Network Motifs and Thermal Properties of Copper(I) Halide and Pseudohalide Coordination Polymers with 1, 7‐ and 4, 7‐Phenanthroline

The coordination polymers [CuBr(1, 7‐phen‐κN7)] ( 1a ), [CuI(1, 7‐phen)] ( 2a ) and [(CuI)₂(1, 7‐phen‐κN7)] ( 2b ) may be prepared by treatment of the appropriate copper(I) halide with 1, 7‐phenanthroline (1, 7‐phen) in acetonitrile. 1a exhibits staircase CuBr double chains, 2a novel quadruple CuI chains. Their thermal properties were investigated by DTA‐TG and temperature resolved powder X‐ray diffraction. On heating, both 1:1 compounds decompose to 2:1 polymers and then finally to CuBr or CuI. With 4, 7‐phenanthroline (4, 7‐phen), CuBr affords both 1:1 and 2:1 complexes ( 5a , 5b ), CuI 1:1 , 2:1 and 3:1 complexes( 6a , 6b , 6c ) in acetonitrile at 20 °C. 5a and 6a display lamellar coordination networks, with the former containing zigzag CuBr single chains, the latter 4‐membered (CuI)₂ rings. A second 2:1 complex [(CuI)₂(4, 7‐phen‐μ‐N4, N7)] ( 6b ′) with staircase CuI double chains can be obtained by reacting CuI with 4, 7‐phen in a sealed glass tube at 110 °C. Both 5a and 6a exhibit thermal decomposition pathways of the general type 1:1 → 2:1 → 3:1 → CuX, and novel CuX triple chains are proposed for the isostructural 3:1 polymers 5c and 6c . X‐ray structures are reported for complexes 1a , 2b , [(CuCN)₃(CH₃CN)(1, 7‐phen‐μ‐N1, N7)] ( 3c· CH₃CN), [CuSCN(1, 7‐phen‐κN7)] ( 4a ), 5a , 6a and [CuCN(4, 7‐phen‐μ‐N4, N7)] ( 7a ).     

A Flexible Stereoselective Synthesis of the Spirosesquiterpenes (±)-β-Acorenol, (±)-β-Acoradiene, (±)-Acorenone-B and (±)-Acorenone via an Intramolecular Ene-Reaction

The racemic spirosesquiterpenes β-acorenol ( 1 ), β-acoradiene ( 2 ), acorenone-B ( 3 ) and acorenone ( 4 ) (Scheme 2) have been synthesized in a simple, flexible and highly stereoselective manner from the ester 5 . The key step (Schemes 3 and 4), an intramolecular thermal ene reaction of the 1,6-diene 6 , proceeded with 100% endo-selectivity to give the separable and interconvertible epimers 7a and 7b . Transformation of the ‘trans’-ester 7a to (±)- 1 and (±)- 2 via the enone 9 (Scheme 5) involved either a thermal retro-ene reaction 10 → 12 or, alternatively, an acid-catalysed elimination 11 → 13 + 14 followed by conversion to the 2-propanols 16 and 17 and their reduction with sodium in ammonia into 1 which was then dehydrated to 2 . The conversion of the ‘cis’-ester 7b to either 3 (Scheme 6) or 4 (Scheme 7) was accomplished by transforming firstly the carbethoxy group to an isopropyl group via 7b → 18 → 19 → 20 , oxidation of 20 to 21 , then alkylative 1,2-enone transposition 21 → 22 → 23 → 3 . By regioselective hydroboration and oxidation, the same precursor 20 gave a single ketone 25 which was subjected to the regioselective sulfenylation-alkylation-desulfenylation sequence 25 → 26 → 27 → 4 .     

