Reaction of 3-Alkenols with Thallium Trinitrate: An Unexpected and Useful Ring Contraction

The first thallium trinitrate (TTN) mediated ring contraction of cyclic homoallylic alcohols, using a 1:1 mixture of AcOH and H₂O as solvent, is described. The reaction of two of these alcohols with excess of TTN in pentane gave α-spirocyclopentyl-γ-butirolactones in reasonable yields.     

Mechanism and Selectivity of the Oxidative Ring Contraction of Cyclic α‐Formyl Ketones

The oxidative contraction of α‐formal ketone to form continuous all carbon chiral centers promoted by H₂O₂ is widely used in natural product total synthesis. Typically, using this transformation, chiral cyclic ketones are obtained as the major products and ring‐opening products as the minor products. Herein, DFT calculations have been used to investigate the detailed reaction mechanism and chemoselectivity. In addition, with the widely accepted mechanism of H₂O₂‐promoted transformation, our systematic investigation with various explicit‐solvent‐model calculations for the first time shows that H₂O and H₂O₂ are comparable at catalyzing the rate‐determining step of this reaction, which emphasis the importance of solvent effect in such transformations. It is found that both the less ring‐constrain and a later transition state in an exothermic reaction account for the origin why the reaction favors ring‐contraction pathway rather than ring‐opening one. By a comprehensive analysis for the substituted groups, it has been disclosed that the steric effects of the substituted groups on R² and R³ contribute to the selectivity with larger steric hindrance favoring the chiral cyclic products. Moreover, the electronic effects on R¹ but not R³ affect the selectivity with electron‐donating groups leading to the cyclic products. Based on our calculations, some predictions for higher selectivity have been made.     

Oxidative transformation of tert-cyclobutanols by palladium catalysis under oxygen atmosphere

Palladium(II)-catalyzed oxidative reaction of tert-cyclobutanols involving the cleavage of a C-C bond via beta-carbon elimination under atmospheric pressure of oxygen is described. An alkylpalladium intermediate produced by beta-carbon elimination from a Pd(II) alcoholate gives a variety of products, depending on the substituents on the cyclobutane ring, in which reactions such as dehydrogenative ring opening, ring expansion and ring contraction are involved. For some substrates, the addition of a catalytic amount of ethyl acrylate dramatically accelerates the reaction. In all cases, the dehydrogenative products are obtained and the Pd(II)-hydride species produced at the final stage can be converted again to active Pd(II) species by molecular oxygen.     

Difficult macrocyclizations: new strategies for synthesizing highly strained cyclic tetrapeptides

[reaction: see text] Cyclic tetrapeptides are an intriguing class of natural products. To synthesize highly strained cyclic tetrapeptides we developed a macrocyclization strategy that involves the inclusion of 2-hydroxy-6-nitrobenzyl (HnB) group at the N-terminus and in the "middle" of the sequence. The N-terminal auxiliary performs a ring closure/ring contraction role, and the backbone auxiliary promotes cis amide bonds to facilitate the otherwise difficult ring contraction. Following this route, the all-L cyclic tetrapeptide cyclo-[Tyr-Arg-Phe-Ala] was successfully prepared.     

Synthesis of 1,4,2‐benzodithiazine carboxylates via ring expansion reaction of 1,3‐benzodithioles

A straight forward synthesis of the 1,4,2‐benzodithiazine system bearing an ester functionality as potential inducers of systemic acquired resistance in plants was developed utilizing the ring expansion reaction of 1,3‐benzodithioles. The structure of the isomers obtained was established using x‐ray diffraction. The reactivity of the products towards activated alkynes and ring contraction reactions in the presence of base is discussed.     

Lewis acid-mediated reactions of alkyl azides with alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones

[reaction: see text] Alkyl azides react with saturated ketones upon treatment with Lewis acids to afford ring-expansion products through the azido-Schmidt reaction, but this reaction does not proceed when alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones are used. In this study, alkyl azides were reacted with enones in the presence of Lewis acids to give enaminones (vinylogous amides), which formally involve a ring contraction reaction. The mechanism and scope of this reaction is discussed.     

