Microwave-assisted copper-catalyzed stereoselective ring expansion of three-membered heterocycles with α-diazo-β-dicarbonyl compounds

Microwave-assisted copper-catalyzed ring expansions of three-membered heterocycles with α-diazo-β-dicarbonyl compounds were investigated. Thiiranes generated 3-acyl-5,6-dihydro-1,4-oxathiines in the presence of copper sulfate and trans-3-acyl-5,6-dihydro-1,4-oxathiines as stereospecific products for 1,2-disubstituted cis-thiiranes through an intramolecular S_N2 process. Oxiranes gave rise to 2-acyl-5,6-dihydro-1,4-dioxines under the catalysis of copper hexafluoroacetylacetonate and cis-3-acyl-5,6-dihydro-1,4-dioxines as stereospecific products for 1,2-disubstituted cis-oxiranes via an intimate ion-pair mechanism. The current method provides a direct and simple strategy in efficient preparation of 3-acyl-5,6-dihydro-1,4-oxathiines and 2-acyl-5,6-dihydro-1,4-dioxines, important agents in medicinal and agricultural chemistry, from readily available thiiranes and oxiranes, respectively.     

1,2-dioxines as masked cis gamma-hydroxy enones and their versatility in the synthesis of highly substituted gamma-lactones

Addition of highly stabilized ester nucleophiles to 1,2-dioxines affords good to high yields of gamma-lactones with high diastereoselectivity. Heterolytic or homolytic cleavage of the 1,2-dioxines under appropriate conditions generates the key reactive cis gamma-hydroxy enones, which ultimately afford the observed gamma-lactones. Diastereoselectivity is installed as a result of anti 1,4-addition by the ester enolate to the cis enones followed by intramolecular cyclization. The reaction is tolerant of a range of substitution patterns on the 1,2-dioxine while a broad range of esters are also accommodated. In addition to the synthesis of racemic gamma-lactones, highly enantioenriched gamma-lactones can also be synthesized when chiral cobalt(II) catalysts are employed for the initial homolytic ring-opening of the 1,2-dioxine.     

Unimolecular dissociation of protonated trans-1,4-diphenyl-2-butene-1,4-dione in the gas phase: rearrangement versus simple cleavage

Fragmentation mechanisms of trans-1,4-diphenyl-2-butene-1,4-dione were studied using a variety of mass spectrometric techniques. The major fragmentation pathways occur by various rearrangements by loss of H(2)O, CO, H(2)O and CO, and CO(2). The other fragmentation pathways via simple alpha cleavages were also observed but accounted for the minor dissociation channels in both a two-dimensional (2-D) linear ion trap and a quadrupole time-of-flight (Q-TOF) mass spectrometer. The elimination of CO(2) (rather than CH(3)CHO or C(3)H(8)), which was confirmed by an exact mass measurement using the Q-TOF instrument, represented a major fragmentation pathway in the 2-D linear ion trap mass spectrometer. However, the elimination of H(2)O and CO becomes more competitive in the beam-type Q-TOF instrument. The loss of CO is observed in both the MS(2) experiment of m/z 237 and the MS(3) experiment of m/z 219 but via the different transition states. The data suggest that the olefinic double bond in protonated trans-1,4-diphenyl-2-butene-1,4-dione plays a key role in stabilizing the rearrangement transition states and increasing the bond dissociation (cleavage) energy to give favorable rearrangement fragmentation pathways.     

1,2-dioxines containing tethered hydroxyl functionality as convenient precursors for pyran syntheses

A new method for the construction of tetrahydropyrans derived from readily available 1,2-dioxines containing a tethered hydroxyl moiety is described. The reaction proceeds via a base-catalyzed rearrangement of the 1,2-dioxines to either the isomeric cis or trans gamma-hydroxy enones followed by intramolecular oxa-Michael addition of the tethered hydroxyl group.     

