Triplet photochemistry of medium ring trienes

The photochemistry of the triplets of 10- and 11-membered ring 1,3,5-trienes has been studied. At ?70° cis,trans,cis-cyclodeca-1,3,5-triene goes only to the cis,cis,cis-isomer. At 25°, this latter compound is converted into cis-bicyclo[4.4.0]deca-2,4-diene via the thermally labile trans,cis,trans-cyclodeca-1,3,5-triene. At ?70° cis,trans,cis-cycloundeca-1,3,5-triene is converted to the cis,cis,cis-isomer. At 25°, this primary ptotochemical product undergoes a thermal 1,7-sigmatropic hydrogen migration to yield the trans,cis,cis, isomer. This latter triene upon sensitized irradiation yields cis-bicyclo[5.4.0]undeca-8,10-diene and trans-bicyclo[7.2.0]undeca-2,10-diene. The ratio of these latter two products changes with the temperature of the sensitized reaction. The possible mechanisims of these transformations are discussed.     

Reactions of 2H-azirines with carbenoids from diazo esters: transformations of novel azirinium ylides

Thermocatalytic decomposition of diazo esters in the presence of 3-aryl-2H-azirines gives rise to azirinium ylides. The latter preferentially transform via isomerization into 2-azabuta-1,3-diene derivatives or, with excess diazo compound, via reaction with the Rh-carbenoid to form 3,4-dihydro-2H-pyrrole derivatives. In contrast, ylides generated from 2-monosubstituted or 2,2-disubstituted 3-phenyl-2H-azirines transform exclusively via isomerization into the corresponding 2-azabuta-1,3-dienes in high yields.     

Convenient synthesis of a marine cyclopentanoid: untenone A

(±)-Untenone A, one of the marine cyclopentanoids, has been conveniently synthesized via (±)-cis-1-hexadecylcyclopent-2-en-1,4-diol 9 which has been produced from 1-hexadecylcyclopenta-1,3-diene 6 via photo-oxidation and the following reduction. The key step of the present synthesis is the selective alkylation of cyclopenta-1,3-diene to form 6. Optically active (−)- and (+)-untenone A have been prepared from (−)- and (+)-9, respectively, after enzymatic kinetic resolution of (±)-9.     

Chemical synthesis with metal Atoms. Cyclodimerization of norbornadiene via nickela-cyclopentane intermediates.

The catalytic cyclodimerization of norbornadiene by reaction with nickel atoms has been re-investigated. Nickela-cyclopentane derivatives are formed in the presence of α,α′-dipyridyl, α,α′-dipyridyl-exo-trans-endo-3-nickela-pentacyclo[9.2.1.1^5,8 0^2,10.0^4,9]-pentadeca-6,12-diene being the major component. By contrast, the catalytic dimerization leads predominantly to the exo-trans-exo isomer of pentacyclo[8.2.1.1^4,7.0^2,9.0^3,8] tetradeca-5,11-diene. A norbornadiene cyclotrimer of exo-trans-exo-trans-exo structure is subsequently formed.     

Molecular modeling of ring-chain equilibria for the ring-opening cross-metathesis of cis,cis-1,5-dimethyl-cycloocta-1,5-diene with ethylene at T=298.15 K

The molecular modeling of ring-opening cross-metathesis of cis,cis-1,5-dimethyl-cycloocta-1,5-diene (1,5-DM-COD), cis,cis-1,6-dimethyl-cycloocta-1,5-diene (1,6-DM-COD) and cis,cis-cycloocta-1,5-diene (COD) with ethylene (ethenolysis) at T=298.15 K using the B3LYP/6-31G(d,p) level of theory reveals that ring-chain equilibrium constants are dependent on the nature of cyclic diene. The ring-chain equilibria for the ethenolysis of 1,5-DM-COD is completely shifted to the formation of monomeric 2-methyl-hexa-1,5-diene.     

13C-NMR-spektren und dynamisches verhalten von olefin- sonitril-eisendicarbonyl-komplexen.

The ¹³C NMR spectra of the isonitrile complexes olen fe(CO)₂CNR (R = Me, EMe₃; E = Si, Ge, Sn) with butadiene, penta- 1,3-diene, cyclohexa-1,3-diene, 2,3-dimethylbutadiene, cyclohepta-1,3-diene as olefiinic ligands indicate the fluctional behavior of these compounds in solution. At low temperature there is a conformative preference in all cases so that one CO group occupies the apical position of a square pyramid whereas the isonitrile ligand together with a CO and the olefin part are in the basal positions. Depending on te various olefin ligands and the CNR groups the pseudorotation process is dicussed on the basis of /gDG/DG values for the CO/CNR ligand exchange.     

