Stereospecific preparation of (1E,3E,5E)-3.4-difluoro-1,6-diphenylhexatriene and (2E,4E,6E)-diethyl-4,5-difluoroocta-2,4,6-trienedioate

Palladium(0) catalyzed coupling of β-bromostyrene (E/Z = 89/11) with (E)-(1,2-difluoro-1,2-ethenediyl)bis[tributylstannane], 1, in DMF at room temperature stereospecifically gave only (1E,3E,5E)-3,4-difluoro-1,6-diphenylhexatriene. Similarly, palladium(0) catalyzed coupling of (E)-ethyl 3-bromoacrylate as the vinyl halide precursor stereospecifically gave (2E,4E,6E)-diethyl-4,5-difluoroocta-2,4,6-trienedioate. This work demonstrates that a non-fluorine-containing vinyl bromide will selectively undergo coupling with 1 and enable the stereospecific preparation of a mixed polyene system. The (E)-ethyl 3-bromoacrylate coupling with 1 illustrates that mixed functionalized hexatriene systems can be easily accessed via this methodology. The X-ray structure of (2E,4E,6E)-diethyl-4,5-difluoroocta-2,4,6-trienedioate confirmed its structure.     

(E)-Selective hydrolysis of (E,Z)-α,β-unsaturated nitriles by the recombinant nitrilase AtNIT1 from Arabidopsis thaliana

From stereoisomeric α,β-unsaturated nitriles (E,Z)-1, the recombinant nitrilase AtNIT1 from Arabidopsis thaliana hydrolyses the (E)-isomers exclusively to the corresponding (E)-carboxylic acids (E)-2 with high specificity. The (E)-selectivity can also be utilised for the preparation of the isomerically pure nitriles (Z)-1. From (E,Z)-2-hydroxycinnamonitrile (E,Z)-3, the otherwise difficult obtainable (Z)-3 was prepared in 66% isolated yield. With β,γ-unsaturated (E,Z)-3-heptenenitrile (E,Z)-4, however, (E)-selectivity was not observed. AtNIT1 exhibits not only diastereoselectivity but also regioselectivity. From a mixture of the four isomers A–D of 3-(2-cyanocyclohex-3-enyl)propenenitrile 6, exclusively isomer D ((E)-cis-6) was hydrolysed to 3-(2-cyanocyclohex-3-enyl)propenoic acid (E)-cis-7, as stated by X-ray crystal structure. Only after complete conversion of D and high enzyme concentrations, isomer C ((E)-trans-6) was hydrolysed to a small extent.     

Synthesis of naturally occurring diene and trienes by Te/Li exchange on (1Z,3Z)-butyltelluro-4-methoxy-1,3-butadiene

(1Z,3Z)-Butyltelluro-4-methoxy-1,3-butadiene 2 was obtained by the hydrotelluration of (Z)-1-methoxy-but-1-en-3-ynes 1. The butadienyllithium 3 obtained by the Te/Li exchange reaction in the (1Z,3Z)-1-butyltelluro-4-methoxy-1,3-butadiene 2 reacted with aldehydes to form the corresponding alcohols 4a-d with total retention of configuration. The alcohols formed undergo hydrolysis, resulting in the α,β,γ,δ-unsaturated aldehydes of (E,E) configuration, which are precursors of trienes obtained from natural sources. The products of this reaction were employed in the synthesis of methyl-(2E,4E)-decadienoate 7, which is a component of the flavor principles of ripe Bartlett pears. Performing the Wittig reaction of the methyl triphenylphosphorane with the deca-(2E,4E)-dienal 5a, we were able to synthesize the undeca-(1,3E,5E)-triene 6a. This compound is a sex-pheromone component of the marine brown algae Fucus serratus, Dictyopteris plagiograma, and Dictyopteris australis. Performing the Wittig reaction of methyl triphenylphosphorane with the octa-(2E,4E)-dienal 5c, the nona-(1,3E,5E)-triene 6b was synthesized. The compound obtained is a sex-pheromone component of the marine brown alga Sargassum horneri. The octa-(1,3E,5E)-triene 6c was easily obtained from hepta-(2E,4E)-dienal 5d by the Wittig reaction with methyl triphenylphophorane. This compound is a sex-pheromone component of the marine brown alga Fucus serratus.     

