Synthesis of spiro[4.5]decane and bicyclo[4.3.0]nonane ring systems by self-cyclization of (Z)- and (E)-2-(trimethylsilylmethyl)pentadienal derivative

The two title carbon frameworks were synthesized utilizing a new type of iron-induced cyclization reaction of 2-(trimethylsilylmethyl)pentadienal. 2-Methylspiro[4.5]dec-2-en-1-one was obtained from (Z)- and (E)-4-cyclohexylidene-2-(trimethylsilylmethyl)but-2-enal. It was found that the (Z)-substrate isomerized to (E)-intermediate followed by cyclization to afford the initial product, 2-methylenespiro[4.5]dec-3-en-1-ol, which was isomerized to the above product. The cyclization of 4-(4-alkyl)cyclohexylidene-2-(trimethylsilylmethyl)but-2-enal proceeded stereoselectively. While, (E)-3-(cyclohex-1-en-1-yl)-2-(trimethylsilylmethyl)prop-2-en-1-al cyclized immediately affording 8-methylenebicyclo[4.3.0]non-9-en-7-ol. The corresponding (Z)-isomer gave several cyclization products as a complex mixture.     

Synthese von Alkylphenolen und -pyrocatecholen aus Plectranthus albidus (Labiatae)

Synthesis of Alkylphenols and -catechols from Plectranthus albidus (Labiatae) In the preceding paper, we described the isolation and structure elucidation of a series of even-numbered phenol- or pyrocatechol-derived 1-arylalkane-5-ones. To establish the assigned structures unambiguously and to have larger quantities available for physiological testing, the following compounds were prepared: in the alkylphenol series, 1-(4′-hydroxyphenyl)tetradecan-5-one ( 2a ), 1-(4′-hydroxyphenyl)hexadecan-5-one ( 2b ), and 1-(4′-hydroxyphenyl)octadecan-5-one ( 2c ); in the alkylcatechol series, 1-(3′,4′-dihydroxyphenyl)decan-5-one ( 3a ; not isolated as a natural compound), 1-(3′,4′-dihydroxyphenyl)dodecan-5-one ( 3b ), 1-(3′,4′-dihydroxyphenyl)tetradecan-5-one ( 3c ), 1-(3′,4′-dihydroxyphenyl)hexadecan-5-one ( 3d ), 1-(3′,4′-dihydroxyphenyl)octadecan-5-one ( 3e ), and 1-(3′,4′-dihydroxyphenyl)icosan-5-one ( 3f ); in the alkenylphenol series, (Z)-1-(4′-hydroxyphenyl)octadec-13-en-5-one ( 4a ) and (E)-1-(4′-hydroxyphenyl)octadec-13-en-5-one ( 4b ); in the alkenylcatechol series, (E,E)-1-(3′,4′-dihydroxyphenyl)deca-1,3-dien-5-one ( 1 ) and (Z)-1-(3′,4′-dihydroxyphenyl)octadec-13-en-5-one ( 5 ). All compounds proved to be identical with the previously assigned structures. Compound 1 was synthesized by regioselective aldol condensation of heptan-2-one with (E)-1-(3′,4′-dimethoxyphenyl)prop-2-enal ( 6d ; Scheme 1), the phenols 2a–c and the catechols 3a–f by addition of the corresponding alkyl Grignard reagent to 5-(4′-methoxyphenyl)- or 5-(3′,4′-dimethoxyphenyl)pentanal ( 17c and 18c , resp.; Scheme 4), and the olefins 4a, 4b and 5 from 17c or 18c via the 9-O-silyl-protected 13-(4′-methoxyphenyl)- or 13-(3′,4′-dimethoxyphenyl)tridecanals ( 26 and 27 , resp.) and Wittig olefination as the key steps (Scheme 5).     

