The Conformation and Chirality of α-Diketones

Our deductions of the chirality of α-diketones from the skewed glyoxal model [2] have recently been questioned [1]. In particular it has been suggested [1] that the longest-wave-length Cotton effect is not determined by the chirality of the chromophore, but rather by contributions from substituents. Arguments against this view are given here and it is concluded that the skewed glyoxal model is still the best starting point for discussion of the optical activity of α-diketones. To settle the question unambiguously, further spectroscopic data are necessary, however.     

Studies on the Mass Spectra of N‐Aryl α,β‐Unsaturated γ‐Lactams

The mass spectra of a series of N‐aryl α,β‐unsaturated γ‐lactams were studied. Besides the molecular ion, the three characteristic fragments such as [M⁺‐29], [M⁺‐55], and [M⁺‐82] were commonly found in a series of N‐Aryl α,β‐unsaturated γ‐lactams in EI/MS. Further more the mechanism for the interpretation of these fragments is also de scribed.     

Facile Synthesis of α-Polythienyls via 1,4-Diketones

Unsubstituted and substituted linear polythienyls including thiophenes in both even and odd numbers are conveniently prepared from the Michael addition of thiophenecarboxaldehydes to Mannich bases and the vinyl sulfone. Cyclization of the resulting 1,4-diones with Lawesson's reagent gives α-polythienyls.     

Carbon Magnetic Resonance Spectra of α, β, γ, δ- and α, β, α′, β′- Unsaturated Ketones

Carbon-13 spectra of a series of 26 unsaturated ketones (ortho- and para-cyclo-hexadienones and corresponding open-chain analogues) have been measured by Fourier-transform. Pulse spectroscopy. A complete analysis has been achieved by means of double resonance experiments using noise-modulated and coherent off-resonance proton irradiation and with the aid of non-decoupled spectra. Chemical shifts are interpreted in terms of charge distribution in the dienone system and of methyl substituent effects. Carbon chemical shifts were also obtained for O-protonated ortho- and para-cyclohexadienones. One-bond and long-range carbon-proton and carbon-fluorine spin coupling constants are reported for several compounds.     

Ru-Catalyzed Oxidation of Acetylenes to α-Diketones with Iodosylbenzene

Disubstituted acetylenes are oxidized with PhIO in presence of Ru-catalysts to afford α-diketones in 65–85% yield. Under the same conditions terminal acetylenes are cleaved to carboxylic acids.     

Effect of Solvents on the Spectra of Some N′-2-(Substituted Pyridyl)-N-Substituted-Thioureas

Some N′-2-(substituted pyridyl)-N-substituted thiourea (in all 12-substituted pyridyl thioureas) have been examined in ultraviolet region in a series of solvents covering a broad polarity range i. e. from benzene (Z, 54.0) to ethylene glycol (Z, 85.1). Transition energies and oscillator strengths have been calculated and transition energy (E_T) has been plotted against Z-values, a new-empirical measurement of solvent polarity. A linear relationship was observed between the transition energy and Z-value for pyridyl μ→μ* and thiocarbonyl μ→μ* transitions. The effect of substituent present in pyridyl group on λ_max of a compound in the same solvent has been studied. Solvent sensitivites of these ligands have also been calculated.     

A meso–meso β‐β β‐β Triply Linked Subporphyrin Dimer

A meso–meso β‐β β‐β triply linked subporphyrin dimer 6 was synthesized by stepwise reductive elimination of β‐to‐β doubly Pt^II‐bridged subporphyrin dimer 9 . Dimer 6 was characterized by spectroscopic and electrochemical measurements, theoretical calculations, and picosecond time‐resolved transient absorption spectroscopy. X‐ray diffraction analysis reveals that 6 has a bowl‐shaped structure with a positive Gaussian curvature. Despite the curved structure, 6 exhibits a remarkably red‐shifted absorption band at 942 nm and a small electrochemical HOMO–LUMO gap (1.35 eV), indicating an effectively conjugated π‐electronic network.     

Enantioselective synthesis of β,β-dialkyl α-hydroxy γ-butyrolactones

An ephedrine-derived morpholine dione is employed in the synthesis of chiral alkylidene morpholinones that are efficiently converted to β-substituted α,γ-dihydroxy butyramides, precursors of the corresponding butyrolactones. Enantioselective synthesis of a spiro analog of pantolactone as well as a naturally occurring pantolactone homolog is achieved with this protocol.     

Ionization Shifts in 1H-NMR Spectra of α,β-Unsaturated Carboxylic Acids

Changes in chemical shifts of olefinic protons in a number of α,β- and α,β,γ,δ-unsaturated carboxylic acids caused by ionization of the COOH group were investigated. The ionization shifts of α-H-atoms are ?0.09 to 0.07 ppm, those of β-H-atoms are 0.32?0.47 ppm. The ionization shifts of δ-H-atoms are substantially larger than those of γ-H-atoms. The ionization shifts can be used for immediate determination of the esterification site in monoesters of (2E,4Z)-2,4-hexadienedioic (muconic) acid, which are of interest in connection with synthetic studies on verrucarins. Thus, isomerization by heating in aqueous solution of monoesters of (2Z,4Z)-2,4-hexadienedioic acid yields 1-monoesters rather than 6-monoesters of (2E,4Z)-2,4-hexadienedioic acid, in accordance with the isomerization mechanism involving anchimeric assistance of the free COOH group. Solutions of the ABXY spectra of olefinic protons of monomethyl (2E,4E)- and (2Z,4Z)-2,4-hexadienedioate are reported.     

Synthese von diastereo- und enantio-selektiv deuterierten β,ε-, β,β-, β,γ- und γ,γ-Carotinen

Synthesis of Diastereo- and Enantioselectively Deuterated β,ε-, β,β-, β,γ- and γ,γ-Carotenes We describe the synthesis of (1′R, 6′S)-[16′, 16′, 16′-²H₃]-β, εcarotene, (1R, 1′R)-[16, 16, 16, 16′, 16′, 16′-²H₆]-β, β-carotene, (1′R, 6′S)-[16′, 16′, 16′-²H₃]-γ, γ-carotene and (1R, 1′R, 6S, 6′S)-[16, 16, 16, 16′, 16′, 16′-²H₆]-γ, γ-carotene by a multistep degradation of (4R, 5S, 10S)-[18, 18, 18-²H₃]-didehydroabietane to optically active deuterated β-, ε- and γ-C₁₁-endgroups and subsequent building up according to schemes \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}${\rm C}_{11} \to {\rm C}_{14}^{C_{\mathop {26}\limits_ \to }} \to {\rm C}_{40} $\end{document} and C₁₁ → C₁₄; C₁₄+C₁₂+C₁₄→C₄₀. NMR.- and chiroptical data allow the identification of the geminal methyl groups in all these compounds. The optical activity of all-(E)-[²H₆]-β,β-carotene, which is solely due to the isotopically different substituent not directly attached to the chiral centres, is demonstrated by a significant CD.-effect at low temperature. Therefore, if an enzymatic cyclization of [17, 17, 17, 17′, 17′, 17′-²H₆]lycopine can be achieved, the steric course of the cyclization step would be derivable from NMR.- and CD.-spectra with very small samples of the isolated cyclic carotenes. A general scheme for the possible course of the cyclization steps is presented.