C45- and C50-Carotinoide. 1. Mitteilung. Synthese von (R)- and (S)-Lavandulol

C₄₅- and C₅₀-Carotenoids, 1st Communication. Synthesis of (R)- and (S)-Lavandulol Starting with methyl (3 R)-3-hydroxybutanoate ((R)-7) and ethyl (3 S)-3- hydroxybutanoate ((S)- 11 ), respectively, (R)- and (S)-lavandulol ((R)- 1 and (S)- 1 ) were synthesized with high optical purity. The synthesized key intermediates (R)- 6 and (S)- 6 are suitable compounds for the synthesis of optically active acyclic C₄₅- and C₅₀-carotenoids.     

Samaderin B and C from Samadera indica

Samaderin B, or (1R,2S,5R,5aR,7aS,11S,11aS,11bR,14S)‐1,7,7a,11,11a,11b‐hexa­hydro‐1,11‐di­hydroxy‐8,11a,14‐tri­methyl‐2H‐5a,2,5‐(methan­oxy­metheno)­naphth­[1,2‐d]­oxepine‐4,6,10(5H)‐trione, C₁₉H₂₂O₇, and samaderin C, or (1R,2S,5R,5aR,7aS,10S,11S,11aS,11bR,14S)‐7,7a,10,11,11a,11b‐hexa­hydro‐1,10,11‐tri­hydroxy‐8,11a,14‐tri­methyl‐2H‐5a,2,5‐(methan­oxy­metheno)­naphth­[1,2‐d]­oxepine‐4,6(1H,5H)‐dione, C₁₉H₂₄O₇, were isolated from the seed kernels of Samadera indica and were shown to exhibit antifeedant activity against Spodoptera litura third‐instar larvae. The replacement of the carbonyl group in samaderin B by a hydroxy group in samaderin C causes conformational changes at the substitution site, but the overall conformation is not affected; however, the compounds pack differently in the crystal lattice.     

Metabolism of Deuterated threo‐Dihydroxy Fatty Acids in Saccharomyces cerevisiae: Enantioselective Formation and Characterization of Hydroxylactones and γ‐Lactones

Biotransformation of (±)‐threo‐7,8‐dihydroxy(7,8‐²H₂)tetradecanoic acids (threo‐(7,8‐²H₂)‐ 3 ) in Saccharomyces cerevisiae afforded 5,6‐dihydroxy(5,6‐²H₂)dodecanoic acids (threo‐(5,6‐²H₂)‐ 4 ), which were converted to (5S,6S)‐6‐hydroxy(5,6‐²H₂)dodecano‐5‐lactone ((5S,6S)‐(5,6‐²H₂)‐ 7 ) with 80% e.e. and (5S,6S)‐5‐hydroxy(5,6‐²H₂)dodecano‐6‐lactone ((5S,6S)‐5,6‐²H₂)‐ 8 ). Further β‐oxidation of threo‐(5,6‐²H₂)‐ 4 yielded 3,4‐dihydroxy(3,4‐²H₂)decanoic acids (threo‐(3,4‐²H₂)‐ 5 ), which were converted to (3R,4R)‐3‐hydroxy(3,4‐²H₂)decano‐4‐lactone ((3R,4R)‐ 9 ) with 44% e.e. and converted to ²H‐labeled decano‐4‐lactones ((4R)‐(3‐²H₁)‐ and (4R)‐(2,3‐²H₂)‐ 6 ) with 96% e.e. These results were confirmed by experiments in which (±)‐threo‐3,4‐dihydroxy(3,4‐²H₂)decanoic acids (threo‐(3,4‐²H₂)‐ 5 ) were incubated with yeast. From incubations of methyl (5S,6S)‐ and (5R,6R)‐5,6‐dihydroxy(5,6‐²H₂)dodecanoates ((5S,6S)‐ and (5R,6R)‐(5,6‐²H₂)‐ 4a ), the (5S,6S)‐enantiomer was identified as the precursor of (4R)‐(3‐²H₁)‐ and (2,3‐²H₂)‐ 6 ). Therefore, (4R)‐ 6 is synthesized from (3S,4S)‐ 5 by an oxidation/keto acid reduction pathway involving hydrogen transfer from C(4) to C(2). In an analogous experiment, methyl (9S,10S)‐9,10‐dihydroxyoctadecanoate ((9S,10S)‐ 10a ) was metabolized to (3S,4S)‐3,4‐dihydroxydodecanoic acid ((3S,4S)‐ 15 ) and converted to (4R)‐dodecano‐4‐lactone ((4R)‐ 18 ).     