Reactions of (1E)‐Buta‐1,3‐dien‐1‐yl Acetate with Diazocarbonyl Compounds

Carbene transfer to appropriate substrates is a highly versatile tool for the construction of carbon frameworks with increased functional and structural complexity. In this study, some novel cyclopropane derivatives were synthesized via carbenoid reactions and their further reactivities were investigated. (1E)‐Buta‐1,3‐dien‐1‐yl acetate was reacted with four different diazocarbonyl compounds, ethyl diazoacetate, dimethyl diazomalonate, 1‐diazo‐1‐phenylpropan‐2‐one, and methyl (3E)‐2‐diazo‐4‐phenylbut‐3‐enoate, in the presence of two catalysts. All synthesized substituted cyclopropanes were obtained chemoselectively with respect to less‐hindered C?C bonds. Under the applied conditions, while cyclopropanes 7a and 7d underwent further reactions, cyclopropanes 7b and 7c were stable enough. Cyclopropanes 7a and an additional equivalent of ethyl diazoacetate yielded polyfunctionalized cyclohexenes. Cyclopropanes from methyl (3E)‐2‐diazo‐4‐phenylbut‐3‐enoate yielded polyfunctionalyzed cycloheptadiene isomers by Cope rearrangement.     

Stereoselective 1,3-Dipolar Cycloadditions to (S)-1-Benzoyl-3-(cyanomethylidene)-5-(methoxycarbonyl)pyrrolidin-2-one

(5S)-1-Benzoyl-3-[(E)-cyanomethylidene]-5-(methoxycarbonyl)pyrrolidin-2-one ( 5 ) was prepared in four steps from L -pyroglutamic acid ( 1 ). 1,3-Dipolar cycloadditions of diazomethane ( 6 ) and 2,4,6-trimethoxybenzonitrile oxide ( 7 ) gave substituted 1,2,7-triazaspiro[4.4]non-1-en-6-one 12 and 1-oxa-2,7-diazaspiro[4,4]non-1-en-6-one 13 in 38 and 20% de, respectively. On the other hand, reaction of 5 with N-phenylbenzonitrile imines 8 and 9 , generated in situ from the corresponding hydrazonoyl chlorides 10 and 11 , respectively, and Et₃N, furnished racemic pyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrazoles 14 and 15 in 61 and 56% de, respectively. Cycloaddition of nitrile oxide 7 , when performed in the presence of Et₃N, led to pyrrolo[3,4-d]isoxazole 16 in 85% de.     

Ring-expansion of thioacetal ring via bicyclosulfonium ylide. Effect Of protic nucleophile on ylide intermediate

The reaction of 2-(3-diazo-2-oxopropane-1-yl)-2-methyldithiolane 9a, 2-(4-diazo-3-oxobutane-2-yl)-2-methyldithiolane 9c, and 2-(3-diazo-2-oxopropane-1-yl)-2-methyl-1,3-dithiane 9b with Rh(2)(OAc)(4) gave three-carbon ring-expansion products dithiocan-2-en-1-ones 13a, 13c and dithionan-2-en-1-one 13b, respectively. 2-(5-Diazo-4-oxopentyl)-2-methyldithiolane 9e also gave the five-carbon ring-expansion products dithionan-3-en-1-one 13e and 5-methylenedithionane-1-one 13'e. On the other hand, reaction of 2-(4-diazo-3-oxobutyl)-2-methyldithiolane 9d in the presence of AcOH gave the four-carbon ring-expansion product 16d substituted by an acetoxyl group. In addition, the reaction of 2-(3-diazo-2-oxopropyl)-2-methyl-3-oxathiolane 9f in the absence of AcOH gave 4-oxa-7-thiocan-2-en-1-one 19 via a sulfonium ylide intermediate, whereas, in the presence of AcOH, an alternative regioisomer 20 was also formed competitively with 19 via an oxonium ylide intermediate.     