The stereoselective synthesis of (E)-octafluoro-1,3,5-hexatriene and (3E,5E,7E)-dodecafluoro-1,3,5,7,9-decapentaene

(E)-(1,2-Difluoro-1,2-ethenediyl)bis[tributylstannane], 3, readily undergoes a Pd(PPh₃)₄/CuI-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction with iodotrifluoroethene to yield (E)-octafluoro-1,3,5-hexatriene, 4, in high isomeric purity. (1Z,3E,5Z)-(1,2,3,4,5,6-Hexafluoro-1,3,5-hexenetriyl)bis[tributylstannane], 7, was sequentially prepared from (1Z,3E,5Z)-(1,2,3,4,5,6-hexafluoro-1,3,5-hexenetriyl)bis[triethylsilane], 5, which was prepared via a Pd(PPh₃)₄/CuI-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction of 3 with (E)-1,2-difluoro-1-iodo-2-triethylsilylethene, 6. Pd(PPh₃)₄/CuI cross-coupling of 7 with iodotrifluoroethene gave (3E,5E,7E)-dodecafluoro-1,3,5,7,9-decapentaene, 8.     

Stereoselective synthesis of 4-fluoro-1,3-alkadienylboronates and their application in the stereoselective synthesis of fluoropolyenes

(1E,3E)- and (1E,3Z)-4-fluoro-1,3-alkadienylboronates were stereoselectively prepared by the Heck-reaction of a vinylboronate with (E)- or (Z)-2-fluoro-1-alkenyliodonium salts, and applied to the Suzuki-Miyaura coupling reaction for the synthesis of fluoropolyenes.     

Stereospecific preparation of symmetrical (1Z, 3Z)- and (1E, 3E)-2,3-difluoro-1,4-disubstituted-buta-1,3-dienes from 1-bromo-1-fluoroalkenes

A straightforward method to prepare symmetrical (1Z, 3Z)- and (1E, 3E)-2,3-difluoro-1,4-disubstituted-buta-1,3-dienes is described. High E/Z ratio 1-bromo-1-fluoroalkenes, prepared by isomerization from the E/Z ≈ 1:1 isomeric mixtures, reacted with Bu₃SnSnBu₃ and Pd(PPh₃)₄ to afford (1Z, 3Z)-2,3-difluoro-1,4-disubstituted-buta-1,3-dienes in good yield. (Z)-1-Bromo-1-fluoroalkenes, which were prepared by kinetic reduction from 1-bromo-1-fluoroalkenes (E/Z ≈ 1:1), can undergo similar reaction with Bu₃SnSnBu₃ and Pd(PPh₃)₄/CuI to prepare (1E, 3E)-2,3-difluoro-1,4-disubstituted-buta-1,3-dienes.     

Reactions of azulene and guaiazulene with all-trans-retinal and trans-cinnamaldehyde: comparative studies on spectroscopic, chemical, and electrochemical properties of monocarbenium-ions stabilized by expanded π-electron systems with an azulenyl or 3-guaiazulenyl group

Reaction of azulene (1) with all-trans-retinal in diethyl ether in the presence of hexafluorophosphoric acid at −10 °C for 1 h in a dark room gives the corresponding monocarbenium-ion compound, (2E,4E,6E,8E)-1-azulenyl-3,7-dimethyl-9-(2,6,6-trimethyl-1-cyclohexen-1-yl)-2,4,6,8-nonatetraen-1-ylium hexafluorophosphate (3), in 74% isolated yield. The spectroscopic, chemical, and electrochemical properties of 3 compared with those of the previously-documented (2E,4E,6E,8E)-1-(3-guaiazulenyl)-3,7-dimethyl-9-(2,6,6-trimethyl-1-cyclohexen-1-yl)-2,4,6,8-nonatetraen-1-ylium hexafluorophosphate (4) are reported. Along with the above delocalized monocarbenium-ion compounds 3 and 4, stabilized by the expanded π-electron systems possessing an azulenyl (or 3-guaiazulenyl) group, an efficient preparation as well as the spectroscopic, chemical, and electrochemical properties of (2E)-1-azulenyl-3-phenyl-2-propen-1-ylium and (2E)-1-(3-guaiazulenyl)-3-phenyl-2-propen-1-ylium hexafluorophosphates (5 and 6) (90 and 96% isolated yields), having a similar partial structure [i.e., the (2E)-1-azulenyl-2-propen-1-ylium-ion or (2E)-1-(3-guaiazulenyl)-2-propen-1-ylium-ion part] to those of 3 and 4, is documented. Moreover, the crystal structure of 6, whose carbenium-ion framework is planar, is shown.     

