Alpha-Acylation and -allylation of β,β,β-trifluoropropionic esters via the ketene silyl acetals

α-Acylation of the ketene silyl acetal of methyl β,β,β-trifluoropropionate and α-allylation via the ester enolate Claisen rearrangement of the 2-alkenyl trifluoropropionates are described which provide the corresponding α-CF₃ β-ketoesters and α-CF₃ γ,δ-unsaturated acids, respectively.     

First example of the carbon-Ferrier rearrangement of glycals with isocyanides: a novel synthesis of C-glycosyl amides

Glycals undergo smooth carbon-Ferrier rearrangement with isocyanides in the presence of a catalytic amount of FeCl₃ under mild reaction conditions to provide C-glycosyl amides in good yields with high α-selectivity. The use of FeCl₃ makes this method simple, convenient and cost-effective. This is the first report on carbon-Ferrier rearrangement using isonitriles as nucleophiles.     

The mass spectra of some α-lactams

The electron-impact induced fragmentation of eight aziridinones has been studied by conventional as well as by high resolution mass spectrometry. All α-lactams exhibit a molecular ion. The major primary step, in the fragmentation, is the ejection of carbon monoxide from the molecular ion. Ions of the general formula R₁? NC and R₂R₃C?O were found in the mass spectra of all α-lactams investigated. A skeletal rearrangement to rationalize these ions is proposed. The fragmentation of the molecular ion is affected by the N-substituent. Exact mass measurement and specific deuterium labeling indicate the absence of McLafferty rearrangement from either the N- or C-substituent.     

Lewis acid-promoted alpha-hydroxy beta-dicarbonyl to alpha-ketol ester rearrangement

The decarbomethoxylation reaction of a substituted α-hydroxy-α-carbomethoxy pentacyclic substituted ketone, used as an advanced intermediate in the synthesis of the alkaloid aspidophytine, can be effected by heating with MgI₂ in CH₃CN. The reaction was shown to proceed by a novel α-hydroxy β-dicarbonyl to α-ketol ester rearrangement. It was possible to isolate a carbonate intermediate in 75% yield, thereby providing support for the proposed pathway.     

Rhodium-catalyzed α-methylthiolation reaction of unactivated ketones using 1,2-diphenyl-2-methylthio-1-ethanone for the methylthio transfer reagent

In the presence of catalytic amounts of RhH(PPh₃)₄, 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane (dppe), and dimethyl disulfide, ketones without α-activating groups were α-methylthiolated with 1,2-diphenyl-2-methylthio-1-ethanone giving α-methylthio ketones. The reaction of unsymmetrical ketones proceeded at the more substituted carbons. The initial formation of kinetic α-methylthiolated products followed by their rearrangement to thermodynamic products was observed in the reaction of α-phenyl ketones. Aldehydes, phenylacetate, and phenylacetonitrile were also α-methylthiolated under these conditions.     

Reductive pinacol-type rearrangement of chiral α-mesyloxy ketones promoted by organoaluminum compounds

Reductive pinacol-type rearrangement of chiral α-mesyloxy ketones was effected by organoaluminums (DIBAL in combination with Et₃Al or Et₂AlCl) leading to enantiomerically pure 2-aryl- or 2-alkenyl-1-propanols.     

Asymmetric synthesis of optically pure α-methyl-β,γ-unsaturated ketones via triethylaluminum-mediated stereospecific pinacol rearrangement of alkenyl groups

Optically pure α-methyl-β,γ-unsaturated ketones are synthesized by the Et₃Al-mediated pinacol-type rearrangement where alkenyl groups migrate stereospecifically with complete retention of the olefin-geometry.     

Stereocontrolled total synthesis of the macrocyclic lactone (−)-aspicilin

The essential features of the enantiocontrolled total synthesis of (−)-aspicilin are the strategic use of the photochemical rearrangement of α,β-epoxy diazomethyl ketones to 4-hydroxyalkenoates (Scheme 1) and the stereochemical control of the Sharpless epoxidation, α,ω functionalization of an alkynol using potassium 3-aminopropylamine (KAPA) as acetylene zipper, coupling between C₇ and C₈ by means of a Wittig reaction and lactonization by using 2,6-dichlorobenzoyl chloride.     

