Synthesis of trans-vaccenic acid and cis-9-trans-11-conjugated linoleic acid

The preparation of the monounsaturated fatty acid, trans-vaccenic acid 4 (TVA), using both Wittig and one-pot Julia-Kocieński olefination protocol, was achieved in good yield. Similarly a Wittig approach was employed for the stereoselective synthesis of cis-9-trans-11-conjugated linoleic acid 2 from trans-2-nonenal and (8-carboxyoctyl)triphenylphosphonium bromide 12.     

Stereoselective multigram-scale synthesis of cis- and trans-β-phenylproline derivatives

Efficient routes for the gram-scale preparation of the proline analogues that bear a phenyl substituent attached to the pyrrolidine β carbon (cis- and trans-β-phenylproline) have been developed. The cis derivative was synthesized from N-Boc-β-alanine in six steps and 78% overall yield. The generation of a vinyl triflate with full regiochemical control together with a high-yielding cross-coupling reaction and a completely stereoselective hydrogenation are at the basis of the high efficiency of the procedure. Epimerization of the cis β-phenylproline derivative with lithium bis(trimethylsilyl)amide provided access to the trans isomer.     

Occurrence of oleic and 18:1 methyl-branched acyl chains in lipids of Rhodobacter sphaeroides 2.4.1

The fatty acids (FAs) composition of lipids extracted from Rhodobacter sphaeroides 2.4.1 was investigated by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) analysis of the corresponding FA methyl esters (FAMEs), obtained through trans-esterification of the original lipid species. A GC stationary phase based on a highly polar ionic liquid (IL) was selected, aimed to enhance the separation of isomeric FAMEs with particular emphasis on positional and geometrical isomers of monounsaturated 16:1 and 18:1 fatty acyl chains. The occurrence of 18:1 cis-Δ⁹ (oleic) acid, a positional isomer of the well-known and most predominant 18:1 cis-Δ¹¹ (cis-vaccenic) acid, has been demonstrated here for the first time. Furthermore a methyl branched 18:1 FA was also identified and its structure tentatively assigned as 11-methyl-Δ¹²-octadecenoic acid (most likely as trans isomer). The unprecedented observation about 18:1 cis-Δ⁹ FA occurrence in R. sphaeroides 2.4.1 is, even indirectly, supported by a biosynthetic pathway postulated with the aid of the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) database. The concurrent presence of 16:1 cis-Δ⁷ and 18:1 cis-Δ⁹ FAs suggested the existence of parallel and/or complementary processes to those invoked for the formation of most common 16:1 cis-Δ⁹ and 18:1 cis-Δ¹¹ FAs. A further route was hypothesized for the trans FAs biosynthesis in wild-type cells of R. sphaeroides.     

The synthesis of potential Neramexane metabolites: cis- and trans-3-amino-1,3,5,5-tetramethylcyclohexanecarboxylic acids

A seven step synthetic route toward potential Neramexane metabolites cis- and trans-3-amino-1,3,5,5-tetramethylcyclohexanecarboxylic acids, cis-1 and trans-1, has been developed from isophorone. The synthetic procedure represents a useful method for the preparation of γ-amino acids with both amino and carboxyl groups situated at tertiary carbon atoms.     

Facile stereoselective synthesis of cis- and trans-3-alkoxyazetidin-2-ones

A highly stereoselective synthesis of cis- and trans-3-alkoxy-3-phenyl/benzylthioazetidin-2-ones is described. The reaction of α-chlorosulfide-β-lactams with various alcohols catalyzed by a Lewis acid such as ZnCl₂ in the presence of molecular sieves (3-4 Å) leads to cis-3-alkoxy-3-phenyl/benzylthio-β-lactams whereas treatment of potassium 2-alkoxy-2-phenylthioethanoate with appropriate Schiff's base using POCl₃ in the presence of triethylamine leads to the formation of trans-3-alkoxy-3-phenylthioazetidin-2-ones as major products.     