Stereoselective synthesis of anti-1,4-diols by a BH3.THF-mediated rearrangement of 1,2-disubstituted cyclobutenes

A new stereoselective rearrangement of cyclobutylboranes, obtained by the hydroboration of 1,2-disubstituted cyclobutenes, provides anti-1,4-diols with good-to-excellent diastereoselectivity. The mechanism of the rearrangement is discussed based on theoretical calculations.     

The first total synthesis of natural grenadamide

A concise, high yielding route to the naturally occurring enantiomer of grenadamide utilizing a 3,6-disubstituted 1,2-dioxine starting material is presented. The route allows for ease in synthesizing grenadamide derivatives varying at cyclopropyl carbons 2 and 3, with access to both enantiomers. Evidence for phosphorus-assisted deprotonation of 1,2-dioxines is also discussed.     

Photogeneration and reactivity of 1,n-diphenyl-1,n-azabiradicals

The 1,5-diphenyl-1,5-azapentanediyl biradical Ia was generated by photolysis of 1,2-diphenylazacyclopentane (pyrrolidine 1a). Among the reaction pathways followed by Ia, C-N bond reformation with ring closure was found to be the predominating process, as determined by separate irradiation of either of the pure enantiomers of 1a. Disproportionation was a minor process and took place only via H abstraction by the C5 benzylic radical. Another minor pathway was C5-aryl coupling, with formation of 5-phenyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-benzo[b]azepine (4a), which is equivalent to photo-Claisen rearrangement of 1a. Likewise, the 1,4-diphenyl-1,4-azabutanediyl biradical Ib was generated by photolysis of 1,2-diphenylazacyclobutane (azetidine 1b). This species underwent predominating C2-C3 cleavage, as indicated by the extensive styrene formation. Although N1-C4 bond reformation also took place, this is not the major pathway occurring from Ib. Besides, C4-aryl coupling to give 4-phenyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinoline (4b) was also observed. All the possible reaction pathways were theoretically studied at the UB3LYP/6-31G computational level; the results were found to be in good agreement with the experimental observations.     

Design of 1,2-dioxines with anti-Candida activity: aromatic substituted 1,2-dioxines

In an ongoing effort to rationally design new antimicrobials, 47 new 1,2-dioxines have been synthesised. Broad antifungal structure-activity relationships governing aromatically substituted epoxy-1,2-dioxines 2 and 3 and their parent 1,2-dioxines 1 were assessed primarily against the pathogenic yeast, Candida albicans, with haemolytic activity of selected examples also reported.     

Zinc-mediated chain extension reaction of 1,3-diketones to 1,4-diketones and diastereoselective synthesis of trans-1,2-disubstituted cyclopropanols

[reaction: see text] A variety of 1,3-diketones can be efficiently converted into the corresponding 1,4-diketones and trans-1,2-disubstituted cyclopropanols by using organozinc species in one-pot reactions. It was found that 2.3 equiv of CF3CO2ZnCH2I was effective to give the corresponding chain-extended products in 44-85% yields, while a mixture of organozinc species formed from 4.0 equiv of Et2Zn, 2.0 equiv of CF3CO2H, and 4.0 equiv of CH2I2 resulted in the formation of trans-1,2-disubstituted cyclopropanols with quite good yields and diastereoselectivity.     

Base- and Co(II)-catalyzed ring-opening reactions of perhydrooxireno[2,3-d][1,2]dioxines: an efficient route to 4-hydroxy-2,3-epoxy-ketones

A series of 3,4,6-substituted 3,6-dihydro-1,2-dioxines were epoxidized with m-chloroperbenzoic acid to furnish perhydrooxireno[2,3-d][1,2]dioxines (epoxy-1,2-dioxines) in yields ranging from 51% to 93% with de's from 26% to 100%. Unsymmetrical epoxy-1,2-dioxines were ring-opened using triethylamine to yield 4-hydroxy-2,3-epoxy-ketones quantitatively, and meso-epoxy-1,2-dioxines were ring-opened using Co(II) salen complexes to afford 4-hydroxy-2,3-epoxy-ketones in 77-98% yield. The first reported examples of the catalytic asymmetric ring-opening of meso-epoxy-1,2-dioxines using a range of chiral Co(II) salen and beta-ketoiminato complexes to afford highly enantio-enriched 4-hydroxy-2,3-epoxy-ketones are also presented.     

