A New Preparation of 1,3,3‐Trimethylbicyclo[2.2.2]octan‐2,6‐dione,a Never Isolated Intermediate in a Total Synthesis of (+)‐Norpatchoulenol. Formal Total Synthesis of (±)‐Iso‐Norpatchoulenol

A new preparation and the isolation and spectroscopic characterization of 1,3,3‐trimethylbicyclo[2.2.2]octan‐2,6‐dione ( 3 ), a so far elusive key intermediate in the Liu–Ralitsch total synthesis of (+)‐norpatchoulenol ((+)‐ 1a ), is described. The preparation of 3 constitutes also a formal total synthesis of (±)‐iso‐norpatchoulenol ((±)‐ 1b ), since 3 is correlated to an intermediate in the Monti and co‐workers synthesis of (±)‐ 1b .     

Three new quinuclidine‐based structures: second harmonic generation response for 1,2‐bis(1‐azoniabicyclo[2.2.2]octan‐3‐ylidene)hydrazine dichloride

The crystal structures of three quinuclidine‐based compounds, namely (1‐azabicyclo[2.2.2]octan‐3‐ylidene)hydrazine monohydrate, C₇H₁₃N₃·H₂O ( 1 ), 1,2‐bis(1‐azabicyclo[2.2.2]octan‐3‐ylidene)hydrazine, C₁₄H₂₂N₄ ( 2 ), and 1,2‐bis(1‐azoniabicyclo[2.2.2]octan‐3‐ylidene)hydrazine dichloride, C₁₄H₂₄N₄²⁺·2Cl^? ( 3 ), are reported. In the crystal structure of 1 , the quinuclidine‐substituted hydrazine and water molecules are linked through N—H…O and O—H…N hydrogen bonds, forming a two‐dimensional array. The compound crystallizes in the centrosymmetric space group P2₁/c. Compound 2 was refined in the space group Pccn and exhibits no hydrogen bonding. However, its hydrochloride form 3 crystallizes in the noncentrosymmetric space group Pc. It shows a three‐dimensional network structure via intermolecular hydrogen bonding (N—H…C and N/C—H…Cl). Compound 3 , with its acentric structure, shows strong second harmonic activity.     

An Efficient Synthesis of Optically Active trans‐(3R,4R)‐3‐Acetoxy‐4‐aryl‐1‐(chrysen‐6‐yl)azetidin‐2‐ones Using (+)‐Car‐3‐ene as a Chiral Auxiliary

An efficient enantioselective synthesis of 3‐acetoxy trans‐β‐lactams 7a and 7b via [2+2] cycloaddition reactions of imines 4a and 4b , derived from a polycyclic aromatic amine and bicyclic chiral acid obtained from (+)‐car‐3‐ene, is described. The cycloaddition was found to be highly enantioselective, producing only trans‐(3R,4R)‐N‐azetidin‐2‐one in very good yields. This is the first report of the synthesis of enantiomerically pure trans‐β‐lactams 7a and 7b with a polycyclic aromatic substituent at N(1) of the azetidin ring.     

Conformational Studies of (±)‐11,12‐Didehydro‐11‐deoxycorynoline and (+)‐11,13‐Didehydro‐11‐deoxychelidonine,Hexahydrobenzo[c]phenanthridine‐Type Alkaloid Derivatives,by X‐Ray Crystal Structure and NMR Analyses

The X‐ray crystal analyses of the two 11‐deoxy‐didehydrohexahydrobenzo[c]phenanthridine‐type alkaloid derivatives 3 and 4 , derived from (±)‐corynoline ( 1 ) and (+)‐chelidonine ( 2 ), established their structures as (±)‐(5bRS,12bRS)‐5b,12b,13,14‐tetrahydro‐5b,13‐dimethyl[1,3]benzodioxolo[5,6‐c]‐1,3‐dioxolo[4,5‐i]phenanthridine ( 3 ) and (+)‐rel‐(12bR)‐7,12b,13,14‐tetrahydro‐13‐methyl[1,3]benzodioxolo[5,6‐c]‐1,3‐dioxolo[4,5‐i]phenanthridine ( 4 ). The conformations of 3 and 4 in CDCl₃ were determined on the basis of ¹H‐ and ¹³C‐NMR spectroscopy.     