Au(I)-catalyzed efficient synthesis of α-acyloxy-α′-silyl ketones from α-acyloxy-α-alkynylsilanes

The Au(I)-catalyzed novel conversion of α-acyloxy-α-alkynylsilanes to α-acyloxy-α′-silyl ketones is reported. Ph₃PAuOTf in dioxane in the presence of 1 equiv of H₂O efficiently catalyzed both the [3,3] sigmatropic rearrangement and allenic transformation of the resulting ester to give the α-acyloxy-α′-silyl ketones in a one-pot procedure.     

α-Trifluoroacetyl-δ-valerolactone: synthesis, acyl-lactone rearrangement and unexpected easy decarboxylation of the rearranged product

Claisen condensation of δ-valerolactone and ethyl trifluoroacetate leads to α-trifluoroacetyl-δ-valerolactone, existing completely in CDCl₃ solution as an enol. Upon treatment of this cyclic 1,3-ketoester with aqueous HCl, an acyl-lactone rearrangement takes place. The structure of the resulting pyran was confirmed by an X-ray analysis. The ability of the rearrangement product to lose its carboxylic group under unexpected mild conditions was used for the synthesis of the corresponding 3-unsubstituted cyclic hemi-ketal.     

Acid-catalysed ketone rearrangements of t-butanoyl substituted η6-arene-η5-cyclopentadienyliron(II) cations

The t-butanoyl substituent of η⁶-benzene-η⁵-t-butanoylcyclopentadienyliron(II) hexafluorophosphate rearranges to a 3-methylbutan-2-oyl group under the influence of electrophilic catalysts such as AlCl₃ or CF₃SO₃H. This typical rearrangement of α-branched ketones has been studied in several acids, and the rates are compared to those for the analogous rearrangement of the uncomplexed t-butyl phenyl ketones. The presence of the C₆H₆Fe⁺ group markedly increases the rate of reaction. η⁶-t-Butanoylbenzene-η⁵-cyclopentadienyliron(II) hexafluorophosphate was also found to undergo a similar rearrangement, but there was a major competing reaction involving loss of the t-butanoyl substituent. The presence of the (arene)Fe⁺(cp) group causes a 10⁴–10⁵ fold increase in the rate of the rearrangement.     

Umlagerung und Spaltung von α, β-Dioxopropionsäureestern in alkalischem Milieu. 28. Mitt. über Reduktone und Tricarbonylverbindungen [1]

The behaviour of α,β-dioxopropionic acid derivatives of the type R? CO? CO? COX (R = phenyl, p-substituted phenyls, CF₃, mesityl; X = OC₂H₅, NH₂) was investigated under benzilic acid rearrangement conditions. Nearly all compounds were cleaved by alkali to give the corresponding acids R? COOH and glyoxylic acid. Only the sterically hindered ethyl β-mesityl-α,β-dioxopropionate underwent rearrangement (after hydrolysis of the ester group); it was shown by ¹⁴C-labelling that the carboxylate group migrates to the β-carbonyl group.     

Zum Mechanismus Massenspektrometrischer Fragmentierungsreaktionen. XVI—hydrid-Wanderungen bei der Fragmentierung von αω-Dimethoxyalkyl-Ionen

The isomerization and fragmentation of α,ω-dimethoxyalkyl ions a (CH₃OCH₂(CH₂)_n- CH⁺OCH₃, n = 1-6) has been investigated by deuterium labelling. It is shown that a isomerizes to ion a' by hydride transfer from the ω-CH₂ group to the positive charge at the α-C-atom before elimination of methanol. Both methoxy groups are lost as methanol. The amount of isomerization can be deduced from alkene elimination from [a ? CH₃OH]+ ions in deuterated derivatives of a. On average at 70 eV three rearrangement steps involving hydride transfer are observed.     

Highly Enantioselective Synthesis of Linear β-Amino Alcohols

β-Amino alcohols derived from α-amino acids have been extensively used as a powerful source of chirality. Transforming the alcohol moiety into a good leaving group has allowed the rearrangement of these β-amino alcohols and the introduction of a large number of nucleophiles through the anchimeric participation of the nitrogen atom. An overview on the recent progress realized on the rearrangement of these β-amino alcohols in the presence of (CF₃CO)₂O and H₂SO₄ is reported.     