Säurekatalysierte Umlagerung von 7-Hydroxy-royleanon in ein 20(10→9) abeo-Abietan-Derivat und zwei Phenalenone

Acid-catalyzed rearrangement of 7-hydroxyroyleanone into a 20(10→9) abeo-abietane derivative and two phenalenones Short treatment of either horminone ( 1b ), taxoquinone ( 1a ), 6,7-dehydroroyleanone ( 3 ) or 6β-hydroxyroyleanone ( 1c ) with 80% H₂SO₄ at 0° leads to a mixture of rearranged products. Two of the structures, determined by X-ray-cristallography, were found to be (9R, 10R)-20(10→9)-abeo-12-hydroxy-5,7, 12-abietatriene-11,14-dione ( 4 ) and 9-isopropyl-2,2,5-trimethyl-8H-phenaleno[1,9-bc]furan-8-one ( 5 ), and the third compound, isolated in very small amounts, has been provisionally identified as 3-hydroxy-9-isopropyl-2,2,5-trimethyl-8H-phenaleno[1,9-bc]furan-8-one ( 6 ) from the spectroscopic data.     

7‐Halogenated 7‐Deazapurine 2′‐Deoxyribonucleosides Related to 2′‐Deoxyadenosine, 2′‐Deoxyxanthosine,and 2′‐Deoxyisoguanosine: Syntheses and Properties

A series of 7‐fluorinated 7‐deazapurine 2′‐deoxyribonucleosides related to 2′‐deoxyadenosine, 2′‐deoxyxanthosine, and 2′‐deoxyisoguanosine as well as intermediates 4b – 7b, 8, 9b, 10b , and 17b were synthesized. The 7‐fluoro substituent was introduced in 2,6‐dichloro‐7‐deaza‐9H‐purine ( 11a ) with Selectfluor (Scheme 1). Apart from 2,6‐dichloro‐7‐fluoro‐7‐deaza‐9H‐purine ( 11b ), the 7‐chloro compound 11c was formed as by‐product. The mixture 11b / 11c was used for the glycosylation reaction; the separation of the 7‐fluoro from the 7‐chloro compound was performed on the level of the unprotected nucleosides. Other halogen substituents were introduced with N‐halogenosuccinimides ( 11a → 11c – 11e ). Nucleobase‐anion glycosylation afforded the nucleoside intermediates 13a – 13e (Scheme 2). The 7‐fluoro‐ and the 7‐chloro‐7‐deaza‐2′‐deoxyxanthosines, 5b and 5c , respectively, were obtained from the corresponding MeO compounds 17b and 17c , or 18 (Scheme 6). The 2′‐deoxyisoguanosine derivative 4b was prepared from 2‐chloro‐7‐fluoro‐7‐deaza‐2′‐deoxyadenosine 6b via a photochemically induced nucleophilic displacement reaction (Scheme 5). The pK_a values of the halogenated nucleosides were determined (Table 3). ¹³C‐NMR Chemical‐shift dependencies of C(7), C(5), and C(8) were related to the electronegativity of the 7‐halogen substituents (Fig. 3). In aqueous solution, 7‐halogenated 2′‐deoxyribonucleosides show an approximately 70% S population (Fig. 2 and Table 1).     

New Acetylcholinesterase‐Inhibitory Pregnane Glycosides of Cynanchum atratum Roots

Three new pregnane glycosides, cynatroside A ( 1 ), cynatroside B ( 2 ), and cynatroside C ( 3 ), isolated from the roots of Cynanchum atratum (Asclepiadaceae), were characterized as 7β‐{[O‐α‐L ‐cymaropyranosyl‐(1→4)‐O‐β‐D ‐digitoxopyranosyl‐(1→4)‐β‐D ‐oleandropyranosyl]oxy}‐3,4,4a,4b,5,6,7,8,10,10a‐decahydro‐6α‐hydroxy‐4b‐ methyl‐2‐(2‐methyl‐3‐furyl)phenanthren‐1(2H)‐one ( 1 ), 7β‐{[O‐β‐D ‐cymaropyranosyl‐(1→4)‐O‐α‐L ‐diginopyranosyl‐(1→4)‐β‐D ‐cymaropyranosyl]oxy}‐3,4,4a,4b,5,6,7,8,10,10a‐decahydro‐2,6α‐dihydroxy‐4b‐methyl‐2‐(2‐methyl‐3‐furyl)phenanthren‐1(2H)‐one ( 2 ), and 7β‐{[O‐α‐L ‐cymaropyranosyl‐(1→4)‐O‐β‐D ‐digitoxopyranosyl‐(1→4)‐β‐L ‐cymaropyranosyl]oxy}‐3,4,4a,4b,5,6,7,8,10,10a‐decahydro‐2,6α‐dihydroxy‐4b‐methyl‐2‐(2‐methyl‐3‐furyl)phenanthren‐1(2H)‐one ( 3 ), respectively. In addition, ten known constituents were identified, i.e., cynascyroside D ( 4 ), glaucoside C ( 5 ), glaucoside D ( 6 ), atratoside A ( 7 ), 2,4‐dihydroxyacetophenone ( 8 ), 4‐hydroxyacetophenone ( 9 ), syringic acid ( 10 ), azelaic acid ( 11 ), suberic acid ( 12 ), and succinic acid ( 13 ). Among these compounds, 1 – 4 significantly inhibit acetylcholinesterase activity.     

