Novel chemistry of β-lactones anionic polymerization

Some examples of novel chemistry of lactones polymerization are presented. New evidences on β-lactones polymerization by akali metal alkoxides and, also unusual in organic chemistry, C-C bond scission in β-lactones polymerization induced by alkali metal supramolecular complexes are discussed. Preparation of functional polyesters and various block polymers exhibiting “tailored” properties are also described.     

Improved preparation and characterization of unsaturated γ-lactones

Improved, high yield procedures for the preparation of unsaturated γ-lactones (I-IV) from saturated γ-lactones (V) are described. Compounds V are first converted to the sodium salts of the corresponding γ-hydroxy acids (VI) (100%) which are oxidized within fifteen minutes to the γ-keto acids (VII) (75–85%) by bromine at pH 6-7.5. Acid-catalyzed reaction of VII with acetic anhydride at room temperature for fifteen minutes yields γ-acetoxy-γ-lactones (VIII) (70–90%). Pyrolysis of VIII at 200–330° yields I-IV (70–95%), the composition of which depends on whether strongly acidic contaminants have been completely removed from VIII prior to pyrolysis. In selected cases studied, fractional distillation permits the isolation of pure unsaturated lactones. Nmr has been extensively used to determine purity at each step and the composition of mixtures of I-IV.     

Reductive cyclization of ketoesters utilizing sodium cyanoborohydride: Synthesis of γ- and δ-lactones

A new one pot procedure to synthesize γ- and δ-lactones, in a 76-84% yield, is accomplished by the reductive cyclization of 1,4- and 1,5-ketoesters, utilizing sodium cyanoborohydride. The procedure is generally applicable to a wide variety of ketoesters with the exception of the ethyl ester of alkyl 1,5-ketoesters and α,β-unsaturated 1,4- and 1,5-ketoesters.     

β-Cleavage of Bis(homoallylic) Potassium Alkoxides. Preparation of 3-Hydroxypropyl and 4-Hydroxybutyl Propenyl Ketones from γ- and δ-Lactones. Synthesis of (±)-Rose oxide

Starting from γ- and δ-lactones 1 – 3 , a two-step preparation of 3-hydroxypropyl and 4- hydroxybutyl propenyl ketones 10 – 18 is described, involving as the key step the β-cleavage of the bis(homoallylic) potassium alkoxides 4a – 9a . The novel methodology is illustrated by a short synthesis of (±)-rose oxide( 20 ).     

Synthesis of novel α,α′,β-trisubstituted β-lactones

A concise and efficient synthesis of α,α′,β-trisubstituted β-lactones is presented. These novel lactones are easily obtained in five steps and will be dedicated to anionic ring opening polymerization.     

High resolution mass spectrometric studies of some bicyclic γ-lactones

The mass spectra of three bicyclic γ-lactones have been studied, and the fragmentation pathways have been proposed with the aid of accurate mass measurements and metastable transitions. An unusually low [M ? CH₃] ion and the presence of an abundant [M ? C₅H₉] ion in the mass spectrum of dihydroactinidiolide were interpreted as a possible rearrangement involving a methyl migration. The eliminations of methyl radical, carbon monoxide and ketene are important processes in many cases.     

Substituent effect in anionic polymerization of β-lactones initiated by alkali metal alkoxides

The influence of methyl substituent on the mechanism of the ring-opening polymerization of β-lactones initiated by alkali metal alkoxides is discussed. Attention has been paid to the effect of the substituent position in the monomer molecule on the ring-opening mechanism, the 3,3-dimethyl-2-oxetanone (pivalolactone), 4-methyl-2-oxetanone (β-butyrolactone) and 2-oxetanone (β-propiolactone) being chosen as model monomers. Moreover, it was found unexpectedly that in the case of pivalolactone polymerization, besides open-chain polymers, cyclic oligomers are produced.     

Regioselective ring-opening anionic polymerization of β-lactones

New aspects of anionic polymerization of 4-membered lactones are presented, attention being paid to regioselectivity of ß-lactones ring-opening reactions. It has been demonstrated that supramolecular complexes of alkali metal alkoxides used as initiators enable control of lactones polymerization, and due to anion activation yield polymers with specific molecular architecture. Synthesis of the analogue of natural polymer poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) via anionic polymerization of ß-butyrolactone is discussed.     

Direct enantiomer separation of chiral γ-lactones from food and beverages by multidimensional gas chromatography

Chiral γ-lactones from the raw flavor extract of strawberries and some commercially available fruit-containing food and beverages were stereoanalyzed directly by multidimensional gas chromatography (MDGC) employing heart-cutting techniques from DB-1701 as the preseparation column onto heptakis (3-O-acetyl-2,6-di-O-pentyl)-β-cyclodextrin as the chiral stationary phase.     

