A convenient and diastereoselective route to homoallyl alcohols: Addition of (z)- or (e)-alkenyl-dimethoxyboranes to aldehydes

(Z)-2-Butenyl-dimethoxyborane adds smoothly to propanal and benzaldehyde to afford the homoallyl alcohols (R*,R*)- 1 and (R*,R*)- 2 , In contrast (E)-2-butenyl-dimethoxyborane leads to adducts having the (R*,S*)-configuration. Dimethoxy-(Z)-2-pentenylborane, dimethoxy-(Z)-(2-methyl-2-butenyl)borane and (2Z,4E)-or (2E,4Z)hexadienyl-dimethoxyborane, treated with propanal, give (R*,R*)- 3 , (R*,R*)- 4 , (E),(R*,S*)- 5 and (Z),(R*, R*)- 5 , respectively. A transition state model implying a pericyclic electron motion is in perfect agreement with the regio- and stereoselective outcome of these borane reactions.     

Some highly fluorinated acyclic,cyclic, and polycyclic derivatives of Cl2NCF2CF2NCl2 and Cl2CNCCl2CCl2NCCl2

When Cl₂NCF₂CF₂NCl₂ is heated with CF₂CFX (X = Cl, F) ClXCFCF₂N(Cl)CF₂CF₂N(Cl)CF₂CXClF (X = Cl, 2 ; F, 3 ) is formed. Mercury extracts chlorine fluoride from 2 and 3 to form new polyfluorobisazomethines, ClXCFCF₂NCFCFNCF₂CXClF (X = Cl, 4 ; F, 5 ). Photolysis of the product obtained from CCl₂NCCl₂CCl₂NCCl₂ with ClF, CF₂ClN(Cl)CF ClCFClN(Cl)CF₂Cl ( 6 ) gives another bisazomethine, CF₂ClNCFCFNCF₂Cl ( 7 ) with concomitant loss of Cl₂. At 25°C, in the presence of CsF, 4 and 5 are cyclized to give (X = Cl, 8 ; F, 9 ), and 7 forms a bicyclic derivative at 100°C, ( 1 ). Addition of chlorine fluoride to 8 and to 1 produces ( 10 ) and ( 14 ), respectively. Photolysis of 10 results in the loss of CFCl₃ to form ( 11 ), and 14 loses Cl₂ and dimerizes to the hydrazine ( 15 ). The further addition of ClF to 11 gives rise to ( 12 ) which when photolyzed at 3000 Å forms a second cyclic hydrazine, ( 13 ).     

Straightforward Preparation of (2E,4Z)-2,4-Heptadien-1-ol and (2E,4Z)-2,4-Heptadienal

Abstract

A concise synthesis of (2E,4Z)-2,4-heptadien-1-ol and (2E,4Z)-2,4-heptadienal is presented. Commercially available (Z)-2-penten-1-ol was converted to ethyl-(2E,4Z)-2,4-heptadienoate by reaction with activated MnO₂ and (carboethoxymethylene)triphenylphosphorane in the presence of benzoic acid as a catalyst. Ethyl-(2E,4Z)-2,4-heptadienoate was converted to (2E,4Z)-2,4-heptadien-1-ol with LiAlH₄. The alcohol was partially oxidized to (2E,4Z)-2,4-heptadienal with MnO₂. The title compounds are male-specific, antennally active volatile compounds from the Saltcedar leaf beetle, Diorhabda elongata Brulle (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) and have potential use in the biological control of the invasive weed saltcedar (Tamarix spp).     

