A novel and highly efficient two-carbon ring expansion

[reaction: see text]. Dynamic gas-phase thermoisomerization (DGPTI) of medium- and large-ring 3-vinylcycloalkanones at 600-630 degrees C produces isomeric gamma,delta-unsaturated cycloalkanones expanded by two carbon atoms. A reaction mechanism involving an open-chain diradical intermediate, followed by intramolecular recombination under insertion of the vinyl group is proposed. Substituents on the vinyl moiety are transferred locospecifically to the ring-expanded ketones as corresponding beta- and gamma-substituents, respectively. The preparation of extraordinary cyclic allenes can be accomplished by DGPTI (540 degrees C) of 3-ethinylcyclododecanone.     

A novel, one-pot ring expansion of cyclobutanones. Syntheses of carbovir and aristeromycin

A novel, one-pot ring-expansion procedure was developed using Me3S(O)I, NaH, and Sc(OTf)3. The scope and limitations were briefly examined, and a tentative mechanism was proposed. Application of the methodology to known cyclobutanone 1 provided the corresponding cyclopentanone, which was successfully advanced to (+)-carbovir and (+)-aristeromycin.     

Cobalt-mediated two-carbon ring expansion of five-membered rings. Electrophilic carbon-carbon bond activation in the synthesis of seven-membered rings

Electrophilic cobalt(III) mediates an unprecedented two-carbon ring expansion of coordinated five-membered rings, leading to a remarkably general new strategy for the synthesis of seven-membered carbocycles from readily available five-membered ring substrates. The reaction, a metal-mediated [5 + 2] cyclopentenyl/alkyne cycloaddition, proceeds via initial protonation of a cobalt(I) cyclopentadiene complex, followed by rearrangement to an agostic eta3-cyclopentenyl intermediate. The cyclic eta3-allyl residue then undergoes migratory coupling with alkyne followed by carbon-carbon bond activation of the unstrained five-membered ring and recyclization to the ring expanded product, although the order of events and intimate mechanism has not been conclusively established. The reaction is highly selective with respect to which five-membered ring ligand undergoes activation, presumably a consequence of rapid cobalt-mediated interannular hydride transfer and kinetic preference for alkyne insertion into the less substituted cyclopentenyl ring. The alkyne insertion is itself highly regioselective, proceeding via migration to the sterically smaller end of the alkyne. The reaction is sensitive to both the cobalt counterion and the ancillary eta5-cyclopentadienyl substituent but proceeds for a considerable range of alkyl-, aryl-, and trialkylsilyl-substituted terminal and internal alkynes.     

Free radical ring expansion and spirocyclization of 1,3-diketone derivatives

Free radical-promoted three-carbon ring expansions of 1,3-diketones to form corresponding nine-membered 1,6-diketones and associated spirocyclization reactions are described.     

Free radical ring expansion and chain extension of 1,3-diketones

Free radical-promoted one carbon ring expansion and chain extension of 1,3-diketones including 1,3-diarylpropane-1,3-diones and 2-aroyl-3,4-dihydro-2H-naphalen-1-one to generate corresponding 1,4-diketones are described.     

Non-stereospecific ring expansions of benzothiazoline sulfoxides

Non-stereospecific ring expansions of 3-acetylbenzothiazoline sulfoxides to benzothiazines from the reaction with acetic anhydride are reported.     

Bicyclic beta-Hydroxytetrahydrofurans as precursors of medium ring keto-lactones

The reaction of a series of cis-fused bicyclic beta-hydroxytetrahydrofurans with ruthenium tetraoxide, generated in situ from ruthenium trichloride and sodium periodate, afforded 9- and 10-membered keto-lactones in moderate to good yields, in a clean and straightforward fashion. The starting beta-hydroxyethers were obtained from the corresponding 3-alkenols by two alternative procedures, depending on their pattern of substitution: (a) epoxidation by dimethyldioxirane, followed by base-catalyzed cyclization of the resulting epoxyalcohol, and (b) thallium trinitrate-mediated cyclization of the 3-alkenols, a method already described by our group.     

Allyl palladium dithiocarbamates and related dithiolate complexes as precursors to palladium sulfides

Allyl-palladium dithiocarbamate complexes, [Pd(allyl)(S₂CNR₂)], have been prepared from the addition of dithiocarbamate salts to [Pd(allyl)(μ-Cl)]₂ and TGA and DSC studies have been carried out in order to assess their potential as MOCVD precursors to palladium sulfides. For comparison [(η³-C₄H₇)Pd(S₂PPh₂)] and [Pd(S₂CNMeR)₂] (R = Bu, Hex) have also been prepared and tested as precursors. The unsymmetrical dithiocarbamate complex, [(η³-C₃H₅)Pd(S₂CNMeHex)], which has a melting point of 65 °C was selected as the best single source precursor and thin films of predominantly Pd_2.8S were deposited on glass slides. The crystal structures of [(η³-C₄H₇)Pd(S₂CNMe₂)], [(η³-C₄H₇)Pd(S₂CNPr₂)], [(η³-C₄H₇)Pd(S₂PPh₂)] and [Pd(S₂CNMeBu)₂] are reported. All except [(η³-C₄H₇)Pd(S₂CNPr₂)] show weak intermolecular S?H or Pd?H interactions.     

