Enantioselective Syntheses and Absolute Configurations of Viridiene and Aucantene,Two Constitutents of Algae Pheromone Bouquets

Viridiene ((+)- 6 ; (+)-(3R,4S)-3-((1Z)-1,3-butadienyl)-4-vinylcyclopentene) and aucantene ((+)- 18 ; (+)-(4R,5R)-4-((1E)-1-propenyl)-5-vinylcyclohexene) are constituents of the pheromone bouquets of several brown algae species. Key synthons to the title compounds are optically active γ-lactones with known or experimentally determined absolute configurations. Horse liver alcohol dehydrogenase, which catalyses the oxidation of meso- and racemic non-meso diols to chiral lactones, and pig-liver esterase, which catalyzes the saponification of meso-diesters to chiral half-esters, were utilized for the asymmetric synthesis of such precursors. The racemic non-meso diol rac- 1 is converted to the two stereoisomeric γ-lactones (+)- 2 and (+)- 3 which are readily separated. meso-Diol 12 is oxidized to the chiral γ-lactone (?)- 11 . Its enantiomer (+)- 11 is obtained by enantioselective saponification of the meso-diester 9 with pig-liver esterase. Appropriately designed syntheses lead from these chiral intermediates to both enantiomers (+)- and (?)- 6 of viridiene and (+)- and (?)- 18 of aucantene. In addition, kinetically controlled reduction of the racemic aldehydes rac- 5a and rac- 15 with horse liver alcohol dehydrogenase offers a convenient alternative to the enantioselective preparation of the enantiomers of the two hydrocarbons 6 and 18 . Chromatography of 6 on triacetylated cellulose as a stationary chiral phase confirms the enantiospecificity of the synthetic routes designed.     

The stereoselectivity of the alkylation of the dianion of ethyl 2-hydroxy-6-methylcyclohexanecarboxylates: Control of stereochemistry at three adjacent stereogenic centers

Yeast reduction of rac-ethyl 2-methyl-6-oxocylohexanecarboxylate (rac- 1 ) yielded selectively (+)-ethyl 2-hydroxy-6-methylcyclohexane carboxylate (+)- 2 (Scheme 1) which has been alkylated with 5-iodo-2-methylbut-2-ene by (the dianion method to furnish the 4-methylbut-3-enyl derivat 3 (Scheme 3)). NaBH₄ reduction of (+)- 1 led to three hydroxy-carboxylates (?)- 2 , (+)- 5 , and (?) -6 (Scheme 4). Allylation of the dianion of (+)- 5 afforded (+)- 7 .     

Oxydative Aryl-Aryl-Verknüpfung von 6,6′,7,7′-Tetramethoxy-1,1′,2,2′,3,3′,4,4′-octahydro-1,1′-biisochinolin-Derivaten