Photocycloaddition of Cyclohex‐2‐enones to 2‐Methylbut‐1‐en‐3‐yne

Irradiation (350 nm) of 2‐alkynylcyclohex‐2‐enones 1 in benzene in the presence of an excess of 2‐methylbut‐1‐en‐3‐yne ( 2 ) affords in each case a mixture of a cis‐fused 3,4,4a,5,6,8a‐hexahydronaphthalen‐1(2H)‐one 3 and a bicyclo[4.2.0]octan‐2‐one 4 (Scheme 2), the former being formed as main product via 1,6‐cyclization of the common biradical intermediate. The (parent) cyclohex‐2‐enone and other alkylcyclohex‐2‐enones 7 also give naphthalenones 8 , albeit in lower yields, the major products being bicyclo[4.2.0]octan‐2‐ones (Scheme 4). No product derived from such a 1,6‐cyclization is observed in the irradiation of 3‐alkynylcyclohex‐2‐enone 9 in the presence of 2 (Scheme 4). Irradiation of the 2‐cyano‐substituted cyclohexenone 12 under these conditions again affords only traces of naphthalenone 13 , the main product now being the substituted bicyclo[4.2.0]oct‐7‐ene 16 (Scheme 5), resulting from [2+2] cycloaddition of the acetylenic C−C bond of 2 to excited 12 .     

rac‐(Z)‐2‐(2‐Thienylmethylene)‐1‐azabicyclo[2.2.2]octan‐3‐ol

The asymmetric unit of the racemic form of the title compound, C₁₂H₁₅NOS, contains four crystallographically independent molecules. The olefinic bond connecting the 2‐thienyl and 1‐azabicyclo[2.2.2]octan‐3‐ol moieties has Z geometry. Strong hydrogen bonding occurs in a directed co‐operative O—H...O—H...O—H...O—H R₄⁴(8) pattern that influences the conformation of the molecules. Co‐operative C—H...π interactions between thienyl rings are also present. The average dihedral angle between adjacent thienyl rings is 87.09 (4)°.     

Tetrakis(bicyclo[2.2.2]oct‐2‐ene)‐Fused Calix[4]pyrrole

Tetrakis(bicyclo[2.2.2]oct‐2‐ene)‐fused calix[4]pyrrole, 5 , was obtained starting from (E)‐1,2‐bis(phenylsulfonyl)ethylene. This new calixpyrrole derivative is the prospective precursor of tetrabenzocalix[4]pyrrole, a potential ion‐pair receptor and an attractive species as a possible deep‐walled ‘molecular container’.     

Two 5‐oxa‐2,6‐diazaspiro[3.4]octan‐1‐one derivatives from the [3+2] cyclo­addition of methylenelactams with nitrones

The two title 5‐oxa‐2,6‐di­aza­spiro­[3.4]­octan‐1‐one adducts, 7‐benzoyl‐2‐(4‐methoxy­phenyl)‐6‐phenyl‐5‐oxa‐2,6‐di­aza­spiro­[3.4]­octan‐1‐one, C₂₅H₂₂N₂O₄, (III), and 6‐tert‐butyl‐2‐(4‐methyl­phenyl)‐7‐phenyl‐5‐oxa‐2,6‐di­aza­spiro­[3.4]­octan‐1‐one, C₂₂H₂₆N₂O₂, (IV), were obtained from a stereospecific [3+2] 1,3‐cyclo­addition of 3‐methyl­ene azetidin‐2‐ones as dipolaro­philes with nitro­nes. The lactam ring is conjugated with the p‐­methoxy­phenyl or p‐methyl­phenyl moiety. The envelope conformations of the isoxazolidine rings in (III) and (IV) are different, leading the substituents to be pseudo‐axial in (III) and pseudo‐equatorial in (IV).     

