Aromatische [1,5s]-sigmatropische H-Verschiebungen in Arylallenen

1-Mesityl allene ( 1 ), 1-mesityl-3-methyl allene ( 2 ) and 1-mesityl-3,3-dimethyl allene ( 3 ) rearrange thermally at 150–190° in decane via [1,5s]sigmatropic H-shifts to yield the o-quinodimethanes 4 , which cyclise to give the 1,2-dihydronaphthalenes 5 and 6 and/or undergo [1,7 a]sigmatropic H-shifts to give 1-mesityl-(Z)-buta-1, 3-dienes (Z)- 7 and (Z)- 8 , respectively (Schemes 1,3,4 and 5) in almost quantitative yields. The activation parameters of these isomerisations are given in Table 1. 1-Mesityl-1-methyl allene ( 9 ) isomerises at 190° to give 4,5,7-trimethyl-1,2-dihydronaphthalene ( 17 ) in 50% yield (Scheme 6). 2′-Isopropylphenyl allene ( 10 ) in decane rearranges at 170° to 1-(Z)-propenyl-2-isopropenyl-benzene ((Z)- 19 , Scheme 7). Deuterium labelling experiments show that the rate determining step is an aromatic [1,5s]sigmatropic hydrogen shift from an sp³- to an sp-hybridised carbon atom. The primary kinetic isotopic effect (k_H/k_D) is 3.45, while the secondary βisotopic effect is 1.20 (Scheme 7 and Table 2).     

Stable azomethine imines derived from pyrazolidin-3-one and their cycloaddition to <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-arylmaleimides

Reactions of (Z)-1-arylmethylidene-3-oxopyrazolidin-1-ium-2-ides (stable analogs of azomethine imines generated by thermal opening of the diaziridine fragment in 6-aryl-1,5-diazabicyclo[3.1.0]hexanes) with N-arylmaleimides having no ortho substituents in the aryl group are stereoselective: the products are mixtures of the corresponding cis and trans adducts, the latter prevailing (∼1.4–2.6: 1). trans Adducts are formed as the only products in the reactions with di-ortho-substituted N-arylmaleimides. (Z)-1-[(2,6-Dichlorophenyl) methylidene]-3-oxopyrazolidin-1-ium-2-ide reacts with both para- and ortho-substituted N-arylmaleimides to give exclusively trans adducts. Labile azomethine imines generated by thermolysis of 6-aryl-1,5-diazabicyclo[3.1.0]hexanes are likely to have Z configuration as well.     

Internal Nucleophilic Termination in Acid‐Mediated Polyene Cyclizations Part 4

Treatment of the unsaturated bicyclic homoallylic alcohols (E)‐ and (Z)‐ 5 and (Z)‐ and (E)‐ 10 and allenic alcohol 16 with an excess of ClSO₃H in 2‐nitropropane or CH₂Cl₂ at − 80° afforded, in moderate yields (ca. 30–70%), diastereoisomer mixtures of racemic tetracyclic ethers 12a – c (Table 1) and 17a,b (Table 2), respectively. These kinetically controlled stereospecific transformations are believed to proceed via concerted or nonconcerted pathways (see Schemes 4 and 6) and the results are fully consistent with our earlier work. Representing novel didehydro bridged analogues of known, olfactively active labdane tricyclic ethers, the organoleptic properties of 12a – c and 17a,b are briefly described, especially those of 12c which, in the context of structure–activity studies, is a racemic didehydro analogue of the known ambergris odorant Ambrox^®.     

Reaktion von Phenyldiazomethan mit 1,3-Thiazol-5(4H)-thionen: Basenkatalysierte Ring-Öffnung des Primäradduktes

Reaction of Phenyldiazomethane with 1,3-Thiazole-5(4H)-thiones: Base-Catalyzed Ring Opening of the Primary Adduct Reaction of 1,3-thiazole-5(4H)-thiones 1 and phenyldiazomethane ( 2a ) in toluene at room temperature yields the thiiranes trans- and cis-1,4-dithia-6-azaspiro[2.4]hept-5-enes (trans- and cis- 4 ; Scheme 2). With Ph₃P in THF at 70°, these thiiranes are transformed stereospecifically into (E)- and (Z)-5-benzylidene-4,5-dihydro-1,3-thiazoles 5 , respectively. In the presence of DBU, 1 and 2a react to give 1,3,4-thiadiazole derivatives 6 or 7 via base-catalyzed ring opening of the primary cycloadduct (Scheme 3). In the case of 2-(alkylthio)-substituted 1,3-thiazole-5(4H)-thiones 1c and 1d , this ring opening proceeds by elimination of the corresponding alkylthiolate, yielding isothiocyanate 7 . The structures of (Z)- 5c and 6b have been established by X-ray crystallography.     