Oxidative Aryl-Aryl-Coupling of 6,6′,7,7′-Tetramethoxy-1,1′,2,2′,3,3′,4,4′-octahydro-1,1′-biisoquinoline Derivatives We describe the synthesis of 2 by intramolecular oxidative coupling of 1, 1′-biisoquinoline derivatives 1 (Scheme 1). This heterocyclic system can be considered as a union of two apomorphine molecules and may thus exhibit dopaminergic activity. - The readily available tetrahydrobiisoquinoline 6 was methylated to 11 (Scheme 4) and reduced (with NaBH₃CN) to rac- 7 and (catalytically) to meso- 7 (Scheme 3). Reduction of 11 with NaBH₄ and of the biurethane rac- 9 with LiAlH₄/AlCl₃ afforded meso- and rac- 10 , respectively (Scheme 4). Demethylation of 6 , meso- 10 , meso- and rac- 7 led to 12 , meso- 14 , meso- and rac- 13 , respectively (Scheme 5). The latter two phenols were converted with chloroformic ester to the hexaethoxycarbonyl derivatives meso- and rac- 15 and subsequently saponified to the biurethanes meso- and rac- 16 , respectively (Scheme 5). - In order to assure proximity of the two aromatic rings, the ethano-bridged derivatives meso- and rac- 18 were prepared by condensing meso- and rac- 7 with oxalic ester and reducing the oxalyl derivatives meso- and rac- 17 with LiAlH₄/AlCl₃, respectively (Scheme 6). The ¹H-NMR, spectra at different temperatures showed that rac- 18 populated two conformers but rac- 17 only one, all with C₂-symmetry, and that meso- 17 as well as meso- 18 populated two enantiomeric conformers with C₁-symmetry. Whereas both oxalyl derivatives 17 were fairly rigid due to the two amide groupings, the ethano derivatives 18 exhibited coalescence temperatures of -20 and 30°. - The intramolecular coupling of the two aromatic rings was successful under ‘non-phenolic oxidative’ conditions with the tetramethoxy derivatives 7, 10 and 18 , the rac-isomers leading to the desired dibenzophenanthrolines, the meso-isomers, however, mostly to dienones (Scheme 9): With VOF₃ and FSO₃H in CF₃COOH/CH₂Cl₂ rac- 7 was converted to rac- 19 , rac- 18 to rac- 21 and rac- 10 to a mixture of rac- 20 and the dienone 23b of the morphinane type. Under the same conditions meso- 10 was transformed to the dienone 23a of the morphinane type, whereas meso- 18 yielded the dienone 24 of the neospirine type, both in lower yields. The analysis of the spectral data of the six coupling products offers evidence for their structures. With the demethylation of rac- 20 and rac- 21 to rac- 25 and rac- 26 , respectively, the synthetic goal of the work was reached, but only in the rac-series (Scheme 10). - In the course of this work two cleavages of octahydro-1,1′-biisoquinolines at the C(1), C(1′)-bond were observed: (1) The biurethanes 9 and 16 in both the meso- and rac-series reacted with oxygen in CF₃COOH solution to give the 3,4-dihydroisoquinolinium salts 27 and 28 ; the latter was deprotonated to the quinomethide 30 (Scheme 11). (2) Under the Clarke-Eschweiler reductive-methylation conditions meso- and rac- 7 were cleaved to the tetrahydroisoquinoline derivative 32 .     

Über die Totalsynthese vo Betalainen

On the Total Synthesis of Betalains Improved total syntheses of the red-violet aglucone of the beet coloring matter and of the yellow cactus coloring matter indicaxanthine are presented. Formyl-olefination of the piperidone-diester 6 with the acetaldehyde synthon 5 led to the piperidylidene-acetaldehyde derivative 8 , which was converted into the 2,4,4-trimethylsemicarbazone of rac-betalamic acid dimethyl ester (10) by treatment with t-BuOCl and then Et₃N. Exchanging the semicarbazone moiety with the (S)-cyclodopa derivative 18 , with (S)-proline (19) and with indoline (20) transformed 10 to betanidin (21/22) , to indicaxantihin (23/24) and to rac-indo-betalaine (25) , respectively. The latter, a new, relatively stable betalaine, was hydrolyzed and esterified to rac-betalamic acid dimethyl ester (29) . Under the influence of NH₃/MeOH, 26 (the dimethyl ester of 25 ) was dehydrogenated spontaneously to indo-neobetalaine dimethyl ester (27) . Synthetic betanidin consisted of a 4:6 mixture of the (natural) (2S, 15S)- (21) and the (2S, 15R)-isomer (22) and both of a 75:25 mixture of the (E)- and the (Z)-isomer. Synthetic indicaxanthin (23/24) and the indo-betalaine (25) represented a 65:35 and a 70:30 mixture, respectively, of (E)- and the (Z)-isomers. All (E)- and (Z)-isomers are rapidly interconvertible. Temperature-dependent ¹ H-NMR -measurements of 25 established ΔG≠ = 84.7 kJ/mole for the (E)-to-(Z)-conversion. The t-BuOCl/NEt₃ method for the introduction of an enaminic double bond was applied to the model transformations of the amines 6, 12 and 15 to the conjugated enamiens 11, 13 and 17 , respectively.     