Theoretical study of the heptamethylbenzenium ion. Intramolecular isomerizations and C2, C3, C4 alkene elimination

Recent experimental work on the methanol-to-hydrocarbons (MTH) reaction in zeolite H-Beta suggests that the heptamethylbenzenium (heptaMB+) cation is an important intermediate. We have carried out quantum chemical calculations to investigate intramolecular isomerization reactions and eliminations of small alkenes such as ethene, propene, and isobutene from heptaMB+ isomers. Two types of reaction paths have been investigated for the alkene formation: One starting with an initial ring contraction, and one starting with an initial ring expansion of the heptaMB+ ion. The reaction starting with an initial ring contraction leads to a bicyclic species that may split off propene or, after further isomerizations, isobutene. Expansion to a seven-membered ring may, via further isomerizations, lead to formation of ethyl and isopropyl groups that may in turn be split off as ethene and propene. The calculations have been carried out at the B3LYP/cc-pVTZ//B3LYP/6-311G(d,p) level of theory with zero point energy corrections. Comparisons with experimental data are made where possible.     

Synthesis of bastadin-6 trimethyl ether,a novel 28-membered ring lactam

Bastadin-6 trimethyl ether, a 28-membered ring lactam, was synthesized by means of phenolic exidation of dibromobastadin-2 trimethyl ether with thallium (III0 nitrate (TTN) leading to the formation of the corresponding macrocyclic biphenyl ether as a key step. From bastadin-2 trimethyl ether, a 26-membered ring compound was also synthesized.     

Understanding the fate of the oxyallyl cation following Nazarov electrocyclization: sequential Wagner-Meerwein migrations and the synthesis of spirocyclic cyclopentenones

A general reaction sequence is described that involves Nazarov cyclization followed by two sequential Wagner-Meerwein migrations, to afford spirocyclic compounds from divinyl ketones in the presence of 1 equiv of copper(II) complexes. A detailed investigation of this sequence is described including a study of substrate scope and limitations. It was found that after 4π electrocyclization, two different pathways are available to the oxyallyl cation intermediate: elimination of a proton can give the usual Nazarov cycloadduct, or ring contraction can give an alternative tertiary carbocation. After ring contraction, either [1,2]-hydride or carbon migration can occur, depending upon the substitution pattern of the substrate, to furnish spirocyclic products. The rearrangement pathway is favored over the elimination pathway when catalyst loading is high and the copper(II) counterion is noncoordinating. Several ligands were found to be effective for the reaction. Thus, the reaction sequence can be controlled by judicious choice of reaction conditions to allow selective generation of richly functionalized spirocycles. The three steps of the sequence are stereospecific: electrocyclization followed by two [1,2]-suprafacial Wagner-Meerwein shifts, the ring contraction and then a hydride, alkenyl, or aryl shift. The method allows stereospecific installation of adjacent stereocenters or adjacent quaternary centers arrayed around a cyclopentenone ring.     

Direct cyclopropanation of 1-alkynylphosphonates by Cp2ZrCl2/2EtMgBr/2AlCl3 to afford cyclopropylmethylphosphonates

[reaction: see text] The reagent system Cp2ZrCl2/2EtMgBr/2AlCl3 converts 1-alkynylphosphonates into cyclopropylmethylphosphonates 3 in good isolated yields. Ethers, chlorides, and other cyclopropyl groups are compatible with the reaction conditions. Deuterium labeling is consistent with the formation of stable cyclopropylmethylbimetallic phosphonates by ring contraction of the corresponding aluminacyclopentenylphosphonate. Temperature is crucial; apparently, the cyclopropylmethylbimetallic phosphonates are in equilibrium with the aluminacyclopentenylphosphonates. Low temperature favors the former. We surmise that the negative charges of the intermediate are stabilized by the phosphonate group. Thus, diphenylacetylene and 3-hexyne failed to give cyclopropyl products under the same reaction conditions.     

Nickel-catalyzed skeletal transformation of tropone derivatives via C–C bond activation: catalyst-controlled access to diverse ring systems

We report herein on nickel-catalyzed carbon–carbon bond cleavage reactions of 2,4,6-cycloheptatrien-1-one (tropone) derivatives. When a Ni/N-heterocyclic carbene catalyst is used, decarbonylation proceeds with the formation of a benzene ring, while the use of bidentate ligands in conjunction with an alcohol additive results in a two-carbon ring contraction with the generation of cyclopentadiene derivatives. The latter reaction involves a nickel–ketene complex as an intermediate, which was characterized by X-ray crystallography. The choice of an appropriate ligand allows for selective synthesis of four different products via the cleavage of a seven-membered carbocyclic skeleton. Reaction mechanisms and ligand-controlled selectivity for both types of ring contraction reactions were also investigated computationally.