The adamantane rearrangement of syn- and anti-Tricyclo[4.2.1.1.12,5] decane. Part II. Rearrangements initiated by regioselective formation of carbocations at C(3) and C(9)

The endo- and exo-alcohols 5–12 of syn-( 1 ) and anti-tricyclo[4.2.1. 1^2.5]decane ( 2 ) were treated with BF₃/Et₃SiH (ionic hydrogenation) in order to study the behaviour of the corresponding regioselectively generated carbocations at C(3) ( a (syn), b (anti)) and C(9) ( c (syn), d (anti)). The anti-hydrocarbon 2 is practically the sole product obtained starting with the four 3-alcohols (via a → b from 5 and 6 (syn) and via b from 9 and 10 (anti)). The four 9-alcohols in each case yield a mixture of 2-endo, 3-endo- ( 3 ) and 2-exo,3-exo-trimethylene-8,9,10-trinorbornane (4) (via c → e from 7 and 8 (syn) and via d → f from 11 and 12 (anti)), but no hydrocarbon 2 , i.e. none of the 1,3-H shifts c → a and d → b is involved.     

Disila‐Galaxolide and Derivatives: Synthesis and Olfactory Characterization of Silicon‐Containing Derivatives of the Musk Odorant Galaxolide

A series of silicon‐containing derivatives of the polycyclic musk odorant galaxolide ( 4 a ) was synthesized, that is, disila‐galaxolide ((4RS,7SR)‐ 4 b /(4RS,7RS)‐ 4 b ), its methylene derivative rac‐ 9 , and its nor analogue rac‐ 10 . The tricyclic title compounds with their 7,8‐dihydro‐6,8‐disila‐6 H‐cyclopenta[g]isochromane skeleton were prepared in multistep syntheses by using a cobalt‐catalyzed [2+2+2] cycloaddition of the mono‐ yne H₂C?CHCH₂OCH₂C?CB(pin) (B(pin)=4,4,5,5‐tetramethyl‐1,3,2‐di‐ oxaborolan‐2‐yl) with the diynes H₂C?C[Si(CH₃)₂C?CH]₂ or H₂C‐ [Si(CH₃)₂C?CH]₂ as the key step. Employing [Cr(CO)₃(MeCN)₃] as an auxiliary, the disila‐galaxolide diastereomers (4RS,7SR)‐ 4 b and (4RS,7RS)‐ 4 b could be chromatographically separated through their tricarbonylchromium(0) complexes, followed by oxidative decomplexation. The identity of the title compounds and their precursors was established by elemental analyses and multinuclear NMR spectroscopic studies and in some cases additionally by crystal structure analyses. Compounds (4RS,7SR)‐ 4 b , (4RS,7RS)‐ 4 b , rac‐ 9 , and rac‐ 10 were characterized for their olfactory properties, including GC‐olfactory studies of the racemic compounds on a chiral stationary phase. As for the parent galaxolide stereoisomers 4 a , only one enantiomer of the silicon compounds (4RS,7SR)‐ 4 b , (4RS,7RS)‐ 4 b , rac‐ 9 , and rac‐ 10 , smelt upon enantioselective GC‐olfactometry, which according to the elution sequence is assumed to be also (4S)‐configured as in the case of the galaxolide stereoisomers. The disila‐analogues (4S,7R)‐ 4 b and (4S,7S)‐ 4 b were, however, about one order of magnitude less intense in terms of their odor threshold than their parent carbon compounds (4S,7R)‐ 4 a and (4S,7S)‐ 4 a . The introduction of a 7‐methylene group in disila‐galaxolide ( 4 b →rac‐ 9 ) improved the odor threshold by a factor of two. With the novel silicon‐containing galaxolide derivatives, the presumed hydrophobic bulk binding pocket of the corresponding musk receptor(s) could be characterized in more detail, which could be useful for the design of novel musk odorants with an improved environmental profile.     