Total synthesis of (+)-piericidin A1 and (−)-piericidin B1

The convergent syntheses of (+)-piericidin A₁ 1 and (?)-piericidin B₁ 2 have been achieved based on classical Julia-Lythgoe olefination between 4-hydroxy-5,6-dimethoxy-3-methyl-2-[5-oxo-3-methyl-pent-(2E)-enyl]-pyridine 3 corresponding to the left half of the final molecule, and chiral phenyl sulfones, (4R,5R)-2,4,6-trimethyl-5-methoxy-1-phenylsulfonyl-octa-(2E,6E)-diene 20 and (4R,5R)-5-tert-butyldimethylsiloxy-2,4,6-trimethyl-1-phenylsulfonyl-octa-(2E,6E)-diene 33, corresponding to the right halves. The construction of the two stereogenic centers in the right half of piericidins was achieved based on lipase-catalyzed hydrolysis of methyl (2,3)-anti-3-acetoxy-2,4-dimethyl-hex-(4E)-enoate (±)-22.     

New synthetic methods for 2,3-diarylacridin-9(10H)-one and (E)-2-aryl-4-styrylfuro[3,2-c]quinoline derivatives

Two new synthetic methodologies for 2,3-diarylacridin-9(10H)-ones were developed. The first one involves the Heck reaction of (E)-3-iodo-2-styrylquinolin-4(1H)-ones with styrenes, leading to (E,E)-2,3-distyrylquinolin-4(1H)-ones, which when heated at high temperatures cyclize in two different ways. Electrocyclization and further in situ oxidation leads to 2,3-diarylacridin-9(10H)-ones, while tautomerization, cyclization by nucleophilic addition and further in situ oxidation produces (E)-2-aryl-4-styrylfuro[3,2-c]quinolines as the main compound. The second method gives only 2,3-diaryl-10-methylacridin-9(10H)-ones and involves the Heck reaction of (E)-3-iodo-1-methyl-2-styrylquinolin-4(1H)-ones and styrenes, leading to (E,E)-1-methyl-2,3-distyrylquinolin-4(1H)-ones, which when heated at high temperatures cyclize through electrocyclization and oxidation processes affording the expected compounds. The structures of all new compounds were established by extensive NMR studies.     

Stereoselective synthesis of insect sex pheromone analogs having a fluorine atom on their double bonds

Insect sex pheromone analogs having a fluorine atom on their double bonds, (9E,11E)-1-acetoxy-9-fluorotetradecadiene, (10E,12E)-13-fluorohexadecadien-1-ol, (9Z,11E)-1-acetoxy-9-fluorotetradecadiene, (10E,12Z)-13-fluorohexadecadien-1-ol were stereoselectively synthesized using cross-coupling reactions of alkenylboranes with (E)- or (Z)-2-fluoro-1-iodo-1-alkenes, stereoselectively prepared from 1-alkynes by our currently developed methods.     

Asymmetric synthesis of tert-butyl ((1R,4aR,8R,8aR)-1-hydroxyoctahydro-1H-isochromen-8-yl)carbamate

The asymmetric synthesis of methyl (E)-4-((1R,2S,3R)-3-amino-2-((E)-2-methoxycarbonyl-eten-1-yl)cyclohexyl)but-2-enoate 14 has been achieved from dimethyl (2E,7E)-nona-2,7-dienedioate 2. A key step is the asymmetric synthesis of 1-hydroxyoctahydro-1H-isochromene derivative 5 whose X-ray analysis corroborated the stereochemistry of the new stereocenters. The asymmetric synthesis of the isochromenyl acetate derivative 11 shows the potential of this methodology for fused cyclohexanic system heterocyclic synthesis.     

Cyclocondensations of (+)-camphor derived enaminones with hydrazine derivatives

Reactions of 3-[(E)-(dimethylamino)methylidene]-(+)-camphor and (1R,5S)-4-[(E)-(dimethylamino)methylidene]-1,8,8-trimethyl-2-oxabicyclo[3.2.1]octan-3-one with hydrazine derivatives were studied. Treatment of 3-[(E)-(dimethylamino)methylidene]-(+)-camphor with hydrazines afforded the corresponding fused pyrazoles. Similarly, fused pyrazoles were obtained upon reaction of (1R,5S)-4-[(E)-(dimethylamino)methylidene]-1,8,8-trimethyl-2-oxabicyclo[3.2.1]octan-3-one with ortho-unsubstituted phenylhydrazines, while reactions with ortho-substituted phenylhydrazines and with hydrazine hydrochloride resulted in ‘ring switching’ type of transformation to furnish 2-aryl-4-[(1S,3R)-3-hydroxy-2,2,3-trimethylcyclopentyl]-1,2-dihydro-3H-pyrazol-3-ones.     

Synthesis of (+)-goniothalamin and its enantiomer by combination of lipase catalyzed resolution and alkene metathesis

(+)-Goniothalamin has been synthesized by lipase catalyzed resolution of (1E)-1-phenylhexa-1,5-dien-3-ol using vinyl acrylate as acyl donor followed by ring closing metathesis of the formed (1R)-1-[(E)-2-phenylvinyl]but-3-enyl acrylate. The unreacted alcohol from the resolution, (1E,3S)-1-phenylhexa-1,5-dien-3-ol, was esterified non-enzymatically, and used for synthesis of (−)-goniothalamin.     

Preparation and reactivity of macrocyclic dienynes

(1E,5E)-Cyclopentadeca-1,5-dien-3-yne (1c), which represents the first macrocyclic 1,5-dien-3-yne, can be obtained by thermal- or butyllithium-induced fragmentation of the corresponding 1,2,3-selenadiazole 8. The (E,E)-dienyne functionality causes a geometrical strain E_g, which enhances the reactivity in addition (1c→12,13) and cycloaddition (1c→10) reactions and lowers the isomerization barrier to the unstrained (E,Z)-configuration 1d (E_g = 0). A slow process 1c→1d occurs even at ambient temperatures within several weeks.     

Total synthesis of (4R,5S,6E,14S)- and (4R,5S,6E,14R)-cystothiazoles F

Total synthesis of (4R,5S,6E,14S)- and (4R,5S,6E,14R)-cystothiazoles F 3 was achieved from the chiral bithiazole-type primary alcohols [(S)- and (R)-4-ethoxycarbonyl-2′-(1-hydroxymethylethyl)-2,4′-bithiazoles 8], which were obtained based on the enzymatic resolution of racemic alcohol 8 and its acetate 9. From a direct comparison by means of chiral HPLC between natural cystothiazole F 3 and synthetic compounds [(4R,5S,6E,14S)- and (4R,5S,6E,14R)-cystothiazoles 3], natural cystothiazole F 3 was found to be a 33:67 diastereomeric mixture [(4R,5S,6E,14S)-3:(4R,5S,6E,14R)-3 = 33:67].     

Highly stereoselective synthesis of N-substituted π-conjugated phthalimides

A new regio- and stereoselective synthesis of (E)-N-(2-arylvinyl)phthalimides as well as phthalimide-containing (E,E)-buta-1,3-dienes and (E)-but-1-en-3-ynes has been developed. The one-pot ruthenium-catalyzed silylative coupling/iododesilylation sequence provides (E)-N-(2-iodovinyl)phthalimide 1, which undergoes palladium-catalyzed Suzuki–Miyaura or Sonogashira cross-coupling to afford stereodefined highly π-conjugated phthalimides and functionalized dienimides containing phthalimide groups.     

Oxidative Addition of <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-Aminophthalimide to Alkenyl-4,5-dihydropyrazoles and Alkenylpyrazoles. Synthesis of Aziridinylpyrazoles

Oxidation of N-aminophthalimide with lead tetraacetate in the presence of 1,5-diaryl-3-[(E)-2-arylethenyl]-1H-pyrazoles, as well as of 1,3-diphenyl-5-[(E)-2-phenylethenyl]-1H-pyrazole, gives adducts at the exocyclic C=C bond, the corresponding phthalimidoaziridinylpyrazoles. From 1,5-diphenyl-3-[(1E,3E)-4-phenyl-1,3-butadienyl]-1H-pyrazole, only product of addition at both exocyclic C=C bonds was obtained. In the reaction with 1-phenyl-3-[(1E, 3E)-4-phenyl-1,3-butadienyl]-5-[(E)-2-phenylethenyl]-1H-pyrazole, the adduct at the styryl C=C bond was isolated. Analogous 4,5-dihydropyrazoles, 1,5-diphenyl-3-[(1E, 3E)-4-phenyl-1,3-butadienyl]-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazole and 1-phenyl-3-[(1E, 3E)-4-phenyl-1,3-butadienyl]-5-[(E)-2-phenylethenyl]-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazole, turned out to be inert in oxidative addition of N-aminophthalimide.     

