Specifically (π → π*)-Induced Cyclohexenone Reactions 6-Benzylbicyclo [4.4.0]dec-1-en-3-ones

6-Benzylbicyclo [4.4.0]dec-1-en-3-one ( 9 ) and the 2-methyl homologue ( 10 ) underwent a (γ → α )-1, 3-benzyl shift to the β,γ-unsaturated ketones 21 and 22 , respectively, when excited in the π π* absorption band. The quantum yield was ca. 0.1 at 254 nm for the formation of both products in alkane solvents. These reactions occur specifically from the S₂(π, π*) state in competition with its decay to the S₁(n, π*) and T states. The triplet reaction of 9 , initiated by n → π* irradiation and by sensitization, was a double-bond shift to 20 , whereas no identifiable product was observed from 10 under these conditions. Direct and acetone-sensitized irradiations of 21 and 22 resulted in oxadi-π-methane rearrangements to mixtures of syn- and anti- 30 and syn- and anti- 31 , respectively.     

Cyclopropanation and epoxidation of tricyclo[5.2.1.0]deca-2(6),8-dien-3-one

Cyclopropanation of tricyclo[5.2.1.0^2,6]deca-2(6),8-dien-3-one using dimethylsulfoxonium ylide gave a highly strained annulated cyclopropane in 68% yield with complete exo-face selectivity. Nucleophilic epoxidation gave a strained epoxide in 68% yield, again completely exo-face selective. Surprisingly, using methanol as the co-solvent in this epoxidation yielded a disubstituted tricyclodecenone in 85% yield instead of the epoxide. This result can be explained by a Payne-type rearrangement of the initially formed epoxide.     

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.     

Investigation of the Cyclopentenone Formation via the α-Alkynone Cyclisation: Synthesis of the Acorone Intermediate 8-Methylspiro[4.5]deca-3,7-dien-2-one

As a further application of the cyclopentenone formation A→C via the thermal α-alkynone cyclisation B→C and in order to test the fate of an isolated C,C-double bond within a molecule under these conditions, we investigated the synthesis of the acorone intermediate 3 starting from the known carboxylic acid 1 . The α-alkynone 2 was obtained from 1 via the acyl chloride 6 and a Pd(II)-catalysed route (22%). The thermolysis of 2 at 550° provided the target molecule 3 (48%) together with the product 9 (20%) of a competing intramolecular ene reaction and its dimer 10 (4%). At a higher thermolysis temperature (650°), the spiro ketone 3 was found to be unstable, affording the retro-Diels-Alder fragments 4-methylidene-2-cyclopentenone ( 12 ) (33%) and isoprene (32%). A further example of the influence of an isolated double bond on the yield of the cyclopentenone-formation sequence A→C was provided by the comparison of the annelation 14→20 (5% overall with Pd(II)-catalysed acylation) with that of its non-olefinic analogue 17→21 (53% overall with Friedel-Crafts acylation).     

4-Oxatricyclo[5.2.1.0(2,6)]decan-10-one and 4-oxatricyclo[5.2.1.0(2,6)]dec-8-en-10-one. Experimental and DFT investigations of the pi-selectivities.

Ab initio MO and experimental pi-selectivities of hydride additions to 4-oxatricyclo[5.2.1.0(2,6)]decan-10-one and 4-oxatricyclo[5.2.1.0(2,6)]dec-8-en-10-one are described. The interactions of sigma(C1-C2) and sigma(C6-C7) with pi(C=O), on one hand, and those of sigma(C1-C9) and sigma(C7-C8) with pi(C=O), on the other hand, support anti-selectivities for both. This is in full accordance with the experiments. The arguments that are based on electrostatic interactions and electron donation from the ring oxygen do not apply.     

Construction of the 3-prenyl-4-oxa-tricyclo[4.3.1.0]dec-8-en-2-one core of caged xanthonoid natural products via tandem Wessely oxidation-intramolecular [4+2] cycloaddition

A two-step protocol based on tandem Wessely oxidation/intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction to provide general access to the 3-prenyl-4-oxa-tricyclo[4.3.1.0^3,7]dec-8-en-2-one core present in the caged Garcinia xanthonoids is demonstrated. These readily accessible tricyclic scaffolds also provide ready entry into a variety of substituted γ-lactones through a photochemical 1,3-acyl shift and decarbonylation.     