Two Pairs of Homochiral Coordination Polymers with Helices Based on Semi‐rigid Lactic Acid Ligands

Utilizing semirigid lactic acid derivatives (R)‐H₂CBA and (S)‐H₂CBA as chiral ligands, two pair of homochiral coordination polymers formulated as [Zn((R)‐CBA)(1,4‐DIB)] · H₂O ( 1 ‐ D ), [Zn((S)‐CBA)(1,4‐DIB)] · H₂O ( 1 ‐ L ), [Co((R)‐CBA)(1,4‐DIB)] · H₂O ( 2 ‐ D ) and [Co((S)‐CBA)(1,4‐DIB)] · H₂O ( 2 ‐ L ) were prepared under solvothermal reaction condition. Single X‐ray diffraction study reveals that all the complexes are comprised of three kinds of helical chains, which are constructed by corresponding metal ions, CBA^2– ligands, and/or 1,4‐DIB ligands. Moreover, some physical characteristics, such as PXRD, thermal stabilities, solid‐state circular dichroism (CD), luminescent and magnetic properties are also investigated.     

Four novel spirooxazacamphorsultam derivatives

The chiral compounds (6aS,9S,10aR)‐11,11‐dimethyl‐5,5‐dioxo‐2,3,8,9‐tetrahydro‐6H‐6a,9‐methanooxazaolo[2,3‐i][2,1]benzisothiazol‐10(7H)‐one, C₁₂H₁₇NO₄S, (1), (7aS,10S,11aR)‐12,12‐dimethyl‐6,6‐dioxo‐3,4,9,10‐tetrahydro‐7H‐7a,10‐methano‐2H‐1,3‐oxazino[2,3‐i][2,1]benzisothiazol‐11(8H)‐one, C₁₃H₁₉NO₄S, (2), (6aS,9S,10R,10aR)‐11,11‐dimethyl‐5,5‐dioxo‐2,3,7,8,9,10‐hexahydro‐6H‐6a,9‐methanooxazolo[2,3‐i][2,1]benzisothiazol‐10‐ol, C₁₂H₁₉NO₄S, (3), and (7aS,10S,11R,11aR)‐12,12‐dimethyl‐6,6‐dioxo‐3,4,8,9,10,11‐hexahydro‐7H‐7a‐methano‐2H‐[1,3]oxazino[2,3‐i][2,1]benzisothiazol‐11‐ol, C₁₃H₂₁NO₄S, (4), consist of a camphor core with a five‐membered spirosultaoxazolidine or six‐membered spirosultaoxazine, as both their keto and hydroxy derivatives. In each structure, the molecules are linked via hydrogen bonding to the sulfonyl O atoms, forming chains in the unit‐cell b‐axis direction. The chains interconnect via weak C—H...O interactions. The keto compounds have very similar packing but represent the highest melting [507–508 K for (1)] and lowest melting [457–458 K for (2)] solids.     

