Conversion of bicyclo[2.1.0]pentane into 2,3-dioxabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane via t-butyl peroxymercuriation

Bicyclo[2.1.0]pentane has been converted in 45% yield into 2,3-dioxabicyclo-[2.2.1]heptane by the sequence t-butyl peroxymercuriation, iododemercuriation, epimerisation of the resultant 1-t-butylperoxy-3-iodocyclopentane, and reaction of the trans isomer with silver trifluoroacetate.     

Reaction of carbenes with bicyclo[2.1.0]pentane

Bicyclo[2.1.0]pentane reacts with phenylcarbene and dicarbomethoxycarbene by simple insertion at the cyclobutane methylene position. By contrast, difluorocarbene reacts by two bond cleavage to give 1,1-difluoro-1,5-hexadiene.     

Understanding the puzzling chemistry of bicyclo[2.1.0]pentane

Three thermal reactions of bicyclo[2.1.0]pentane have been studied by CASPT2-g3 and CASSCF electronic structure calculations. They are isomerization to cyclopentene, isomerization to 1,4-pentadiene, and cycloaddition to fumaronitrile. All three of these reactions exhibit unusual features that have prompted mechanistic debate. The present computational results provide a basis for understanding the experimental observations.     

Unusual reactivity of bicyclo[2.2.1]heptene derivatives during the ozonolysis

This paper describes mechanistic studies on the ozonolysis of bicyclo[2.2.1]heptene derivatives 6 and 7 obtained from (R)-(+)-pulegone through the cyclopentadiene 5 and its Diels-Alder reaction with maleic anhydride. The ozonolysis of the tricyclic diol 7 led to the ketone 8 with the same skeleton while the anhydride 6 gave rise to the epoxide 10 and the bis-lactone 11. The structure of 8, 10 and 11 are confirmed by X-ray analysis. These unexpected results are discussed in terms of a π complex between ozone and the double bond.     

The average structures of 2,3-diazabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ene and 2,3-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]oct-2-ene

The average molecular structures of 2,3-diazabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ene and 2,3-diazabicyclo[2.2.2] oct-2-ene have been determined by electron diffraction in the gas phase. The structural parameters were obtained by applying a least squares analysis on the molecular scattering intensity functions. For 2,3-diazabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ene, C_s symmetry was assumed in calculating the geometry of the molecule. The parameters thus determined are: N₃=N₂ = 1.221 Å, N₃- C₄ = 1.445 Å, C₄-C₅ = 1.538 Å, C-H_(ave.) = 1.112 Å, < C₁N₂N₃ = 116.3°, < N₃C₄C₅ = 105.2°, < C₁C₄C₅ = 71.5°, C₄-C₇ = 1.547 Å, C₅-C₆ = 1.530 Å, < C₁C₇C₄ = 108.0°. For 2,3-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]oct-2-ene, C_2vsymmetry was assumed. The geometrical parameters are: N₃ = N₂ = 1.243 Å, N₃-C₄ = 1.473 Å, C₄-C₅ = 1.550 Å, C₅-C₆ = 1.516 Å, C-H_(ave.) = 1.119 Å,< C₁N₂N₃ = 115.1°, < N₃C₄C₅ = 109.1°, < C₆C₁C₄ = 71.6°.     

One-pot palladium-catalyzed synthesis of 2,3-disubstituted bicyclo[2.2.1]heptanes and bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-enes

A new and highly stereoselective palladium-catalyzed synthesis is reported, based on two subsequent insertions of the bicyclo[2.2.1]heptene system into an aryl or vinylpalladium bond, formed in situ from aryl or vinyl bromides.     

Unusual reactivity of bicyclo[2.2.1]heptene derivatives during the ozonolysis. Part 2

The ozonation of four bornene derivatives, prepared from (R)-(+)-pulegone, which possess a particularly hindered double bond, led to the formation of unexpected products depending on the nature of the solvent. The formation of the corresponding epoxides, ketones with the same skeleton, various lactones and even an allyl alcohol and an allyl chloride (allylic functionalisation) was observed. In two cases, products presenting a pulegone modified skeleton resulting from a Wagner-Meerwein rearrangement were obtained. The structure of three products was confirmed by crystallographic X-ray analysis. Mechanisms taking into account the rigid and congested structure of the reactants explain these results. The most striking steps were backed up by theoretical calculations.     

Enzymatic desymmetrization of prochiral 2,3-bis(acetoxymethyl)bicyclo[2.2.1]hepta-2,5-diene and 2,3-bis(hydroxymethyl)bicyclo[2.2.1]hepta-2,5-diene

Enzymatic desymmetrization of the title compound 1 is reported using various commercially available lipases in hydrolysis and alcoholysis reactions or ester synthesis. In this area, lipase Amano AK (Pseudomonas sp.) proved to be the best lipase whatever the experimental conditions used. The monoacetate product 2 is indifferently obtained with more than 95% enantiomeric excess (ee) as the levorotatory enantiomer 2a or the dextrorotatory one 2b.     