A new route to diastereomerically pure cyclopropanes utilizing stabilized phosphorus ylides and gamma-hydroxy enones derived from 1, 2-dioxines: mechanistic investigations and scope of reaction

A new chemical transformation for the construction of diversely functionalized cyclopropanes utilizing 1,2-dioxines and stabilized phosphorus ylides as the key precursors is presented. Through a series of mechanistic studies we have elucidated a clear understanding of the hitherto unknown complex relationship between 1, 2-dioxines 1a-e, and their isomeric cis/trans gamma-hydroxy enones (23 and 21a-e), cis/trans hemiacetals 24a-e, and beta-ketoepoxides (e.g., 26), and how these precursors can be utilized to construct diversely functionalized cyclopropanes. Furthermore, several new synthetically useful routes to these structural isomers are presented. Key features of the cyclopropanation include the ylide acting as a mild base inducing the ring opening of the 1,2-dioxines to their isomeric cis gamma-hydroxy enones 23a-e, followed by Michael addition of the ylide to the cis gamma-hydroxy enones 23a-e and attachment of the electrophilic phosphorus pole of the ylide to the hydroxyl moiety, affording the intermediate 1-2lambda(5)-oxaphospholanes 4 and setting up the observed cis stereochemistry between H1 and H3. Cyclization of the resultant enolate (30a or 30b), expulsion of triphenylphosphine oxide, and proton transfer from the reaction manifold affords the observed cyclopropanes in excellent diastereomeric excess. The utilization of Co(SALEN)(2) in a catalytic manner also allows for a dramatic acceleration of reaction rates when entering the reaction manifold from the 1,2-dioxines. While cyclopropanation is favored by the use of ester-stabilized ylides, the use of keto- or aldo-stabilized ylides results in a preference for 1,4-dicarbonyl formation through a competing Kornblum-De La Mare rearrangement of the intermediate hemiacetals. This finding can be attributed to subtle differences in ylide basicity/nucleophilicity. In addition, the use of doubly substituted ester ylides allows for the incorporation of another stereogenic center within the side chain. Finally, our studies have revealed that the isomeric trans gamma-hydroxy enones and the beta-keto epoxides are not involved in the cyclopropanation process; however, they do represent an alternative entry point into this reaction manifold.     

Dicobaltoctacarbonyl-mediated synthesis of tricyclic 5,6-diydropyran-2-one derivatives via tandem cycloaddition reaction between cis-epoxyalkynes, a tethered olefin, and carbon monoxide

Cobalt carbonyl complex Co2(CO)8 implemented an intramolecular carbonylation of cis-epoxyalkynes to generate Co2(CO)6-stabilized gamma-lactonyl allene species. For 1,1,2-trisubstituted epoxyalkynes, this Co2(CO)6-allene species reacted with a tethered olefin to give [2+2]-cycloadducts, and with CO and a tethered olefin to produce [2+2+1]-cycloadducts. These resulting cycloadducts have a 5,6-diydropyran-2-one core fused with a cyclobutane and a cyclopentanone ring, respectively. For 1,2-disubstituted cis-epoxyalkyne and 1,1,2-trisubstituted cis-epoxyalkynes bearing a heteroatom constituent, cyclization of the corresponding epoxyalkyne with a tethered alkene is invariably accompanied by incorporation of CO to produce a [2+2+1]-cycloadduct, even in the absence of CO. We have prepared various 1,1,2-trisubstituted and 1,2-disubstituted cis-epoxyalkynes to generalize such cycloaddition pathways. Attempt to use an organic promoter to perform these tandem cycloadditions was unsuccessful because of a competing Pauson-Khand reaction. Cyclization of a 1,2-disubstituted epoxyalkyne with a tethered diene was achieved successfully in one case, but the yield was low (25%).     