Über die Stereoselektivität der α-Alkylierung von (1R, 2S) (+)-cis-2-hydroxy-cyclohexancarbonsäureäthylester

The Stereoselectivity of the α-Alkylation of (+)-(1R, 2S)-cis-Ethyl-2-hydroxy-cyclohexanecarboxylate In continuation of our work on the stereoselectivity of the α-alkylation of β-hydroxyesters [1] [2], we studied this reaction with the title compound (+)- 2 . The latter was prepared through reduction of 1 with baker's yeast. Alkylation of the dianion of (+)- 2 furnished (?)- 4 in 72% chemical yield (Scheme 1) and with a stereoselectivity of 95%. Analogously, (?)- 7 was prepared with similar yields. Oxidation of (?)- 4 and (?)- 7 respectively furnished the ketones (?)- 6 (Scheme 3) and (?)- 8 (Scheme 4) respectively, each with about 76% enantiomeric excess (NMR.). It is noteworthy that yeast reduction of rac- 6 (Scheme 3) is completely enantioselective with respect to substrate and product and gives optically pure (?)- 4 in 10% yield, which was converted into optically pure (?)- 6 (Scheme 3). The alkylation of the dianionic intermediate shows a higher stereoselectivity (95%) from the pseudoequatorial side than that of 1-acetyl- or 1-cyano-4-t-butyl-cyclohexane (71% and 85%) [9] or that of ethyl 2-methyl-cyclohexanecarboxylate (82%). The stereochemical outcome of the above alkylation is comparable with that found in open chain examples [1] [2]. Finally (+)-(1R, 2S)- 2 was also alkylated with Wichterle's reagent to give (?)-(1S, 2S)- 9 in 64% yield. The latter was transformed into (?)-(S)- 10 and further into (?)-(S)- 11 (Scheme 5). (?)-(S)- 10 and (?)-(S)- 11 showed an e.e. of 76–78% (see also [11]). Comparison of these results with those in [11] confirmed our former stereochemical assignment concerning the alkylation step.     

Preparative Resolution of Heterocyclic Acetals Derived from Glycine,Mercapto-acetic Acid, β-Alanine,and Formyl- or Acetylacetic Acid by Recycling Chromatography on Chiraspher and Temperature Dependence of Separation Factors

Chiraspher, a polymer of ethyl N-acryloylphenylalanine on spherical silica gel, is used for the preparative separation by recycling chromatography of the enantiomers of oxazolidinones rac- 5 , thioxolanone rac- 6 , per-hydropyrimidinone rac- 7 , and dioxinones rac- 9 and 10 derived from the acids listed in the title (Figs. 1–5). The oxazolidinones rac- 1a , -2 , and -4 show a peculiar peak of the separation efficiences upon lowering the Chiraspher-column temperature to 15° (Fig. 6). In some cases, multigram amounts of enantiomerically pure heterocycles could thus be prepared. The absolute configurations of most enantiomers are assigned. First applications of the tert-butyl 5-oxo-2-phenyloxazolidine-3-carboxylate ( 5 ) as a nucleophilic chiral glycine building block are described (products 13 – 16 , Scheme 2). A list of enantiomerically pure 1,3-dioxinones is presented (Table 1), showing a correlation between their absolute configuration, sense of optical rotation, and elution behavior on Chiraspher.     

The Chiral Glycine Enolate Derivative from 1-Benzoyl-2-(tert-butyl)-3-methyl-1,3-imidazolidin-4-one is Alkylated in the 5-Position with Relative Topicity lk. Preliminary Communication

An overall enantioselective substitution of the R-group of an α-hydroxy- or α-amino acid 1 [R? CH(XH)COOH] by another R-group is possible through heterocycles 2 obtained from 1 with pivaladehyde ( 1 → 7 ). The rac- and the (S)-(+)-heterocycles 8 (title compounds of type 5 ) are prepared from glycine and O-benzyl-(S)-serine, respectively. Their enolates (cf. 9 , type 6 ) are alkylated with iodomethane, iodobutane, 2-iodopropane, benzyl bromide, and acetone to give the trans-disubstituted imidazolidinones 10 with ≥ 95% diastereoselectivity. The configuration of the products is established by chemical correlation with alanine, phenylalanine, and valine.     