A Chemical Study of Burley Tobacco Flavour (Nicotiana tabacum L.) VII. Identification and synthesis of twelve irregular terpenoids,related to solanone,including 7,8-dioxabicyclo[3.2.1]octane and 4,9-dioxabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane derivatives

Twelve novel constituents isolated from Burley tobacco condensate by semi-preparative GLC. have been identified as (E)-3,4-epoxy-5-isopropyl-nonane-2,8-dione ( A ), exo-(1-methyl-4-isopropyl-7,8-dioxabicyclo[3.2.1]oct-6-yl)methyl ketone ( B ), exo-1-(1-methyl-4-isopropyl-7,8-dioxabicyclo[3.2.1]oct-6-yl)-ethanol ( C ), (E)-5-isopropyl-8-hydroxy-8-methyl-non-6-en-2-one ( D ), (E)-5-isopropyl-6,7-epoxy-8-hydroxy-8-methyl-nonan-2-one ( E ), endo-2-(1-methyl-4-isopropyl-7,8-dioxabicyclo[3.2.1]oct-6-yl)-propan-2-ol ( F ), 3,3,5-trimethyl-8-isopropyl-4,9-dioxabicyclo[3.3.1]nonan-2-ol ( G ), (E)-5-isopropyl-non-3-ene-2,8-diol ( H ), 5-isopropyl-nonane-2,8-diol ( I ), (E)-5-isopropyl-8-hydroxy-non-6-en-2-one ( J ), 5-isopropyl-8-hydroxy-nonan-2-one ( K ), and (E)-3-isopropyl-6-methyl-hepta-4,6-dien-1-ol ( L ). Compounds A–K were synthesized from norsolanadione ( 2 ), and compound L from 2-isopropyl-5-oxo-hexanal ( 15 ). The relative configuration of the bicyclic internal acetals B, C, F, G and their δ-keto-epoxide precursors A and E is discussed. All these Burley tobacco flavour components belong to a growing family of metabolites structurally related to solanone ( 1 ). They are believed to arise from the breakdown of cembrene-type precursors.     

Isolierung und Struktur von langkettigen Alkylphenolen und -pyrocatecholen aus Plectranthus albidus (Labiatae)

Isolation and Structure of Long-Chain Alkylphenols and -catechols from Plectranthus albidus (Labiatae) From the title plant, a series of even-numbered long-chain, phenol- or pyrocatechol-derived 1-arylalkan-5-ones was isolated by classical chromatography and preparative reversed phase HPLC. By chemical and spectroscopic methods, including coupled chromatographic techniques (GC/MS/FT-IR, HPLC/MS), their structures were established to be 1-(4′-hydroxyphenyl)tetradecan-5-one ( 2a ), 1-(4′-hydroxyphenyl)hexadecan-5-one ( 2b ), 1-(4′-hydroxyphenyl)octadecan-5-one ( 2c ), and (Z)-1-(4′-hydroxyphenyl)octadec-13-en-5-one ( 2d ); (E,E)-1-(3′,4′-dihydroxyphenyl)deca-1,3-dien-5-one ( 1a ), 1-(3′,4′-dihydroxyphenyl)dodecan-5-one ( 3a ), 1-(3′,4′-dihydroxyphenyl)-tetradecan-5-one ( 3b ), 1-(3′,4′-dihydroxyphenyl)hexadecan-5-one ( 3c ), 1-(3′,4′-dihydroxyphenyl)octadecan-5-one ( 3d ), 1-(3′,4′-dihydroxyphenyl)icosan-5-one ( 3e ), and (Z)-1-(3′,4′-dihydroxyphenyl)octadec-13-en-5-one ( 3f ). In vitro, the compounds show significant antioxidant activity, the inhibitory concentration of the most potent one, 1a , being slightly lower than for 2-(tert-butyl)-4-methoxyphenol (BHA) and 2,6-di(tert-butyl)-4-methylphenol (BHT) in the Fe²⁺-catalysed autooxidation of linoleic acid, whereas the acitivities of phenols 2a–d are in the same order of magnitude as α-tocopherol.     