1,3-Dipolar cycloadditions of diazoalkanes to pyridazine derivatives. Thermal 1,5-sigmatropic rearrangement of methyl groups in 3,3-dimethyl-3H-pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyridazine derivatives

Thermal 1,5-sigmatropic rearrangements of one of the methyl group attached at position 3 of 3,3-dimethyl-3H-pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyridazin-4(5H)-ones 1–3 taking place either in a clock-wise or anti-clockwise direction gave N₂-methylated products 4–6 and C_3a-methylated products 7– 9 . The -7(6)-one derivative 10 and -4,7(5H,6H)-dione derivative 12 gave only N₂-methylated products 11 and 13 respectively, and 1,2-dihydro derivative 14 produced after elimination of methane, 15 .     

Metabolism of Deuterated erythro‐Dihydroxy Fatty Acids in Saccharomyces cerevisiae: Enantioselective Formation and Characterization of Hydroxylactones

Epoxides of fatty acids are hydrolyzed by epoxide hydrolases (EHs) into dihydroxy fatty acids which are of particular interest in the mammalian leukotriene pathway. In the present report, the analysis of the configuration of dihydroxy fatty acids via their respective hydroxylactones is described. In addition, the biotransformation of (±)‐erythro‐7,8‐ and ‐3,4‐dihydroxy fatty acids in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae was characterized by GC/EI‐MS analysis. Biotransformation of chemically synthesized (±)‐erythro‐7,8‐dihydroxy(7,8‐²H₂)tetradecanoic acid ((±)‐erythro‐ 1 ) in the yeast S. cerevisiae resulted in the formation of 5,6‐dihydroxy(5,6‐²H₂)dodecanoic acid ( 6 ), which was lactonized into (5S,6R)‐6‐hydroxy(5,6‐²H₂)dodecano‐5‐lactone ((5S,6R)‐ 4 ) with 86% ee and into erythro‐5‐hydroxy(5,6‐²H₂)dodecano‐6‐lactone (erythro‐ 8 ). Additionally, the α‐ketols 7‐hydroxy‐8‐oxo(7‐²H₁)tetradecanoic acid ( 9a ) and 8‐hydroxy‐7‐oxo(8‐²H₁)tetradecanoic acid ( 9b ) were detected as intermediates. Further metabolism of 6 led to 3,4‐dihydroxy(3,4‐²H₂)decanoic acid ( 2 ) which was lactonized into 3‐hydroxy(3,4‐²H₂)decano‐4‐lactone ( 5 ) with (3R,4S)‐ 5 =88% ee. Chemical synthesis and incubation of (±)‐erythro‐3,4‐dihydroxy(3,4‐²H₂)decanoic acid ((±)‐erythro‐ 2 ) in yeast led to (3S,4R)‐ 5 with 10% ee. No decano‐4‐lactone was formed from the precursors 1 or 2 by yeast. The enantiomers (3S,4R)‐ and (3R,4S)‐3,4‐dihydroxy(3‐²H₁)nonanoic acid ((3S,4R)‐ and (3R,4S)‐ 3 ) were chemically synthesized and comparably degraded by yeast without formation of nonano‐4‐lactone. The major products of the transformation of (3S,4R)‐ and (3R,4S)‐ 3 were (3S,4R)‐ and (3R,4S)‐3‐hydroxy(3‐²H₁)nonano‐4‐lactones ((3S,4R)‐ and (3R,4S)‐ 7 ), respectively. The enantiomers of the hydroxylactones 4, 5 , and 7 were chemically synthesized and their GC‐elution sequence on Lipodex^® E chiral phase was determined.     

Three ginkgolide hydrates from Ginkgo biloba L.: ginkgolide A monohydrate,ginkgolide C sesquihydrate and ginkgolide J dihydrate,all determined at 120 K