Synthesis and crystal structures of halogenated oxathiazolones and an unexpected propanamide

The known 1,3,4-oxathiazol-2-ones with crystal structures reported in the Cambridge Structural Database are limited (13 to date) and this article expands the library to 15. In addition, convenient starting materials for the future exploration of 1,3,4-oxathiazol-2-ones are detailed. An unexpected halogenated propanamide has also been identified as a by-product of one reaction, presumably reacting with HCl generated in situ. The space group of 5-[(E)-2-chloroethenyl]-1,3,4-oxathiazol-2-one, C₄H₂ClNO₂S, ( 1 ), is P2₁, with a high Z′ value of 6; the space group of rac-2,3-dibromo-3-chloropropanamide, C₃H₄Br₂ClNO, ( 2 ), is P2₁, with Z′ = 4; and the structure of rac-5-(1,2-dibromo-2-phenylethyl)-1,3,4-oxathiazol-2-one, C₁₀H₇Br₂NO₂S, ( 3 ), crystallizes in the space group Pca2₁, with Z′ = 1. Both of the structures of compounds 2 and 3 are modeled with two-component disorder and each molecular site hosts both of the enantiomers of the racemic pairs (S,S)/(R,R) and (R,S)/(S,R), respectively.     

N,N-Bis[ethoxy(methyl)silylmethyl]methylamines MeN[CH2SiMem(OEt)3-m]2 (m = 0-2). Synthesis and Reactions with Phenol

Previously unknown N,N-bis[ethoxy(methyl)silylmethyl]amines MeN[CH₂SiMe_m(OEt)_3-m ]2 (m = 0-2) were synthesized. According to UV spectral data, only MeN[CH₂SiMe₂(OEt)]₂ form hydrogen bond with phenol in a heptane solution. The amines with m = 0 and 1 fail to forms hydrogen bond with phenol [under the same conditions, N-(triethoxysilylmethyl)dimethylamine Me₂NCH₂Si(OEt)₃ forms a strong hydrogen bond with phenol]. All the amines (m = 0-2) enter transetherification with phenol to give compounds of the general formula MeN[CH₂SiMe_m m(OPh) _n (OEt)3-m-n]₂ (m = 0-2, n = 1-3). Refluxing of N,N-bis[ethoxy(methyl) silylmethyl]amines with excess phenol results in cleavage of the Si-C bond by phenol, providing phenoxysilanes Me_mmSi(OPh)4-m (m = 0-2) and trimethylamine.     

Synthesis of New C2‐Symmetric Chiral Bisamides from (1S,2S)‐Cyclohexane‐1,2‐dicarboxylic Acid

A series of new C₂‐symmetric (1S,2S)‐cyclohexane‐1,2‐dicarboxamides was synthesized from (1S,2S)‐cyclohexane‐1,2‐dicarbonyl dichloride and N‐benzyl‐substituted aromatic amines, which were prepared from 2‐aminopyridine, 2‐chloroaniline, and 2‐aminophenol via imine formation with benzaldehyde and subsequent reduction with NaBH₄. (1S,2S)‐N,N′‐Dibenzyl‐N,N′‐bis[2‐(benzyloxy)phenyl]cyclohexane‐1,2‐dicarboxamide was converted to (1S,2S)‐N,N′‐dibenzyl‐N,N′‐bis(2‐hydroxyphenyl)cyclohexane‐1,2‐dicarboxamide via hydrogenolysis in the presence of Pd(OH)₂ on active carbon powder.     

Dichloro[TADDOLato(2−)-O,O′]titanium/Dichlorobis[1-methylethoxy]titanium-Mediated,Highly Diastereo- and Enantioselective Additions of Silyl Enol Ethers to Nitro Olefins and [3+2] Cycloadditions of Primary Adducts to Acetylenes