Addition initiated ring closure substituted spiro[4,2]Hepta-1,3-dienes via fulvene intermediates

The reactivity of the epoxy-fulvene 1 with various nucleophiles has been examined. It is a versatile Intermediate for the preparation of spiro[4.2]hepta-1,3-diene synthons via nucleophilic addition to the C₆ position followed by intramolecular cyclization of the substituted cyclopentadiene anion generated in situ.     

Soil and Leaf Nutrients Drivers on the Chemical Composition of the Essential Oil of Siparuna muricata (Ruiz & Pav.) A. DC. from Ecuador

Chemical compositions of plants are affected by the initial nutrient contents in the soil and climatic conditions; thus, we analyzed for the first time the effects of soil and leaf nutrients on the compositions of the essential oils (EOs) of Siparuna muricata in four different localities in Ecuador. EOs were obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) and a gas chromatography/flame ionization detector (GC/FID). Enantiomeric distribution by GC/MS was determined, modifying the enantiomeric separation of β-pinene, limonene, δ-elemene, β-bourbonene, cis-cadina-1 (6), 4-diene and atractylone. A total of 44 compounds were identified. The most representative for L1 were guaiol, atractylone and 4-diene; for L2, cis-cadina-1(6),4-diene and myrcene; for L3, atractylone, myrcene and germacrene B; and finally, L4 germacrene B, myrcene and cis-cadina-1(6),4-diene. Correlations between soil- leaf chemical elements such as Al, Ca, Fe, Mg, Mn, N and Si in the different localities were significant with chemical composition of the essential oil of Siparuna muricata; however, correlations between soil and leaf K, P, and Na were not significant. Cluster and NMDS analysis showed high dissimilarity values of secondary metabolites between four localities related with changes in soil- leaf nutrients. Thus, the SIMPER routine revealed that not all secondary metabolites contribute equally to establishing the differences in the four localities, and the largest contributions are due to differences in guaiol, cis-cadina-1(6),4-diene, atractylone and germacrene. Our investigation showed for the first time the influences of altitude and soil- leaf chemical elements in the chemical composition of the EOs of S. muricata.     

Novel and versatile protocol for the preparation of functionalized benzocyclotrimers

2-Bromo-3-(trimethylstannyl)cyclopenta-1,3-diene is the key-intermediate for the synthesis of vic-bromo(trimethylstannyl)bicycloolefins via Diels-Alder reaction with dienophiles. The cycloadducts can be cyclotrimerized by copper(I) 2-thiophenecarboxylate (CuTC) to afford functionalized benzocyclotrimers.     

Flash vacuum thermolysis of dispiro[2.2.n.2]alkadienes

The Flash Vacuum Thermolysis (FVT) of dispiro[2.2.6.2]-tetradeca-4,13-diene (7a), dispiro[2.2.5.2]trideca-4,12-diene (7b) and dispiro[2.2.2.2]deca-4,9-diene (7e) at 500 – 750 °C is reported. The complicated reaction mixture from 7a and 7b (Scheme 3) included at lower temperatures vinylspiroalkadienes 9, ethylidenespiroalkadiene 10b, β-ethylcycloalkabenzenes 11, while at higher temperatures, p-n-alkyl- (5) and p-sec-alkylstyrenes 14 and p-divinylbenzene (15) dominated. Product formation is explained by invoking diradicals 8, 6 and 12 as well as the cyclophanes 1 and 13 as intermediates. For 7e, the product mixture was less complicated and consisted of p-ethylstyrene (5e), 15 and, unexpectedly, p-isopropylstyrene (14e) which contains one carbon more than the starting material. The analysis and interpretation of product formation largely confirms previously suggested reaction pathways and furnishes further interesting details. However, new and unexpected features are also encountered, especially in the fragmentations of 1 and 13 which may stimulate future investigations on the thermal behaviour of these relatively simple hydrocarbons.     

Sesquiterpenoid constituents of the liverwort Marsupella aquatica

Nine new amorphane sesquiterpenoids, (+)-7β-hydroxyamorpha-4,11-diene, (−)-9α-hydroxyamorpha-4,7(11)-diene, (−)-3α-hydroxyamorpha-4,7(11)-diene, (−)-3α-acetoxyamorpha-4,7(11)-diene, (−)-amorpha-4,7(11)-dien-3-one, (+)-2,8-epoxyamorpha-4,7(11)-diene, (+)-5,9-epoxyamorpha-3,7(11)-diene, (−)-2α-hydroxyamorpha-4,7(11)-diene and (−)-2β-acetoxyamorpha-4,7(11)-diene, were isolated from the essential oil of the liverwort Marsupella aquatica, collected near Gaschurn/Montafon, Austria. The isolated compounds and their chemical transformations were investigated using enantioselective GC and extensive spectroscopic studies (HRMS, ¹H, ¹³C and 2D NMR). The absolute configuration of most of the isolated compounds were established by conversions to known compounds. In addition, ¹H, and ¹³C NMR data of (−)-myltayl-4-ene are reported for the first time.     