A low‐temperature structure of ginkgolide A monohydrate, (1R,3S,3aS,4R,6aR,7aR,7bR,8S,10aS,11aS)‐3‐(1,1‐dimethylethyl)‐hexa­hydro‐4,7b‐di­hydroxy‐8‐methyl‐9H‐1,7a‐epoxymethano‐1H,6aH‐cyclo­penta­[c]­furo­[2,3‐b]­furo­[3′,2′:3,4]­cyclopenta­[1,2‐d]­furan‐5,9,12(4H)‐trione monohydrate, C₂₀H₂₄O₉·H₂O, obtained from Mo Kα data, is a factor of three more precise than the previous room‐temperature determination. A refinement of the ginkgolide A monohydrate structure with Cu Kα data has allowed the assignment of the absolute configuration of the series of compounds. Ginkgolide C sesquihydrate, (1S,2R,3S,3aS,4R,6aR,7aR,7bR,8S,10aS,11S,11aR)‐3‐(1,1‐di­methyl­ethyl)‐hexa­hydro‐2,4,7b,11‐tetrahydroxy‐8‐methyl‐9H‐1,7a‐epoxy­methano‐1H,6aH‐cyclopenta­[c]­furo­[2,3‐b]­furo­[3′,2′:3,4]­cyclo­penta­[1,2‐d]­furan‐5,9,12(4H)‐trione sesquihydrate, C₂₀H₂₄O₁₁·1.5H₂O, has two independent diterpene mol­ecules, both of which exhibit intramolecular hydrogen bonding between OH groups. Ginkgolide J dihydrate, (1S,2R,3S,3aS,4R,6aR,7aR,7bR,8S,10aS,11aS)‐3‐(1,1‐di­methyl­ethyl)‐hexa­hydro‐2,4,7b‐tri­hydroxy‐8‐methyl‐9H‐1,7a‐epoxy­methano‐1H,6aH‐cyclo­penta­[c]­furo­[2,3‐b]furo[3′,2′:3,4]­cyclo­penta­[1,2‐d]­furan‐5,9,12(4H)‐trione dihydrate, C₂₀H₂₄O₁₀·2H₂O, has the same basic skeleton as the other ginkgolides, with its three OH groups having the same configurations as those in ginkgolide C. The conformations of the six five‐membered rings are quite similar across ­ginkgolides A–C and J, except for the A and F rings of ginkgolide A.     

Preparation of New Ferrocenylmonophosphine Ligands Containing Two Planar Chiral Ferrocenyl Moieties and Their Use for Palladium‐Catalyzed Asymmetric Hydrosilylation of 1,3‐Dienes

Bis{(R_p)‐2‐[(1S)‐1‐methoxyethyl]ferrocenyl}arylphosphines (S,R_p)‐ 9 (aryl=4‐MeOC₆H₄ ( 9a ), Ph ( 9b ), 4‐CF₃C₆H₄ ( 9c ), 3,5‐(CF₃)₂C₆H₃ ( 9d )), which contain two planar chiral ferrocenyl moieties, were prepared via (R_p)‐1‐bromo‐2‐[(1S)‐1‐methoxyethyl]ferrocene ((S,R_p)‐ 8 ). Asymmetric hydrosilylation of linear 1,3‐dienes such as deca‐1,3‐diene ( 10a ) with trichlorosilane in the presence of a palladium catalyst coordinated with 9d gave allylic silanes of up to 93% ee.     

Coralloidin C,D, and E: Novel Eudesmane Sesquiterpenoids from the Mediterranean Alcyonacean Alcyonium coralloides

The Mediterranean alcyonacean Alcyonium (=Parerythropodium) coralloides (Pallas, 1766) is shown to contain the novel eudesmane sesquiterpenoids coralloidin C (=(–)?(4R,10S)-eudesma-5,7(11)-dien-15-yl acetate; (–)? 4 ), coralloidin D (=(–)?(10R*)-eudesma-4,7(11)-diene-12,13-diyl diacetate; (–)? 7 ), and coralloidin E (=(+)?(4R*,10R*)-eudesma-5,7-dien-11-ol;(+)? 8 ). The absolute configuration of (–)? 4 is derived by the exciton-coupling method, applied to deacetylcoralloidin C_p-anisate ((–)? 6 ). Coralloidin E((+)? 8 ), being also obtained on treatment of deacetylcoralloidin A (=(+)?(4R*, 8R*, 10R*)-eudesma-5,7(11)-dien-8-ol; (+)? 2 ) with (COCl)₂ in DMSO, is configurationally correlated to coralloidin A (=(+)?(4R*, 8R*, 10R*)-eudesma-5,7(11)-dien-8-yl acetate; (+)? 1 ). Under acidic conditions, (+)? 2 undergoes a complex rearrangement giving (+)-(3R*, 4S*, 5R*, 6R*, 7S*)-arist-10-(1)-en -3-ol ((+)? 9 ), which is also obtained, together with (+)? 8 , on attempts to mesylate (+)? 2 .     

Two androsterone derivatives as inhibitors of androgen biosynthesis

The title compounds, (3R,5S,5′R,8R,9S,10S,13S,14S)‐10,13‐dimethyl‐5′‐(2‐methylpropyl)tetradecahydro‐6′H‐spiro[cyclopenta[a]phenanthrene‐3,2′‐[1,4]oxazinane]‐6′,17(2H)‐dione, C₂₆H₄₁NO₃, (I), and methyl (2R)‐2‐[(3R,5S,8R,9S,10S,13S,14S)‐10,13‐dimethyl‐2′,17‐dioxohexadecahydro‐3′H‐spiro[cyclopenta[a]phenanthrene‐3,5′‐[1,3]oxazolidin‐3′‐yl]]‐4‐methylpentanoate, C₂₈H₄₃NO₅, (II), possess the typical steroid shape (A–D rings), but they differ in their extra E ring. The azalactone E ring in (I) shows a half‐chair conformation, while the carbamate E ring of (II) is planar. The orientation of the E‐ring substituent is clearly established and allows a rationalization of the biological results obtained with such androsterone derivatives.     

C45- and C50-Carotehoids. Part 8. Synthesis of (all-E,2S,2′S)-bacterioruberin, (all-E,2S,2′S)-monoanhydrobacterioruberin, (all-E,2S,2′S)-bisanhydrobacterioruberin, (all- E,2R,2′R)-3,4,3′,4′-tetrahydrobisanhydro- bacterioruberin,and (all-E,S)-2-isopentenyl-3,4-dehydrorhodopin

Starting from (R)-3-hydroxybutyric acid ((R)- 10 ) the C₄₅- and C₅₀-carotenoids (all-E,2S,2′S)-bacterioruberm ( 1 ), (all-E,2S,2′S)-monoanhydrobacterioruberin ( 2 ), (all-E,2S,2′S)-bisanhydrobacterioruberin ( 3 ), (all-E,2R,2′R)-3,4,3′,4′-tetrahydrobisanhydrobacterioruberin ( 5 ), and (all-E,S)-2-isopentenyl-3,4-dehydrorhodopin ( 6 ) were synthesized. By comparison of the chiroptical data of the natural and the synthetic compounds, the (2S)- and (2′S)-configuration of the natural products 1–3 and 6 was established.     