Untersuchungen über aromatische Amino-Claisen-Umlagerungen

Investigations on Aromatic Amino-Claisen Rearrangements The thermal and acid catalysed rearrangement of p-substituted N-(1′,1′-dimethylallyl)anilines (p-substituent=H (5) , CH₃ (6) , iso-C₃H₇ (7) , Cl (8) , OCH₃ (9) , CN (10) ), of N-(1′,1′-dimethylallyl)-2,6-dimethylaniline (11) , of o-substituted N-(1′-methylallyl)anilines (o-substituent=H (12) , CH₃ (13) , t-C₄H₉ (14) , of (E)- and (Z)-N-(2′-butenyl)aniline ((E)- and (Z)- 16 ), of N-(3′-methyl-2′-butenylaniline (17) and of N-allyl- (1) and N-allyl-N-methylaniline (15) was investigated (cf. Scheme 3). The thermal transformations were normally conducted in 3-methyl-2-butanol (MBO), the acid catalysed rearrangements in 2N -0,1N sulfuric acid. - Thermal rearrangements. The N-(1′,1′-dimethylallyl)anilines rearrange in MBO at 200-260° with the exception of the p-cyano compound 10 in a clean reaction to give the corresponding 2-(3′-methyl-2′-butenyl)anilines 22–26 (Table 2 and 3). The amount of splitting into the anilines is <4% ( 10 gives ? 40% splitting). The secondary kinetic deuterium isotope effect (SKIDI) of the rearrangement of 5 and its 2′,3′,3′-d₃-isomer 5 amounts to 0.89±0.09 at 260° (Table 4). This indicates that the partial formation of the new s?-bond C(2), C(3′) occurs already in the transition state, as is known from other established [3,3]-sigmatropic rearrangements. The rearrangement of the N-(1′-methylallyl)anilines 12–14 in MBO takes place at 290–310° to give (E)/(Z)-mixtures of the corresponding 2-(2′-Butenyl)anilines ((E)- and (Z)- 30,-31 , and -32 ) besides the parent anilines (5–23%). Since a dependence is observed between the (E)/(Z)-ratio and the bulkiness of the o-substituent (H: (E)- 30 /(Z)- 30 =4,9; t-C₄H₉: (E)- 32 /(Z)- 32 =35.5; cf. Table 6), it can be concluded, that the thermal amino-Claisen rearrangement occurs preferentially via a chair-like transition state (Scheme 22). Methyl substitution at C(3′) in the allyl chain hinders the thermal amino-Claisen-rearrangement almost completely, since heating of (E)-and (Z)- 16 , in MBO at 335° leads to the formation of the expected 2-(1′-methyl-allyl) aniline (33) to an extent of only 12 and 5%, respectively (Scheme 9). The main reaction (?60%) represents the splitting into aniline. This is the only observable reaction in the case of 17 . The inversion of the allyl chain in 16 - (E)- and (Z)- 30 cannot be detected - indicated that 33 is also formed in a [3, 3]-sigmatropic process. This is also true for the thermal transformation of N-allyl- (1) and N-allyl-N-methylaniline (15) into 2 and 34 , respectively, since the thermal rearrangement of 2′, 3′, 3′-d₃- 1 yields 1′, 1′, 2′-d₃- 2 exclusively (Table 8). These reaction are accompanied to an appreciable extent by homolysis of the N, C (1′) bond: compound 1 yields up to 40% of aniline and 15 even 60% of N-methylaniline ((Scheme 10 and 11). The activation parameters were determined for the thermal rearrangements of 1, 5, 12 and 15 in MBO (Table 22). All rearrangements show little solvent dependence (Table 5, 7 and 9). The observed ΔH^≠ values are in the range of 34-40 kcal/mol and the ΔS^≠ values very between -13 to -19 e.u. These values are only compatible with a cyclic six-membered transition state of little polarity. - Acid catalysed rearrangements. - The rearrangement of the N-(1′, 1′-dimethylallyl) anilines 5-10 occurs in 2N sulfuric acid already at 50-70° to give te 2-(3′-methyl-2′-butenyl)anilines 22-27 accompanied by their hydrated forms, i.e. the 2-(3′-hydroxy-3′-methylbutyl) anilines 35-40 (Tables 10 and 11). The latter are no more present when the rearrangement is conducted in 0.1 N sulfuric acid, whilst the rate of rearrangement is practically the same as in 2 N sulfuric acid (Table 12). The acid catalysed rearrangements take place with almost no splitting. The SKIDI of the rearrangement of 5 and 2′, 3′, 3′-d₃- 5 is 0.84±0.08 (2 N H₂SO₄, 67, 5°, cf. Table 13) and thus in accordance with a [3,3]-sigmatropic process which occurs in the corresponding anilinium ions. Consequently, the rearrangement of a 1:1 mixture of 2′, 3′, 3′-d₃- 5 and 3, 5-d₂- 5 in 2 N sulfuric acid at 67, 5° occurs without the formation of cross-products (Scheme 13). In the acid catalysed rearrangement of the N-1′-methylallyl) anilines 12-14 at 105-125° in 2 N sulfuric acid the corresponding (E)- and (Z)-anilines are the only products formed (Table 14 and 15). Again no splitting is observed. Furthermore, a dependence of the observed (E)/(Z) ratio and the bulkiness of the o-substituent ( H : (E)/(Z)- 30 = 6.5; t- C ₄ H ₉: (E)- 32 /(Z)- 32 = 90; cf. Table 15) indicates that also in the ammonium-Claisen rearrangement a chair-like transition state is preferentially adopted. In contrast to the thermal rearrangement the acid catalysed transformation in 2 N-O, 1 N sulfuric acid (150-170°) of (E)- and (Z)- 16 as well as of 1 and 15 , occurs very cleanly to yield the corresponding 2-allylated anilines 33, 2 and 34 (Scheme 15 and 18). The amounts of the anilines formed by splitting are <2%. During longer reaction periods hydration of the allyl chain of the products occurs, and in the case of the rearrangement of (E)- and )Z)- 16 the indoline 45 is formed (Scheme 15 and 18). All transformations occur with inversion of the allyl chain. This holds also for the rearrangement of 1 , since 3′, 3′-d₂- 1 gives only 1′, 1′-d₂- 2 (Scheme 17). The activation parameters were determined for the acid catalysed rearrangement of 1, 5, 12 and 15 in 2 N sulfuric acid (Table 22). The ΔH^≠ values of 27-30 kcal-mol and the ΔS^≠ values of +9 to -12 e.u. are in agreement with a [3, 3]-sigmatropic process in the corresponding anilinium ions. The acceleration factors (k_H+/k_Δ) calculated from the activation parameters of the acid catalysed and thermal rearrangements of the anilines are in the order of 10⁵ - 10⁷. They demonstrate that the essential driving force of the ammonium-Claisen rearrangement is the ‘delocalisation of the positive charge’ in the transition state of these rearrangements (cf. Table 23). Solvation effects in the anilinium ions, which can be influenced sterically, also seem to play a role. This is impressively demonstrated by N-(1′, 1′-dimethylallyl)-2, 6-dimethylaniline (11) : its rearrangement into 4-(1′, 1′-dimethylallyl)-2, 6-dimethylaniline (43) cannot be achieved thermally, but occurs readily at 30° in 2 N sulfuric acid. From a preparative standpoint the acid catalysed rearrangement in 2 N-0, 1 N sulfuric acid of N-allylanilines into 2-allylanilines, or if the o-positions are occupied into 4-allylanilines, is without doubt a useful synthetic method (cf. also [17]).     