Isomeric forms of arylnitroso oxides: Electronic spectra and reactivity

The electronic spectra were measured and the kinetics of unimolecular decomposition of the isomeric forms (cis and trans) of phenylnitroso oxide, (4-methylphenyl)nitroso oxide, (4-nitropenyl)nitroso oxide, (4-bromophenyl)nitroso oxide, 4-(N,N-dimethylamino)phenylnitroso oxide, and (4-methoxyphenyl)nitroso oxide in acetonitrile, benzene, and n-hexane was studied using flash photolysis. In all of the nitroso oxides except for 4-(N,N-dimethylamino)phenylnitroso oxide, the cis form absorbed in a shorter wavelength region and was more labile than the trans form. The difference between the reactivity of the two species increased on going from n-hexane to acetonitrile. The temperature dependence of reaction rate constants was studied for both of the isomeric forms. Unlike the trans isomer, the cis isomer almost did not react with tetramethylethylene.     

The vibrational analysis and torsional study of trans-1,2-dimethylcyclopropane and cis-1,2-dimethylcyclopropane

The infrared spectra of cis-1,2-dimethylcyclopropane and trans-1,2-dimethylcyclopropane have been recorded between 4000 and 200 cm^?1 in the polycrystalline solid phase, and 4000 to 80 cm^?1 in the gas phase. The Raman spectra of these two compounds in the gaseous and liquid phases were also recorded between 3100 and 10 cm^?1. An assignment of the thirty-nine fundamental vibrations for both cis- and trans-1,2-dimethylcyclopropane is proposed, and comparisons are made with the vibrations of other similar molecules. Additionally, ten torsional transitions were observed in the far infrared and Raman spectra of cis-1,2-dimethylcyclopropane, and four transitions were observed in the spectra of the trans compound. From these spectral data, torsional barriers were determined. The effective barriers to methyl torsion are 2.92 kcal mol^?1 (12.20 kJ mol^?1) for cis-1,2-dimethylcyclopropane and 2.61 kcal mol^?1 (11.14 kJ mol^?1) for trans-1,2-dimethylcyclopronane.     

Electrochemical studies and photoconversion of cis-and trans-6,6′-diethoxythioindigo

The reduction of cis- and trans-6,6′-diethoxythioindigo (DETI) at a platinum electrode in N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) solution was studied by cyclic voltammetry and controlled potential coulometry. The cis-form, produced by photoisomerization of the trans-form, is reduced at less negative potentials than the trans-. The trans-isomer produces a fairly stable radical anion upon one-electron reduction; the cis-radical anion isomerizes rapidly to the trans-form and also dimerizes much more rapidly than the trans-isomer. A photogalvanic cell based on this system was devised but showed low efficiency for conversion of radiant energy to electricity.     

Chromatographic and spectroscopic investigations of the oxidation process in methyl oleate and methyl elaidate

In our paper the studies on the initial stage of autoxidation of cis- and trans-9-octadecenoic acid methyl esters were reported. The applied analytical methods were: (1) high-resolution NMR spectroscopy; (2) absorption iR spectroscopy; (3) adsorption TLC. The complementary methods were: determination of peroxide number, acid number and iodine number in the course of autoxidation. Our results pointed to the fact that the oxidation of trans-isomer showed the more restrained character. We tried to suggest the influence of structure of the examined compounds and of the peroxides formed in the initial stage of autoxidation on the course of this process.     

New stereoselective syntheses of cis- and trans-2-methyl-4-arylpiperidines

A stereoselective approach has been developed for the synthesis of cis- and trans-2-methyl-4-arylpiperidines from a common intermediate. The Ni-catalyzed hydrogenolysis of N-Boc-2-methyl-4-aryl-4-piperidinols, obtained by addition of organometallic reagents on N-Boc-2-methyl-4-piperidone, afforded the trans derivatives with up to 95% selectivity whereas the corresponding cis isomers were obtained in the presence of palladium catalysts.     