The diastereoselective, Ti-Lewis-acid-mediated, low-temperature addition of silyl enol ethers to 1-aryl-2-nitroethenes (Scheme 1) occurs enantioselectively with dichloro[TADDOLato(2−)-O,O′]titanium 3 (TADDOL=α,α,α′,α′-tetraaryl-1,3-dioxolane-4,5-dimethanol) (Scheme 2). At least 3 equiv. of Lewis acid are required for high conversions (yields). However, the chiral Lewis acid 3 can be `diluted' with the achiral Cl₂Ti(OCHMe₂)₂ analog (ratio 1 : 2.5), with hardly any loss of enantioselectivity! Both, the primary (4+2) cycloadducts ( B , 9 ) and the γ-nitro ketones ( A , 1a – h , 5 , 7 ), formed by hydrolysis, can be isolated in good yields and with high configurational purities (Schemes 3 and 4, and Table 1). The relative and absolute configurations (2S,1′R) of the products 1 from cyclohexanone silyl enol ether and 1-aryl(including 1-heteroaryl)-2-nitroethenes (obtained with (R,R)-TADDOLate) are assigned by NMR spectroscopy, and optical comparison and correlation with literature data, as well as by anomalous-dispersion X-ray crystal-structure determination (nitro ketone 1c ; Fig.). The nitro ketone 7 from cyclohex-2-enone and 4-methoxy-β-nitrostyrene was cyclized (via a silyl nitronate C ; Scheme 5) to the nitroso acetal 8 , and one of the bicyclic nitronate primary adducts 9 underwent a [3+2] cycloaddition to phenylacetylene and to ethyl 2-butynoate to give, after a ring-contracting rearrangement, tricyclic aziridine derivatives with five consecutive stereocenters ( 10 , 11 ; Scheme 5 and Table 2), in enantiomerically pure form. With an aliphatic nitro olefin, the Ti-TADDOLate-mediated reaction with (silyloxy)cyclohexene led to a moderate yield, but the product 4 was isolated in a high configurational purity.     

Bestimmung des Chiralitätssinns der enantiomeren 2,6-Adamantandiole

Determination of the Chirality Sense of the Enantiomeric 2,6-Adamantanediols The enantiomers of 2,6-adamantanediol ( 1 ) are resolved via the diastereoisomeric camphanoates. The (2R,6R)-chirality sense for (?)- 1 and (2S,6S) for (+)- 1 was determined by chemical correlation with (?)-(1R,5R)-bicyclo[3.3.1]nonan-2,6-dion ((1R,5R)- 3 ) of known absolute configuration in the following way: alkylation of the bis(pyrrolidine enamine) of (?)-(1R,5R)- 3 with CD₂I₂ and hydrolysis of the product gives the enantiomer 4 of (4,4-D₂)-2,6-adamantanedione. Reduction of 4 with LiAlH₄ leads to one enantiomer (Scheme 2) of each of the three diols 5 – 7 of known absolute configuration. The three diols are themselves configurational isomers due to the presence of the CD₂ group, but correspond otherwise entirely to the enantiomeric diols 1 . Accordingly, they can also be separated by means of their diastereoisomeric camphanoates to give the diols 5 / 6 and 7 . These samples are easily distinguished and identified by their characteristic ¹H-NMR spectra (cf. Fig. 2). This allows to identify the (2R,6R)- and (2S,6S)-enantiomer of 1 on the basis of their behavior in the resolution experiment analogous to that of the diols 5 / 6 and 7 , respectively. The diol (?)- 1 must have the (2R,6R)-configuration because it forms, like the diols 5 / 6 , with (?)-camphanic acid the diastereoisomeric ester less soluble in benzene. The diol (+)- 1 has (2S,6S)-configuration, because it forms, like 7 , with (+)-camphanic acid the diastereoisomeric ester less soluble in benzene. The bis(4-methoxybenzoate) of (?)-(2R,6R)- 1 shows chiroptical properties which are in accordance with Nakanishi's rule for two chromophores having coupled electric dipol transition moments arranged with a left-handed torsion angle.     

Copolymerization of fluorinated acrylic monomers with p-vinylphenol and hydroxyethyl methacrylate