Identification of Twenty-one Novel Constituents of Oriental Tobacco Flavour (Nicotiana tabacumL.) including (E)-3-methyl-non-2-en-4-one,pentadecan-15-olide, 8α, 13:9α, 13-diepoxy-15, 16-dinorlabdane, (Z)-octadec-9-en-18-olide,and (E)-2-ethylidene-6, 10, 14-trimethyl-pentadecanal

Investigation by gas liquid chromatography of a small but organoleptically typical subfraction of Oriental tobacco condensate led to the identification of 47 compounds. Of these 21 have hitherto not been reported as Oriental tobacco constituents, and 14 appear to be novel to all tobacco types. The latter are (E)-3-methyl-non-2-en-4-one ( 1 ), (E)-1-(2, 3, 6-trimethylphenyl)-but-2-en-1-one ( 3 ), pentadecan-15-olide ( 12 ), 8α, 13:9α, 13-diepoxy-15, 16-dinorlabdane ( 17 ), (Z)-octadec-9-en-18-olide ( 18 ), (E)-2-ethylidene-6, 10, 14-trimethylpentadecanal ( 21 ), the norlabdanoids 9 , 10 , 11 , 14 , 15 , 16 , tridecan-2-one, and 2-phenylethyl isovalerate. The macrolides 12 and 18 represent the first musk compounds detected in tobacco. Identification were made by direct comparison (MS. and/or ¹ H-NMR./IR.) with the authentic chemicals synthesized whenever necessary.     

Face selectivity of the Diels-Alder additions and cheletropic additions of sulfur dioxide to 2- vinyl-7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ene derivatives

Racemic 6-ethenyl-7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-en-2-one ( 23 ), 5-ethenyl-7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-en-2-one ( 25 ) and their ethylene acetals 24 and 26 , respectively, were derived from the Diels-Alder adduct of furan to 1-cyanovinyl acetate ( 27 ). The Diels-Alder additions of 26 to dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate, to methyl propynoate, to N-phenylmaleimide, and to methyl acrylate were highly exo-face selective, as were the cycloadditions of methyl propynoate to dienones 23 and 25 and of dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate to ethylenedioxy-diene 24 . The cheletropic additions of SO₂ to 23 – 26 gave exclusively the corresponding sulfolenes 57 – 60 resulting from the exo-face attack of the semicyclic dienes under conditions of kinetic and thermodynamic control.     

Microbiological transformation of bicyclic monoterpenes by Absidia orchidis (Vuill.) Hagem. 2. Hydroxylation of fenchone and isofenchone. 18. Section on reactions with microorganisms

(+)-Fenchone ( 3a ) was transformed to 6-exo-hydroxy-fenchone (6β-hydroxy-1, 3, 3-trimethyl-nor-bornan-2-one) ( 1a ) and to 5-exo-hydroxy-fenchone 5β-hydroxy-1, 3, 3-trimethyl-nor-bornan-2-one ( 4a ) by the mycelium of Absidia orchidis (Vuill.) Hagem. The structure of the two products was proven by a detailed analysis of the NMR. spectra of the corresponding acetyl derivatives 2a and 5a respectively, and by CrO₃-oxidation. 1a yielded the β-diketone 6a , and 4a the diketone 8a. Whereas 8a was stable to alkali 6a was cleaved to the cyclopentane carboxylic acids 7 and 9 . — Incubation of (—)-fenchone ( 3b ) yielded the enantiomeric hydroxylation products 1b and 4b in the same ratio. - (—)-Isofenchone ( 11a ) was transformed by Absidia orchidis into the two epimers 6-endo-hydroxy-isofenchone (6β-hydroxy-1, 5, 5-trimethyl-nor-bornan-2-one) ( 12a ) and 6-exo-hydroxy-isofenchone (6β-hydroxy-1, 5, 5-trimethyl-nor-bornan-2-one) ( 10a. ) CrO₃-oxidation of both 10a and 12a gave the same β-diketone 6a. - (+)-Isofenchone gave the corresponding enantiomeric hydroxy derivatives 10b and 12b on incubation with Absidia orchidis.     