Stereochemical Models for Discussing Additions to α,β‐Unsaturated Aldehydes Organocatalyzed by Diarylprolinol or Imidazolidinone Derivatives – Is There an ‘(E)/(Z)‐Dilemma’?

The structures of iminium salts formed from diarylprolinol or imidazolidinone derivatives and α,β‐unsaturated aldehydes have been studied by X‐ray powder diffraction (Fig. 1), single‐crystal X‐ray analyses (Table 1), NMR spectroscopy (Tables 2 and 3, Figs. 2–7), and DFT calculations (Helv. Chim. Acta 2009 , 92, 1, 1225, 2010 , 93, 1; Angew. Chem., Int. Ed. 2009 , 48, 3065). Almost all iminium salts of this type exist in solution as diastereoisomeric mixtures with (E)‐ and (Z)‐configured ⁺NC bond geometries. In this study, (E)/(Z) ratios ranging from 88 : 12 up to 98 : 2 (Tables 2 and 3) and (E)/(Z) interconversions (Figs. 2–7) were observed. Furthermore, the relative rates, at which the (E)‐ and (Z)‐isomers are formed from ammonium salts and α,β‐unsaturated aldehydes, were found to differ from the (E)/(Z) equilibrium ratio in at least two cases (Figs. 4 and 5, a, and Fig. 6, a); more (Z)‐isomer is formed kinetically than corresponding to its equilibrium fraction. Given that the enantiomeric product ratios observed in reactions mediated by organocatalysts of this type are often ≥99 : 1, the (E)‐iminium‐ion intermediates are proposed to react with nucleophiles faster than the (Z)‐isomers (Scheme 5 and Fig. 8). Possible reasons for the higher reactivity of (E)‐iminium ions (Figs. 8 and 9) and for the kinetic preference of (Z)‐iminium‐ion formation are discussed (Scheme 4). The results of related density functional theory (DFT) calculations are also reported (Figs. 10–13 and Table 4).     

Photochemische Reaktionen 111. Mitteilung [1] Zur Photochemie α, β-ungesättigter γ, δ-Epoxyester I: Singulett- versus Triplettreaktivität

On triplet excitation (E)- 2 isomerizes to (Z)- 2 and reacts by cleavage of the C(γ), O-bond to isomeric δ-ketoester compounds ( 3 and 4 ) and 2,5-dihydrofuran compounds ( 5 and 19 , s. Scheme 1). - On singulet excitation (E)- 2 gives mainly isomers formed by cleavage of the C(γ), C(δ)-bond ( 6–14 , s. Scheme 1). However, the products 3–5 of the triplet induced cleavage of the C(γ), O-bond are obtained in small amounts, too. The conversion of (E)- 2 to an intermediate ketonium-ylide b (s. Scheme 5) is proven by the isolation of its cyclization product 13 and of the acetals 16 and 17 , the products of solvent addition to b . - Excitation (λ = 254 nm) of the enol ether (E/Z)- 6 yields the isomeric α, β-unsaturated ε-ketoesters (E/Z)- 8 and 9 , which undergo photodeconjugation to give the isomeric γ, δ-unsaturated ε-ketoesters (E/Z)- 10 . - On treatment with BF₃O(C₂H₅)₂ (E)- 2 isomerizes by cleavage of the C(δ), O-bond to the γ-ketoester (E)- 20 (s. Scheme 2). Conversion of (Z)- 2 with FeCl₃ gives the isomeric furan compound 21 exclusively.     