Electron impact mass spectral fragmentation patterns of 2a,4-disubstituted 5-benzoyl-2-chloro-2a,3,4,5-tetrahydroazeto[1,2-a][1,5]benzodiazepin-1( 2H)-ones

The mass spectrometric behaviour of six 2a,4-disubstituted 5-benzoyl-2-chloro-2a,3,4,5-tetrahydroazeto[1,2-a][1,5]benzodia zepin-1(2H)-ones has been studied with the aid of mass-analysed ion kinetic energy spectrometry and accurate mass measurements under electron impact ionization. All compounds show a tendency to eliminate a chlorine atom, a chlorine atom plus benzaldehyde, benzoyl radical, chloroketene or chlorine atom plus CO and H2O molecules to yield, respectively, [M-Cl]+ ions, 2a,4-disubstituted 2a,3-dihydroazeto[1,2-a][1,5]benzodiazepin-1(2H)-one ions, [M-PhCO]+ ions, 2,4-disubstituted 1-benzoyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-1,5-benzodiazepine ions, or 1,2,4-trisubstituted 1H-1,7-benzodiazonine ions, which could also be formed from [M-Cl]+ ions by loss of CO and H2O molecules simultaneously. The [M-Cl]+ ions could further lose benzoyl radical to form [M-Cl-PhCO]+ ions, or lose benzoyl amide and undergo a rearrangement to form 4,6-disubstituted 1-benzoazocine-2(1H)-one ions. The [M-PhCO]+ ions could eliminate NH to produce 2a,4-disubstituted 2,2a,3,4-tetrahydroazeto[1,2,-a]quinolin-1-one ions, which could further eliminate chloroketene, CO and/or HCl to produce some important ions, respectively. 2,4-Disubstituted 1-benzoyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-1,5-benzodiazepine ions could lose benzoyl radical to yield 2,4-disubstituted 2,3-dihydro-1H-1,5-benzodiazepine ions, which could further yield other small fragment ions by loss of propene/styrene or small fragments.     

Prototropic isomerization of dihydropyridazinecarboxylic and dihydropyridazinedicarboxylic acid esters

3,5-Disubstituted 1,4-dihydropyridazine-4-carboxylic and 4,6-disubstituted 2,5-dihydropyridazine-3,5-dicarboxylic acid esters undergo isomerization into 2,5-dihydropyridazine-4-carboxylate and 1,4-dihydropyridazine-3,5-dicarboxylate derivatives, respectively, by the action of a catalytic amount of a mineral acid or strong base at 20°C. The transformation may be regarded as prototropic rearrangement, and it includes two consecutive 1,2-hydride shifts. The direction of the isomerization is determined by higher thermodynamic stability of the isomer containing a β-aminoacrylate fragment.     

Electron impact mass spectral fragmentation of 2a,4-disubstituted 2-chloro/2,2-dichloro-2,2a,3,4-tetrahydro-1H-azeto[2,1-d][1,5]benzothia zepin-1-ones