Platinum(II) Complexes of P‐Chiral 1, 8‐Bis(diorganophosphino)naphthalenes; Crystal Structures of dmfppn,rac‐[PtCl2(dmfppn)], and rac‐[PtCl2(dtbppn)] (dmfppn = 1, 8‐di(methyl‐pentafluorophenylphosphino)naphthalene and dtbppn = 1, 8‐di(tert‐butylphenylphosphino)naphthalene)

The reaction of 1, 8‐dilithionaphthalene 2 , with 2 equivalents of rac‐Me(C₆F₅)PCl, gave a 6 : 1 mixture of rac‐ and meso‐1, 8‐di(methyl‐pentafluorophenylphosphino)naphthalene (dmfppn, rac‐ 3h and meso‐ 3h ), but no reaction was observed when the sterically crowded rac‐tBu(C₆F₅)PCl was used. In ³¹P NMR experiments, rac‐ 3h and mmeso‐ 3h exhibited characteristic signals (virtual quintets), which indicate that there is significant coupling through space (³J_PF + ⁷ J_PF ≈ 15 Hz). Compound rac‐ 3h was isolated by fractional crystallisation and treated with aqueous H₂O₂ to yield the corresponding bis‐phosphine dioxide, rac‐ 7h . In contrast to rac‐ 3h , there was no sign of through‐space coupling in rac‐ 7h , which again illustrates that the latter operates via the lone pairs at phosphorus. Platinum(II) complexes were prepared from the new, P‐chiral chelate rac‐ 3h , and the related ligand 1, 8‐di(tert‐butylphenylphosphino) naphthalene (rac‐dtbppn, rac‐ 3e ). All isolated new compounds were characterised by multinuclear NMR and IR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and elemental analysis. Single‐crystal X‐ray structure determinations were performed for rac‐dmfppn (rac‐ 3h ), rac‐[PtCl₂(dtbppn)] (rac‐ 17e ), and rac‐[PtCl₂(dmfppn)] (rac‐ 17h ). rac‐ 3h displays crystallographic twofold symmetry. In rac‐ 17h , the electron‐withdrawing effect of the C₆F₅ groups causes a shortening of the P_t—P bond to ca. 220 pm (cf. 223 pm in rac‐ 17e ).     

Synthesis of C2-symmetric chiral crown ethers by lipase-catalyzed reactions

Kinetic resolution of a racemic mixture of C₂-symmetric 18-crown-6 diols (rac-1a) and 15-crown-5 diol (rac-1c) was achieved by lipase-catalyzed acetylation. The enantiomeric excess of the chiral crown diols (95% ee and 82% ee) was determined by ¹H NMR spectroscopy, using (R)-(+)-1-(1-naphthyl)ethylammonium hydrochloride as a shift reagent. The C₂-symmetric chiral 15-crown-5 diol (>95% ee) was also obtained by kinetic resolution of the racemic diacetate (rac-2c) using lipase-catalyzed solvolysis.     

A Novel Synthesis of Aporphines via 3-Phenylphenethylamines

rac-1,2,10-Trimethoxy-aporphine ( 14 ) and rac-2-ethoxy-10,11-dimethoxyaporphine ( 27 ) have been synthesized from the 3-phenylphenethylamines 9 and 22 by a new route. The 8-phenyl-3,4-dihydroisoquinolines 11 and 24 , the oxo-aporphines 12 and 25 and the rac-nor-aporphines 13 and 26 were obtained as intermediates.     