Synthesis and characterization of a novel long‐alkyl‐chain ester‐substituted benzimidazole gelator and its octan‐1‐ol solvate

The synthesis of a novel benzimidazole derivative with a long‐chain‐ester substituent, namely methyl 8‐[4‐(1H‐benzimidazol‐2‐yl)phenoxy]octanoate, (3), is reported. Ester (3) shows evidence of aggregation in solution and weak gelation ability with toluene. The octan‐1‐ol solvate, methyl 8‐[4‐(1H‐benzimidazol‐2‐yl)phenoxy]octanoate octan‐1‐ol monosolvate, C₂₂H₂₆N₂O₃·C₈H₁₈O, (4), exhibits a four‐molecule hydrogen‐bonded motif in the solid state, with N—H…O hydrogen bonds between benzimidazole molecules and O—H…N hydrogen bonds between the octan‐1‐ol solvent molecules and the benzimidazole unit. The alkyl chains of the ester and the octan‐1‐ol molecules are in unfolded conformations. The phenylene ring is canted by 10.27 (6)° from the plane of the benzimidazole ring system. H…C contacts make up 20.7% of the Hirshfeld surface coverage. Weak C—H…π interactions involving the benzimidazole alkyl chain and three aromatic rings are observed.     

Microwave‐Assisted Beckmann Rearrangement: Convenient Synthesis of 1,3‐Diaza‐bicyclo[3.2.2]nonane

Small heterocyclic amines such as 1,3‐diaza‐bicyclo[3.2.2]nonane are known to be key components of biologically active molecules. A convenient synthesis of this compound utilizing a key Beckmann rearrangement of (Z)‐1‐aza‐bicyclo[2.2.2]octan‐3‐one oxime (6) with conc. H₂SO₄ under microwave irradiation was achieved. The desired compound (1) was obtained in 20% yield overall.     

(Z)‐2‐(3‐Hydroxy‐4‐methoxybenzylidene)‐1‐azabicyclo[2.2.2]octan‐3‐one

Crystals of the title compound, C₁₅H₁₇NO₃, were obtained from a condensation reaction of 3‐hydroxy‐4‐methoxy­benz­aldehyde with 1‐aza­bi­cyclo­[2.2.2]­octan‐3‐one and subsequent crystallization of the product from methanol. The title compound, containing a double bond that connects the aza­bicyclic ring system to the 3‐hydroxy‐4‐methoxy­benzyl­idene group, was obtained with Z geometry.     

A Convenient Preparation of Fluorinating Reagent F‐TEDA Bearing Bisphenylsulfonylimide Counterion and Its Fluorination to Oxindoles

The direct preparation of a kind of fluorinating reagent 1 [F‐TEDA‐N(SO₂Ph)₂] was realized in high yield via the complexation of N‐fluorobenzenesulfonimide (NFSI) with 1‐(chloromethyl)‐1,4‐diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octan‐1‐ium N′,N′‐bis‐(benzenesulfonylimide) salt. In its fluorination to oxindoles, the fluorinating products 6 were afforded in moderate to high yields.     

A new three‐dimensional CdII supramolecular framework constructed from the 1‐[(1H‐tetrazol‐5‐yl)methyl]‐1,4‐diazoniabicyclo[2.2.2]octane ligand

A new tetrazole–metal supramolecular compound, di‐μ‐chlorido‐bis(trichlorido{1‐[(1H‐tetrazol‐5‐yl‐κN²)methyl]‐1,4‐diazoniabicyclo[2.2.2]octane}cadmium(II)), [Cd₂(C₈H₁₆N₆)₂Cl₈], has been synthesized and structurally characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. In the structure, each Cd^II cation is coordinated by five Cl atoms (two bridging and three terminal) and by one N atom from the 1‐[(1H‐tetrazol‐5‐yl)methyl]‐1,4‐diazoniabicyclo[2.2.2]octane ligand, adopting a slightly distorted octahedral coordination geometry. The bridging bicyclo[2.2.2]octane and chloride ligands link the Cd^II cations into one‐dimensional ribbon‐like N—H...Cl hydrogen‐bonded chains along the b axis. An extensive hydrogen‐bonding network formed by N—H...Cl and C—H...Cl hydrogen bonds, and interchain π–π stacking interactions between adjacent tetrazole rings, consolidate the crystal packing, linking the poymeric chains into a three‐dimensional supramolecular network.     

Synthesis and Structure of 2‐Substituted Thieno[3′,2′:5,6]pyrido[4,3‐d]pyrimidin‐4(3H)‐one Derivatives

A series of new 2‐substituted 3‐(4‐chlorophenyl)‐5,8,9‐trimethylthieno[3′,2′: 5,6]pyrido[4,3‐d]pyrimidin‐4(3H)‐ones 8 were synthesized via an aza‐Wittig reaction. Phosphoranylideneamino derivatives 6a or 6b reacted with 4‐chlorophenyl isocyanate to give carbodiimide derivatives 7a or 7b , respectively, which were further treated with amines or phenols to give compounds 8 in the presence of a catalytic amount of EtONa or K₂CO₃. The structure of 2‐(4‐chlorophenoxy)‐3‐(4‐chlorophenyl)‐5,8,9‐trimethylthieno[3′,2′: 5,6]pyrido[4,3‐d]pyrimidin‐4(3H)‐one ( 8j ) was comfirmed by X‐ray analysis.     