The quantum efficiency of the primary processes in formaldehyde photolysis at 3130 Å and 25°C

The mechanism of the photolysis of formaldehyde was studied in experiments at 3130 Å and in the pressure range of 1–12 torr at 25°C. The experiments were designed to establish the quantum yields of the primary decomposition steps (1) and (2), CH₂O + hν → H + HCO (1): CH₂O + hν → H₂ + CO (2), through the effects of added isobutene, trimethylsilane, and nitric oxide on Φ_CO and Φ. The ratio Φ_CO/Φ was found to be 1.01 ± 0.09(2σ) and (Φ + Φ_CO)/2 = 1.10 ± 0.08 over the range of pressures and a 12-fold change in incident light intensity. Isobutene and nitric oxide additions reduced Φ to about the same limiting value, 0.32 ± 0.03 and 0.34 ± 0.04, respectively, but these added gases differed in their effects on Φ_CO. With isobutene addition Φ_CO/Φ reached a limiting value of 2.3; with NO addition Φ_CO exceeded unity. The addition of small amounts of Me₃SiH reduced Φ to 1.02 ± 0.08 and lowered Φ_CO to 0.7. These findings were rationalized in terms of a mechanism in which the “nonscavengeable,” molecular hydrogen is formed in reaction (2) with ?₂ = 0.32 ± 0.03, while the “free radical” hydrogen is formed in reaction (1) with ?₁ = 0.68 ± 0.03. In the pure formaldehyde system these reactions are followed by (3)–(5): H + CH₂O → H₂ + HCO (3); 2HCO → CH₂O + CO (4); 2HCO → H₂ + 2CO (5). The data suggest k₄/k₅ ? 5.8. Isobutene reduced Φ by the reaction H + iso-C₄H₈ → C₄H₉ (20), and the results give k₂₀/k₃ ? 43 ± 4, in good agreement with the ratio of the reported values of the individual constants k₃ and k₂₀.     

Specifically (π → π*)-Induced Cyclohexenone Reactions 4a-(Z-1-Propenyl)-bicyclo[4.4.0]dec-1 (8a)-en-2-one and 4a-Z-1-Propenyl-bicyclo[4.4.0]deca-1(8a), 7-dien-2-one

4a-(Z-1-Propenyl)-bicyclo[4.4.0]dec-1(8a)-en-2-one ( 6 ) and 4a-(Z-1-propenyl)-bicyclo[4.4.0]deca-1(8a), 7-dien-2-one ( 17 ) undergo an intramolecular hydrogen transfer from the methyl group of the propenyl substitutent to the α-carbon atom of the enone group, and cyclization to the [4.4.3]propellane derivatives 9 and 30 , respectively, when excited in the π → π* wavelength region. The quantum yield for (Z)- 6 → 9 under optimum conditions is 0.29 at 254 nm. These reactions occur specifically from the S₂ (π,π*) state, competing with the S₂ → T decay. The triplet reactions of 6 are E–Z double-bond isomerization, double-bond shift to (E,Z)- 8 , and rearrangement to (E)- 10 . Further investigations concern some structural limitations in the scope of the reaction type 6 → 9 and enone S₂ reactivity in general.     

2′, 3′-Dideoxy-3′-fluorotubercidin and Related Dideoxyribonucleosides:. Synthesis via a 2′-deoxy-3′-oxoribofuranoside intermediate and conformation studies