We report on C–C bond cleavage reactions of tropone derivatives by nickel catalysis. A single tropone derivative can be diversified into four different products with different ring skeletons by the judicious choice of the ligand.     

Ring contraction/transannular cyclization of chiral bicyclo[3.3.1]nonanediones mediated by thallium(III) nitrate

The reaction of several chiral bicyclo[3.3.1]nonane ketones mediated by thallium(III) nitrate to afford ring contraction products is investigated. The effect of solvent on the oxidation is discussed, and the use of thallium(III) nitrate for the oxidative rearrangement of regioisomers of bicyclononanones is outlined. In compounds with proximately located carbonyl groups in the bicyclic framework, unexpected transannular ring closure was observed.     

Expedited Synthesis of Benzofuran-2-Carboxylic Acids via Microwave-Assisted Perkin Rearrangement Reaction

3-Halocoumarins are readily converted into benzofuran-2-carboxylic acids via a Perkin (coumarin-benzofuran ring contraction) rearrangement reaction. This rearrangement entails initial base catalyzed ring fission. The resulting phenoxide anion then attacks a vinyl halide to produce the final benzofuran moiety. We explored this reaction under microwave reaction conditions and were able to significantly reduce reaction times as well as obtain very high yields of a series of benzofuran-2-carboxylic acid derivatives.     

Model Study of the Photochemical Rearrangement Pathways of 1,2,4‐Oxadiazole

The mechanisms of photochemical isomerization reactions are investigated theoretically by using a model system of 1,2,4‐ oxadiazole with the CAS(14,9)/6‐311G(d) and MP2‐CAS‐(14,9)/ 6‐311++G(3df,3pd)//CAS(14,9)/6‐311G(d) methods. Three reaction pathways are examined, including 1) the direct mechanism, 2) the ring contraction–ring expansion mechanism, and 3) the internal cyclization–isomerization mechanism, which lead to two types of photoisomers. The theoretical findings suggest that conical intersections play a crucial role in the photorearrangement of 1,2,4‐oxadiazoles. These model investigations also indicate that the preferred reaction route for 1,2,4‐oxadiazole, which leads to phototransposition products, is as follows: reactant → Franck‐Condon region → conical intersection → photoproduct. In other words, the direct mechanism is a one‐step process that has no barrier. These theoretical results agree with the available experimental observations.     

Studies on the chemistry of O,N- and S,N-containing heterocycles. 4 . Investigations on the nucleophilic substitution of activated 1,5-benzothiazepines

The reaction of the activated 1,5-benzothiazepine 1a with various amines is studied. In contrast to the phenylsubstituted derivative 1b no ring contraction but nucleophilic substitution is observed. Two novel ring systems 8 and 9 are obtained by nitrosation of 3g and by reaction of 1a with anthranilic acid, respectively.     

Cyclotetrasilazane als precursor für cyclotrisilazane und bis(cyclodisilazan-1-yl)silane

Di-lithiated octamethylcyclotetrasilazane (OMCTS, 1) reacts with halosilanes in different ways. Ring contraction with formation of the isomeric cyclodisilazanes 2, 3 occurs in the reaction with chloro- and fluorotrimethylsilanes. Substitution (6) and ring contraction with formation of the isomeric six-membered ring 7 occurs with chlorodimethylsilane. 2, 3, 6 and 7 are excellent precursors of silyl-bridged, SiH-functional, four-membered ring systems (4, 5, 9–11). The mechanism of the isomerization reactions are discussed.     

Thermal reactions of benzoxazole. Single pulse shock tube experiments and quantum chemical calculations

The thermal decomposition of benzoxazole diluted in argon was studied behind reflected shock waves in a 2 in. i.d. single-pulse shock tube over the temperature range 1000-1350 K and at overall densities of approximately 3 x 10(-5) mol/cm(3). Two major products, o-hydroxybenzonitrile at high concentration and cyclopentadiene carbonitrile (accompanied by carbon monoxide) at much lower concentration, and four minor fragmentation products resulting from the decomposition were found in the postshock samples. They were, in order of decreasing abundance, benzonitrile, acetylene, HCN, and CH=C-CN and comprised of only a few percent of the overall product distribution. Quantum chemical calculations were carried out to determine the sequence of the unimolecular reactions that led to the formation of o-hydroxybenzonitrile and cyclopentadiene carbonitrile, the major products of the thermal reactions of benzoxazole. A potential energy surface leading directly from benzoxazole to cyclopentadiene carbonitrile could not be found, and it was shown that the latter is formed from the product o-hydroxybenzonitrile. In order that cyclopentadiene carbonitrile be produced, CO elimination and ring contraction from a six- to a five-membered ring must take place. A surface where CO elimination occurs prior to ring contraction was found to have very high barriers compared to the ones where ring contraction occurs prior to CO elimination and was not considered in our discussion. Rates for all the steps on the various surfaces were evaluated, kinetic schemes containing these steps were constructed, and multiwell calculations were performed to evaluate the mole percent of the two major products as a function of temperature. The agreement between the experimental results and these calculations, as shown graphically, is very good.     

