Synthesis of the benz[a]anthraquinone core of angucyclinone antibiotics

[reaction: see text] A general method for the synthesis of benz[a]anthraquinones is reported. The key step is a catalytic cobalt-mediated [2+2+2]-cycloaddition of a triyne, which affords an angularly substituted tetracycle. Oxidation of this core gives the typical structure of angucyclinone antibiotics.     

Der Mechanismus der Umwandlung von γ- zu α-Eisensesquioxid [1]

The rate of the isothermal transformation of γ into α Fe₂O₃ and the increase of the crystallites of α Fe₂O₃ during the transformation were measured using X-ray methods.     

Biosynthesis of aristeromycln: Evidence for the intermediacy of a 4β-hydroxymethyl-1α, 2α, 3α-trihydroxycyclopentanetriol.

Evidence for the intermediacy of a 4β-hydroxymethyl-1α, 2α, 3α-trihydroxycyclopentanetdol (5 or6) in the biosynthesis of the nucleoside antibiotic aristeromycin (1) has been obtained by administration of doubly-labeled forms of D-glucose to the fermentation broth ofStreptomyces citricolor followed by trapping of the tetrol5 using isotope dilution methods.     

Reaction of [α-(trimethylsilyl)benzyl]ferrocenes with α-ferrocenylbenzyl cations

Although methanolysis of [α-(trimethylsilyl)benzyl]ferrocene (I) and [p-methyl-α-(trimethylsilyl)benzyl]ferrocene (II) in the presence of anhydrous ferric chloride merely gave α-ferrocenylbenzyl methyl ether (III) and p-methyl-α-ferrocenylbenzyl methyl ether (IV), respectively, acid-catalyzed methanolysis of (I) and (II) in the presence of an equimolar amount of (III) or (IV) afforded 1,2-diferrocenyl-l,2-diarylethanes. It is suggested that one electron oxidation of [α-(trimethylsilyl)benzyl]ferrocene by α-ferrocenylbenzyl cation generated from α-ferrocenylbenzyl methyl ether, and subsequent methanolysis of the resulting substituted ferricenium ion may occur to give the two species of α-ferrocenylbenzyl radical, which in turn undergo an approximately statistical coupling.     

Angular Distortions at Tetracoordinate Carbon Planoid Distortions in α,α′-Bridged Spiro[4.4]nonanes and [5.5.5.5]Fenestranes

Structures of α,α′-bridged spiro[4.4]nonanes and [5.5.5.5]fenestranes, obtained from X-ray analysis and MNDO calculations, are investigated in terms of symmetry-deformation coordinates. The central C(C)₄ fragments of these molecules show strong preference for compression, which is due to opening of opposite bond angles. The planoid deformations and strain energies of the fenestranes are discussed.     

Synthesis of 17β-hydroxy-1′-H-5α-androst-2-eno[3,2-b]pyrrole and 17β-hydroxy-1′-H-5α-androst-3-eno[3,4-b]pyrrole from O-(2-hydroxyethyl)ketoxime precursors

Pyrrolosteroids such as 17β-hydroxy-1′-H-5α-androst-2-eno[3,2-b]pyrrole ( 1 ) and the novel 17β-hydroxy-1′-H-5α-androst-3-eno[3,4-b]pyrrole ( 12 ) can be synthesized from the corresponding O-(2-hydroxyethyl)ketoxime precursors. In the case of 1 , yields compare favourably with previously reported literature methods.     

[3+3] Cyclization reactions of β-nitroenamines and β-enaminonitriles with α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acid chlorides

New indolizidines, quinolizidines, and octahydro-pyrido[1,2-a]azepines of lactam type were synthesized from 2-nitromethylene-pyrrolidine, -piperidine, and -hexahydroazepine, respectively, by [3+3] cyclizations with α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acid chlorides. In the case of quinolizidines, a double bond migration was observed, and explained in terms of amidity percentage. Cyanomethylene-pyrrolidine gave indolizidines of lactam type, while transformations of 1-cyanomethylene-tetrahydoisoquinoline resulted in lactams as well as ketones, when simple open-chain acid chlorides or cinnamoyl chloride were used, respectively.     

Isomerization of N-[α-(Alkylthio)alkyl]- and N-[α-(Arylthio)alkyl]benzotriazoles

The thermal isomerizations of N-[α-(alkylthio)alkyl]- and N-[α-(arylthio)alkyl]benzotriazoles have been investigated under N₂ atmospheres (i) in toluene, xylene, MeOH, or EtOH, in the presence of acid catalysts and (ii) in the absence of solvent. The sulfide isomerization rates depend on the number of H-atoms carried by the C-atom attached to the N-atom of the benzotriazole: tertiary (no hydrogen) > secondary (1 hydrogen) > primary (2 hydrogens). The results support an isomenzation mechanism involving a heterolytic N? C bond cleavage with formation of sulfonium/carbonium and benzotriazolate ions.     

5α-androstano [3,2-b]pyridines, 5α-androstano[17,16-b]pyridines and androst-4 and 5-eno[17,16-b]pyridines

A new synthesis of 5α-androstano[3,2-b]pyridin-17β-ol acetate (VIa) and 17-methyl-5α-androstano[3,2-b]pyridin-17β-ol (VIb), first reported by Shimizu, Ohta, Ueno, and Takegoshi, was achieved. The analogous 5α - androstano[17,16-b]pyridin-3β-ol (XII), 5α-androstano[17,16-b]pyridin-3-one (XIVa), and androst-4-eno[17,16-b]pyridin-3-one (XIVb) were also prepared. An illustration of the method follows. Condensation of 3β-hydroxy-5α-androstan-17-one (VIIa) with 3-(2-furyl)acrolein afforded 16-[3-(2-furyl)-2-propenylidene]-3β-hydroxy-5α-androstan-17-one (VIIIa), the oxime (IXa) of which was thermally cyclized to 5α-androstano[17,16-b]-6′-(2-furyl)pyridin-3β-ol (Xa). 3β-Hydroxy-5α-androstano[17,16-b]pyridine-6′-carboxylic acid (XI) was obtained by ozonolysis of Xa. Thermal decarboxylation of XI gave XII. Cinnamaldehyde was used in place of 3-(2-furyl)acrolein to give the corresponding phenylpyridines.     

Copper(I)‐Catalyzed Asymmetric [3+2]‐Cycloaddition of α‐Substituted Iminoesters with α‐Trifluoromethyl α,β‐Unsaturated Esters

Reported herein is an example of highly regio‐, diastereo‐ and enantioselective Cu(I)‐catalyzed intermolecular [3+2] cycloaddition reaction of α‐substituted iminoesters with α‐trifluoromethyl α,β‐unsaturated esters. This novel strategy provided a facile access to pyrrolidines with two skipped (aza)quaternary stereocenters including a CF₃ all‐carbon quaternary stereocenter. A broad substrate scope was observed and high yields (up to 94%) with excellent diastereoselectivity (up to >20 : 1 d.r.) and enantioselectivity (up to 98% ee) were obtained.