Dibenzo[b,e][1,4]diazepin-1-Ones,Synthesis and Derivatization

Several linearly fused tricyclic 6,7,6-systems were prepared. Reaction of 1,2-diamino-4-nitrobenzene with 5,5-dimethylcyclohexan-1,3-dione gave 3-(2-amino-5-nitroaniIino)-5,5-dimethylcyclohex-2-en-1-one (8) . Reaction of 8 and its analogue 6 with various aldehydes gave 2,3,4₎5,10,11-hexahydro-3,3-dimethyl-11-substituted-1H-dibenzo[b,e][1,4]diazepin-1-ones 9 and 10 . Acetylation of 9 and 10 gave the corresponding N-acetyl derivatives. Spectral data of the products are discussed.     

Study on ketalization reaction of poly(vinyl alcohol) by ketones. IX. Kinetic study on acetalization and ketalization reaction of 1,3-butanediol as a model compound for poly(vinyl alcohol)

A kinetic study was carried out on the acetalization reaction of 1,3-butanediol, as a model compound for poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), in water, under acidic conditions. Since these equilibrium constants of ketalization reaction of 1,3-butanediol and ethylene glycol are so small, the kinetic parameters were estimated from the hydrolysis reactions of the corresponding ketals. It was made clear that these reactions proceed in the reversible bimolecular reaction, and the heat of reaction and activation energy are nearly equal to that of PVA. The rate constants of hydrolysis reaction (k′s) of model compounds were calculated on the basis of value of acetone ketal, Hammett-Taft's equation log k′s/k′so – 0.54(n – 6) = ρ^*σ^* was established, and the value of ρ^* was obtained (3.60), which coincided with the value of PVA. Therefore, it was made clear that the hydrolysis reactions of acetals and ketals are electrophilic reaction (SE II reaction) and the step of rate determination is the formation of hemiacetal and hemiketal. The rate constants of hydrolysis reaction of 1,3-butanediol acetals and ketals were approximately 10–20 larger, and those of ethylene glycol were approximetly 50–80 larger except for ketals, and those of ethanol were roughly 2000–10,000 larger compared with that of high-molecular weight compound (PVA). It can be well explained that these differences in the rate constant depend on their entropy and the mobility of molecules. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 35 : 1719–1931, 1997     

A new 3-(phenylseleno)allylic cation: its regioselective C-C bond formation reaction with nucleophiles

Highly useful C-C bond formation using 2-ethoxy-3-(phenylseleno)prop-2-enal acetal 2 was examined with various Lewis acids. The reaction of 2 with the silyl enol ether in the presence of BF(3)*Et2O, ZnBr2, or SnBr4 regioselectively provided (Z)-3,4-diethoxy-5-(phenylseleno)pent-4-enophenone 5a in high yields. On the other hand, the reaction with other Lewis acids such as EtAlCl2 or SnCl4 gave 5-(phenylseleno)- 6 or non-selenopentane-1,4-dione 7, respectively. Novel prop-2-enal acetals 2-4 and 13-15 reacted with various nucleophiles to give pent-4-enophenones 5a,b, 10a, 12, and 16-18, S-ethyl pent-4-enoate 5b, alkylated vinylic sulfide 10b, 3-pentenenitrile 5d, and 10c. A versatile pent-4-enophenone 5a could be converted to tetrahydrofuran 20 and penta-2,4-dienophenone 19, the Diels-Alder reactions of which with dienophiles gave the adducts 24 and 25.     

