Diastereoselective reaction of (1S,2S)-2-amino-1-(4-nitrophenyl)-1,3-propanediol with aromatic aldehydes. Synthesis of (1R,2R,4S,5S,8S)-2,8-diaryl-4-(4-nitrophenyl)-1-aza-3,7-dioxabicyclo[3.3.0]octanes

We have synthesized a series of (1R,2R,4S,5S,8S)-2,8-diaryl-4-(4-nitrophenyl)-1-aza-3,7-dioxabicyclo[3.3.0]octanes as a result of reaction of (1S,2S)-2-amino-1-(4-nitrophenyl)-1,3-propanediol with aromatic aldehydes. The structure of the compounds obtained was established on the basis of ¹H NMR data. __________ Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 5, pp. 757–763, May, 2006.     

Reaction of ene-bis(phosphinylallenes): [2+2] versus [4+2] cycloaddition

Reaction of ene-bis(phosphinylallenes), derived from ene-bis(propargyl alcohols) and chlorodiphenylphosphine, was investigated. Benzene-bridged bis(phosphinylallenes) exclusively gave intramolecular [2+2] cycloadducts in the presence of dimethyl fumarate in sharp contrast to the reaction of benzene-bridged bis(sulfinylallenes), which gave the corresponding [4+2] cycloadducts. On the other hand, substituted ethylene- or five-membered heterocycle-bridged bis(phosphinylallenes) provided [4+2] cycloadducts. Reaction of benzene-bridged diallene bearing both a sulfinyl group and a phosphinyl group on the two allenyl groups was also described.     

Synthesis and Stereochemistry of (1S,3S,4S,7R11R)-3-(4-Nitrophenyl)-11-aza-2,6-dioxatricyclo[5,3,1,04,11]undecane

The reaction of (1S,2S)-2-amino-1-(4-nitrophenyl)-1,3-propanediol with glutaraldehyde has been studied. It has been established on the basis of AM1 and PM3 calculations and ¹H NMR spectra recorded in the presence of the shift reagent Eu(fod)₃ that (1S,3S,4S,7R,11R)-3-(4-nitrophenyl)-11-aza-2,6-dioxatricyclo[5,3,1,0^4,11]undecane is formed as the result of the reaction.     

New chiral spiro[2.5]octanones as products of methylenation of (3<Emphasis Type="Italic">R</Emphasis>, 6<Emphasis Type="Italic">R</Emphasis>)-2-arylidene-6-isopropyl-3-methylcyclohexanones with dimethylsulfoxonium methylide. Synthesis,stereochemistry, and behavior in liquid-crystalline systems

Methylenation of (3R,6R)-2-(4-X-benzylidene)-6-isopropyl-3-methylcyclohexanones (X = F, Cl, Ph) with dimethylsulfoxonium methylide occurs stereoselectively to give 1(S)-(4-X-phenyl)-5(R)-isopropyl-8(R)-methyl-3(R)-spiro[2.5]octanones, whose stereochemistry was established by ¹H NMR spectroscopy. The configuration of the chiral centers in the cyclohexanone fragment and its preferred conformation (methyl is axial and isopropyl is equatorial) in the products do not change with respect to the starting enones. The mutual trans-arrangement of the carbonyl and aryl groups at the newly formed three-membered ring was established; the aryl group also occupies the trans-position with respect to the axial methyl group of the cyclohexanone fragment. Using methylenation of the compound with X = Ph as an example, a mixture of by-products resulting from oxidative hydroxylation at the α-position relative to the carbonyl group was isolated. The resulting chiral spiro[2.5]octanones induce a helical supramolecular ordering in the nematic mesophase of 4-pentyl-4′-cyanobiphenyl and exhibit a twisting power only somewhat (by 20–30%) lower than the starting enones. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 10, pp. 2331–2341, October, 2005.     

X-ray structural analysis of (1R,2R,4S,5S,8S)-2,8-bis(4-chlorophenyl)-4-(4-nitrophenyl)-1-aza-3,7-dioxabicyclo[3,3,0]octane

The configuration of the asymmetric atoms in the molecule of (1R,2R,4S,5S,8S)-2,8-bis(4-chlorophenyl)-4-(4-nitrophenyl)-1-aza-3,7-dioxabicyclo[3,3,0]octane has been determined using X-ray analysis. __________ Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 6, pp. 930-934, June, 2006.     