Kinetically distinct triplets in the photorearrangement of 2-phenylcyclohexanone to cis- and trans-6-phenyl-5-hexenals

A reinvestigation of the photochemistry of 2-phenylcyclohexanone reveals that the two aldehyde products, cis- and trans-6-phenyl-5-hexanal, come from triplets of different lifetimes. That the two distinct triplets are not simply the two conformers with phenyl axial and equatorial is demonstrated by the similar behavior of cis-4-t-butyl-2-phenylcyclohexanone. The trans isomer of this ketone is photostable. It is concluded that trans-enal arises by an almost concerted out-of-plane cleavage which forms a 1,6-biradical in the perfect geometry for disproportionation to trans-enal.The precursor to cis-enal may be a minor rotamer of 1 which is forced by nonbonded interactions into a cleavage mode which twists the biradical into a geometry suitable for at least partial formation of cis-enal. In both cases biradicals must be very short-lived and not rotationally equilibrated.     

Polyimidines: A new class of polymers. III. A comparison of isomers of polypyromellitimidines

The cis (3,3,5,5-), trans (3,3,7,7-), oxo, and thio analogs of tetraphenylpyromellitide were polymerized with 1, 6-hexane diamine, p-phenylene diamine, and p,p'-diaminodiphenyl ether under various conditions. A comparison was then made of reactivity of the isomers and of the properties of the polymers. In general the thio monomers were more soluble and reactive than the oxo. They also gave more thermally stable polymers. The cis isomers of the monomers were more soluble than the trans, but the trans were more reactive. The least stable of the 12 polymers prepared was that from the cis–oxo monomer and 1,6-hexane diamine. It gave a 10% weight loss at 300°C in air and 340°C in nitrogen by TGA. The most stable polymer was from the reaction of the cis–thio pyromellitide with p,p'-diaminodiphenyl ether, which showed 10% weight losses by TGA at 560 and 650°C in air and nitrogen, respectively. The polymers were stable in hot dilute hydrochloric acid and sodium hydroxide. They were all soluble in chloroform, dimethylformamide, and sulfuric acid. Polymers that contained sulfur were also soluble in carbon tetrachloride, benzene, xylene, and toluene. Brittle films could be cast from solution or melt-pressed.     

Synthesis of cis-3,4-diarylpiperidines and cis-3,4-diaryltetrahydropyrans

Substituted cis-3,4-diarylpiperidines and cis-3,4-diaryltetrahydropyrans are synthesized in modest overall yields starting from 4-aryl-1,2,5,6-tetrahydropyridines and 4-aryl-1,2,5,6-tetrahydropyrans via the following sequence: (1) pinacol-type ring contraction having the combination of m-chloroperoxybenzoic acid and boron trifluoride etherate, (2) Grignard addition with arylmagnesium bromide reagents and followed by boron trifluoride etherate-mediated intramolecular ring-expanded rearrangement, and (3) hydrogenation with hydrogen on 10% palladium-activated carbon. A facile synthesis of 3,4-diarylpyridines was also described by base-induced aromatization.     

Baylis-Hillman chemistry: synthesis of cis- and trans-α-methylene-γ-lactones

syn-Homoallylic alcohols prepared from Baylis-Hillman adducts react with CBr₄/PPh₃ to give trans-α-methylene-γ-lactones. Notably, the same alcohols yield the cis-α-methylene-γ-lactones in the presence of traces of p-toluenesulfonic acid.     