Synthesis,crystal structure and activity evaluation of novel 3,4‐dihydro‐1‐benzoxepin‐5(2H)‐one derivatives as protein–tyrosine kinase (PTK) inhibitors

Four new 3,4‐dihydro‐1‐benzoxepin‐5(2H )‐one derivatives, namely (E )‐4‐(5‐bromo‐2‐hydroxybenzylidene)‐6,8‐dimethoxy‐3,4‐dihydrobenzo[b ]oxepin‐5(2H )‐one, ( 7 ), (E )‐4‐[(E )‐3‐(5‐bromo‐2‐hydroxyphenyl)allylidene]‐6,8‐dimethoxy‐3,4‐dihydrobenzo[b ]oxepin‐5(2H )‐one, ( 8 ), (E )‐4‐(5‐bromo‐2‐hydroxybenzylidene)‐6‐hydroxy‐8‐methoxy‐3,4‐dihydrobenzo[b ]oxepin‐5(2H )‐one, C₁₈H₁₅BrO₅, ( 9 ), and (E )‐4‐[(E )‐3‐(5‐bromo‐2‐hydroxyphenyl)allylidene]‐6‐hydroxy‐8‐methoxy‐3,4‐dihydrobenzo[b ]oxepin‐5(2H )‐one, ( 10 ), have been synthesized and characterized by FT–IR, NMR and MS. The structure of ( 9 ) was confirmed by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. Crystal structure analysis shows that molecules of ( 9 ) are connected into a one‐dimensional chain in the [010] direction through classical hydrogen bonds and these chains are further extended into a three‐dimensional network via C—H…O interactions. The inhibitory activities of these compounds against protein–tyrosine kinases (PTKs) show that 6‐hydroxy‐substituted compounds ( 9 ) and ( 10 ) are more effective for inhibiting ErbB1 and ErbB2 than are 6‐methoxy‐substituted compounds ( 7 ) and ( 8 ). This may be because ( 9 ) and ( 10 ) could effectively bind to the active pockets of the protein through intermolecular interactions.     

Synthesis of 1‐Methyl‐6,10‐diphenylheptalene Derivatives

The reduction of heptalene diester 1 with diisobutylaluminium hydride (DIBAH) in THF gave a mixture of heptalene‐1,2‐dimethanol 2a and its double‐bond‐shift (DBS) isomer 2b (Scheme 3). Both products can be isolated by column chromatography on silica gel. The subsequent chlorination of 2a or 2b with PCl₅ in CH₂Cl₂ led to a mixture of 1,2‐bis(chloromethyl)heptalene 3a and its DBS isomer 3b . After a prolonged chromatographic separation, both products 3a and 3b were obtained in pure form. They crystallized smoothly from hexane/Et₂O 7 : 1 at low temperature, and their structures were determined by X‐ray crystal‐structure analysis (Figs. 1 and 2). The nucleophilic exchange of the Cl substituents of 3a or 3b by diphenylphosphino groups was easily achieved with excess of (diphenylphospino)lithium (=lithium diphenylphosphanide) in THF at 0° (Scheme 4). However, the purification of 4a / 4b was very difficult since these bis‐phosphines decomposed on column chromatography on silica gel and were converted mostly by oxidation by air to bis(phosphine oxides) 5a and 5b . Both 5a and 5b were also obtained in pure form by reaction of 3a or 3b with (diphenylphosphinyl)lithium (=lithium oxidodiphenylphospanide) in THF, followed by column chromatography on silica gel with Et₂O. Carboxaldehydes 7a and 7b were synthesized by a disproportionation reaction of the dimethanol mixture 2a / 2b with catalytic amounts of TsOH. The subsequent decarbonylation of both carboxaldehydes with tris(triphenylphosphine)rhodium(1+) chloride yielded heptalene 8 in a quantitative yield. The reaction of a thermal‐equilibrium mixture 3a / 3b with the borane adduct of (diphenylphosphino)lithium in THF at 0° gave 6a and 6b in yields of 5 and 15%, respectively (Scheme 4). However, heating 6a or 6b in the presence of 1,4‐diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (DABCO) in toluene, generated both bis‐phosphine 4a and its DBS isomer 4b which could not be separated. The attempt at a conversion of 3a or 3b into bis‐phosphines 4a or 4b by treatment with t‐BuLi and Ph₂PCl also failed completely. Thus, we returned to investigate the antipodes of the dimethanols 2a, 2b , and of 8 that can be separated on an HPLC Chiralcel‐OD column. The CD spectra of optically pure (M)‐ and (P)‐configurated heptalenes 2a, 2b , and 8 were measured (Figs. 4, 5, and 9).     