Stereoselective synthesis of (+)-blastmycinone

(+)-Blastmycinone has been synthesized based on diastereoselective synthesis of (2R,3S)-2-hydroxy-3-(1-propenyl)heptanoic acid by the ester enolate Claisen rearrangement of (R)-(E)-1-methyl-2-heptenyl glycolate and stereoselective reduction of α-hydroxy ketone with Zn(BH₄)₂.     

Reaction of α,β-unsaturated Fischer carbene complexes with allyl alkoxide

Optically enriched homo-binuclear Fischer chromium carbene complexes with planar chiral arene chromium complexes gave α-allyl β-arylpropionates up to 97% ee by reaction with allyl alkoxide and subsequent photo-oxidative demetalation. The chiral hetero-binuclear tungsten carbene complexes afforded anti α-allyl β-hydroxy β-arylpropionates as a major product up to 92/8 dr by the same reaction sequence. High diastereoselectivity in these reactions is contributed to the planar chirality of the arene chromium complex, even though the reaction was carried out under vigorous basic media. The reaction products, α-allyl β-arylpropionates were derived by 1,3-M(CO)₅ shift and subsequent [3,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement. Also, the corresponding chromium-uncomplexed α,β-unsaturated Fischer carbene complexes afforded α-allyl β-arylpropionates under the same conditions. Formation of β-allyl β-arylpropionates via 1,2-M(CO)₅ shift followed by [3,4]-sigmatropic rearrangement was not observed in both reactions of chromium-coordinated and the corresponding chromium-uncoordinated α,β-unsaturated Fischer carbene complexes with allyl alkoxide in the presence of base.     

Novel chemical modifications at the 4-position of chromones. Synthesis and reactivity of 4H-chromene-4-spiro-5′-isoxazolines and related compounds

Reactions of chromones with dilithiooximes proceed via nucleophilic 1,2-addition to give, on acidification, 4H-chromene-4-spiro-5′-isoxazoline derivatives in high yields. On treatment with concentrated H₂SO₄ the isoxazoline ring of this novel spiroannulated heterocyclic system opens to give α,β-unsaturated oximes, which undergo nitrosation, bromination, and the Beckmann rearrangement to the corresponding spiroisoxazolines and α,β-unsaturated amides, respectively. The latter can be obtained directly by the Beckmann rearrangement of 4H-chromene-4-spiro-5′-isoxazolines.     

Mecanisme d'epimerisation des cetones cycliques α-halogenees en milieu acide—VI: Cinétiques d'énolisation et de migration de l'atome de chlore de la position - 2ála position - 9 des chloro-2a et 2e décalones-1 trans. Stéréochimie et mécanisme de la migration

The rates of α- and α′ -deuteration in acidic medium of 2a-chloro and 2e-chloro 1-décanoles have shown, as in the other cases when no rearrangement concurrently occurs, that epimerisation at C_α involves enol formation. A mechanism for the rearrangement according to kinetic results, is postulated and its stereochemistry determined.     

Acid-Catalysed Rearrangements of α-Vinylcyclobutanones

The BF₃ · Et₂O- and the CH₃SO₃H-catalysed rearrangements of 10 α-vinylcyclobutanones have been examined. With little acid, the β,β-dialkyl derivatives 1 were transformed into linear dienones 2 and 3 ; with more acid, they were converted into cyclopentenones 4 by Nazarov cyclisation of initially formed 2/3 . The β-monoalkyl (including the β,γ-dialkyl) derivatives 7 rearranged only with a high acid concentration to afford the cyclopentenones 8 by 1,2-acyl migration. In the case of 7a , the cyclopentenone 8a was accompanied by the unexpected constitutional isomer 9a , which is explained by a reversible interconversion of the cyclobutanone 7a with its isomer 19 via a cyclopropane intermediate like 18 . In the case of the β,β-dialkyl derivative 5 , which contains an α-isobutenyl (instead of an α-vinyl) group, the acid-catalysed rearrangement product was the bicyclo[3. 1. 0]hexanone derivative 6 .     

Rh(II)-catalyzed formation and rearrangement of trifluoroacetyl-containing sulfur ylides

A facile, convenient, efficient, and high yielding Rh(II)-catalyzed formation and rearrangement of trifluoroacetyl-containing sulfur ylides are reported. It is a Rh₂(OAc)₄-catalyzed [2,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement of sulfur ylide intermediates generated from α-diazo compounds.