The mass spectrometric behaviour of nine 2a,4-disubstituted 2-chloro/2,2-dichloro-2,2a,3,4-tetrahydro-1H-azeto[2,1-d][1,5]b enzothiazepin-1-ones has been studied with the aid of mass-analysed ion kinetic energy spectrometry and accurate mass measurements under electron impact ionization. All compounds show a tendency to eliminate a neutral chlorine atom, or a chloroketene, or neutral propene, or styrene or substituted styrene molecule, plus Cl and/or H (or Cl) atom(s), to yield [M-Cl]+ ions, 2,3-dihydro-1,5-benzothiazepine derivative ions, 4,5-dihydro-5H-1,5-benzothiazepin-4-one ions which can further lose CO to give 1,4-benzothiazine ions. Both molecular ions and [M-Cl]+ ions show a tendency to eliminate an ethyl or benzyl/substituted benzyl radical to produce 2,2a-dihydro-1H-azeto[2,1-c][1,4]benzothiazin-1-one ions. The [M-Cl]+ ions could undergo rearrangement to yield 2,2a-dihydro-1H-azeto[2,1-d][1,5]benzothiazepin-1-one ions, 2,2a,3,4-tetrahydro-1H-azeto[1,2-a]quinoline ions or 1,1a,2,3-tetrahydro-azirino[2,1-d][1,5]benzothiazepine ions by loss of an ethane or a benzene/substituted benzene, a SH radical or a CO molecule. The molecular ions could also undergo rearrangement reactions to form other small fragment ions.     

Osmium catalyzed dihydroxylation of 1,2-dioxines: a new entry for stereoselective sugar synthesis

A series of 3,6-substituted 3,6-dihydro-1,2-dioxines were dihydroxylated with osmium tetroxide to furnish 1,2-dioxane-4,5-diols (peroxy diols) in yields ranging from 33% to 98% and with de values not less than 90%. The peroxy diols were then reduced to generate a stereospecific tetraol core with R,R,S,S or "allitol" stereochemistry. The peroxy diols and their acetonide derivatives were also ring-opened with Co(II) salen complexes to give novel hydroxy ketones in 77-100% yield, including the natural sugar psicose. Importantly, preliminary work on the catalytic asymmetric ring-opening of meso-peroxy diols using the Co(II) Jacobsens's catalyst indicates that asymmetric sugar synthesis from 1,2-dioxines is possible.     

Synthesis of 2,3-di- and 2,3,4-trisubstituted furans from 1,2-dioxines generated by an enyne-RCM/Diels-Alder reaction sequence

An efficient method for the synthesis of 2,3- and 2,3,4-substituted furans starting from acyclic enynes was developed using an enyne-RCM/Diels-Alder reaction sequence. The reaction conditions for the transformation of 1,2-dioxines having an adjacent 1,2-oxazine ring into furans and the cleavage of N-O bonds are discussed.     

A domino ring-opening/epoxidation of 1,2-dioxines

When allowed to react with alkaline hydrogen peroxide, monocyclic 1,2-dioxines ring-open to their isomeric gamma-hydroxyenone intermediates which are rapidly epoxidized to afford trans-4-hydroxy-2,3-epoxyketones in 21-81% yield. In the case of meso-1,2-dioxines, Co(II) complex catalyzed asymmetric ring-opening of the 1,2-dioxine may be employed to furnish enantioenriched epoxides     

Ring-opening of unsymmetrical 1,2-dioxines using cobalt(II) salen complexes

The regioselectivity of the metal-catalyzed ring opening of unsymmetrical 1,2-dioxines to cis-gamma-hydroxyenones was investigated using two different Co(II) salen complexes. Regioselectivity was determined by direct examination of the enone ratios and by derivitization with a stabilized phosphorus ylide. The steric influence of the substituents on the 1,2-dioxine was the primary influence on regioselectivity. Temperature played little role; however, solvent and selection of Co(II) complex could be used to mildly influence the outcome of the rearrangement for selected substrates. The origins of the selectivity for the reaction are discussed.     

Photolysis of some quinoxaline-1,4-dioxides

The photochemical rearrangement of 2,3-disubstituted quinoxaline-1,4-dioxides to 1,3-disubstituted benzimidazolones has been examined. Evidence against the previously reported mechanism is offered, and an alternative mechanism suggested. The scope of the reaction is increased to include new types. Furthermore, a new mode of rearrangement is recognized.