Photochemical α-Cleavage of β, γ-Unsaturated Aryl Ketones: Competition between recombination/disproportionation and dissociation in geminate singlet and triplet radical pairs

The photolysis of (R)-(+)-phenyl and (R)-(+)-p-anisyl 1, 2, 3-trimethylcyclopent-2-enyl ketone ( 1 , 2 ) and the corresponding rac-1- and 3-desmethyl analogs ( 3 , 4 ) led to isomerization due to formal 1, 3 aroyl migration and to formation of aryl aldehydes ( 7 , 8 ), dienes ( 9 , 10 ) and dimers ( 5 , 6 ) of the cyclopentenyl radical. Evidence obtained from a chiroptical and mass spectrometric analysis of a crossing experiment and from photolytic CIDNP measurements including the use of CCl₄ as a free radical scavenger, supports the conclusion (1): that the ketones undergo photochemical α-cleavage predominantly in the triplet state; (2): that recombination and disproportionation reactions within the geminate singlet and triplet aroyl/allyl radical pairs ( 11 ) compete with the dissociation into free radicals ( 12 ): (3): that ketone isomerization by paths not involving polarizable radical intermediates is unimportant; (4): that no triplet oxa-di-π-methane type rearrangement products are formed.     

Prototropic acetylene-allene isomerization in planarly chiral ferrocenes. Intramolecular acymmetric induction in the course of the formation of chiral axis

Racemic 2-trimethylsilyl- and 2-trimethylstannyl-1-(3-phenyl-2-propynyl)ferrocene (rac-1a,b) as well as the dextrorotatory specimen of the latter, (+)-1b, were synthesized in two steps from racemic 1-formyl-2-trimethylsilyl- and 1-formyl-2-trimethylstannylferrocenes (2a,b) or from the levorotatory specimen of the latter, (–)-2b, respectively. On the contact with strongly alkaline alumina compounds1a,b and (+)-1b undergo diastereoselective prototropic acetylene-allene rearrangement to give predominantly one of the two possible stereoisomers of 2-trimethylsilyl- or 2-trimethylstannyl-1-(3-phenyl-1,2-propadienyl)ferrocenes,rac-4a,b or (+)-4b, depending on the starting material (d. e. 30–40 %). The extent of intramolecular asymmetric induction in the formation of the axially chiral fragment during the transformation of (+)-1b to (+)-4b is estimated at 38 %.Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 6, pp. 1111– 1115, June, 1994.The work was carried out with financial support from the Russian Fundamental for Basic Research (Project No.93-03-5827).     

Copolymerization of propene and 1-hexene using metallocene amide compounds

Copolymerization of propene and 1-hexene has been carried out at 30°C in toluene under atmospheric pressure by using three isospecific metallocene amide compounds, rac-(EBI)Zr(NMe₂₎₂ (EBI = ethylenebis(1-indenyl), rac- 1 ), rac-(EBI)Zr(NC₄H₈₎₂ (rac- 2 ), and rac-Me₂Si(1-C₅H₂-2-Me-4-t-Bu)₂Zr(NMe₂₎₂ (rac- 3 ), in the presence of methylaluminoxane (MAO) or [Ph₃C][B(C₆F₅)₄]. The rate enhancements in the presence of 1-hexene were recorded as a function of the catalytic systems. The incorporation of 1-hexene decreases in the following order: rac- 2 /MAO > rac- 3 /Al(i-Bu)₃/[Ph₃C][B(C₆F₅)₄] > rac- 1 /MAO. All copolymers investigated in this study have a nearly random sequence distribution.     

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.     