Peroxyesters as precursors to peroxyl radical clocks

The reactions of peroxyl radicals are at the center of the oxidative degradation of essentially all petroleum-derived hydrocarbons and biological lipids and consequently, the inhibition of these processes by radical-trapping antioxidants. Recently described peroxyl radical clocks offer a simple, convenient, and inexpensive method of determining rate constants for H-atom transfer reactions to peroxyl radicals, greatly enabling the kinetic and mechanistic characterization of compounds with antioxidant properties. We follow up our preliminary communication on the development of a methodology utilizing tert-butyl styrylperacetate as a precursor to a versatile peroxyl radical clock with the present paper, wherein we describe a novel naphthyl analogue, which provides for much improved product resolution for analysis, and provide the complete details associated with its development and application. Using this new precursor, and with consideration of the expanded set of reaction products, inhibition rate constants were measured for a variety of representative phenolic and diarylamine radical-trapping antioxidants. We also provide details for the use of this methodology for the determination of mechanistic information, such as kinetic solvent effects, Arrhenius parameters, and kinetic isotope effects.     

Using toluates as simple and versatile radical precursors

The viability of the toluate moiety as a radical precursor has been examined by studying deoxygenation and cyclization reactions.     

Non-stereospecific ring expansions of 5-membered heterocyclic sulfoxides

Non-stereospecific ring expansion reactions of 5-membered heterocyclic sulfoxides, 1,3-benzoxathiole sulfoxides, 1,3-benzodithiole sulfoxides, and 1,3-dithiolane sulfoxides having a heteroatom at β-position to the sulfinyl group with acetic anhydride or p-toluenesulfonic acid are described together with thier reaction mechanism involving a sulfonium ion intermediate.     

Regioselective epoxide-carbonyl rearrangements: A ring enlargement of cyclobutanones to cyclopentanones.

A versatile, direct approach to derivatised bicyclo(3,3,0)octanones, involving a regiocontrolled epoxide-carbonyl rearrangement, is described.     

Allyl radical nature of a phenylcyclopentadienyl radical annelated with two homoadamantene frameworks

1-Phenylcyclopentadiene fused with two homoadamantene units at the 2,3- and 4,5-positions (4) was deprotonated with KH to lead to the quantitative formation of the corresponding cyclopentadienyl (Cp) anion 3(-). This anion was oxidized by AgCl to afford an orange crystalline solid consisting of Cp radical 3(?) and cyclopentadiene 4. The ESR spectrum in hexane exhibited approximately 15 lines, demonstrating that the two homoadamantene frameworks were equivalent and that the C1-C2(Ph)-C3 moiety of the five-membered ring formed a symmetrical allyl-like radical in agreement with the prediction by DFT calculation. The reaction of the Cp radical 3(?) with an oxygen molecule in the presence of Ag(+)SbF(6)(-) afforded the SbF(6)(-) salt of a phenylpyrylium ion annelated with two homoadamantene frameworks (8(+)SbF(6)(-)).     

Carbamoylmethyl sulfoxides as novel extractants for actinides

The present paper describes a novel type of extractant for actinides called bis (dioctylcarbamoylmethyl) sulfoxide which neither contains phosphorus nor entails the addition of tributyl phosphate as phase modifier for extraction. This extractant, abbreviated as CMSO, has been found to be freely soluble in dodecane and to form no third phase even with concentrations of nitric acid as high as 10M. The distribution ratios for the extraction of Am(III), Pu(IV) and U(VI) at trace levels have been found to be 13, 220 and 11, respectively, from 5M nitric acid using 0.2M CMSO in dodecane and those for back-extraction have been found to be 2×10^–4, 8×10^–3 and 5×10^–2 using 0.01M nitric acid, 0.1M oxalic acid and 0.35M sodium carbonate, respectively. Similar distribution ratios were obtained with the recycled extractant. Extraction was found to be very rapid. Eu(III) and Sr(II) were found to be moderately extracted with distribution ratios of 2 and 0.77, respectively, while the extraction of Cs(I) was negligible (K_D=0.005).     

Evaluation of phenylorganotellurium compounds as radical precursors in dialkylzinc-mediated radical addition to CN double bonds

Diethylzinc-mediated radical addition to CN bonds was investigated in the presence of phenylorganotellurium compounds as radical precursors. As group transfer agents, secondary alkyl phenyl tellurides were shown to be about twice as reactive as the corresponding alkyl iodides towards ethyl radical. Their use was proven to be advantageous regarding both chemoselectivity and yield. The replacement of diethylzinc by dimethylzinc, offers no advantage in these reactions.     

Laser flash photolysis studies of alkoxyl radical kinetics using 4-nitrobenzenesulfenate esters as radical precursors

4-Nitrobenzenesulfenate esters were used as precursors for the generation of alkoxyl radicals under laser flash photolysis conditions. The esters were efficiently cleaved using the Nd:YAG third harmonic (355 nm) to produce alkoxyl radicals and the 4-nitrobenzenethiyl radical. Rate constants for beta-scission and 1, 5-hydrogen abstraction reactions of alkoxyl radicals were measured.     

Visible-light-driven cyanoalkylation of quinoxalinones using cyclobutanone oxime esters as the radical precursors

We have developed a versatile visible-light-driven cyanoalkylation of quinoxalinones under mild conditions. First, the cyanoalkyl radicals are generated from readily available cyclobutanone oxime esters under blue light irradiation. Then the generated radicals react with heterocycles such as quinoxalinones to give the final cyanoalkylation products. The protocol tolerates a wide range of functional groups. Our cyanoalkylation protocol does not need cyanide-based reagents and also does not need external oxidants.     

Eight-membered ring templates for stereoselective radical cyclizations

The radical cyclization of suitably disubstituted cyclooctadienes and cyclooctenes leads to the formation of trans-bicyclo[6.3.0]undecane ring systems with exceedingly high levels of stereochemical control.