Stereoselektive Totalsynthese von natürlichem Phytol und Phytolderivaten und deren Verwendung zur Herstellung von natürlichem Vitamin K1

Steroselective Total Synthesis of Natural Phytol and Derivatives thereof; Use of these Compounds in the Synthesis of Natural Vitamin K₁ The Li₂CuCl₄-catalyzed couplings of the easily accessible bifunctional C₅ allylic acetates (E)- 18a and (E)- 18b with racemic hexahydrofarnesylmagnesium bromide ((3 RS/RS, 7 RS/SR)- 19a ) proceed with high chemo- and stereoselectivity (≥98% (E)-retention) to give the (2E, 7 RS/RS, 11 RS/SR)-phytol derivatives 1a and 1b , respectively, in yields of 72–80% (Scheme 5). The same couplings performed with optically active hexahydrofarnesylmagnesium bromide (3 R, 7 R)- 19a yielded the (E)-phytol derivatives of the natural series (7 R, 11R)- 1a and (7 R, 11 R)- 1b. Acid-catalyzed hydrolysis of(2 E, 7 R, 11 R)- 1b gave natural phytol((2 E, 7 R, 11 R)- 1c ) Friedel-Crafts alkylation of ‘menadiol monobenzoate’ 11b with (2 E, 7 R, 11 R)- 1a or (2 E, 7 R, 11 R)- 1b gave the dihydrovitamine K₁ derivative (2 E/Z, 7′ R, 11′R)- 12b ((E/Z)≈? 9:l). Conversion of configurationally pure (2 E, 7′ R, 11′ R)- 12b (yield 73%; obtained after chromatographic removal of the (Z)-isomer) into natural vitamine K₁ ((2 E,7′ R, 11′ R)- 2 ) was achieved in the usual way by saponification and oxidation with air. Some further investigations of the coupling reactions of bifunctional C₅ allylic synthons with hexahydrofarnesylmagnesium bromide (3 RS/RS, 7 RS/SR)- 19a showed the outcome of these reactions to be critically dependent on the nature of the leaving group, the double-bond geometry and the nature and concentration of the catalyst. Thus, the Li₂CuCl₄-catalyzed couplings of (3 RS/RS,7 RS/SR)- 19a with the allylic halides 29a and 29c as well as with p-toluenesulfonate 29b yielded besides the phytol derivatives 1a and 1b - also the S_N2′-type products 30a and 30b (Scheme 8, Table 2); the same result was found for the coupling with the cis-configurated allylic acetates (Z)- 18a and (Z)- 18b (Table 3). A similar loss of chemo selectivity as well as the loss of stereoselectivity in the coupling reactions of 19 with the bifunctional (E)-olefins of type 18 was observed when the Li₂CuCl₄-catalyst concentration was increased from 0.2 to 25 mol-% or upon substitution of Li₂CuCl₄ by copper (I) chloride or iodide (Table 4).     

Preparation and Absolute Configuration of (−)-(E)-α-trans-Bergamotenone

The synthesis, absolute configuration, and olfactive evaluation of (?)-(E)-α-trans-bergamotenone (= (?)-(1′S,6′R,E)-5-(2′,6′-dimethylbicyclo[3.1.1]hept-2′-en-6′-yl)pent-3-en-2-one; (?)- 1 ), as well as its homologue (?)- 19 are reperted. The previously arbitrarily attributed absolute configuration of 1 and of (?)-α-trans-bergamotene (= (?)-(1 S,6R)-2,6-dimethyl-6-(4-methylpent-3-enyl)bicyclo[3.1. 1]hept-2-ene; (?)- 2 ), together with those of the structurally related aldehydes (?)- 3a,b and alcohols (?)- 4a,b , have been rigorously assigned.     

(±)-2,3,5-trichloro-4,4-ethylenedioxycyclopent-2-en-1-one and its 5-allyl-substituted derivative in conjugated 1,4-addition with dimethyldilithium cyanocuprate

(±)-2,3,5-Trichloro-4,4-ethylenedioxycyclopent-2-en-1-one reacts with Me₂CuCNLi₂ to give depending on conditions the corresponding 3-methyl substituted cyclopentenone (Ad _N E adduct) or a mixture of unsaturated acyclic acids formed as the result of abnormal cleavage reaction of C(1)−C(2) bond in the trichorocyclopentenone. Reactions of conjugated 1,4-addition of Me₂CuCNLi₂ to (±)-5-allyl-2,3,5-trichloto-4,4-dimethoxycyclopent-2-en-1-one lead to products of replacement of vinylic Cl atom at C(3) by Me group and those of C(5)-dechlorination. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 11, pp. 1990–1994, November, 1997.     