Copolymers of p-vinylphenol were prepared in bulk with heptafluorobutyl and pentadecafluorooctyl acrylates and trifluoroethyl, hexafluoroisopropyl, heptafluorobutyl, octafluoropentyl and pentadecafluorooctyl methacrylates using azobisisobutyronitrile as the initiator in sealed tubes. Intrinsic viscosities of the copolymers ranged from 0.44 to 1.85. Monomer reactivity ratios for copolymers of trifluoroethyl methacrylate (M₁) were: with hydroxyethyl methacrylate (M₂), r₁ = 0.47, r₂ = 1.0; with methyl methacrylate (M₂), r₁ = 0.82, r₂ = 0.50; with styrene (M₂), r₁ = 0.29, r₂, = 0.20; and with p-vinylphenol (M₂), r₁ = 0.096, r₂ = 1.5. Q and e values of trifluoroethyl methacrylate were 1.30 and 0.92, respectively. Monomer reactivity ratios of octafluoropentyl methacrylate (M₁) were: with styrene (M₂), r₁ = 0.26, r₂ = 0.20; and with p-vinylphenol, r₁ = 0.21, r₂ = 1.5. Q and e values for octafluoropentyl methacrylate were 1.27 and 0.92, respectively. Critical surface tensions of the homopolymers ranged from 17.9 to 14.8 dyn/cm. A copolymer of hexafluoro-i-propyl methacrylate and p-vinylphenol exhibited a critical surface tension of 16.5 dyn/cm.     

How To Stabilize or Break β-Peptidic Helices by Disulfide Bridges: Synthesis and CD Investigation of β-Peptides with Cysteine and Homocysteine Side Chains

all-L -β³-Penta-, hexa-, and heptapeptides with the proteinogenic side chains of valine, leucine, serine, cysteine, and methionine have been prepared by previously described procedures ( 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 ; Schemes 2 – 5). Thioether cleavage with Na/NH₃ in β-HMet residues has also provided a β³-hexapeptide with homocysteine (CH₂CH₂S) side chains ( 13e ). The HS−(CH₂)_n groups were positioned on the β-peptidic backbone in such a way that, upon disulfide-bridge formation, the corresponding β-peptide was expected to maintain either a 3₁-helical secondary structure ( 1 , 2 ) (Fig. 1) or to be forced to adopt another conformation ( 3 , 4 ). The 13-, 17-, 19-, and 21-membered-ring macrocyclic disulfide derivatives and their open-chain precursors, as well as all synthetic intermediates, were purified (crystallization, flash or preparative HPL chromatography; Fig. 5) and fully characterized (m.p., [α]_D, CD, IR, NMR, FAB or ESI mass spectroscopy, and elemental analysis, whenever possible; Fig. 2 and Exper. Part). The structures in MeOH and H₂O of the new β-peptides were studied by CD spectroscopy (Figs. 3 and 4), where the characteristic 215-nm-trough/200-nm-peak pattern was used as an indicator for the presence or absence of (M)-3₁-helical conformations. A CH₂−S₂−CH₂ and, somewhat less so, a (CH₂)₂−S₂−(CH₂)₂ bracket between residues i and i+3 ( 1 vs. 12d , and 2 vs. 13e in Fig. 3) give rise to CD spectra which are compatible with the presence of 3₁-helical structures, while CH₂−S₂−CH₂ brackets between residues i and i+2 ( 3 vs. 14c ) or i and i+4 ( 4 vs. 15c in Fig. 4) do not.     

Reaktionen von (tBu)2P?PP(Br)tBu2 mit LiP(SiMe3)2, LiPMe2 und LiMe,LitBu, LinBu

Reactions of (tBu)₂P? P?P(Br)tBu₂ with LiP(SiMe₃)₂, LiPMe₂ and LiMe, LitBu and LinBu The reactions of (tBu)₂P? P?P(Br)tBu₂ 1 with LiP(SiMe₃)₂ 2 yield (Me₃Si)₂P? P(SiMe₃)₂ 4 and P[P(tBu)₂]₂P(SiMe₃)₂ 5 , whereas 1 with LiPMe₂ 2 yields P₂Me₄ 6 and P[(tBu)₂]₂PMe₂ 7 . 1 with LiMe yields the ylid tBu₂P? P?P(Me)tBu₂ (main product) and [tBu₂P]₂PMe 15 . In the reaction of 1 with tBuLi [tBu₂P]₂PH 11 is the main product and also tBuP? P?P(R)tBu₂ 21 is formed. The reaction of 1 with nBuLi leads to [tBu₂P]₂PnBu 17 (main product) and tBu₂P? P?P(nBu)tBu₂ 22 (secondary product).     