An efficient synthesis of the unknown 2′-deoxy-D-threo-tubercidin ( 1b ) and 2′, 3′-dideoxy-3′-fluorotubercidin ( 2 ) as well as of the related nucleosides 9a, b and 10b is described. Reaction of 4-chloro-7-(2-deoxy-β-D-erythro-pentofuranosyl)-7H-pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine ( 5 ) with (tert-butyl)diphenylsilyl chloride yielded 6 which gave the 3′-keto nucleoside 7 upon oxidation at C(3′). Stereoselective NaBH₄ reduction (→ 8 ) followed by deprotection with Bu₄NF(→ 9a )and nucleophilic displacement at C(6) afforded 1b as well as 7-deaza-2′-deoxy-D-threo-inosine ( 9b ). Mesylation of 4-chloro-7-{2-deoxy-5-O-[(tert-butyl)diphenylsilyl]-β-D-threo-pentofuranosyl}-7H-pyrrolo[2,3-d]-pyrimidine ( 8 ), treatment with Bu₄NF (→ 12a ) and 4-halogene displacement gave 2′, 3′-didehydro-2′, 3′-dideoxy-tubercidin ( 3 ) as well as 2′, 3′-didehydro-2′, 3′-dideoxy-7-deazainosne ( 12c ). On the other hand, 2′, 3′-dideoxy-3′-fluorotubercidin ( 2 ) resulted from 8 by treatment with diethylamino sulfurtrifluoride (→ 10a ), subsequent 5′-de-protection with Bu₄NF (→ 10b ), and Cl/NH₂ displacement. ¹H-NOE difference spectroscopy in combination with force-field calculations on the sugar-modified tubercidin derivatives 1b , 2 , and 3 revealed a transition of the sugar puckering from the ^3′T_2′ conformation for 1b via a planar furanose ring for 3 to the usual ^2′T_3′ conformation for 2.     

Photochemische Umwandlungen, 41 [1] 3ω → 3 π-Isomerisierungen von Monohetero-trishomobenzol-derivaten. Vorläufige mitteilung

The all-cis-oxa- and azatrishomobenzene diesters 4a and 4b resp. undergo thermally a very clean 3ω → 3π isomerization reaction yielding the heterocyclonona-2, 5, 8-triene derivatives 6a and 6b resp. (E_a = 27.4 and 26.5 kcal/mole). In contrast, the cis, cis, trans-oxatrishomobenzene diester 9 is stable up to 170°. Some applications and limitations of this 3ω → 3π-route to iso- and heterocyclononatriene derivatives are discussed.     

Synthetic Attempts towards Polymers with Pentafulvene Structural Units

Synthetic attempts towards fully conjugated polymers 9 with pentafulvene-diyl structural units are described. Cationic polymerization of pentafulvenes 1a (R = X = Me) and 1b (R = X = MeS) nearly quantitatively gives polymers 8a and 8b with typical M_n and M_w values of 38800 and 53750, respectively, for 8a , and 12000 and 35900, respectively, for 8b . Key step of the conversion 8a → 9a (Scheme 6) is a quantitative bromination 8a → 32a , the structure of 32a being confirmed by analytical data as well as by spectroscopic comparison with model compound 23 . Best results in view of two-fold the HBr elimination 32a → 9a are obtained with Et₃N, but so far elimination has not been complete. Synthetic sequences are optimized with model compound 21 (Scheme 4). Here again, bromination 21 → 23 is quantitative, while two-fold HBr elimination 23 → 22 with Et₃N proceeds in 51% yield. Dibromide 23 easily undergoes HBr elimination followed by a Br shift to give bromide 29 . Contrary to cationic polymerization, anionic polymerization of simple pentafulvenes 1 to 2 (which would be attractive in view of the conjugated polymers 3 ) is not successful: For pentafulvene 1b (R = X = MeS), the main reaction is Diels-Alder-type dimerization 1b → 15b (Scheme 2), even under anionic conditions.     

1,7-Dideaza-2′-deoxyadenosine: Building blocks for solid-phase synthesis and secondary structure of base-modified oligodeoxyribonucleotides

