophilic species depends on the solvent nature. The proportions of the products formed upon addition to one double bond and upon homoallylic participation of the second double bond depend on solvent polarity, the nature of the halogen, the substituents in the sulfenamide benzene ring, and on the reaction time. In addition, the formation of mixed adducts was proven for the reaction carried out in acetonitrile and the formation of disulfenylation products was found in the reaction with excess sulfenylating reagent. Isomerization of exo-3-arylthio-endo-2-halobicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-enes to the products formed with homoallylic participation of the second double bond, exo-5-arylthio-endo-3-halotricyclo[2.2.1.0^2,6]heptanes, was shown to be possible.     

Desymmetrization of meso 7-aza-2,3-bis(phenylsulfonyl) bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ene: a re-examination. Kinetic resolution of racemic 3-arylsulfonyl-7-aza-2-bromobicyclo[2.2.1]hepta-2,5-dienes

The inexpensive large scale preparation of N-methoxycarbonyl-7-aza-2,3-bis(phenylsulfonyl)bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ene and the re-examination of its stereoselective desymmetrization are reported. Moreover, the kinetic resolution of N-protected 3-arylsulfonyl-7-aza-2-bromobicyclo[2.2.1]hepta-2,5-dienes promoted by (R,R)-hydrobenzoin is described, representing a new tool to fix the absolute stereochemistry of the 7-azabicyclo[2.2.1] skeleton.