Pyrolysis and UV photoelectron spectroscopy of bicyclo[3.2.0]hept-6-en-2-one; preparation and detection of cyclohepta-2(Z),4(E)-dien-1-one

Flash vacuum pyrolysis of bicyclo[3.2.0]hept-6-en-2-one (1) in the source chamber of a UV photoelectron (PE) spectrometer using a CW CO2 laser as a directed heat source facilitated an electrocyclic ring expansion to yield the transient species cyclohepta-2(Z),4(E)-dien-1-one (2), the PE spectrum of which was compared to that of an authentic sample of cyclohepta-2(Z),4(Z)-dien-1-one (4) and confirmed a conrotatory ring opening of 1 that obeys the Woodward-Hoffmann rules.     

Photochemische Umwandlungen, 45. Mitteilung [1] die 3σ → 3π-route zu oxepin-derivaten

Exemplifying with the 4.5-dicarbomethoxy oxepin 6a the authors describe an oxepin synthesis from furanes and acetylenic dienophiles via Diels-Alder reaction ( 4a ), photochemical oxanorbornadiene-oxaquadricyclane transformation ( 4a → 5a ), and thermal 3σ → 3π opening of the highly strained oxaquadricyclane 5a . With dimethylacetylenedicarboxylate, methylpropiolate, maleic anhydride, and di-methoxycarbonyl-oxanorbornadiene ( 4a ) 5a yields the 1:1 adducts 19a, 19b, 22, 23 and 26 (unstable) by strictly stereospecific addition to the α-positions of the oxygen bridge. With the same dienophiles the oxepin 6a reacts only through its valence-tautomeric benzene-oxide form 7a giving stereospecifically 27, 29, 30 and 31 . No definite conclusions are drawn with regard to the mechanistic implications of the photostep 4a → 5a , the thermal 3σ → 3π-transformation 5a → 6a/7a , and the bishomofurane cycloaddition reactions. Scope and limitations of this oxepin synthesis are briefly discussed.     

One-pot conversion of (±)-7,7-dichloro-4-(1-methylethylidene)-bicyclo[3.2.0]hept-2-en-6-one into dechlorinated γ-lactone

Russian Journal of Organic Chemistry -     

Oxy-cope rearrangements of bicyclo[3.2.0]heptenones. Synthesis of bicyclo[4.2.1]non-1(4)-en-6-ones and bicyclo[5.2. 1]dec-1(10)-en-5-ones

6-exo-Methylbicyclo[3.2.0]hepten-7-ones and their 2-alkylidene analogues are readily prepared from dialkyl squarates. These compounds undergo facial oxy-Cope ring expansions upon treatment with vinyllithium; the former leads to bicyclo[4.2. 1]non-1(4)-en-6-ones and the latter to the first examples of bicyclo[5.2.1]dec-1(10)-en-5-ones, compounds having exceptionally strained bridgehead double bonds. The transformations are controlled by the 6-exo-methyl group in the starting material along with the substituent at position-1 (bridgehead) which force attack of the lithium reagent from the concave face of the starting material, thus allowing the cyclopentenyl or alkylidene groups to participate in the sigmatropic event.     

Specifically π→π* Induced Photoreactions of α,β-Unsaturated Ketones: Hydrogen Abstraction by the α-carbon. (Preliminary Communication)

Irradiations at 254 nm of the α,β-unsaturated γ-dimethoxy-methyl ketone 7 in iso-octane and t-butyl alcohol afforded in a specifically π→π*induced process and in high chemical yield the epimeric products 9 and 10 . These products were not formed on n→π* excitation of 7 at > 340 nm, but triplet energy transfer to 1,3-cyclohexadiene could be observed. Photolyses of the hexadeuterio analog 7-d₆ at 254 nm led to the fully deuteriated products (cf. 9-d₆ ) in both solvents, with stereospecific incorporation of a deuterium atom in position C(1α). The structures of 9 and 10 were determined by an X-ray diffraction analysis of 9 and chemical correlations of the two products. The structural constraints in 7 demand a hitherto unprecedented direct transfer of a methoxyl hydrogen to the α-carbon of the excited enone and formation of intermediate 8 .