Hexakis(2,4,6‐triisopropylphenyl)cyclotristannoxane – a Molecular Diorganotin Oxide with Kinetically Inert Sn–O Bonds

The single‐crystal X‐ray structure analysis of hexakis(2,4,6‐triisopropylphenyl)cyclotristannoxane, cyclo‐[(2,4,6‐i‐Pr₃‐C₆H₂)₂SnO]₃ ( 1 ), is reported and reveals this compound to contain an almost planar six‐membered ring. Redistribution reactions of 1 with cyclo‐(t‐Bu₂SnO)₃ and t‐Bu₂SiCl₂, respectively, failed and indicate an unusual kinetic inertness of the Sn–O bonds in 1 as compared to related molecular diorganotin oxides containing less bulkier substituents. The redistribution reaction of cyclo‐(t‐Bu₂SnO)₃ with cyclo‐(t‐Bu₂SnS)₂ leads to an equilibrium involving the trimeric diorganotin oxysulphides cyclo‐t‐Bu₂Sn(OSnt‐Bu₂)₂S ( 2 a ) and cyclo‐t‐Bu₂Sn(SSnt‐Bu₂)₂O ( 2 b ).     

A Mechanistic Dichotomy in Two-Electron Reduction of Dioxygen Catalyzed by N,N’-Dimethylated Porphyrin Isomers

Selective two-electron reduction of dioxygen (O₂) to hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) has been achieved by two saddle-distorted N,N’-dimethylated porphyrin isomers, an N21,N’22-dimethylated porphyrin ( anti -Me₂P ) and an N21,N’23-dimethylated porphyrin ( syn -Me₂P ) as catalysts and ferrocene derivatives as electron donors in the presence of protic acids in acetonitrile. The higher catalytic performance in an oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) was achieved by anti -Me₂P with higher turnover number (TON=250 for 30 min) than that by syn -Me₂P (TON=218 for 60 min). The reactive intermediates in the catalytic ORR were confirmed to be the corresponding isophlorins ( anti -Me₂Iph or syn -Me₂Iph ) by spectroscopic measurements. The rate-determining step in the catalytic ORRs was concluded to be proton-coupled electron-transfer reduction of O₂ with isophlorins based on kinetic analysis. The ORR rate by anti -Me₂Iph was accelerated by external protons, judging from the dependence of the observed initial rates on acid concentrations. In contrast, no acceleration of the ORR rate with syn -Me₂Iph by external protons was observed. The different mechanisms in the O₂ reduction by the two isomers should be derived from that of the arrangement of hydrogen bonding of a O₂ with inner NH protons of the isophlorins.     

Copolymerization characteristics of S-vinyl-O-tert-butylthiocarbonate

Poly-S-vinyl-O-tert-butylthiocarbonate is an excellent precursor to poly(vinyl mercaptan) because the tert-butyloxycarbonyl blocking group can be removed by either acid hydrolysis or thermolysis under conditions which minimize the oxidation of the liberated mercaptan to disulfide. Dilatometric studies of the homopolymerization of S-vinyl-O-tert-butylthiocarbonate demonstrated that the polymerization rate was directly proportional to the concentration of free-radical initiator; no thermal initiation was observed. The molecular weight of the homopolymers and copolymers ranged from 30,000 to 50,000 (GPC). Copolymerization of S-vinyl-O-tert-butylthiocarbonate (M₂) with styrene, (r₁ = 3.0, r₂ = 0.2), methyl methacrylate (r₁ = 1.40, r₂ = 0.17) and vinyl acetate (r₁ = 0.04, r₂ = 11.0) indicated that a sulfur atom adjacent to the vinyl group increases the resonance stability (Q₂ = 0.5) and the electron density (e₂ = ?1.4) of the double bond and the corresponding radical. Water-soluble copolymers could be prépared by incorporating either N-vinylpyrrolidone (r₁ = 0.12, r₂ = 3.94) or N-isopropylacrylamide (r₁ = 1.17, r₂ = 0.3) with M₂. The water solubility of the copolymers decreased markedly when the tert-butyloxycarbonyl group was removed. Copolymers of M₂ with N-vinyl-O-tert-butylcarbamate (r₁ = 0.13, r₂ = 5.10) were utilized to prepare crosslinked poly(vinyl amine–vinyl mercaptan); the crosslinking resulted from urea linkages formed during thermolysis of the copolymer.     