Ring‐Opening Reactions of 3‐Aryl‐1‐benzylaziridine‐2‐carboxylates and Application to the Asymmetric Synthesis of an Amphetamine‐Type Compound

Nucleophilic ring‐opening reactions of 3‐aryl‐1‐benzylaziridine‐2‐carboxylates were examined by using O‐nucleophiles and aromatic C‐nucleophiles. The stereospecificity was found to depend on substrates and conditions used. Configuration inversion at C(3) was observed with O‐nucleophiles as a major reaction path in the ring‐opening reactions of aziridines carrying an electron‐poor aromatic moiety, whereas mixtures containing preferentially the syn‐diastereoisomer were generally obtained when electron‐rich aziridines were used (Tables 1–3). In the reactions of electron‐rich aziridines with C‐nucleophiles, S_N2 reactions yielding anti‐type products were observed (Table 4). Reductive ring‐opening reaction by catalytic hydrogenation of (+)‐trans‐(2S,3R)‐3‐(1,3‐benzodioxol‐5‐yl)aziridine‐2‐carboxylate (+)‐trans‐ 3c afforded the corresponding α‐amino acid derivative, which was smoothly transformed into (+)‐tert‐butyl [(1R)‐2‐(1,3‐benzodioxol‐5‐yl)‐1‐methylethyl]carbamate((+)‐ 14 ) with high retention of optical purity (Scheme 6).     

1,3-Dipolar cycloaddition of α-alkoxycarbonylnitrones with vinyl ethers and allyl alcohols in the presence of Eu(fod)3: selective activation of (Z)-isomers of the nitrones

Uncatalyzed cycloaddition of α-alkoxycarbonylnitrones 1 with vinyl ethers 7 gave mixtures of cis- and trans-cycloadducts 8, whereas Eu(fod)₃-catalyzed cycloaddition of 1 with 7 gave the trans-cycloadducts trans-8 in a highly stereoselective manner. NMR studies indicated that Eu(fod)₃ selectively activated (Z)-nitrones (Z)-1 in E,Z-equilibrium mixtures of nitrones 1. In contrast, the reaction of 1 with allyl alcohols 12 in the presence of Eu(fod)₃ resulted in sequential transesterification and intramolecular cycloaddition to give intramolecular cycloadducts 13.     

Benzylidène-5-hydroxy-4-dihydro-2,5-thiophènecarboxanilides-3-(Z): Synthèse et isomérisation en benzyl-5-hydroxy-4-thiophènecarboxanilides-3

(Z)-5-Benzylidene-2,5-dihydro-4-hydroxy-3-thiophenecarboxanilides: Synthesis and Isomerization into 5-Benzyl-4-hydroxy-3-thiophenecarboxanilides Upon treatment with an arylamine in boiling xylene, the esters I yield predominantly the corresponding anilides II, along with a small but variable amount of the isomeric thiophene derivatives III (Table 1). On the other hand, the derivatives III can be readily prepared by base- or acid-catalyzed isomerization of II . Esters I can also be isomerized to the corresponding thiophene derivatives IV (Scheme 6), but only in the presence of a strong acid (Table 4). The two series of isomers reported in Tables 2 and 3 present spectral differences which allow unambiguous structural assignments. The (Z)-configuration for compounds of Table 2 is confirmed by a NOE study carried out on the O-methyl derivatives 6a and 7a .     

Die thermische Umlagerung von 2-(Buta-1′,3′-dienyl)-phenolen in 2-Alkyl-2H-chromene; Beispiele für aromatische [1,7a]- und [1,5s]sigmatropische Wasserstoffverschiebungen

2-(1′-cis,3′-cis-)- and 2-(1′-cis,3′-trans-Penta-1′,3′-dienyl)-phenol (cis, cis- 4 and cis, trans- 4 , cf. scheme 1) rearrange thermally at 85–110° via [1,7 a] hydrogen shifts to yield the o-quinomethide 2 (R ? CH₃) which rapidly cyclises to give 2-ethyl-2H-chromene ( 7 ). The trans formation of cis, cis- and cis, trans- 4 into 7 is accompanied by a thermal cis, trans isomerisation of the 3′ double bond in 4. The isomerisation indicates that [1,7 a] hydrogen shifts in 2 compete with the electrocyclic ring closure of 2 . The isomeric phenols, trans, trans- and trans, cis- 4 , are stable at 85–110° but at 190° rearrange also to form 7 . This rearrangement is induced by a thermal cis, trans isomerisation of the 1′ double bond which occurs via [1, 5s] hydrogen shifts. Deuterium labelling experiments show that the chromene 7 is in equilibrium with the o-quinomethide 2 (R ? CH₃), at 210°. Thus, when 2-benzyl-2H-chromene ( 9 ) or 2-(1′-trans,3′-trans,-4′-phenyl-buta1′,3′-dienyl)-phenol (trans, trans- 6 ) is heated in diglyme solution at >200°, an equilibrium mixture of both compounds (～ 55% 9 and 45% 6 ) is obtained.     