Oxidative trifluoroacetamidation of (1<Emphasis Type="Italic">E</Emphasis>,3<Emphasis Type="Italic">E</Emphasis>)-1,4-diphenylbuta-1,3-diene and 1,1,4,4-tetraphenylbuta-1,3-diene

Reactions of trifluoroacetamide with (1E,3E)-1,4-diphenylbuta-1,3-diene and 1,1,4,4-tetraphenylbuta-1,3-diene in the oxidative system t-BuOCl–NaI have been studied. The reaction with (1E,3E)-1,4-diphenylbuta-1,3-diene afforded three products, N,N′-(phenylmethylene)bis(trifluoroacetamide), 3-chloro-4-iodo- 2,5-diphenyl-1-(trifluoroacetyl)pyrrolidine, and trifluoro-N-[(3E)-2-hydroxy-1,4-diphenylbut-3-en-1-yl]acetamide, with a high overall yield. 1,1,4,4-Tetraphenylbuta-1,3-diene failed to react with trifluoroacetamide.     

Oxidative addition of trifluoromethanesulfonamide to cycloalkadienes

Reactions of trifluoromethanesulfonamide with cyclopentadiene, cyclohexa-1,3- and -1,4-dienes, cyclohepta-1,3,5-triene, and cycloocta-1,3-diene in the presence of t-BuOCl-NaI were studied. Trifluoromethanesulfonamide added at one double bond of cyclopentadiene and cyclohexa-1,3-diene in regio- and stereoselective fashion to give N-(5-iodocyclopent-2-en-1-yl)trifluoromethanesulfonamide and trans-N,N′-cyclohex-3-ene-1,2-diylbis(1,1,1-trifluoromethanesulfonamide), respectively. The reaction with cyclohexa-1,4-diene involved both isolated double bonds to produce N,N′-(2-chloro-5-iodocyclohexane-1,4-diyl)bis(1,1,1-trifluoromethanesulfonamide) which underwent halophilic reduction of the CHI group by the action of NaI and elimination of HCl, leading to N,N′-(cyclohex-2-ene-1,4-diyl)bis(1,1,1-trifluoromethanesulfonamide). Under analogous conditions, cyclohepta-1,3,5-triene was oxidized to benzaldehyde, while no reaction with trifluoromethanesulfonamide occurred.     

Iron carbonyl complexes of 2,3,5,6-tetrakis(methylene)-7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane. Crystal and molecular structure of (C10H10O)Fe(CO)3 and (C9H10CO)Fe2(CO)6

The reaction of 2,3,5,6-tetrakis(methylene)-7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane (I) with iron carbonyls in various solvents yields the (η⁴-1,3-diene)Fe(CO)₃ isomers (II: exo; III: endo) and the bimetallic isomers bis[(η⁴-1,3-diene)Fe(CO)₃] (IV: bis(exo); V: endo,exo). In weakly coordinating solvents, a parallel rearrangement of I occurs through CO bond cleavage of the allylic ether by Fe₂(CO)₉ yielding an unsaturated ketone (VI) bonded to two Fe(CO)₃ groups through a trimethylenemethane and a 1,3-diene system, respectively. The geometries of III and VI have been ascertained by X-ray crystal structure determinations.     

Diels-Alder reaction of eight-membered cyclic siloxydienes

Eight-membered cyclic siloxydienes, 2-(tert-butyldimethylsiloxy)-1-methyl-5-oxacycloocta-1,3-diene and 2-(tert-butyldimethylsiloxy)-5-oxacycloocta-1,3-diene, were prepared from δ-valerolactone, and their Diels-Alder reactions with various dienophiles are reported.     

The structures of some (hexamethyl-1,5,9,13-tetraazacyclohexadecadiene)copper(II) compounds