Stereo‐Inversion in the (4R)‐γ‐Decanolactone Synthesis by Saccharomyces cerevisiae: (2E,4S)‐4‐Hydroxydec‐2‐enoic Acid Acts as a Key Intermediate

Methyl (2E,4R)‐4‐hydroxydec‐2‐enoate, methyl (2E,4S)‐4‐hydroxydec‐2‐enoate, and ethyl (±)‐(2E)‐4‐hydroxy[4‐²H]dec‐2‐enoate were chemically synthesized and incubated in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Initial C‐chain elongation of these substrates to C₁₂ and, to a lesser extent, C₁₄ fatty acids was observed, followed by γ‐decanolactone formation. Metabolic conversion of methyl (2E,4R)‐4‐hydroxydec‐2‐enoate and methyl (2E,4S)‐4‐hydroxydec‐2‐enoate both led to (4R)‐γ‐decanolactone with >99% ee and 80% ee, respectively. Biotransformation of ethyl (±)‐(2E)‐4‐hydroxy(4‐²H)dec‐2‐enoate yielded (4R)‐γ‐[²H]decanolactone with 61% of the ²H label maintained and in 90% ee indicating a stereoinversion pathway. Electron‐impact mass spectrometry analysis (Fig. 4) of 4‐hydroxydecanoic acid indicated a partial C(4)→C(2) ²H shift. The formation of erythro‐3,4‐dihydroxydecanoic acid and erythro‐3‐hydroxy‐γ‐decanolactone from methyl (2E,4S)‐4‐hydroxydec‐2‐enoate supports a net inversion to (4R)‐γ‐decanolactone via 4‐oxodecanoic acid. As postulated in a previous work, (2E,4S)‐4‐hydroxydec‐2‐enoic acid was shown to be a key intermediate during (4R)‐γ‐decanolactone formation via degradation of (3S,4S)‐dihydroxy fatty acids and precursors by Saccharomyces cerevisiae.     

Highly diastereoselective N-nitrosation of chiral (E)-2-(benzylidene-amino)ethanols with nitric oxide

N-Nitrosation of (E)-(S)-2-(benzylidene-amino)ethanols 2 with nitric oxide occurred highly diastereoselectively, to give the (2S,4S)-diastereomer dominant N-nitroso-(2S,4S)-1,3-oxazolidines in good yield. Intermediate 2 was prepared from the reaction of benzaldehyde 1 with (S)-2-aminoethanol.     

Platinum Indolylphosphine Fluorido and Polyfluorido Complexes: An Interplay between Cyclometallation,Fluoride Migration,and Hydrogen Bonding