Totalsynthese von Decarboxybetalainen durch photochemische Ringöffnung von 3-(4-Pyridyl)alanin

Total Synthesis of Decarboxybetalaines by Photochemical Ring Opening of 3-(4-Pyridyl)alanine A photochemical approach is presented for the total synthesis of the decarboxybetalaines, which were previously known from the mild decarboxylation of the natural plant colorants, the betalaines: Irradiation of rac-3-(4-pyridyl)alanine ( 1 ) yielded the rac-2-decarboxybetalamic-acid-imine ( 4 , 86%), presumably via a Dewar pyridine 2 , a cyclic aminal 3 and an electrocyclic ring opening. The imine-zwitterion 4 was treated with three amines, namely (S)-cyclodopa ( 6 ), (S)-proline ( 7 ), and indoline ( 8 ), to afford three decarboxybetalaines, namely (2S)-17-decarboxybetanidine ( 9 , red, 34%), (2S)-13-decarboxyindicaxanthine ( 10 , yellow, 56%), and rac-16-decarboxyindobetalaine ( 11 , orange, 78%), respectively. The structures of these coloring matters were confirmed by their electrophoretic behavior and their spectroscopic properties. 17-Decarboxybetanidine 9 was shown to be a ca. 1:1 mixture of two C(15)-epimers 9a and 9b , separable by chromatography. The configuration of 9a was determined as (2S, 15S) and that of 9b as (2S, 15R), by correlating their optical rotations with those of betanidine ( 12a ) and isobetanidine ( 12b ), respectively. The decarboxybetalaines 9 , 10 , and 11 did not show the double-bond isomerism at C(β), (Cγ) of the chromophore which had been found characteristic for the corresponding betalaines 12 , 13 , and 14 .     

Analogues of α‐Campholenal (= (1R)‐2,2,3‐Trimethylcyclopent‐3‐ene‐1‐acetaldehyde) as Building Blocks for (+)‐β‐Necrodol (= (1S,3S)‐2,2,3‐Trimethyl‐4‐methylenecyclopentanemethanol) and Sandalwood‐like Alcohols

To complete our panorama in structure–activity relationships (SARs) of sandalwood‐like alcohols derived from analogues of α‐campholenal (= (1R)‐2,2,3‐trimethylcyclopent‐3‐ene‐1‐acetaldehyde), we isomerized the epoxy‐isopropyl‐apopinene (?)‐ 2d to the corresponding unreported α‐campholenal analogue (+)‐ 4d (Scheme 1). Derived from the known 3‐demethyl‐α‐campholenal (+)‐ 4a , we prepared the saturated analogue (+)‐ 5a by hydrogenation, while the heterocyclic aldehyde (+)‐ 5b was obtained via a Bayer‐Villiger reaction from the known methyl ketone (+)‐ 6 . Oxidative hydroboration of the known α‐campholenal acetal (?)‐ 8b allowed, after subsequent oxidation of alcohol (+)‐ 9b to ketone (+)‐ 10 , and appropriate alkyl Grignard reaction, access to the 3,4‐disubstituted analogues (+)‐ 4f,g following dehydration and deprotection. (Scheme 2). Epoxidation of either (+)‐ 4b or its methyl ketone (+)‐ 4h , afforded stereoselectively the trans‐epoxy derivatives 11a,b , while the minor cis‐stereoisomer (+)‐ 12a was isolated by chromatography (trans/cis of the epoxy moiety relative to the C₂ or C₃ side chain). Alternatively, the corresponding trans‐epoxy alcohol or acetate 13a,b was obtained either by reduction/esterification from trans‐epoxy aldehyde (+)‐ 11a or by stereoselective epoxidation of the α‐campholenol (+)‐ 15a or of its acetate (?)‐ 15b , respectively. Their cis‐analogues were prepared starting from (+)‐ 12a . Either (+)‐ 4h or (?)‐ 11b , was submitted to a Bayer‐Villiger oxidation to afford acetate (?)‐ 16a . Since isomerizations of (?)‐ 16 lead preferentially to β‐campholene isomers, we followed a known procedure for the isomerization of (?)‐epoxyverbenone (?)‐ 2e to the norcampholenal analogue (+)‐ 19a . Reduction and subsequent protection afforded the silyl ether (?)‐ 19c , which was stereoselectively hydroborated under oxidative condition to afford the secondary alcohol (+)‐ 20c . Further oxidation and epimerization furnished the trans‐ketone (?)‐ 17a , a known intermediate of either (+)‐β‐necrodol (= (+)‐(1S,3S)‐2,2,3‐trimethyl‐4‐methylenecyclopentanemethanol; 17c ) or (+)‐(Z)‐lancifolol (= (1S,3R,4Z)‐2,2,3‐trimethyl‐4‐(4‐methylpent‐3‐enylidene)cyclopentanemethanol). Finally, hydrogenation of (+)‐ 4b gave the saturated cis‐aldehyde (+)‐ 21 , readily reduced to its corresponding alcohol (+)‐ 22a . Similarly, hydrogenation of β‐campholenol (= 2,3,3‐trimethylcyclopent‐1‐ene‐1‐ethanol) gave access via the cis‐alcohol rac‐ 23a , to the cis‐aldehyde rac‐ 24 .     