The 1,7-dideaza-2′-deoxyadenosine (c¹c⁷A_d; 1 ) was converted into building blocks 3a , b for solid-phase oligodeoxyribonucleotide synthesis. Testing various N-protecting groups – benzoyl, phenoxyacetyl, [(fluoren-9-yl)methoxy]carbonyl, and (dimethylamino)methylidene – only the latter two were found to be suitable ( 1 → 4b, d ). Ensuing 4,4′-dimethoxytritylation of 4d and phosphitylation afforded the 3′-phosphonate 3a or the 3′-[(2-cyanoethyl)diisopropylphosphoramidite] 3b . Self-complementary oligonucleotides with alternating dA or c¹c⁷A_d and dT residues ( 7 and 8 ) as well as palindromic oligomers such as d(C-G-C-G-c¹c⁷ A-c¹c⁷ A-T-T-C-G-C-G) ( 10 ) and d(G-T-A-G-c¹c⁷ A-c¹c⁷ A-T-T-C-T-A-C) ( 12 ) were synthesized. Duplex stability was decreased because 1 cannot form Watson-Crick or Hoogsteen base pairs if incorporated into oligonucleotides. On the other hand, the structural modifications in 10 and 12 forced these palindromic oligomers to form hairpin structures.     

Oligosaccharides Related to Tumor-Associated Antigens. Part I. Synthesis of the propyl glycoside of the trisaccharide α-L-Fucp-(1 → 2)-β-D-Galp-(1 → 3)-β-D-GalpNAc,component of a tumor antigen recognized by the antibody MBr1

The synthesis of the trisaccharide α-L -Fucp-(1 → 2)-β-D -Galp-(1 → 3)-β-D -GalpNAc-1-OPr ( 2 ) is described. The N-acetylgalactosamine 6 was obtained from 4 by an intramolecular displacement of a (trifluoromethyl)sulfonyloxy by a pivaloyloxy group with its concomitant migration from position 3 to position 4 (Scheme 1). The galactosyl donor 9 was obtained from 7 via 8 by regioselective opening of the orthoester function with AcOH/pyridine followed by treatment with CCl₃CN and 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU) (Scheme 2). Glycosylation of 6 with 9 in the presence of BF₃ · OEt₂ gave the disaccharide 10 . Selective deprotection of 10 at O? C(2′) followed by glycosylation with 12 and by standard deprotection afforded the title trisaccharide 2 (Scheme 3). Preliminary biological testing showed that 2 is able to inhibit the binding of the monoclonal antibody MBrl to the target tumor cells MCF7 in a dose-dependent manner.     

Liquid phase kinetic study of the formation and decomposition of methylsulfonyl and cyclohexylsulfonyl radicals in the cyclohexane–MeSO2C1-SO2 System at 150°

The thermally and radiolytically induced chain decomposition of methanesulfonyl chloride (MeSO₂Cl) in liquid cyclohexane (RH) was studied at 150°C. The main products, chlorocyclohexane, sulfur dioxide, and methane, are formed in almost equal yields, and a relatively small amount of methyl chloride is also observed. The formation and addition of SO₂ strongly inhibit the chain decomposition reaction. By kinetic analysis it is shown that the formation of the main products can be explained only in terms of a mechanism that postulates the decomposition of MeSO₂, and that the alternative mechanism of methane and SO₂ formation via the methanesulfinic acid is inconsistent with the kinetic behavior of the system. For the reactions Me + MeSO₂Cl → MeCl + MeSO₂(2b), Me + RH → MeH + R (4), and Me + CCl₄ → MeCCl₄ → MeCl + CCl₃ (15b) the following rate constant ratios are determined; k_2b/k₄=2.17±0.20 and k_2b/k_15b=2.63±0.52. For the reactions R + MeSO₂Cl → RCl + MeSO₂(2a) and R + CCl₄ → RCl + CCl₃ (15a), k_2a/k_15a is equal to 1.55±0.05. In addition the equilibrium constant K₇ for the reaction R + SO₂ ? RSO₂ (7) is estimated as being equal to (9.4±3) × 10³ mole/l.     

7‐Halogenated 7‐Deaza‐2′‐deoxyxanthine 2′‐Deoxyribonucleosides

The synthesis of the 7‐halogenated derivatives 1b (7‐bromo) and 1c (7‐iodo) of 7‐deaza‐2′‐deoxyxanthosine ( 1a ) is described. A partial Br→I exchange was observed when the demethylation of 6‐methoxy precursor compound 4b was performed with Me₃SiCl/NaI. This reaction is circumvented by the nucleophilic displacement of the MeO group under strong alkaline conditions. The halogenated 7‐deaza‐2′‐deoxyxanthosine derivatives 1b , c show a decreased S‐conformer population of the sugar moiety compared to the nonhalogenated 1a . They are expected to form stronger triplexes when they replace 1a in the 1 ?dA?dT base triplet.     