The structure of the crystalline azamacrocyclic product formed by reaction of bis(propane-1,3-diamine)copper(II) perchlorate with acetone has been determined as N-rac-(6,8,8,14,16,16-hexamethyl-1,5,9,13-tetraazacyclohexadeca-5,13-diene)copper(II) · N-meso-(6,8,8,14,14,16-hexamethyl-1,5,9,13-tetraazacyclohexadeca-5,16(1)-diene)copper(II) perchlorate, with the cis, 5,16(1)-diene, and trans, 5,13-diene, isomeric cations co-crystallised. The structures of three compounds crystallised from solutions of this mixture have been determined. N-rac-(6,8,8,14,14,16-hexamethyl-1,5,9,13-tetraazacyclohexadeca-5,16(1)-diene)copper(II) tetrachlorozincate has an irregular flattened tetrahedral coordination geometry with trans-N-Cu-N angles of 139.27(8)° and 155.94(8)°. (Hexamethyl-1,5,9,13-tetraazacyclohexadecadiene)(thiocyanato-N)copper(II) perchlorate has twofold symmetrical square-pyramidal cations. A (μ-cyano)-tetracyanonickelate(II) compound has two (hexamethyl-1,5,9,13-tetraazacyclohexadecadiene)copper(II) cations each with a single axially coordinated tetracyanonickelate(II) group. The compounds, except for the tetrachlorozincate(II) salt, show disorder in the location of the imine functions and axial methyl substituents, attributed to co-crystallisation of enantiomers for the N-rac-trans isomer and/or of rotated arrangements of the N-meso-cis isomer. For the thiocyanato and tetracyanonickelato compounds this disorder precluded unambiguous assignment of configuration.     

Pd(0) or Pd(II)-catalyzed ring-opening reactions of benzylidene- and alkylidenecyclopropyl ketones and aldehydes

Pd(0) catalyzed reactions of methylenecyclopropyl carbonyl compounds afforded a convenient method for the synthesis of conjugate (E,E)-1,3-diene derivatives 2 in good to excellent yields. Moreover, we also found that Pd(II)-catalyzed reactions of methylenecyclopropyl carbonyl compounds with water gave 1,5-diketones in good to high yields via a carbene-palladium intermediate. The plausible reaction mechanisms have also been provided on the basis of control and ¹⁸O-labeling experiments.     

Hexafluorothioacetone based synthesis of fluorinated heterocycles

Cycloadducts of hexafluorothioacetone (HFTA) were prepared in high yield by a CsF catalyzed reaction between readily available 2,2,4,4-tetrakis-(trifluoromethyl)-1,3-dithietane (as a source of HFTA) with conjugated electron-rich hydrocarbon dienes, such as cyclopentadiene, 2,3-dimethylbuta-1,3-diene, cyclohexa-1,3-diene or (1Z,3Z)-cyclohepta-1,3-diene. Cyclohexa-1,4- and (1Z,5Z)-cycloocta-1,5-dienes, also undergo the reaction with in situ generated HFTA, but form the products of insertion of HFTA into the C-H bond of the diene as a result of ene-reaction. The highly selective reaction of HFTA with (1Z,3Z,5Z)-cyclohepta-1,3,5-triene and (1Z,3Z,5Z,7Z)-cycloocta-1,3,5,7-tetraene leads to the formation of cycloadducts derived from exclusive addition of thioacetone to the corresponding bicyclic isomers—bicyclo[4.1.0]hepta-2,4-diene or bicyclo[4.2.0]octa-2,4,7-triene, respectively. The corresponding cycloadducts of HFTA with 2,3-dimethylbutadiene-1,3-cyclohexa-1,3-cyclohexa-1,4-dienes and (1Z,3Z,5Z)-cyclohepta-1,3,5-triene were also prepared by direct reaction of sulfur/hexafluoropropene/KF and the corresponding hydrocarbon substrate at 35-45 °C in DMF.     

A ring-closing metathesis approach to the bicyclo[4.3.1]decane core of caryolanes

A synthesis of highly substituted and sterically congested bicyclo[4.3.1]decenes, a structure embedded in the core 4,7,6-tricyclic system of natural caryolanes, was successfully achieved via a ring-closing metathesis (RCM) reaction of syn-1,3-diene substituted cyclohexanols. The construction of the diene substrates, starting from 4-acetoxy-3-methyl-2-cyclohexen-1-one, employed diastereoselective copper-mediated conjugate addition and Grignard reactions. An X-ray crystal structure determination of a key synthetic intermediate confirmed the relative stereochemistry of the RCM bicyclic product.     

Synthesis of conjugated (E,E)-1,3-diene-containing troponoid-based compounds

Through exploration of the electrophilic substitution reaction of 3-((2E,4E)-5-phenylpenta-2,4-dienoyl)-2-hydroxy-2,4,6-cycloheptatrien-1-one (3-((2E,4E)-5-phenylpenta-2,4-dienoyl)tropolone) with halogen and diazonium salts as well as the nucleophilic cyclisation reaction with hydroxylamine hydrochloride and substituted phenylhydrazine hydrochlorides by employing our reliable methods, we have synthesised a series of new (E,E)-1,3-diene-bearing troponoid-based compounds. All the newly synthesised molecules represent an issue of great interest, since the presence of conjugated 1,3-diene moiety can be developed further via other reactions.