Synthesis,Structure, and Reactivity of Secosteroids Containing a Medium-Size Ring. Part 35. Photooxidations of some (Z)- and (E)-1(10)-unsaturated 5,10-secosteroids in acetone solution

UV Irradiation of (Z)- and (E)-1(10)-unsaturated 5,10-secosteroids 1–4 in acetone solution effected, besides (Z/E)-isomerization, (i) a stereospecific epoxidation (only in the presence of O₂), which, depending on the configuration ((Z) or (E)) in the starting steroid, gave cis-epoxides 5 and 8 (from the (Z)-compounds 1 and 3 ) or trans-epoxides 6,9 , and 10 (from the (E)-compounds 2 and 4 ), and (ii) oxidative acetone addition to the olefinic double bond producing 1-acetonyl derivatives 7 and 11a, b .     

Umwandlung von Bicyclo [3.2.0]hept-2-en-6-on in Cyclopentadienessigsäure-Derivate

Conversion of Bicyclo [3.2.0]hept-2-en-6-one into Cyclopentadienylacetic Acid Derivatives The reaction of a mixture of 4exo-bromobicyclo [3.2.0]hept-2-en-6-one ( 2 ) and -7-one ( 3 ) with O- or N-nucleophiles yielded cyclopentadien-5′-yl-acetates 4a–f or-acetamides 4g–h . Due to their rapid isomerization, the products 4 were not isolated, but some of them were demonstrated spectroscopically or captured in situ with maleimide as 10′-substituted norbornene derivatives 7 . The formation of 4 from 2/3 involves a fragmentation of the bond between the carbonyl and the bridge-head C-atom, induced by the attacking nucleophile and the leaving Br-ion and aided by the relief of the four-membered ring strain. Some of the isomerization products of 4 , i.e. the cyclopentadiene-1′-yl- and 2′-yl-acetyl derivatives were captured with maleimide as the 1′- and 8′-substituted norbornene-derivatives 8 and 9 . Two C-nucleophiles did not induce the fragmentation: sodium acetylacetonate substituted the Br-atom and sodium (diethoxyphosphoryl)ethoxycarbonylmethide condensed with the carbonyl group of 2/3 , yielding 11/12 and 13/14 , respectively.     

Diazoaldehyde Chemistry. Part 4vilsmeier-haack formylation of diazo compounds: A re-investigation

Diazomethyl ketones (2-diazoethanones) were reacted with the Vilsmeier reagent ((chloromethylidene)dimethylammonium chloride) to yield α-diazo-β-oxoaldehydes and chloromethyl ketones. 2′,4′-Dimethoxy-α-diazoacetophenone gave 2-chloro-1-(2,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-3-(dimethylamino)prop-2-en-1-one ( 5 ) in addition to the expected products. Phenyldiazomethanes gave the corresponding benzyl chlorides but not the (phenyl)diazoacetaldehydes even at temperatures as low as ?60°. The diazo-transfer reactions of phenylacetaldehydes and 2-azido-1-ethylpyridin-1-ium tetrafluoroborate also did not yield the expected(phenyl)diazoacetaldehydes.     

Regioselective Synthesis of 4-Acetyl-and 5-Acetyl-3-methylisoxazole: Their Conversion into Silyl-and Methyl Enol Ethers

Acetonitrile oxide reacts regioselectively with 3-buten-2-one and (E)-4-methoxy-3-buten-2-one to give 5-acetyl-2 and 4-acetyl-3-methylisoxazole 3, respectively. Treatment of ketones 2 and 3 with trimethylsilyl trifluoromethanesulfonate gave the silyl enol ethers 4 and 5, whereas the methyl enol ethers 8 and 9 were obtained via elimination of methanol from the corresponding dimethyl ketals.