Monoclinic‐to‐orthorhombic phase transition of the hexamethylenetetramine–2‐methylbenzoic acid (1/2) cocrystal with temperature‐dependent dynamic molecular disorder

As a function of temperature, the hexamethylenetetramine–2‐methylbenzoic acid (1/2) cocrystal, C₆H₁₂N₄·2C₈H₈O₂, undergoes a reversible structural phase transition. The orthorhombic high‐temperature phase in the space group Pccn has been studied in the temperature range between 165 and 300 K. At 164 K, a t₂ phase transition to the monoclinic subgroup P2₁/c space group occurs; the resulting twinned low‐temperature phase was investigated in the temperature range between 164 and 100 K. The domains in the pseudomerohedral twin are related by a twofold rotation corresponding to the matrix (100/00/00). Systematic absence violations represent a sensitive criterium for the decision about the correct space‐group assignment at each temperature. The fractional volume contributions of the minor twin domain in the low‐temperature phase increases in the order 0.259 (2) → 0.318 (2) → 0.336 (2) → 0.341 (3) as the temperature increases in the order 150 → 160 → 163 → 164 K. The transformation occurs between the nonpolar point group mmm and the nonpolar point group 2/m, and corresponds to a ferroelastic transition or to a t₂ structural phase transition. The asymmetric unit of the low‐temperature phase consists of two hexamethylenetetramine molecules and four molecules of 2‐methylbenzoic acid; it is smaller by a factor of 2 in the high‐temperature phase and contains two half molecules of hexamethylenetetramine, which sit across twofold axes, and two molecules of the organic acid. In both phases, the hexamethylenetetramine residue and two benzoic acid molecules form a three‐molecule aggregate; the low‐temperature phase contains two of these aggregates in general positions, whereas they are situated on a crystallographic twofold axis in the high‐temperature phase. In both phases, one of these three‐molecule aggregates is disordered. For this disordered unit, the ratio between the major and minor conformer increases upon cooling from 0.567 (7):0.433 (7) at 170 K via 0.674 (6):0.326 (6) and 0.808 (5):0.192 (5) at 160 K to 0.803 (6):0.197 (6) and 0.900 (4):0.100 (4) at 150 K, indicating temperature‐dependent dynamic molecular disorder. Even upon further cooling to 100 K, the disorder is retained in principle, albeit with very low site occupancies for the minor conformer.     

Photochemical Reactions. Part 63 [1]. The photodecarbonylation of α-aryl aldehydes

Ultraviolet irradiation of the aldehydes 6 – 11 in degassed solutions results exclusively in decarbonylation to the major products 34, 35 and 37 – 40 , and to small amounts of 2, 3-diphenyl-2, 3-dimethyl-butanes 36 from the phenyl aldehydes 6 and 7 . In the presence of tri-n-butylstannane, incorporation of stannane hydrogen competes, to substrate-specific limits, with the intramolecular deuterium transfer in 7 → 35 and 11 → 40 . The quantum yields for decarbonylation are Φ ～ 0.4–1.0 for the phenyl aldehydes 6 and 9 , and 0.02 for 8. Hammett correlations of Φ with resonance constants ( R ) for 6 (X = H, p-CH₃, ? OCH₃) and (? CF₃) and with ω_m⁺ values for the meta-substituted isomers are in agreement with the proposed α-cleavage to an associated radical pair with only moderate free radical character as the primary photochemical step. Φ for 10 (X = H) is 0.11, and for 10 (X = OCH₃) 0.065. It is noteworthy that decarbonylation of 10 (X = OCH₃) occurs also at 3340 Å (Φ_{? CO} = 0.11) i.e., upon excitation in an absorption band which is presumably lower in energy than the n → π* transition and corresponds to the aromatic L_b transition of 2-methoxynaphthalene. Singlet multiplicity of the reactive excited states is probable on the basis of the fact that the decarbonylation of 6 (X = H) and 10 (X = H and OCH₃) could be sensitised neither by acetone nor acetophenone, and could be quenched neither by naphthalene nor by cis-1, 3-pentadiene and nor by 1, 3-cyclohexadiene.     