Three new dihydro‐β‐agarofuran sesquiterpenes from the seeds of Maytenus boaria

As part of a project studying the secondary metabolites extracted from the Chilean flora, we report herein three new β‐agarofuran sesquiterpenes, namely (1S,4S,5S,6R,7R,8R,9R,10S)‐6‐acetoxy‐4,9‐dihydroxy‐2,2,5a,9‐tetramethyloctahydro‐2H‐3,9a‐methanobenzo[b]oxepine‐5,10‐diyl bis(furan‐3‐carboxylate), C₂₇H₃₂O₁₁, ( II ), (1S,4S,5S,6R,7R,9S,10S)‐6‐acetoxy‐9‐hydroxy‐2,2,5a,9‐tetramethyloctahydro‐2H‐3,9a‐methanobenzo[b]oxepine‐5,10‐diyl bis(furan‐3‐carboxylate), C₂₇H₃₂O₁₀, ( III ), and (1S,4S,5S,6R,7R,9S,10S)‐6‐acetoxy‐10‐(benzoyloxy)‐9‐hydroxy‐2,2,5a,9‐tetramethyloctahydro‐2H‐3,9a‐methanobenzo[b]oxepin‐5‐yl furan‐3‐carboxylate, C₂₉H₃₄O₉, ( IV ), obtained from the seeds of Maytenus boaria and closely associated with a recently published relative [Paz et al. (2017). Acta Cryst. C 73 , 451–457]. In the (isomorphic) structures of ( II ) and ( III ), the central decalin system is esterified with an acetate group at site 1 and furoate groups at sites 6 and 9, and differ at site 8, with an OH group in ( II ) and no substituent in ( III ). This position is also unsubstituted in ( IV ), with site 6 being occupied by a benzoate group. The chirality of the skeletons is described as 1S,4S,5S,6R,7R,8R,9R,10S in ( II ) and 1S,4S,5S,6R,7R,9S,10S in ( III ) and ( IV ), matching the chirality suggested by NMR studies. This difference in the chirality sequence among the title structures (in spite of the fact that the three skeletons are absolutely isostructural) is due to the differences in the environment of site 8, i.e. OH in ( II ) and H in ( III ) and ( IV ). This diversity in substitution, in turn, is responsible for the differences in the hydrogen‐bonding schemes, which is discussed.     

Absolute structures and conformations of the spongian diterpenes spongia‐13(16),14‐dien‐3‐one,epispongiadiol and spongiadiol

The absolute configurations of spongia‐13(16),14‐dien‐3‐one [systematic name: (3bR,5aR,9aR,9bR)‐3b,6,6,9a‐tetramethyl‐4,5,5a,6,8,9,9a,9b,10,11‐decahydrophenanthro[1,2‐c]furan‐7(3bH)‐one], C₂₀H₂₈O₂, (I), epispongiadiol [systematic name: (3bR,5aR,6S,7R,9aR,9bR)‐7‐hydroxy‐6‐hydroxymethyl‐3b,6,9a‐trimethyl‐3b,5,5a,6,7,9,9a,9b,10,11‐decahydrophenanthro[1,2‐c]furan‐8(4H)‐one], C₂₀H₂₈O₄, (II), and spongiadiol [systematic name: (3bR,5aR,6S,7S,9aR,9bR)‐7‐hydroxy‐6‐hydroxymethyl‐3b,6,9a‐trimethyl‐3b,5,5a,6,7,9,9a,9b,10,11‐decahydrophenanthro[1,2‐c]furan‐8(4H)‐one], C₂₀H₂₈O₄, (III), were assigned by analysis of anomalous dispersion data collected at 130 K with Cu Kα radiation. Compounds (II) and (III) are epimers. The equatorial 3‐hydroxyl group on the cyclohexanone ring (A) of (II) is syn with respect to the 4‐hydroxymethyl group, leading to a chair conformation. In contrast, isomer (III), where the 3‐hydroxyl group is anti to the 4‐hydroxymethyl group, is conformationally disordered between a major chair conformer where the OH group is axial and a minor boat conformer where it is equatorial. In compound (I), a carbonyl group is present at position 3 and ring A adopts a distorted‐boat conformation.     

Chiral [2H]-Labelled Methylene Groups in Trienoic- and Dienoic Fatty Acids: A Facile Approach via Asymmetric Epoxidation of [2H] Allyl Alcohols

Chiral [²H] -labelled methylene groups flanked by two double bonds within (poly)unsaturated fatty acids are readily available from trans-2,3-epoxy[2,3-²H₂] alk-4-yn-l-ols, obtained in their turn by asymmetric epoxidation of the corresponding (E)-[2,3-²H₂] alk-2-en-4-yn-l-ols (see Scheme 3). The procedure is exemplified for (8S,3Z,6Z,9Z)-[7,8-²H₂] trideca-3,6,9-trienoic acid ((8S)- 11 ) and (8R)- 11 (Scheme 4) as well as for (5S,3Z,6Z)-[4,5^?2H₂]deca-3,6-dienoic acid ((5S)- 13 ) and (5R)- 13 (Scheme 5).     