Analogues of α‐Campholenal (= (1R)‐2,2,3‐Trimethylcyclopent‐3‐ene‐1‐acetaldehyde) as Building Blocks for (+)‐β‐Necrodol (= (1S,3S)‐2,2,3‐Trimethyl‐4‐methylenecyclopentanemethanol) and Sandalwood‐like Alcohols

To complete our panorama in structure–activity relationships (SARs) of sandalwood‐like alcohols derived from analogues of α‐campholenal (= (1R)‐2,2,3‐trimethylcyclopent‐3‐ene‐1‐acetaldehyde), we isomerized the epoxy‐isopropyl‐apopinene (?)‐ 2d to the corresponding unreported α‐campholenal analogue (+)‐ 4d (Scheme 1). Derived from the known 3‐demethyl‐α‐campholenal (+)‐ 4a , we prepared the saturated analogue (+)‐ 5a by hydrogenation, while the heterocyclic aldehyde (+)‐ 5b was obtained via a Bayer‐Villiger reaction from the known methyl ketone (+)‐ 6 . Oxidative hydroboration of the known α‐campholenal acetal (?)‐ 8b allowed, after subsequent oxidation of alcohol (+)‐ 9b to ketone (+)‐ 10 , and appropriate alkyl Grignard reaction, access to the 3,4‐disubstituted analogues (+)‐ 4f,g following dehydration and deprotection. (Scheme 2). Epoxidation of either (+)‐ 4b or its methyl ketone (+)‐ 4h , afforded stereoselectively the trans‐epoxy derivatives 11a,b , while the minor cis‐stereoisomer (+)‐ 12a was isolated by chromatography (trans/cis of the epoxy moiety relative to the C₂ or C₃ side chain). Alternatively, the corresponding trans‐epoxy alcohol or acetate 13a,b was obtained either by reduction/esterification from trans‐epoxy aldehyde (+)‐ 11a or by stereoselective epoxidation of the α‐campholenol (+)‐ 15a or of its acetate (?)‐ 15b , respectively. Their cis‐analogues were prepared starting from (+)‐ 12a . Either (+)‐ 4h or (?)‐ 11b , was submitted to a Bayer‐Villiger oxidation to afford acetate (?)‐ 16a . Since isomerizations of (?)‐ 16 lead preferentially to β‐campholene isomers, we followed a known procedure for the isomerization of (?)‐epoxyverbenone (?)‐ 2e to the norcampholenal analogue (+)‐ 19a . Reduction and subsequent protection afforded the silyl ether (?)‐ 19c , which was stereoselectively hydroborated under oxidative condition to afford the secondary alcohol (+)‐ 20c . Further oxidation and epimerization furnished the trans‐ketone (?)‐ 17a , a known intermediate of either (+)‐β‐necrodol (= (+)‐(1S,3S)‐2,2,3‐trimethyl‐4‐methylenecyclopentanemethanol; 17c ) or (+)‐(Z)‐lancifolol (= (1S,3R,4Z)‐2,2,3‐trimethyl‐4‐(4‐methylpent‐3‐enylidene)cyclopentanemethanol). Finally, hydrogenation of (+)‐ 4b gave the saturated cis‐aldehyde (+)‐ 21 , readily reduced to its corresponding alcohol (+)‐ 22a . Similarly, hydrogenation of β‐campholenol (= 2,3,3‐trimethylcyclopent‐1‐ene‐1‐ethanol) gave access via the cis‐alcohol rac‐ 23a , to the cis‐aldehyde rac‐ 24 .     