An Unexpected Pyrimidine Ring Transformations in the Reaction of 4‐aryl‐5‐nitro‐6‐bromomethylpyrimidin‐2(1H)‐ones with Anilines

The reaction of 4‐aryl‐6‐bromomethyl‐5‐nitro‐3,4‐dihydropyrimidin‐2(1H)‐ones, containing three possible combinations of substituted and unsubstituted nitrogen atoms with anilines depending on the conditions leads to the products of ring contraction of the pyrimidinone ring into an imidazolone, as well as to the formation of 7‐aryl‐6,7‐dihydroisoxazolo[4,3‐d]pyrimidin‐5(4H)‐one derivatives, and in some cases to the 5‐aminopyrimidinones. The mechanisms of these unusual ring transformations are discussed.     

Rearrangement of 2-quinolyl- and 1-isoquinolylcarbenes to naphthylnitrenes

2-quinolylcarbene 23 and 1-isoquinolylcarbene 33 are generated by flash vacuum thermolysis (FVT) of the corresponding triazolo[1,5-a]quinoline and triazolo[5,1-a]isoquinoline 19 and 29, as well as 2-(5-tetrazolyl)quinoline and 1-(5-tetrazolyl)isoquinoline 20 and 30, respectively. These carbenes rearrange to 1- and 2-naphthylnitrene 21 and 31, respectively, and the nitrenes are also generated by FVT of 1- and 2-naphthyl azides 18 and 28. The products of FVT of both the nitrene and carbene precursors are the 2- and 3-cyanoindenes 26 and 27 together with the nitrene dimers, viz. azonaphthalenes 25 and 35, and the H-abstraction products, aminonaphthalenes 24 and 34. All the azide, triazole, and tetrazole precursors yield 3-cyanoindene 26 as the principal ring contraction product under conditions of low FVT temperature (340-400 degrees C) and high pressure (1 Torr N(2) as carrier gas for the purpose of collisional deactivation). This ring contraction reaction is strongly subject to chemical activation, which caused extensive isomerization of 3-cyanoindene to 2-cyanoindene under conditions of low pressure (10(-3) Torr). 2-Cyanoindene is calculated to be ca. 1.7 kcal/mol below 3-cyanoindene in energy; accordingly, high-temperature FVT of these cyanoindenes always gives mixtures of the two compounds with the 2-cyano isomer dominating. Photolysis of trizolo[1,5-a]quinoline 19 and triazolo[5,1-a]isoquinoline 29 in Ar matrixes causes partial ring opening to the corresponding 2-diazomethylquinoline 19' and 1-diazomethylisoquinoline 29'. The photolysis of the former gives rise to a small amount of the cyclic ketenimine 22, the intermediate connecting 2-quinolylcarbene and 1-naphthylnitrene.     

The photochemistry of cyclic nonenolizable α-diketones and ketones influence of remotely positioned sulfide,sulfone, and sulfoxide functionalities

The photochemistry of 3,3,6,6-tetramethyl-1-thiacycloheptane-4,5-dione has been examined along with that of the corresponding S-oxide and S,S-dioxide. The chief photochemical process in the first mentioned compound is ring contraction affording 3,3-dimethyl-1-thia-cyclobutan-2-one, isobutene, and carbon monoxide. In addition a small amount of 3,3,6,6-tetramethyl-1-thiacyclohexan-4-one is formed along with two isomeric unsaturated aldehydes. On independent irradiation this thiacyclohexanone affords the same products as its 7-membered diketone counterpart. Similar products are obtained for the S-dioxides investigated save that the ring contraction process was absent. The S-oxides gave no identifiable products. All the results are rationalized in terms of a generalized mechanism involving biradical intermediates.