Two 17‐hydroxy‐9(10→5)‐abeo‐estr‐4‐ene‐3,10‐diones

(5S,9S,17S)‐17‐Hydroxy‐9(10→5)‐abeo‐estr‐4‐ene‐3,10‐dione, C₁₈H₂₆O₃, (II), and (5R,9R,17S)‐17‐hydroxy‐9(10→5)‐abeo‐estr‐4‐ene‐3,10‐dione, C₁₈H₂₆O₃, (III), are equimolecular products of the Fe^II‐induced transposition of 10β‐hydro­peroxy‐17β‐hydroxyestr‐4‐en‐3‐one, (I). With respect to reagent mol­ecules, the configuration at C9 is retained for (II) while it is inverted in (III). The conformations of the five‐ and six‐membered rings are compared.     

Mechanistic and Synthetic Studies on the Formation of 1,2,4-Trioxanes Related to Arteannuin. Photooxygenation of a bicyclic dihydropyran

The photooxygenation of (4R,4aS,7R)-4,4a,5,6,7,8-hexahydro-4,7-dimethyl-3H-2-benzopyran ( 16 ) was performed in (i) MeOH, (ii) acetaldehyde, and (iii) acetone at ?78°. The products obtained respectively were (i) (2R)-2-[(1S,4R)-4-methyl-2-oxocyclohexyl]propyl formate ( 17 ; 72% yield), (ii) 17 (54.5%), (1R,4R,4aS,7R)-3,4,4a,5,6,7-hexahydro-4,7-dimethyl-1H-2-benzopyran-2-yl hydroperoxide ( 19 ; 16.7%), a 12:1 ratio of (3R,4aR,7R,7aS,10R,11aR)-7,7a,8,9,10,11-hexahydro-3,7,10-trimethyl-6H-[2]benzopyrano[1,8a-e]-1,2,4-trioxane ( 20 ) and its C(3)-epimer 21 (17%), together with evidence for the 1,2-dioxetane ( 22 ) originating from the addition of dioxygen to the re-re face of the double bond of 16 , and iii) unidentified products and traces of 22 . Addition of trimethylsilyl trifluoromethanesulfonate (Me₃SiOTf) to the acetone solution of 16 after photooxygenation afforded (4aR,7R,7aS,10R,11aR)-7,7a,8,9,10,11-hexahydro-3,3,7,10-tetramethyl-6H-[2]benzopyrano[1,8a-e]-1,2,4,-trioxane ( 23 , 40%). The photooxygenation of 16 in CH₂Cl₂ at ?78° followed by addition of acetone and Me₃SiOTf afforded 17 (11%), 23 (59%), and (4aR,7R,7aS,10R,11aR)-7,7a,8,9,10,11-hexahydro-3,3,7,10-tetramethyl-6H-[2]benzopyrano[8a,1-e]-1,2,4-trioxane ( 24 ; 5%. Repetition of the last experiment, but replacing acetone by cyclopentanone, gave 17 (16%), (4′aR,7′R,7′aS,10′R,11′aR)-7′,7′a,8′,9′,10′,11′-hexahydro-7′,10′-dimethylspiro[cyclopentane-1,3′-6′H-[2]benzopyrano[1,8a-e]-1,2,4-trixane] ( 25 ; 61%), and (4′aR,7′R,7′aS,10′R,11′aR)-7′,7′a,8′,9′,10′,11′-hexahydro-7′,10′-dimethylspiro[cyclopentane-1,3′-6′H-[2]benzopyrano[8a,1-e]-1,2,4-trixane] ( 26 , 4%). The X-ray analysis of 23 was performed, which together with the NMR data, established the structure of the trioxanes 20, 21, 24, 25 , and 26 . Mechanistic and synthesis aspects of these reactions were discussed in relation to the construction of the 1,2,4-trioxane ring in arteannuin and similar molecules.     