Hydroboration of Alkenes and Alkynes with Aza‐nido‐decaboranes

The 6‐aza‐nido‐decaboranes RNB₉H₁₁ ( 1a—d ; R = H, Ph, 4‐C₆H₄Me, 4‐C₆H₄Cl) act as 1, 2‐hydroboration agents via their 9‐BH vertex, giving products RNB₉H₁₀R′. The boranes 1a, b and 3‐hexyne yield the 9‐(1‐ethyl‐1‐butenyl)‐6‐aza‐nido‐decaboranes 2a, b (R′ = CEt = CHEt). 2, 3‐Dimethyl‐2‐butene is hydroborated by 1a—d under formation of the 9‐(1, 1, 2‐trimethylpropyl)‐6‐aza‐nido‐decaboranes 3a—d (R′ = —CMe₂ —CHMe₂). With the boranes 1a—c and (trimethylsilyl)ethene, a 85:15 mixture of the products (RNB₉H₁₀)CH₂CH₂(SiMe₃)( 4a—c ) and their chiral isomers (RNB₉H₁₀)CH(SiMe₃)CH₃ ( 5a—c ) is obtained. The action of BH₃(SMe₂) on the mixtures 4b/5b or 4c/5c results in a closure of the nido‐NB₉ skeleton of 4b or 4c , respectively, with a closo‐NB₁₁ skeleton of the products RNB₁₁H₁₀R′ ( 6b or 6c;R′ = CH₂CH₂(SiMe₃)); R′ is found in position 7 of 6b, c . All products of the type 2—6 are characterised by NMR.     

1,3-Oxathiole and Thiirane Derivatives from the Reactions of Azibenzil and α-diazo amides with thiocarbonyl compounds

The reactions of α-diazo ketones 1a,b with 9H-fluorene-9-thione ( 2f ) in THF at room temperature yielded the symmetrical 1,3-dithiolanes 7a,b , whereas 1b and 2,2,4,4-tetramethylcyclobutane-1,3-dithione ( 2d ) in THF at 60° led to a mixture of two stereoisomeric 1,3-oxathiole derivatives cis- and trans- 9a (Scheme 2). With 2-diazo-1,2-diphenylethanone ( 1c ), thio ketones 2a–d as well as 1,3-thiazole-5(4H)-thione 2g reacted to give 1,3-oxathiole derivatives exclusively (Schemes 3 and 4). As the reactions with 1c were more sluggish than those with 1a,b , they were catalyzed either by the addition of LiClO₄ or by Rh₂(OAc)₄. In the case of 2d in THF/LiClO₄ at room temperature, a mixture of the monoadduct 4d and the stereoisomeric bis-adducts cis- and trans- 9b was formed. Monoadduct 4d could be transformed to cis- and trans- 9b by treatment with 1c in the presence of Rh₂(OAc)₄ (Scheme 4). Xanthione ( 2e ) and 1c in THF at room temperature reacted only when catalyzed with Rh₂(OAc)₄, and, in contrast to the previous reactions, the benzoyl-substituted thiirane derivative 5a was the sole product (Scheme 4). Both types of reaction were observed with α-diazo amides 1d,e (Schemes 5–7). It is worth mentioning that formation of 1,3-oxathiole or thiirane is not only dependent on the type of the carbonyl compound 2 but also on the α-diazo amide. In the case of 1d and thioxocyclobutanone 2c in THF at room temperature, the primary cycloadduct 12 was the main product. Heating the mixture to 60°, 1,3-oxathiole 10d as well as the spirocyclic thiirane-carboxamide 11b were formed. Thiirane-carboxamides 11d–g were desulfurized with (Me₂N)₃P in THF at 60°, yielding the corresponding acrylamide derivatives (Scheme 7). All reactions are rationalized by a mechanism via initial formation of acyl-substituted thiocarbonyl ylides which undergo either a 1,5-dipolar electrocyclization to give 1,3-oxathiole derivatives or a 1,3-dipolar electrocyclization to yield thiiranes. Only in the case of the most reactive 9H-fluorene-9-thione ( 2f ) is the thiocarbonyl ylide trapped by a second molecule of 2f to give 1,3-dithiolane derivatives by a 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition.