Mass spectra of transition metal π-complexes. VI—The metastable ion mass spectrum of (η1-Toluene)-tricarbonylchromium

First field free region metastable fragmentations of (η⁶-PhCH₃)Cr(CO)₃ have been examined by means of the linked scan technique. The molecular ion is shown to fragment exclusively by single and multiple CO loss. The ion [C₇H₈Cr(CO)₂]⁺? also fragments directly to [C₇H₈Cr]⁺?.     

Chemistry of trifluorostyrenes and their dimers: 2. Synthesis of substituted α, β, β-trifluorostyrenes and α, β, β-trifluoroethenylnaphthalenes. Hammett correlations of their NMR parameters and the concept of “distorted π-electron clouds”

Six α, β, β-trifluorostyrenes with the following substituents, viz., p-MeO, p-Me, m-Me, p-Cl, m-Cl, and m-CF₃, were synthesized by the reaction of the corresponding Grignard reagents with tetrafluoroethylene in tetrahydrofuran. Similarly, α-and β-trifluoroethenylnaphthalenes were prepared. The substituent electronic effects on the ¹⁹F-NMR parameters were investigated for the trifluorostyrenes (I). Linear correlations between the Hammett σ constants and the following ¹⁹F-NMR parameters were established, namely, chemical shifts δ. (F¹) and δ (F²), coupling constants J₁₂, differences of chemical shifts Δδ_3-1 (δ (F³)—δ(f¹) or Δδ_3-2. The results are consistent with previous expectations based on the simple concept of “distorted π-electron clouds”. Facts are presented which indicate that the Δδ_3-1 (or Δδ_3-2) values may serve as empirical measures of the degree of polarization of the π bonds of these fluoroolefins.     

β‐Turn Analogues in Model αβ‐Hybrid Peptides: Structural Characterization of Peptides Containing β2,2Ac6c and β3,3Ac6c Residues

The effect of gem‐dialkyl substituents on the backbone conformations of β‐amino acid residues in peptides has been investigated by using four model peptides: Boc‐Xxx‐β^2,2Ac₆c(1‐aminomethylcyclohexanecarboxylic acid)‐NHMe (Xxx=Leu ( 1 ), Phe ( 2 ); Boc=tert‐butyloxycarbonyl) and Boc‐Xxx‐β^3,3Ac₆c(1‐aminocyclohexaneacetic acid)‐NHMe (Xxx=Leu ( 3 ), Phe ( 4 )). Tetrasubstituted carbon atoms restrict the ranges of stereochemically allowed conformations about flanking single bonds. The crystal structure of Boc‐Leu‐β^2,2Ac₆c‐NHMe ( 1 ) established a C₁₁ hydrogen‐bonded turn in the αβ‐hybrid sequence. The observed torsion angles (α(?≈?60°, ψ≈?30°), β(?≈?90°, θ≈60°, ψ≈?90°)) corresponded to a C₁₁ helical turn, which was a backbone‐expanded analogue of the type III β turn in αα sequences. The crystal structure of the peptide Boc‐Phe‐β^3,3Ac₆c‐NHMe ( 4 ) established a C₁₁ hydrogen‐bonded turn with distinctly different backbone torsion angles (α(?≈?60°, ψ≈120°), β(?≈60°, θ≈60°, ψ≈?60°)), which corresponded to a backbone‐expanded analogue of the type II β turn observed in αα sequences. In peptide 4 , the two molecules in the asymmetric unit adopted backbone torsion angles of opposite signs. In one of the molecules, the Phe residue adopted an unfavorable backbone conformation, with the energetic penalty being offset by a favorable aromatic interaction between proximal molecules in the crystal. NMR spectroscopy studies provided evidence for the maintenance of folded structures in solution in these αβ‐hybrid sequences.     

Polymerization of β-cyanopropionaldehyde. VI. Anionic polymerization initiated by aromatic hydrocarbon—sodium complexes

Further investigation on an anionic polymerization of β-cyanopropionaldehyde was made with use of polystyryl—disodium, naphthalene—sodium, and tetraphenylethylenedisodium complexes as initiators. Styrene—β-cyanopropionaldehyde block copolymer was separated from the gross polymer obtained by the polymerization of β-cyanopropionaldehyde with polystyryl—sodium. The polymerization initiated by naphthalene—sodium and tetraphenylethylene—disodium complexes resulted in the formation of an aldol condensation-type product having a low molecular weight. It was found that initiators of weaker basicity may start the carbonyl polymerization, whereas those of stronger basicity cause the aldol condensation of β-cyanopropionaldehyde through the withdrawal of proton from the monomer.     

Polymerization of β-cyanopropionaldehyde. V. Anionic polymerization initiated by benzophenone–alkali metal complexes

Anionic polymerization of β-cyanopropionaldehyde was studied with use of benzophenone-monosodium, -disodium, and -dilithium complexes as initiators. The resulting poly(cyanoethyl)oxymethylene was compared with that obtained by cationic and coordinated initiators previously reported. Polymer of higher stereoregularity but lower molecular weight was formed in the present system. The marked influence of the initiator concentration on the polymer yield and stereoregularity is explained on the basis of the difference in the degree of association of the alcoholate ion pair, i.e., the associated ion pair may form stereoregular polymer and the nonassociated or less-associated ion pair may form a large amount of amorphous atactic polymer. The initiation with benzophenone-dialkali metal complex was found to be bond-formation type. Chain transfer with active hydrogen of β-cyanopropionaldehyde frequently occurs.     

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 .     

Kinetics of the reactions of cyclopropane derivatives. V. The gas-phase unimolecular reactions of 1 α-chloro-2α,3α-dimethylcyclopropane and 1α-chloro-2α,3β-dimethylcyclopropane

Thermolysis of the “all-cis” compound 1α-chloro-2α,3α-dimethylcyclopropane (A) at 550–607 K and 6–115 torr is a first-order homogeneous non-radical-chain process giving penta-1,3-diene (PD) and HCl as products. The Arrhenius parameters are log₁₀A(sec^?1) = 13.92 ± 0.08 and E = 199.6 ± 0.9 kJ/mol. The isomer with trans-methyl groups, 1α-chloro-2α,3β-dimethylcyclopropane (B) reacts by two parallel first-order processes giving as observed products trans-4-chloropent-2-ene (4CP) and PD + HCl, with log₁₀A(sec^?1) = 14.6 and 13.8, respectively, and E = 199.5 and 190.2 kJ/mol, respectively. The 4CP undergoes secondary decomposition to PD + HCl (as investigated previously). Comparison of the results for compounds (A) and (B) with those for other gas-phase and solution reactions leads to the conclusion that the gas-phase thermolyses proceed by rate-determining ring opening to form olefins which may decompose further by thermal or chemically activated reactions, and that the ring opening is a semiionic electrocyclic reaction in which alkyl groups in the 2,3-positions trans to the migrating chlorine semianion move apart, with appropriate consequences for the rate of reaction and the stereochemistry of the products.     

1,2-Epoxycarotinoide. 2. Mitteilung. Synthese der 1′,2′-Epoxide von β,ψ- und ε,ψ-Carotin (= γ- bzw. δ-Carotin)

The synthesis of the naturally occurring 1′,2′-epoxy-1′,2′-dihydro-β, δ-carotene and 1′,2′-epoxy-1′,2′-dihydro-ε, ψ-carotene is described.     

β-lithiations of carboxamides. Synthesis of β-substituted-α,β-unsaturated amides

N-Methyl-2-methyl-3-(benzotriazol-l-yl)propanamide, on treatment with butyllithium forms a dianion which on treatment with alkyl and benzyl halides, aldehydes and ketones affords monosubstituted products; with ethyl p-toluate, a lactam is formed. The alkylated derivatives eliminate benzotriazole in the presence of base to afford trisubstituted α,β-unsaturated amides.     

Photochemische Reaktionen. 68. Mitteilung. Die Photoisomerisierung von α,β-ungesättigten γ,δ-Epoxyketonen: 9α, 10α- und 9β, 10β-Oxido-3-oxo-17β-acetoxy-Δ4-östren

Irradiation in the n→π* absorption band of the α,β-unsaturated γ,δ-epoxyketone 5 in ethanol at ?65° exclusively afforded the rearranged ene-dione 13 , whereas at + 24° under otherwise unchanged reaction conditions or upon triplet sensitization with Michler's ketone and with acetophenone at + 24° essentially identical mixtures of 13 (major product), 14 , and 15 were obtained. Selective π→π* excitation of 5 at ?78° and + 24° led to similar product patterns. The 9β,10β-epimeric epoxyketone 7 selectively isomerized to 14 and 15 at + 24° and n → π* or π → π* excitation. Neither the epoxyketones 5 and 7 nor the photoproducts 13–15 were photochemically interconverted. In separate photolyses each of the latter gave the double bond isomers 16 , 18 , and 19 , respectively. Cleavage of 13 to the dienone aldehyde 17 competed with the double bond shift ( → 16 ) when photolyzed in alcoholic solvents instead of benzene. The selective transformations 5 → 13 (at ?65° and n → π* excitation) and 7 → 14 + 15 are attributed to stereoelectronic factors facilitating the skeletal rearrangements of the diradicals 53 and 55 , the likely primary photoproducts resulting from epoxide cleavage in the triplet-excited compounds 5 and 7 , via the transition states 54 , 56 , and 57 . The loss of selectivity in product formation from 5 at higher temperature and n → π* excitation or triplet sensitization is explicable in terms of radical dissociation into 58 and 59 increasingly participating at the secondary thermal transformations of 53 . The similar effect of π → π* excitation even at ?78° indicates that some of the π,π* singlet energy may become available as thermal activation energy. It is further suggested that the considerably lesser ring strain in 14 and 15 , as compared with 13 , is responsible that selectivity in product formation from 7 is maintained also at +24° and at π → π* excitation.     

Geometrical isomerism and photochemical behaviour of α-substituted 2 and 4-styrylpyridines

α-Methyl and α-phenyl substituted 2 and 4-styrylpyridines were prepared by classical routes. The geometrical isomers were separated and characterized on the basis of their U.V. absorption spectra and/or of their behaviour under U.V. irradiation which led to photoisomerization and photocyclization products. The last photoreaction, in the case of α-phenyl derivatives, gave pyridyl-substituted phenanthrenes and phenyl-substituted azaphenanthrenes which were isolated and characterized. Spectral, chromatographic and physical properties of trans and cis derivatives and related photocyclization products are given as well as some kinetic data for the photochemical reactions.     

Some reactions with ω-bromoacetophenone: Synthesis of Δαβ-butenolide and its transformation into pyrrole derivatives

ω-Bromoacetophenone reacts with the sodium salt of ethyl cyanoacetate to afford α-cyano-β-phenyl-Δ^αβ-butenolide. This butenolide undergoes azo coupling with diazotized aromatic amines (ArNH₂) to afford the hydrazo derivatives. These hydrazo derivatives (ArPh, 4-ClC₆H₄, 4-MeC₆H₄, 4-MeOC₆H₄) were transformed into the corresponding 3(2H)-pyridazinone derivatives on stirring in methanol in the presence of potassium hydroxide. These latter compounds were converted into the corresponding 3-cyano-2,5-dihydroxy-4-phenyl-N-arylpyrrole derivatives on reduction with zinc dust in refluxing acetic acid, presumably via reductive cleavage of the N N bond of the pyridazine followed by recyclization via loss of ammonia.     

Synthesis of 17β-hydroxy-1′-H-5α-androst-2-eno[3,2-b]pyrrole and 17β-hydroxy-1′-H-5α-androst-3-eno[3,4-b]pyrrole from O-(2-hydroxyethyl)ketoxime precursors

Pyrrolosteroids such as 17β-hydroxy-1′-H-5α-androst-2-eno[3,2-b]pyrrole ( 1 ) and the novel 17β-hydroxy-1′-H-5α-androst-3-eno[3,4-b]pyrrole ( 12 ) can be synthesized from the corresponding O-(2-hydroxyethyl)ketoxime precursors. In the case of 1 , yields compare favourably with previously reported literature methods.