Oxidative trifluoroacetamidation of (1<Emphasis Type="Italic">E</Emphasis>,3<Emphasis Type="Italic">E</Emphasis>)-1,4-diphenylbuta-1,3-diene and 1,1,4,4-tetraphenylbuta-1,3-diene

Reactions of trifluoroacetamide with (1E,3E)-1,4-diphenylbuta-1,3-diene and 1,1,4,4-tetraphenylbuta-1,3-diene in the oxidative system t-BuOCl–NaI have been studied. The reaction with (1E,3E)-1,4-diphenylbuta-1,3-diene afforded three products, N,N′-(phenylmethylene)bis(trifluoroacetamide), 3-chloro-4-iodo- 2,5-diphenyl-1-(trifluoroacetyl)pyrrolidine, and trifluoro-N-[(3E)-2-hydroxy-1,4-diphenylbut-3-en-1-yl]acetamide, with a high overall yield. 1,1,4,4-Tetraphenylbuta-1,3-diene failed to react with trifluoroacetamide.     

Photochemistry of β,γ-enones-VIII: On the remarkable photostability of some β,γ.β',γ'-dienones and the 1,3-acyl shift photoreactivity of two β,γ.γ',δ'-dienones

The direct irradiation of the β,γ.β',γ'-dienones 1–5 and the β,γ.γ',δ'-dienones (E)-6a, (E)-7a and 8a at λ 300 nm has been studied. The β,γ.β,γ'-dienones 1–5 are remarkable photostable for λ ? 300 nm, even upon prolonged irradiation, in contrast to simple β,γ-enones which upon irradiation exhibit α-cleavage, γ-hydrogen abstraction, (E)-(Z) isomerization and oxetane formation. The observed photostability of the β,γ.β',γ'-dienones is rationalized in terms of a rapid radiationless decay of the excited singlet state, enhanced by CT-interaction between the carbonyl ¹(n-π*) state and the homoconjugated 1,4-diene moiety, which precludes fluorescence, photochemical reactions and intersystem crossing (ISC).The β,γ.γ',δ'-dienones (E)-(6a), (E)-7a and 8a exhibit only a 1,3-acyl shift (1,3-AS) without (E)-(Z) isomerization of the alkenyl moiety, to yield (E)-6b, (E)-7b and 8b. It is concluded that the 1,3-AS proceeds from the ¹(n-π*) state with a rate which is very large relative to the rate of ISC to the ³(n-π*) state, thus precluding any internal triplet energy transfer (1TET) from the ³(n-π*) to the ³(π-π*) state which would manifest itself by (E)-(Z) isomerization.     

Dienic sex pheromones : Stereoselective syntheses of (7E,9Z)-7,9-dodecadien-1-yl acetate, (E)-9,11-dodecadien-1-yl acetate,and of (9Z), 11E)-9,11- tetradecadien-1-yl acetate by palladium-catalyzed reactions

Pure (7E,9Z-7, 9-dodecadien-1-yl acetate (1), the sex pheromone of Lobesiabotrana, has been prepared in 21.6% overall yield by a reaction scheme involving; (i) the cross-coupling of (E) - 8 - (2 - tetrahydropyranyloxy) -1 - octenyldisiamylborane with 1 - bromo - 1 - butyne, in the presence of a Pd (O) catalyst and base; (ii) the acetylation of the crude product of this reaction; (iii) the (Z)-stereoselective reduction of the obtained conjugated (E)-enyn-1-yl acetate. (E)-9,11-Dodecadien-1-yl acetate (2), a sex pheromone component of Diparopsiscastanea, has been analogously obtained (in 54.3% overall yield) by cross-coupling of (E) - 10 - (2 - tetrahydropyranyloxy) - 1 - decenyl borane with vinyl bromide, in the presence of a Pd (O) catalyst and base, followed by acetylation of the crude product. Compound 2, which was 87.7% chemically pure, was purified by column chromatography over SiO₂-AgNO₃. Chemically pure (9Z, 11E) - 9,11 - tetradecadien - 1 - yl acetate (3), a sex pheromone component of Spodopteralittoralis, has been prepared (in 30.2% overall yield) by reaction of 10 - (2 - tetrahydropyranyloxy) - 1 - decynylamagnesium bromide with (E)-1-iodo-1-butene, in the presence of a Pd (O) catalyst, followed by acetylation of the crude product and by (Z)-stereoselective reduction of the obtained (E)-enyn-1-yl acetate.The stereoisomeric purity of 1, 2 and 3 has been evaluated by glc analysis on glass capillary columns or by reverse phase hplc analysis.