Synthesis of isomeric 2-oxazolidinones from (1<Emphasis Type="Italic">R</Emphasis>,2<Emphasis Type="Italic">R</Emphasis>)-and (1<Emphasis Type="Italic">S</Emphasis>,2<Emphasis Type="Italic">S</Emphasis>)-2-amino-1-(4-nitrophenyl)-1,3-propanediols

A synthesis is reported for (4R,5R)-and (4S,5S)-4-hydroxymethyl-5-(4-nitrophenyl)oxazolidin-2-ones and (1′R,4R)-and (1′S,4S)-4-[hydroxy(4-nitrophenyl)methyl]oxazolidin-2-ones from (1R,2R)-and (1S,2S)-2-amino-1-(4-nitrophenyl)-1,3-propanediols. The effect of the experimental conditions on the formation of these compounds was studied. __________ Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 10, pp. 1562–1570, October, 2007.     

(R)-4-Menthenone in the synthesis of optically pure sex pheromone of the peach leafminer moth (Lyonetia clerkella)

The synthesis of (14S)-methyloctadec-1-ene, sex pheromone of the peach leafminer moth (Lyonetia clerkella), is described to demonstrate a new potential of the synthetic use of (R)-4-menthenone.     

Efficient [4+1]/[3+2+1] bis-cyclizations stereoselectively yielding unprecedented polyacyclic indeno-fused xanthenes

Concise and efficient [4+1]/[3+2+1] bis-cyclizations of o-phthalaldehyde with cyclic 1,3-dicarbonyls have been established for the stereoselective synthesis of unprecedented polycyclic indeno[2,1-l]xanthene derivatives. The multicomponent domino reaction (MDR, AB₂ type) is easy to perform by mixing inexpensive substrates in HOAc at room temperature. The present synthesis shows attractive properties such as the simple one-pot fashion, high bond-forming efficiency, and easy purifications. Up to two new rings and four sigma-bonds were achieved in these MDRs without using any metal catalysts.     

Synthesis of derivatives of (S)-2-alkanols, components of pheromones ofDrosophila mulleri andRhyzopertha dominica, from (S)-(+)-3,7-dimethylocta-1,6-diene

Effective routes for the synthesis of (S)-2-acetoxytridecane, the sex pheromone of the fruit flyDrosophila mulleri, and (S)-1-methylbutyl 2-methyl- and 2,4-dimethylpent-2E-enoates, components of the aggregation pheromone of the lesser grain borerRhyzopertha dominica, were developed on the basis of (S)-4-methylhex-5-en-1-yl tosylate accessible from (S)-(+)-dihydromyreene. Published inIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 11, pp. 1929–1931, November, 2000.     

Reaction of 6-methoxybenzo[b]furan-3(2H)-one and benzo[b]thiophen-3(2H)-one with 2-aryl-1,1-dicyanoethylenes as a convenient synthetic route to substituted 2-amino-4-aryl-1,3-dicyano-7-methoxydibenzo[b,d]furans and 2-amino-4-aryl-3-cyano-4H-benzothieno[3,2-b]pyrans

The reactions of 6-methoxybenzo[b]furan-3(2H)-one with 2-aryl-1,1-dicyanoethylenes and malononitrile or with aromatic aldehyde and two moles of malononitrile afford 2-amino-4-aryl-1,3-dicyano-7-methoxydibenzo[b,d]furans. The reactions of benzo[b]thiophen-3(2H)-one with 2-aryl-1,1-dicyanoethylenes or with aromatic aldehyde and one mole of malononitrile produce 2-amino-4-aryl-3-cyano-4H-benzothieno[3,2-b]pyrans.     

Synthesis and self-assembly of novel calix[4]arenocrowns: formation of calix[4]areno[2]catenanes

A series of novel calix[4]arenocrowns 1a-c were efficiently synthesized by a one-pot reaction of calix[4]monohydroquinone diacetate 5 with ditosylate 6 and its analogues in the presence of sodium hydroxide. It was found that the calix[4]arenocrowns could form stable pseudorotaxane-type complexes 2a-c with paraquat, and further self-assemble into calix[4]areno[2]catenanes 3a-c with dicationic salt 8 and p-bis(bromomethyl)benzene.     