Obtention de δ-methylene δ-lactones et de δ-lactones γ-ethyleniques

Cyclisation in the presence on a catalytic amount of yellow mercury (II) oxide of δ-acetylenic acids and γ-allenic acids leads respectively to δ-methylene-δ-lactones and γ-ethylenic-δ-lactones.     

Reaction of perfluoroalkanesulfonyl halide: 3. The reactions of perfluoroalkanesulfonyl bromide with α, β-unsaturated esters and chemical conversions of the products

The reactions of perfluoroalkanesulfonyl bromide with α, β-unsaturated esters were studied in detail. The reaction products were further converted to a series of perfluoroalkyl-substituted α, β-unsaturated acids or esters, α-amino acids and γ-lactones. A peculiar peak (M+15) was found to appear in the mass spectra of some perfluoroalkyl-substituted methyl esters. It was interpreted to be the result of a CH₃ group transfer to the molecular ion. Magnetic nonequivalence was observed in the ¹⁹F NMR spectra of CF₂ group linked to CH₂ in compounds 2f, g and 3f, g which showed a typical AB pattern, and was attributed to the effect of steric hindrance.     

Die Kristallstrukturen von Me3SiI · β-Picolin und Me3SiI · γ-Picolin Vergleich der Lewis-Basen Pyridin, β-Picolin und γ-Picolin

The Crystal Structure of Me₃SiI · β-Picoline and Me₃SiI · γ-Picoline A Comparison between the Lewis-Bases Pyridine, β-Picoline, and γ-Picoline The reaction of Iodinetrimethylsilane with β- und γ-Picoline (Pic) leads to solid 1 : 1 compounds Me₃SiI · β-Picoline 1 , Me₃SiI · γ-Picoline 2. The reaction was performed at room temperature. Yellow single crystals were obtained by sublimation. Single crystal X-ray investigations confirm that both compounds are ionic [Me₃SiPic]⁺I^?. The comparison of β-Picoline with γ-Picoline and Pyridine (Py) demonstrates that the presence of a methyl group and also its position has no significant influence on the Si? N bond length in compound 1, 2 and on the adduct Me₃SiI · Py.     

Organocatalytic asymmetric 1,4-addition of organoboronic acids to γ-hydroxy α,β-unsaturated aldehyde: facile synthesis of chiral β-substituted γ-lactones

Catalytic asymmetric 1,4-addition of arylvinyl- and arylboronic acids to a γ-hydroxy α,β-unsaturated aldehyde, which affords β-substituted γ-lactols, has been established using a diarylprolinol silyl ether as an organocatalyst. The β-substituted γ-lactols have been obtained in good yields and with up to 91% ee, which lead to chiral β-substituted γ-lactones followed by oxidation.     

Thermische Lactonisierung von Estern γ-Brom-α, β-ungesättigter Carbonsäuren zu Δα-Butenoliden. Direkte γ-Bromierung von α, β-ungesättigten Säuren

By heating with iron powder at 120–150° some γ-bromo-α, β-unsaturated carboxylic methyl esters, and, less smothly, the corresponding acids, were lactonized to Δ^7alpha;-butenolides with elimination of methyl bromide. The following conversions have thus been made: methyl γ-bromocrotonate ( 1c ) and the corresponding acid ( 1d ) to Δ^α-butenolide ( 8a ), methyl γ-bromotiglate ( 3c ) and the corresponding acid ( 3d ) to α-methyl-Δ^α-butenolide ( 8b ), a mixture of methyl trans- and cis-γ-bromosenecioate ( 7c and 7e ) and a mixture of the corresponding acids ( 7d and 7f ) to β-methyl-Δ^α-butenolide ( 8c ). The procedure did not work with methyl trans-γ-bromo-Δ^α-pentenoate ( 5c ) nor with its acid ( 5d ). Most of the γ-bromo-α, β-unsaturated carboxylic esters ( 1c, 7c, 7e and 5c ) are available by direct N-bromosuccinimide bromination of the α, β-unsaturated esters 1a, 7a and 5a ; methyl γ-bromotiglate ( 3c ) is obtained from both methyl tiglate ( 3a ) and methyl angelate ( 4a ), but has to be separated from a structural isomer. The γ-bromo-α, β-unsaturated esters are shown by NMR. to have the indicated configurations which are independent of the configuration of the α, β-unsaturated esters used; the bromination always leads to the more stable configuration, usually the one with the bromine-carrying carbon anti to the carboxylic ester group; an exception is methyl γ-bromo-senecioate, for which the two isomers (cis, 7e , and trans, 7d ) have about the same stability. The N-bromosuccinimide bromination of the α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acids 1b , 3b , 4b , 5b and 7b is shown to give results entirely analogous to those with the corresponding esters. In this way γ-bromocrotonic acid ( 1 d ), γ-bromotiglic acid ( 3 d ), trans- and cis-γ-bromosenecioic acid ( 7d and 7f ) as well as trans-γ-bromo-Δ^α-pentenoic acid ( 5d ) have been prepared. Iron powder seems to catalyze the lactonization by facilitating both the elimination of methyl bromide (or, less smoothly, hydrogen bromide) and the rotation about the double bond. α-Methyl-Δ^α-butenolide ( 8b ) was converted to 1-benzyl-( 9a ), 1-cyclohexyl-( 9b ), and 1-(4′-picoly1)-3-methyl-Δ^α-pyrrolin-2-one ( 9 c ) by heating at 180° with benzylamine, cyclohexylamine, and 4-picolylamine. The butenolide 8b showed cytostatic and even cytocidal activity; in preliminary tests, no carcinogenicity was observed. Both 8b and 9c exhibited little toxicity.     