Low-temperature isospecific polymerization of propylene catalyzed by alkylzirconocene-type ‘cations’

The rac-ethylenebis(indenyl)methylzirconium ‘cation’ (1), generated from rac-Et(Ind)₂ZrMe₂ and Ph₃CB(C₆F₅)₄, has recently been shown to be exceedingly active and stereoselective in propylene polymerization. The ethyl analog (2) can be produced by an alternate, efficient route involving a reaction between rac-Et(Ind)₂ZrCl₂ and AlEt₃ (TEA), followed by addition of Ph₃CB(C₆F₅)₄. The use of excess AlEt₃ serves both to alkylate the zirconium complex as well as to scavenge the system. The propylene polymerization activity of the ‘cation’ 2 is about 7000 times greater than the activity of rac-Et(Ind)₂ZrCl₂/methylaluminoxane (MAO) at T_p=?20°C. The related catalyst system rac-Me₂Si(Ind)₂ZrCl₂/TEA/Ph₃CB(C₆F₅)₄ (3) was found to produce 98.3% i-PP with T_m 156.3°C and an activity of 1.8 × 10⁹ g PP {(mol Zr) [C₃H₆]h}^?1.     

Chiral nickel(II) and palladium(II) catalysts bearing strong electron‐withdrawing fluorine groups: synthesis,characterization and their application in catalytic polymerization for ethylene and styrene

A series of new chiral and achiral nickel(II) and palladium(II) complexes, {bis[N,N′‐(2,6‐diethyl‐4‐naphthylphenyl)imino]‐1,2‐dimethylethane}dibromonickel 3a , {bis[N,N′‐(4‐fluoro‐2‐methyl‐6‐sec‐phenethylphenyl)imino]‐1,2‐dimethylethane}dibromonickel rac‐(RS)‐ 3b , {bis[N,N′‐(4‐fluoro‐6‐sec‐phenethylphenyl)imino]‐1,2‐dimethylethane}dibromonickel rac‐(RR/SS)‐ 3c and {bis[N,N′‐(4‐fluoro‐6‐sec‐phenethylphenyl)imino]‐1,2‐dimethylethane}dichloropalladium rac‐(RR/SS)‐ 3d were successfully synthesized and characterized. The molecular structures of representative ligand rac‐(RS)‐ 2b , nickel complex 3a , rac‐(RR/SS)‐ 3c and palladium complex rac‐(RR/SS)‐ 3d were determined by X‐ray crystallography. The structures of complexes 3a and rac‐(RR/SS)‐ 3c have pseudo‐tetrahedral geometry about the nickel center, showing C₂ molecular symmetry. However, the structure of palladium complex rac‐(RR/SS)‐ 3d has pseudo‐square planar geometry about the palladium center, showing C₂ molecular symmetry. Complex 3e {bis[N,N′‐(2,6‐dimethylphenyl)imino]‐1,2‐dimethylethane}dibromonickel was also synthesized for comparison. Nickel complex rac‐(RS)‐ 3b bearing strong electron‐withdrawing fluorine group in the para‐aryl position and a chiral sec‐phenethyl group in the ortho‐aryl position of the ligand (one methyl group in the ortho‐aryl position) displays the highest catalytic activity for ethylene and styrene polymerization, and produced highly branched polyethylene and syndiotactic‐rich polystyrene. However, palladium complex rac‐(RR/SS)‐ 3d shows low catalytic activity for ethylene and styrene polymerization due to the poor leaving group, Cl, attached to palladium and the unfavorable molecular structure. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Sesquiterpenoids from Costus Root Oil (Saussurea lappa CLARKE)