One-step synthesis of 5-acetyl-2-amino-4-aryl-3-cyano-4H-pyrano[3,2-b]indoles. Molecular and crystal structure of 5-acetyl-2-amino-4-(4"-chloro-3"-nitrophenyl)-3-cyano-4H-pyrano[3,2-b]indole

A one-step procedure was developed for the synthesis of 5-acetyl-2-amino-4-aryl-3-cyano-4H-pyrano[3,2-b]indoles involving the three-component reaction of 1-acetylindol-3(2H)-one with aromatic aldehydes and malononitrile in ethanol in the presence of triethylamine as the catalyst. The structure of 5-acetyl-2-amino-4-(4"-chloro-3"-nitrophenyl)-3-cyano-4H-pyrano[3,2-b]indole was established by X-ray diffraction analysis.     

Synthesis of 3-amino-4-methyl-6-trifluoromethylthieno[2,3-b]pyridine-2-carboxanilide and its crystal and molecular structure

4-Methoxy-1,1,1-trifluoropent-3-en-2-one reacts with cyanothioacetamide to give 3-cyano-4-methyl-6-trifluoromethylpyridine-2(1H)-thione, which was transformed into 3-amino-4-methyl-6-trifluoromethylthieno[2,3-b]pyridine-2-carboxanilide by the reaction with chloroacetanilide. The crystal and molecular structure of the amide obtained was studied by X-ray analysis. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 4, pp. 701–703, April, 1998.     

Novel synthesis of (4<Emphasis Type="Italic">R</Emphasis>)-4-methylpentanolide from (L)-(−)-menthol

A novel synthesis of the promising optically pure chiral (4R)-4-methylpentanolide that is based on several regiospecific oxidative transformations of (4R)-2,4-dimethyl-1-(1-methylethyl)-1-cyclohexene, the product of addition of (–)-menthone and methylmagnesium iodide followed by acid dehydration, was proposed.Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 6, pp. 451–453, November–December, 2004.This revised version was published online in April 2005 with a corrected cover date.     

Reactivity of allenoates toward aziridines: [3+2] and formal [3+2] cycloadditions

The reactivity of buta-2,3-dienoates toward aziridines is reported. Allenoates react as 2π-component in the [3+2] cycloaddition with the azomethine ylide generated from cis-1-benzyl-2-benzoyl-3-phenylaziridine affording 4-methylenepyrrolidines in a site-, regio-, and stereoselective fashion. Under conventional thermolysis, cis- and trans-2-benzoyl-1-cyclohexyl-3-phenylaziridines showed a different reactivity. These aziridines participate in formal [3+2] cycloadditions with allenes via C-N bond cleavage of the three-membered ring leading to functionalized pyrroles.     

Functionalized thiacalix- and calix[4]arene-based Ag ionophores: synthesis and comparative NMR study

Thiacalix[4]arene ionophores comprised of cyclic or linear O,S,N ligating and/or π-coordinate groups on the lower rim were synthesized and their Ag⁺ binding was studied by ¹H NMR methods in comparison with the respective known and novel calix[4]arene counterparts. Calix[4](O,S,N)crowns were found stronger binders than the π-coordinate molecules and thiacalixarene ionophores were generally superior to calixarenes. This study helped to develop silver ion-selective electrodes working in the subnanomolar region.     

Enantiospecific synthesis of (S)-(+)-3-methylheneicosan-2-one, an analog of the sex pheromone of the German cockroach (Blatella germanica L.) from (−)-(1R,4S)-menthone

An enantiospecific synthesis of (S)-(+)-3-methylheneicosan-2-one, an analog of the sex pheromone of the German cockroach (Blatella germanica L.), was carried out through selective transformations of (3R,6S)-3,7-dimethyloctane-6-olide obtained from (−)-menthonevia the Baeyer—Villiger reaction. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 5, pp. 1071–1073, May, 1997.     

Palladium-catalyzed cycloheptatriene formation by [3+2+2] cocyclization of 2-substituted allylic alcohols and alkynes

Cycloheptatrienes were obtained by the reaction of 2-substituted allylic alcohols with alkynes in the presence of catalytic amounts of palladium complexes and p-toluenesulfonic acid.     

4-Aminouracils and pyrimido[4,5-b]indolediones from 4-azidouracils

Azidouracils (3), which are obtained from barbituric acids (1), can easily be cyclized to pyrimido[4,5-b]indoles (4) or converted into 4-aminouracils (6).Dedicated to Prof. Dr.E. Ziegler on the occasion of his 75th birthday.