Synthetic access to optically active isoflavans by using allylic substitution

A general approach to the (S)- and (R)-isoflavans was invented, and efficiency of the method was demonstrated by the synthesis of (S)-equol ((S)-3), (R)-sativan ((R)-4), and (R)-vestitol ((R)-5). The key step is the allylic substitution of (S)-6a (Ar¹=2,4-(MeO)₂C₆H₃) and (R)-6b (Ar¹=2,4-(BnO)₂C₆H₃) with copper reagents derived from CuBr·Me₂S and Ar²-MgBr (7a, Ar²=4-MeOC₆H₄; 7b, 2,4-(MeO)₂C₆H₃; 7c, 2-MOMO-4-MeOC₆H₃), furnishing anti S_N2′ products (R)-8a and (S)-8b,c with 93-97% chirality transfer in 60-75% yields. The olefinic part of the products was oxidatively cleaved and the Me and Bn groups on the Ar¹ moieties was then removed. Finally, phenol bromide 9a and phenol alcohols 9b,c underwent cyclization with K₂CO₃ and the Mitsunobu reagent to afford (S)-3 and (R)-4 and -5, respectively.     

Chlorination and Bromination of Dialkyl Tellurides

The reactions of dialkyl tellurides R₂Te (R = C₂H₅, n‐C₃H₇, i‐C₃H₇, c‐C₆H₁₁) with sulfuryl chloride and bromine were examined. The dialkyltellurium(IV) dichlorides (C₂H₅)₂TeCl₂ ( 1 ), (n‐C₃H₇)₂TeCl₂ ( 2 ), (i‐C₃H₇)₂TeCl₂ ( 3 ) and (c‐C₆H₁₁)₂TeCl₂ ( 4 ) were obtained upon reaction with stoichiometric amounts of SO₂Cl₂. Excess of SO₂Cl₂ resulted in formation of mixtures of R₂TeCl₂ and RTeCl₃. Treatment of (C₂H₅)₂Te and (n‐C₃H₇)₂Te with excess bromine gave the dialkyltellurium(IV) dibromides (C₂H₅)₂TeBr₂ ( 5 ) and (n‐C₃H₇)₂TeBr₂ ( 6 ), whereas (i‐C₃H₇)₂Te and (c‐C₆H₁₁)₂Te yielded the alkyltellurium(IV) tribromides i‐C₃H₇TeBr₃ ( 7 ) and c‐C₆H₁₁TeBr₃ ( 8 ). Equimolar amounts of bromine resulted in mixtures of R₂Te and RTeBr₃. All products were identified and characterized by analytical and spectroscopic methods. n‐Propyl tellurium tribromide ( 9 ) was detected from a solution of the dibromide 6 after prolonged periods. The crystal structures of 7 , 8 and 9 were determined.     

Packing in three cyclooctitol acetates

Three cyclooctitol derivatives, in the form of a tetraacetate, (1S*,2R*,3S*,4S*)‐2,3,4‐triacetoxycyclooctan‐1‐ylmethyl acetate, C₁₇H₂₆O₈, and two regioisomeric acetonide triacetates, (3aS*,4R*,8S*,9S*,9aS*)‐8,9‐diacetoxy‐2,2‐dimethylcyclooctano[d][1,3]dioxan‐4‐ymethyl acetate and (3aS,4R,7S,9R,9aS)‐7,9‐diacetoxy‐2,2‐dimethylcyclooctano[d][1,3]dioxan‐4‐ylmethyl acetate, both C₁₈H₂₈O₈, have been studied. The conformation of the cyclooctane ring in the three compounds is quite close to the boat–chair form of the parent hydrocarbon. Packing is effected through weak C—H...O and van der Waals contacts.