The electronic structure of bicyclo [2.2.1] heptane and of bicyclo [2.2.2] octane

An ab initia SCF-LCAO-MO study of bicyclo [2.2.1] heptane(I) and of bicyclo [2.2.2] octane(II) has been performed. The electronic structure and the nature of the molecular orbitals and of the bonds have been analyzed. Interactions between fragment orbitals may be recognized. The bridgehead C-H bonds interact dominantly “through-space” in I and “through-bond” in II. Some relations between electronic structure and molecular properties are discussed.     

Novel substituent effects on the mechanism of the thermal denitrogenation of 2,3-diazabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ene derivatives, stepwise versus concerted

The substituent effect on the thermal denitrogenation mechanism of 7,7-disubstituted 2,3-diazabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-enes, concerted versus stepwise, has been investigated in detail. Unrestricted DFT calculations at the B3LYP/6-31G(d) level of theory suggest that azoalkanes that possess electron-withdrawing substituents at C(7) prefer to expel the nitrogen molecule in a stepwise manner. The activation energy is calculated to be ca. 36 kcal/mol for the dihydroxy-substituted azoalkane. In contrast, the preferred mechanism of the concerted denitrogenation is predicted for azoalkanes that possess electron-donating substituents at C(7). The activation energy is computed to be ca. 28 kcal/mol for the silyl-substituted azoalkane. The theoretical prediction of the substituent effects on the mechanistic change is supported by analyzing the activation parameters of the azoalkane decompositions. The activation enthalpy for the decomposition of the 7,7-diethoxy-substituted azoalkane is determined to be 39.1 kcal/mol, which is 13.1 kcal/mol higher in energy for the denitrogenation of the 7-silyl-substituted azoalkane. These dramatic substituent effects can be reasonably explained by the preferred electronic configuration of the lowest singlet state of the cyclopentane-1,3-diyls produced during the denitrogenation of the azoalkanes.     

On the synthesis of β-bromohydrine ethers via intermolecular alkoxyl radical addition to bicyclo[2.2.1]heptene

Primary, secondary, and tertiary alkoxyl radicals add exo-selectively to the olefinic π-bond in bicyclo[2.2.1]heptene to afford exo-2-alkoxybicyclo[2.2.1]hept-3-yl radicals, which are trapped with BrCCl₃ preferentially from the endo face to furnish β-bromohydrine ethers in 23-67% yield.     

The electronic structure of bicyclo [1.1.1] pentane systems

Ab initio SCF calculations have been performed on bicyclo [1.1.1] pentane and on its bridgehead anion and cation. The most striking result lies in the strong interaction between the two bridgehead sites which may be related to the properties of this strained molecule.     

Photochemical and thermal transformations of 7-silabicyclo[2.2.1]Heptadiene and 7-silabicyclo[2.2.1]heptene systems

2,3-Dicarbomethoxy-7,7-dimethyl-7-silabicyclo[2.2.1]hepta-2,5-diene (III) on photolysis gave dimethyl tetraphenylphthalate whereas the photolysis of 7,7-dimethyl-7-silabicyclo[2.2.1]hep-5-ene-2,3-dicarboxylic anhydride (XIa) resulted in the formation of 1,1-dimethyl-2,3,4,5-tetraphenyl-1-silacyclopentadiene (XIIIa). The thermolysis of XIa also gave rise to XIIIa. Similarly, the photolysis as well as thermolysis of 1,4,5,6,7,7-hexaphenyl-7-silabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-ene-2,3-dicarboxylic anhydride (XIb) led to hexaphenylsilacyclopentadiene (XIIIb). Attempts to detect radical intermediates in these thermal and photochemical transformations by carrying out the reaction in the presence of hydroquinone, hydrazobenzene, 3,6-diphenyl-1,2-dihydro-1,2,4,5-tetrazine, cumene and tolan were unsuccessful. An attempted preparation of 7-silabicyclo[2.2.1]hepta2,5-dienes by the reaction of silacyclopentadienes such as 1-methyl-1-vinyl2,3,4,5-tetraphenyl-1-silacyclopentadiene (XV) and 1-methyl-1,2,3,4,5-pentaphenyl-1-silacyclopentadiene (XVI) with dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate resulted in the isolation of dimethyl tetraphenylphthalate indicating that the corresponding 7-silabicyclo[2.2.1]hepta-2,5-dienes are thermally unstable.