Synthesis of carbazoles via 2-vinylindoles.

2-Vinylindoles are obtained from the Fischer indolization of α,β-unsaturated ketones. Heating 2-(2-methylpropenyl)indole (4) with the Vilsmeier reagent (DMF/POCl₃) gave 2-methylcarbazole in good yield, presumably $\text{via}$ an electrocyclic ring closure of a hexatrienic intermediate.     

Convenient ketone synthesis via n-acylaziridines

N-Acylaziridines couple efficiently with organolithium and Grignard reagents to produce ketones in high yields.     

Stereocontrolled (E,Z and erythro, threo) synthesis of ⊙-hydroxyallylic sulphides

All four isomers of substituted 3-alkylthio-4-hydroxybutenes have been synthesised: both the geometry of the double bond and the relative stereochemistry of the two chiral centres are controlled.     

Epimerization of bicyclic vinyl tertiary-alcohols via [2,3] sigmatropic rearrangement

General methods for inverting the stereochemisty of vinyl $\text{tertiary}$-alcohols such as $\text{2}$ and $\text{5}$ into $\text{3}$ and $\text{8}$ respectively are described. The procedures employ a [2,3] sulfoxide rearrangement and will facilitate the extended use of the oxy-Cope rearrangement to a variety of related ring systems.     

Preparation of halo-F-methanes via potassium fluoride-halogen cleavage of halo-F-methylphosphonium salts

Treatment of halo-$\text{F}$-methylphosphonium salts with potassium fluoride and halogen (I₂, Br₂, ICl, IBr) gives modest yields of halo-$\text{F}$-methanes. This method of preparation augments the classical Hunsdiecker approach to these materials.     

Synthesis of Lobesia botrana and Spodoptera littoralis natural sex-attractants

Starting from the coupling reaction of alkyl cuprates with 1-alkynyl-2-propenyl acetates, the title compounds were prepared by short convenient syntheses.     

Preparation of gem-difluorocyclopropanes via decomposition of methyl chlorodifluoroacetate by alkali metal halides

The facile decomposition of methyl chlorodifluoroacetate, induced by either lithium chloride/hexamethylphosphoric triamide complex or potassium fluoride/18-Crown-6 complex, has been carried out in the presence of a variety of olefinic substrates to yield the corresponding $\text{gem}$-difluorocyclopropanes. The ester decomposition has been determined to yield “free” difluorocarbene $\text{via}$ a three-step process involving an intermediate chlorodifluoromethide ion.     

Thermal rearrangements of cyclic allenes via retro-ene reactions

Flow vacuum thermolysis (500–650°) of 1,2-cyclonona- and 1,2-cyclodecadienes yields, as primary products, terminal enynes and enedienes. Secondary intramolecular Diels-Alder reactions of the enedienes afford $\text{cis}$ and $\text{trans}$ bicyclics.     

Synthesis of the enantiomeric forms of cis and trans 1-benzyloxy-2,3-epoxy butane and of (3S,4S) 4-methyl-3-heptanol

The C₄erythro and threo diols (7) and (8) are converted either into the chiral epoxides (13) and (15) or into the enantiomers (14) and (16); the epoxide (13) is used as chiral synthon for the preparation of (3$\text{S}$,4$\text{S}$) 4-methyl-3-heptanol (21).     

Diastereoselective synthesis of N-acetyl-D,L-acosamine and N-benzoyl-D,L-ristosamine

N-Acyl derivatives of $\text{D}$,$\text{L}$-acosamine and $\text{D}$,$\text{L}$-ristosamine were synthesized with high stereo selectivity utilizing intramolecular Michael addition of γ- and δ-carbomoyloxy-α,β-unsaturated esters.     

Base promoted oxidative decarboxylation of ethyl phenylglycinate via oxaziridine

Base catalyzed decompositions of 2-(α-ethoxycarbonyl-benzyl)-3-phenyl-oxaziridines carried out in benzene in an atmosphere of oxygen yielded N-benzoyl benzamides along with ethyl phenylglyoxylate imine and benzaldehydes.     

[2+2] Cycloaddition of benzyne to cis,trans- and cis,cis-1,5-cyclooctadiene

The relative rates of formation of $\text{cis}$ and $\text{trans}$ [2+2]cycloadducts of benzyne to $\text{cis}$, $\text{trans}$- and $\text{cis}$, $\text{cis}$-1,5-cyclooctadiene, $\text{trans}$- and $\text{cis}$-cyclooctene are discussed and properties of the adducts (e.g., their unusual hydrogenation) are described.