Rhodium(II)‐Catalyzed Inter‐ and Intramolecular Enantioselective Cyclopropanations with Alkyl‐Diazo(triorganylsilyl)acetates

The intermolecular cyclopropanation of styrene with ethyl diazo(triethylsilyl)acetate ( 1a ) proceeds at room temperature in the presence of chiral Rh^II carboxylate catalysts derived from imide‐protected amino acids and affords mixtures of trans‐ and cis‐cyclopropane derivatives 2a in up to 72% yield but with modest enantioselectivities (<54%) (Scheme 1 and Table 1). Protiodesilylation of a diastereoisomer mixture 2a with Bu₄NF is accompanied by epimerization at C(1) (→ 3 ). The intramolecular cyclopropanation of allyl diazo(triethylsilyl)acetate ( 8a ), in turn, affords optically active 3‐oxabicyclo[3.1.0]hexan‐2‐one ( 9a ) with yields of up to 85% and 56% ee (Scheme 3 and Table 2). Similarly, the (2Z)‐pent‐2‐enyl derivative 8d reacts to 9d in up to 77% yield and 38% ee (Scheme 3 and Table 3). In contrast, the diazo decomposition of (2E)‐3‐phenylprop‐2‐enyl and 2‐methylprop‐2‐en‐1‐yl diazo(triethyl‐silyl)acetates ( 8b and 8c , resp.) is unsatisfactory and gives very poor yields of substituted 3‐oxabicyclo[3.1.0]hexan‐2‐ones 9b and 9c , respectively (Table 3).     

Stereoselective Double Functionalization of Iron-Carbonyl Complexes of 5,6,7,8-Tetramethylidenebicyclo[2.2.2]oct-2-ene. Crystal Structure and Absolute Configuration of (–)-trans-μ-[(2S,5R,7S)-C,5,6,C-η:C,7,8,C-η-(6,7,8-trimethylidene-5-((Z)-2-oxopropylidene)-2-bicyclo[2.2.2]octyl acetate)]-bis(tricarbonyliron)

The Friedel-Crafts monoacylation of trans-η-[(1RS,2RS,4SR,5SR,6RS,7SR,8SR)-C,5,6,C-η:C,7,8,C-η-(5,6,7,8-tetramethylidene-2-bicyclo[2.2.2]octyl acetate)]-bis(tricarbonyliron) ((±)- 5 ) is highly stereoselective and yields trans-η-[(1RS,2RS,4RS,5SR,6RS,7RS,8SR)-C,6-η,oxo-σ:C,7,8,C-η-(6,7,8-trimethylidene-5-((Z)-2-oxopropylidene)-2-bicyclo[2.2.2]octyl acetate)]-bis(tricarbonyliron) ((±)- 8 ) which equilibrates with the trans-η-[(1RS,2RS,4RS,5SR,6RS,7RS,8SR)-C,5,6,C-η:C,7,8,C-η-(6,7,8-trimethylidene-5-((Z)-2-oxopropylidene)-2-bicyclo[2.2.2]octyl acetate)]-bis(tricarbonyliron) ((±)- 9 ) on heating. Optically pure (–)- 9 has been prepared from the corresponding optically pure alcohol (+)- 4 . The structure and absolute configuration of (–)- 9 was established by single-crystal X-ray diffraction.     

Thermische (E), (Z)-Isomerisierungen bei substituierten Propenylbenzolen

Thermal (E), (Z)-Isomerizations of Substituted Propenylbenzenes The thermal isomerizations of (E)- and (Z)-3,5-dimethyl-2-(1′-propenyl)phenol ((E)- and (Z)- 3 ), (E)- and (Z)-N-methyl-2-(1′-propenyl)anilin ((E)- and (Z)- 4 ), (E)- and (Z)-3,5-dimethyl-2-(1′-propenyl)anilin ((E)- and (Z)- 5 , (E)- and (Z)-2-(1′-propenyl)mesitylene ((E)- and (Z- 6 ), (E)- and (Z)-2-(1′-propenyl)mesitylene ((E)- and (Z)- 7 ), (E)- and (Z)-2-(1′-propenyl)toluene ((E)- and (Z)- 8 ), (E)- and (Z)-4-(1′-propenyl)toulene ((E)- and (Z)- 9 ) as well as of (E)- and (Z)-2-(2′-butenyl)-mesitylene ((E)- and (Z)- 10 ) in decane solution were studied (Scheme 2). Whereas the isomerization of the 2-propenylphenols (E)- and (Z)- 3 occurs already between 130 and 150° (cf. Table 1), the isomerization of the 2-propenylanilins 4 and 5 takes place only at temperatures between 220 and 250° (cf. Tables 2 and 3). The activation values and the experiments using N-deuterated 4 (cf. Scheme 4) show that 2-propenylphenols and -anilins isomerize via sigmatropic [1,5]-hydrogen-shifts. For the isomerization of the methyl-substituted propenylbenzenes temperatures > 360° are required (cf. Tables 4 and 5). The activation values of the isomerization of (E)- and (Z)- 6 and (E)- and (Z)- 9 are in accord with those of other (E), (Z)-isomerizations which occur via vibrationally excited singlet biradicals (cf. Table 7). Nevertheless, thermal isomerization of 2′-d-(Z)- 8 (cf. Scheme 6) demonstrates that during the reaction deuterium is partially transfered into the ortho-methyl group, i.e. 1,5-hydrogen-shifts must have participated in isomerization of (E)- and (Z)- 8 (cf. Scheme 8). Under the equilibrium conditions 2,4,6-trimethylindan ( 17 ) is formed slowly at 368° from (E)- and (Z)- 6 , very probably via a radical 1,4-hydrogen-shift (cf. Scheme 9). In a similar way 2-ethyl-4,6-dimethylindan ( 19 ; cf. Table 6) arises from (E)- and (Z)- 7 . Thermolysis of (E)- and (Z)- 10 in decane solution at 367° results in almost no (E),(Z)-isomerization. At prolonged heating 19 and 2,5,7-trimethyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene ( 20 ) are formed; these two products arise very likely from an intermolecular radical process (cf. Scheme 10).     

Hetero-Diels-Alder Additions of α,β-Unsaturated-Acyl Cyanides. Part 3. Syntheses of 3-bromo-2-ethoxy-3,4-dihydro-2H-pyran-6-carbonitriles,and about their transformation to 2-ethoxy-2H-pyrans

Cycloadditions of the α,β-unsaturated-acyl cyanides 1–3 with (Z)-or (E)-1-bromo-2-ethoxyethene ( 4 ) may be performed at moderate temperatures and provide in good yields the 3-bromo-2-ethoxy-3,4-dihydro-2H-pyran-6-carbonitriles 5–7 , respectively (Scheme 1). Diastereoisomeric pairs of products result at room temperature merely from the ‘endo’- and ‘exo’-transition states; more complex mixtures appear above 60° as a consequence of (Z)/(E)-isomerization of 4 . The relative stability of the anomers of 5 and 6 is explored by treatment with BF₃·Et₂O. Acid alcoholysis (MeOH or EtOH) of 5 leads to acetals 9a , b of 4-bromo-5-oxopentanoate. Alkyl (2Z,4E)-5-ethoxypenta-2,4-dienoates 12 , 17 , and 20 , are formed in alcoholic alkoxide solutions from 5 , 6 , and 7 , respectively, which is compatible with the intermediacy of 2-alkoxy-2H-pyrans and their valence tautomers, α,β-unsaturatedacyl cyanides. Methoxide addition to the CN group competes with dehydrobromination in case of 5 ; it leads to 3-bromo-3,4-dihydro-2H-pyran-6-carboximidate 13 (ca. 50% at ?20°) which can be hydrolyzed to the methyl carboxylate 14 . DBU (1,8-diazabicyclo[5,4,0]undec-7-ene) in benzene converts 5 to 6-ethoxy-2-oxohexa-3,5-dienenitrile ( 11 ), the ring-opening product of an obviously unstable 2-ethoxy-2H-pyran; the same reagent dehydrobrominates 6 to 2-ethoxy-4-methyl-2H-pyran-6-carbonitrile ( 15 ). HBr Elimination from 7 takes place with great ease in presence of pyridine, or even during chromatography on alumina, and leads to the stable ethyl 6-cyano-2-ethoxy-2H-pyran-4-carboxylate ( 18 ); this dimerizes at room temperature to give a 1:3 mixture of tricyclic adducts ‘endo’- 21 and ‘exo’- 21 . The structure of the latter is established by an X-ray crystallographic analysis.     

Identification and Synthesis of New γ-Lactones from Tuberose Absolute (Polianthes tuberosa)

Six unsaturated γ-lactones, (Z)-5-octen-4-olide ( 1 ), (Z)-5-decen-4-olide ( 2 ).(Z)-6-nonen-4-olide ( 3 ), (Z)-6-dodecen-4-olide ( 4 ), (Z, Z)-6,9-dodecadien-4-olide ( 5 ), and tuberolide ( 6 ) have been identified for the first time in tuberose absolute (from Polianthes tuberosa L.). All structures were corroborated by synthesis and all, except 3 and 4 , are new.

1 The name ‘tuberolactone’ has been suggested for (Z, Z)-2,7-decadien-5-olide [1]. We propose the name ‘tuberolide’ for the bicyclic lactone 6 . (IUPAC name (1R*,5S*,Z)-6-(2′-pentenyl)-2-oxabicyclo[3.3.0]octan-3-one).

An improved method for the stereoselective synthesis of (±)-cis-bicyclo [4.3.0]-non-3-en-7-one ( 23 ) by an AlCl₃-catalyzed Diels-Alder reaction is reported.     

Über die Stereospezifität der α-Alkylierung von β-Hydroxycarbonsäureestern. Vorläufige Mitteilung

About the Stereospecific α-Alkylation of β-Hydroxyesters It was found, that dianions derived from β-hydroxyesters with lithium diisopropylamide (LDA) at ?50 to ?20° were alkylated stereospecifically (Scheme 1). The stereospecificity was 95–98%, the threo-compound (threo -2, -3 and -4) being the main product. This was proved for threo -2 and -3 by preparing the β-lactones 7 and 8 , respectively, which were pyrolyzed to trans-1, 4-hexadiene (9) and trans-1-phenyl-2-butene (10) , respectively (Scheme 2). Moreover, the acid threo -6 from threo -3 was converted by dimethylformamide-dimethylacetal to cis-1-phenyl-2-butene (11) (s. footnote 6). The alkylation of α-monosubstituted β-hydroxyesters also turned out to be stereospecific. Reduction of 16 and 18 with actively fermenting yeast furnished (+) -17 and (+) -2. respectively (Scheme 4), which were each mixtures of the (2R, 3S)- and the (2S, 3S)-isomers. Alkylation of (+) -17 with allyl bromide yielded after chromatography (2S, 3S) -19 and of (+) -2 with methyl iodide (2R, 3S) -19 , the oxidation of which finally gave (S)-(?) -20 and (R)-(+) -20 , respectively.     

Enantio- and Diastereoselective Aldol-Reaction of 2,6-Dimethylphenyl Propionate Using Titanium-Carbohydrate Complexes

Chloro(cyclopentadienyl)bis(1,2:5,6-di-O-isopropylidene-α-D -glucofuranos-3-O-yl)titanium ( 1 ) is used for the transmetallation of Li-enolates obtained from propionyl derivatives. While such Ti-enolates of ketones and hydrazones appear to be unreactive, the (E)enolate 13 of 2,6-dimethylphenyl propionate ( 11 ) adds to the re-side of aldehydes, affording various syn-aldols 14 with high dia- and enantioselectivity (92–97% ds, 91–97% ee, cf. Scheme 2 and Table 1). Racemic syn-aldols (±)- 14 are obtained analogously from the achiral bis(2-propyloxy)-Ti-enolate 15 (Scheme 2 and Table 2). In contrast to the unstable Li-enolate 10 , the Ti-enolates 13 and 15 isomerize at ?30°, presumably to the thermodynamically more stable (Z)-enolates (Scheme 4), While the diastereoselectivity of the achiral enolate 15 is lost upon this equilibration, the chiral (Z)-enolate 27 quite unexpectedly affords anti-aldols 12 of high optical purity (94–98% ec) and, in most cases, with acceptable-to-good diastereoselectivity (82–90% ds). Notable exceptions are branched unsaturated and aromatic aldehydes which form a greater proportion of synepimers of moderate optical purity (Scheme 5 and Table 3). Consistent with these findings, re-facial-and ami -selective aldol-addition is also exhibited by the (Z)-configurated Ti-enolate 22 of N-propionyl-oxazolidi-none 19 (Scheme 3).     

Zur Stereochemie der aromatischen Claisen-Umlagerung. Thermische Umlagerung von erythroiden und threoiden ortho-Dienonen

On the Stereochemistry of the Aromatic Claisen Rearrangement. Thermal Rearrangement of erythroid and threoid ortho-Dienones. Erythro- and threo-1-methyl-1-(1′-methyl-2′-propynyl)-2-oxo-1,2-dihydronaph-thalene (erythro- and threo- 6 ) as well as erythro- and threo-2,6-dimethyl-6-(1′-methyl-2′-propynyl)-cyclohexa-2,4-dien-1-one (erythro- and threo- 8 ) were obtained together with the corresponding aromatic ethers 5 and 7 by alkylation of 1-methyl-2-naphthol and 2,6-dimethyl-phenol, respectively in alcoholic potassium hydroxide solution with 1-methyl-2-propynyl p-toluenesulfonate (Scheme 2). The diastereoisomeric dienones 6 and 8 were easily separated by column chromatography on silica gel and its relative configuration at C(1) or C(6) and C(1′) deduced from the chemical shifts in their ¹H-NMR.-spectra (Table 1). Hydrogenation of 6 and 8 using Lindlar catalyst yielded the corresponding erythro- and threo-configurated (1′-methyl-2′-propenyl)-dienones 10 and 13 , respectively (Scheme 3) the thermal rearrangement of which were studied. The following results were obtained: threo- 10 rearranged in benzene at 85–105° preferentially via a chair-like (C) transition state to yield 99,5% (E)- and 0,5% (Z)-(2′-butenyl) 1-methyl-2-naphthyl ether ((E)- and (Z)- 14 ; ΔΔG (C/B) = ?4,0 kcal/mol). On the other hand, erythro- 10 when heated at 105-125° in benzene gave 84,7% (E)- and 15,3% (Z)- 14 , i.e. in this case a boat-like (B) transition state is favoured (G (C/B) = + 1,3 kcal/mol) (Scheme 5 and Table 2). The thermal rearrangement of dienones 13 led to the corresponding ethers 12 as well as p-allyl-phenols 11 . Thus, heating of threo- 13 at 20–42° in cyclohexane resulted in the formation of 2,5% of ether 12 , consisting of 98% of the (E)- and 2% of the (Z)-isomer, and 97,5% of (E)- 11 which contained, at a maximum, 0,5% of the (Z)-isomer, (Scheme 6 and Table 3). This means that both rearrangements occurred with a strong preference of the C transition state (G ( C/B , phenol) = ?3,3 kcal/mol). On the contrary, erythro- 13 when heated at 42–68° in cyclohexane yielded a 3:2 mixture of ether 12 and phenol 11 (Scheme 6). The ethereal part consisted of 88,0% of the (E)- and 12,0% of the (Z)-isomer which again shows that the B geometry predominated in the erythro transition state leading to the ether (G ( C / B )= + 1,3 kcal/mol). In the phenolic part 36–40% of the (E)-isomer and 64–60% of (Z)-isomer were found which means that in the para-Claisen rearrangement of erythro- 13 the C arrangement is only slightly favoured (ΔΔG ( C / B )= ?0,36 kcal/mol).     

Herstellung neuer polycyclischer Verbindungen durch intramolekulare Diels-Alder-Reaktionen von Cyclohexa-2,4-dien-1-on-Abkömmlingen

Synthesis of new polycyclic compounds by means of intramolecular Diels-Alder reactions of cyclohexa-2,4-dien-1-one derivatives Thermal rearrangement of mesityl penta-2,4-dienyl ether ( 1 ), consisting of the isomers E (93%) and Z (7%), furnished, besides mesitol, the two mesityl penta-1,3-dienyl ethers 2 (24%) and 3 (3%), and the two tricyclic ketones 4 (4,5%) and 5 (12,5%) (Scheme 1). A probable mechanism for this formation of 2 involves a [1,5]-hydrogen shift in (Z)- 1 . Isomerisation of (E)- 1 to (Z)- 1 at 145° occurs via reversible sigmatropic [3,3]- and [5,5]-rearrangements of (E)- 1 to the cyclohexadienones 38 and 39 respectively (see Chapter A p. 1710, and Scheme 15). Formation of 3 from either (Z)- 1 or 2 is rationalized by a series of pericyclic reactions as outlined in Chapter A and Scheme 16. The tricyclic ketones 4 and 5 are undoubtedly formed by internal Diels-Alder reactions of the 6-pentadienyl-cyclohexa-2,4-dien-1-one 6 (Scheme 2). In fact, at 80° 6 is converted into 4 (5%) and 5 (35%). At 80° the cyclohexadienone derivative 7 furnished the corresponding tricyclic ketones 8 (15%) and 9 (44%) (Scheme 2). 5 and 9 contain a homotwistane skeleton. 8 and 9 are easily prepared by reaction of sodium 2,6-dimethylphenolate with 3-methyl-penta-2,4-dienyl bromide at ambient temperature, followed by heating, and finally separation by cristallization and chromatography. The cyclohexadienones 6 and 7 have mainly (E)-configuration. Here too (E) → (Z) isomerization is a prerequisite for the internal Diels-Alder reaction, and this partly takes place intramolecularly through reversible Claisen and Cope rearrangements (Scheme 17). On the other hand, experiments in the presence of 3,5-d₂-mesitol have shown (Table 1) that intermolecular reactions, involving radicals and/or ions, are also operating (see Chapter B , p. 1712). Two different modi (I and II) exist for intramolecular Diels-Alder reactions (Scheme 18). Whereas only modus I is observed in the cyclization of 5-alkenyl-cyclohexa-l,3-dienes, in that of (2)-cyclohexadienones 6 and 7 (Scheme 2) both modi are operating. Only in modus 11-type transitions is the butadienyl conjugation of the side chain retained, so that modus 11-type addition is preferred (Chapter C p. 1716). Analogously to the synthesis of the tricyclic ketones 4 , 5 , 8 and 9 , the tricyclic ketone 15 (Scheme 4) and the tetracyclic ketone 11 (Scheme 3) are prepared from mesitol, pentenyl bromide and cycloheptadienyl bromide, respectively. From the polycyclic ketones derivatives such as the alcohols 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 23 , 24 and 25 (Schemes 9 and 11), policyclic ethers 20 , 21 , 22 and 26 (Scheme 10), epoxides 30 , 32 (Scheme 13), diketones 31 , 33 (Scheme 13) and ether-alcohols 35 and 36 (Scheme 14) have been prepared. Most of these conversions show high stereoselectivity.