The reaction of [PtCl₂(COD)] (COD=1,5-cyclooctadiene) with diisopropyl-2-(3-methyl)indolylphosphine (iPr₂P(C₉H₈N)) led to the formation of the platinum(ii ) chlorido complexes, cis-[PtCl₂{iPr₂P(C₉H₈N)}₂] ( 1 ) and trans-[PtCl₂{iPr₂P(C₉H₈N)}₂] ( 2 ). The cis-complex 1 reacted with NEt₃ yielding the complex cis-[PtCl{κ²-(P,N)-iPr₂P(C₉H₇N)}{iPr₂P(C₉H₈N)}] ( 3 ) bearing a cyclometalated κ²-(P,N)-phosphine ligand, while the isomer 2 with a trans-configuration did not show any reactivity towards NEt₃. Treatment of 1 or 3 with (CH₃)₄NF (TMAF) resulted in the formation of the twofold cyclometalated complex cis-[Pt{κ²-(P,N)-iPr₂P(C₉H₇N)}₂] ( 4 ). The molecular structures of the complexes 1–4 were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The fluorido complex cis-[PtF{κ²-(P,N)-iPr₂P(C₉H₇N)}{iPr₂P(C₉H₈N)}] ⋅ (HF)₄ ( 5 ⋅ (HF)₄) was formed when complex 4 was treated with different hydrogen fluoride sources. The Pt(ii ) fluorido complex 5 ⋅ (HF)₄ exhibits intramolecular hydrogen bonding in its outer coordination sphere between the fluorido ligand and the NH group of the 3-methylindolyl moiety. In contrast to its chlorido analogue 3 , complex 5 ⋅ (HF)₄ reacted with CO or the ynamide 1-(2-phenylethynyl)-2-pyrrolidinone to yield the complexes trans-[Pt(CO){κ²-(P,C)-iPr₂P(C₉H₇NCO)}{iPr₂P(C₉H₈N)}][F(HF)₄] ( 7 ) and a complex, which we suggest to be cis-[Pt{C=C(Ph)OCN(C₃H₆)}{κ²-(P,N)-iPr₂P(C₉H₇N)}{iPr₂P(C₉H₈N)}][F(HF)₄] ( 9 ), respectively. The structure of 9 was assigned on the basis of DFT calculations as well as NMR and IR data. Hydrogen bonding of HF and NH to fluoride was proven to be crucial for the existence of 7 and 9 .     

Synthesis of Imidazole Derivatives Using 2‐Unsubstituted 1H‐Imidazole 3‐Oxides

The reaction of 1,4,5‐trisubstituted 1H‐imidazole 3‐oxides 1 with Ac₂O in CH₂Cl₂ at 0 – 5° leads to the corresponding 1,3‐dihydro‐2H‐imidazol‐2‐ones 4 in good yields. In refluxing Ac₂O, the N‐oxides 1 are transformed to N‐acetylated 1,3‐dihydro‐2H‐imidazol‐2‐ones 5 . The proposed mechanisms for these reactions are analogous to those for N‐oxides of 6‐membered heterocycles (Scheme 2). A smooth synthesis of 1H‐imidazole‐2‐carbonitriles 2 starting with 1 is achieved by treatment with trimethylsilanecarbonitrile (Me₃SiCN) in CH₂Cl₂ at 0 – 5° (Scheme 3).     

Preparation of Butadienylpyridines by Iridium-NHC-Catalyzed Alkyne Hydroalkenylation and Quinolizine Rearrangement

Iridium(I) N-heterocyclic carbene complexes of formula Ir(κ²O,O’-BHetA)(IPr)(η²-coe) [BHetA=bis-heteroatomic acidato, acetylacetonate or acetate; IPr=1,3-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imidazolin-2-carbene; coe=cyclooctene] have been prepared by treating Ir(κ²O,O’-BHetA)(η²-coe)₂ complexes with IPr. These complexes react with 2-vinylpyridine to afford the hydrido-iridium(III)-alkenyl cyclometalated derivatives IrH(κ²O,O’-BHetA)(κ²N,C-C₇H₆N)(IPr) through the iridium(I) intermediate Ir(κ²O,O’-BHetA)(IPr)(η²-C₇H₇N). The cyclometalated IrH(κ²O,O’-acac)(κ²N,C–C₇H₆N)(IPr) complex efficiently catalyzes the hydroalkenylation of aromatic and aliphatic terminal alkynes and enynes with 2-vinylpyridine to afford 2-(4R-butadienyl)pyridines with Z,E configuration as the major reaction products (yield up to 89 %). In addition, unprecedented (Z)-2-butadienyl-5R-pyridine derivatives have been obtained as minor reaction products (yield up to 21 %) from the elusive 1Z,3gem-butadienyl hydroalkenylation products. These compounds undergo a thermal 6π-electrocyclization to afford bicyclic 4H-quinolizine derivatives that, under catalytic reaction conditions, tautomerize to 6H-quinolizine to afford the (Z)-2-(butadienyl)-5R-pyridine by a retro-electrocyclization reaction.     

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.