Enantioselective Total Synthesis of (+)‐Jungermatrobrunin A

A concise and enantioselective total synthesis of (+)‐jungermatrobrunin A ( 1 ), which features a unique bicyclo[3.2.1]octene ring skeleton with an unprecedented peroxide bridge, was accomplished in 13 steps by making use of a late‐stage visible‐light‐mediated Schenck ene reaction of (?)‐1α,6α‐diacetoxyjungermannenone C ( 2 ). Along the way, a UV‐light‐induced bicyclo[3.2.1]octene ring rearrangement afforded (+)‐12‐hydroxy‐1α,6α‐diacetoxy‐ent‐kaura‐9(11),16‐dien‐15‐one ( 4 ). These divergent photo‐induced skeletal rearrangements support a possible biogenetic relationship between (+)‐ 1 , (?)‐ 2 , and (+)‐ 4 .     

Bis‐Bromine‐1,4‐Diazabicyclo[2.2.2]Octane (Br2‐DABCO) as an Efficient Promoter for One‐Pot Conversion of N‐Arylglycines to N‐Arylsydnones in the Presence of NaNO2/Ac2O Under Neutral Conditions

Bis‐Bromin‐1,4‐diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (Br₂‐DABCO)‐promoted one‐pot conversion of various N‐arylglycines to sydnones using a combination of NaNO₂ and Ac₂O has been achieved efficiently through N‐nitrosation followed by cyclization in high yields (90‐96%) under mild and neutral conditions.     

Asymmetric Syntheses of the Macrocyclic Spermine Alkaloids (−)‐(S)‐Protoverbine, (−)‐(S)‐Buchnerine,and Their Naturally Occurring Congenial Alkaloids

Asymmetric syntheses of the following 17‐membered macrocyclic spermine alkaloids are presented: (−)‐(S)‐protoverbine (=(8S)‐8‐phenyl‐1,5,9,13‐tetraazacycloheptadecane‐6‐one; 1 ), (+)‐(S)‐protomethine (=(2S)‐2‐phenyl‐1,5,9,14‐tetraazabicyclo[12.3.1]octadecan‐4‐one; 2 ), (−)‐(S)‐buchnerine (=(8S)‐8‐(4‐methoxyphenyl)‐1,5,9,13‐tetraazacycloheptadecane‐6‐one; 8 ), (+)‐(S)‐verbamethine (=(+)‐(2S)‐9‐[(E)‐phenylprop‐2‐enoyl]‐2‐phenyl‐1,5,9,14‐tetraazabicyclo[12.3.1]octadecan‐4‐one; 4 ), (−)‐(S)‐verbacine (=(−)‐(8S)‐1‐[(E)‐phenylprop‐2‐enoyl]‐8‐phenyl‐1,5,9,13‐tetraazacycloheptadecan‐6‐one; 3 ), (−)‐(S)‐verbasikrine (=(−)‐(8S)‐1‐[(E)‐3‐(4‐methoxyphenyl)prop‐2‐enoyl]‐8‐phenyl‐1,5,9,13‐tetraazacycloheptadecan‐6‐one; 26 ), (−)‐(S)‐isoverbasikrine (=(−)‐(8S)‐1‐[(Z)‐3‐(4‐methoxyphenyl)prop‐2‐enoyl]‐8‐phenyl‐1,5,9,13‐tetraazacycloheptadecan‐6‐one; 25 ), (+)‐(S)‐verbamekrine (=(+)‐(2S)‐9‐[(E)‐3‐(4‐methoxyphenyl)prop‐2‐enoyl]‐2‐phenyl‐1,5,9,14‐tetraazabicyclo[12.3.1]octadecan‐4‐one; 23 ), and (+)‐(S)‐isoverbamekrine (=(+)‐(2S)‐9‐[(Z)‐3‐(4‐methoxyphenyl)prop‐2‐enoyl]‐2‐phenyl‐1,5,9,14‐tetraazabicyclo[12.3.1]octadecan‐4‐one; 24 ). Effective methods for ¹H‐NMR determination of the enantiomeric purity in which (S)‐2‐hydroxy‐2‐phenylacetic acid and (S)‐2‐acetoxy‐2‐phenylacetic acid are used as shift reagents for 1, 8 , and related macrocyclic alkaloids are described.