Apart from the well-known constituents (+)-β-selinene ( 2 ), (?)-β-elemene ( 4 ), (+)-β-costol ( 7 ), (?)-caryophyllene ( 17 ), and (?)-elemol ( 19 ) the following sesquiterpenoids have been isolated for the first time from costus root oil (Saussurea lappa CLARKE ): (?)-α-selinene ( 1 ), (+)-selina-4, 11-diene ( 3 ), (?)-α-trans-bergamotene ( 5 ), (?)-α-costol ( 6 ), (+)-γ-costol ( 8 ), (?)-elema-1,3,11 (13)-trien-12-ol ( 9 ), (?)-α-costal ( 11 ), (+)-γ-costal ( 12 ), (+)-γ-costal ( 13 ), (?)-elema-1,3,11 (13)-trien-12-al (elemenal, 14 ), (?)-(E)-trans-bergamota-2, 12-dien-14-al ( 15 ), (?)-ar-curcumene ( 16 ), and (?)-caryophyllene oxide ( 18 ). Compounds 6 , 8 , 9 , and 13 are new sesquiterpenoids. IR. and NMR. spectra of 12 sesquiterpenoids are reproduced.     

In Situ Generation of Cationic Methylzirconium Complexes from rac-(EBI)Zr(NMe2)2 and NMR-Scale Polymerization of Propylene

ABSTRACT

Sequential NMR-scale reactions have been carried out in order to generate cationic methylzirconium complexes by the reaction of rac-(EBI)Zr(NMe₂)₂ (rac- 1 , EBI = Et(indenyl)₂) with methylaluminoxane (MAO) or various anionic compounds. By reacting 40 equiv. of MAO with rac- 1 in an NMR tube containing CD ₂CI₂ as a solvent at room temperature, rac- 1 is completely activated to give stable cationic methylzirconium complexes, [(EBI)ZrMe]⁺[MAO]^? which polymerize propylene to isotactic polypropylene (iPP). The formation of the cationic species is achieved after rac- 1 is methylated to form rac-(EBI)ZrMe₂ (rac- 2 ) by MAO and/or free Al₂Me₆ contained in MAO. The same sequential reaction has been performed by using rac(EBI)ZrCl₂ (rac- 3 ) for the comparison. MAO cannot generate the cationic species at the same reaction conditions in the reaction of rac- 3 and MAO, mainly due to the difficulties of methylation of rac- 3. Ansa ziconocene amide rac- 1 is stoichiometrically methylated by 2 equiv. of Al₂Me₆ to give rac- 2. Introduction of 1 equiv. of noncoordinating to the solution mixture of rac- 1 and 2 equiv. of Al₂Me₆ leads to the formation of stable cationic methylzirconium species, [rac-(EBI)Zr(μ-Me)₂AlMe₂]⁺. NMR-scale polymerizations have been carried out by adding a small amount of liquid propylene to these cationic species. The meso pentad values of iPP isolated in these polymerizations are in the range of 80.2–84.7%. By changing the order of sequential reaction, i.e., by reacting rac- 1 with noncoordinating anions prior to methylation by Al₂Me₆, the yield to give cationic methylzirconium species is decreased. Coordinative anions such as [HNMe₂Ph][BPh₄] and [HNBu₃][BP₄] are less effective for the generation of the active zirconium cations than noncoordinating anions. The amount of MAO needed to activate rac- 1 can be decreased by the pre-methylation of rac- 1 by Al₂Me₆.