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.     

The hydrolysis of α,α'-dimethoxydihydrofurans

A series of α,α -dimethoxydihydrofurans have been prepared and subjected to various acidic and neutral hydrolysis conditions in attempts to prepare conjugated enediones in a stereospecific manner. Isomerization of the 3-hexene-2,5-diones and rearrangements of other enediones to β,γ-unsaturated-γ-lactones have been uncovered. Methods of assignment of stereochemical configuration to the enediones are evaluated; reaction with hydrazine hydrate in the absence of acid is proposed as a useful criterion.     

Synthesis of chlorinated β- and γ-lactones from unsaturated acids with sodium hypochlorite and Lewis acids

The direct synthesis of several β- and γ-lactones used as electrophilic sources of chlorine, sodium hypochlorite and a Lewis acid is described. The scope and limitations of the method are discussed.     

The first example of γ-chloromagnesio γ-lactones: their generation from γ-tolylsulfinyl γ-lactones with isopropylmagnesium chloride, stability, and reaction with electrophiles

The treatment of γ-lactones having a sulfinyl group at the γ-position, which were synthesized from 1-chlorovinyl p-tolyl sulfoxides with lithium enolate of carboxylic esters, with isopropyl magnesium chloride in THF at −78 °C gave γ-chloromagnesio γ-lactones by the sulfoxide-magnesium exchange reaction in high yields. The generated γ-chloromagnesio γ-lactones were found to be stable at below −50 °C for at least 2 h. The reaction of these γ-chloromagnesio γ-lactones with electrophiles and the stereochemistry of the reactions were investigated.     

Dynamic kinetic resolution of γ,γ-disubstituted indole 2-carboxaldehydes via NHC-Lewis acid cooperative catalysis for the synthesis of tetracyclic ε-lactones

The ubiquity of ε-lactones in various biologically active compounds inspired the development of efficient and enantioselective routes to these target compounds. Described herein is the enantioselective synthesis of indole-fused ε-lactones by the N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC)-Lewis acid cooperative catalyzed dynamic kinetic resolution (DKR) of in situ generated γ,γ-disubstituted indole 2-carboxaldehydes. The Bi(OTf)₃-catalyzed Friedel–Crafts reaction of indole-2-carboxaldehyde with 2-hydroxy phenyl p-quinone methides generates γ,γ-disubstituted indole 2-carboxaldehydes, which in the presence of NHC and Bi(OTf)₃ afforded the desired tetracyclic ε-lactones in up to 93% yield and >99 : 1 er. Moreover, preliminary studies on the mechanism of this formal [4 + 3] annulation are also provided.

NHC-Lewis acid cooperative catalyzed dynamic kinetic resolution (DKR) of transiently generated γ,γ-disubstituted indole 2-carboxaldehydes leading to the enantioselective synthesis of tetracyclic ε-lactones is reported.     

Synthesis of phthalimidines. Acid-catalyzed cyclodehydration versus cyclodeamination of γ-hydroxyamides obtained from dilithio-N-substituted benzamides and ketones

An earlier method of preparation of γ-hydroxyamides from N-substituted benzamides and ketones or aldehydes by means of n-butyllithium was improved and extended. The γ-hydroxyamides were found to undergo cyclodehydration to form γ-lactams with relatively strong acids, but cyclodeamination formed γ-lactones with relatively weak acids; the γ-lactams are substituted phthalimidines. The predominant course of cyclization was dependent also on the structure of the γ-hydroxyamide. Certain γ-hydroxyamides afforded phthalimidines with cold, concentrated sulfuric acid whereas certain others yielded γ-lactones with this acid. The latter γ-hydroxyamides, however, produced phthalimidines with the stronger acid, perchloric acid. The cyclodehydration reaction furnished a convenient and, apparently, quite general method for the synthesis of 2,3,3-trisubstituted or 2,3-disubstituted phthalimidines. Mechanisms are considered.