The first asymmetric synthesis of all four isomers of cis- and trans-3,4-dihydroxy-3,4-dihydromollugin

Asymmetric synthesis of all the four stereoisomers of cis-3,4-dihydroxy-3,4-dihydromollugins 4 and 6 and trans-3,4-dihydroxy-3,4-dihydromollugins 5 and 7 was achieved. The O-methoxymethyl mollugin derivatives were dihydroxylated to (−)- and (+)-cis-3,4-dihydroxy-3,4-dihydromollugin derivatives using both AD-mix-α and AD-mix-β. Deprotection of the MOM-ethers of cis-dihydroxy compounds resulted in the targeted stereoisomers (−)-(3R,4R)-cis-3,4-dihydroxy-3,4-dihydromollugin 4, (−)-(3R,4S)-trans-3,4-dihydroxy-3,4-dihydromollugin 5, (+)-(3S,4S)-cis-3,4-dihydroxy-3,4-dihydromollugin 6 and (+)-(3S,4R)-trans-3,4-dihydroxy-3,4-dihydromollugin 7. These routes were paved with difficulties, for example, incompatibility of the substrates with AD-mixes, the unexpected formation of trans-dihydroxy compounds and failures in deprotection protocols.     

Laser photolysis study of trans→cis photoisomerization of trans-1-phenyl-2-(2-naphthyl) ethylene

The direct trans→cis photoisomerization of trans-1-phenyl-2-(2-naphthyl) ethylene (trans-PNE) in liquid solution at room temperature was studied by the nanosecond laser photolysis technique. The time-resolved S_n←S₁ and T_n←T₁ absorption spectra were observed with trans-PNE at 300 K and 77 K. The lifetime of the triplet state of trans-PNE was found to be much shorter in liquid solution at room temperature than in rigid solution at 77 K. This fact and the effect of a triplet quencher shows that the photoisomerization of trans-PNE occurs mainly via the triplet state.     

Heterobimetallic [Ru(II)/Fe(II)] complexes: On the formation of trans- and cis-[RuCl2(dppf)(diimines)]

The synthesis and characterization of trans/cis-[RuCl₂(dppf)(diimines)], dppf = 1,1′-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene; diimines = 2,2′-bipyridine (trans/cis-(1)), the new complexes with 4,4′-dimethyl-2,2′-bipyridine (trans/cis-(2)) and 1,10-phenanthroline (cis-(3)) are presented. The complexes were synthesized using two routes and the trans/cis-isomer formation is dependent upon conditions and the precursor applied. The trans-isomer (kinetic) readily isomerizes to the cis-isomer (thermodynamic) when exposed to light (fluorescent) and this process was followed by cyclic voltammetry and UV-vis. The electrochemical studies on these complexes reveal that Fe^(III)/Fe^(II) couples are insensitive to the isomer (trans/cis) formed, but the Ru^(III)/Ru^(II) couples are dependent on the isomer. Transfer-hydrogenation reactions for reduction of acetophenone were conducted using complexes cis-(1) and cis-(2) and the results are compared with that obtained for similar complexes. X-ray structure for cis-(3) are presented and discussed.     

Improved synthesis of trans-4-alkylcyclohexane carboxylic acids

Several stereomerically pure amino acid derivatives containing the N-terminal trans-4-alkylcyclohexanoyl fragment were obtained. Hydrogenation of 4-alkylbenzoic acids in the presence of a special Ru-Ni/C catalytic system and isomerization of the resulting mixture of trans- and cis-isomers of 4-alkylcyclohexanecarboxylic acids were used as the key steps. The stereomeric configuration of all compounds was confirmed by ¹H NMR spectroscopy. The compounds obtained possess a broad biological activity potential and are useful intermediates in the synthesis of stereomerically pure modified peptides.     

Isomerizations of benzannelated C9H10 bicyclic systems into cyclononatetraenes. insight into the behaviour of medium-sized conjugated rings

Dibenzobicyclo[5.2.0]non-8-ene 9 was prepared from 2,3:6,7-dibenzocycloheptatriene as starting material. The bicyclic system 9 isomerized thermally to give cis,trans- and cis,cis-1,2:7,8-dibenzocyclononatetraene. The formation of cis,trans-1,2:7,8-dibenzocyclononatetraene occurs in an allowed concerted electrocyclic process of general interest.     

Optically active 4-substituted cis-1,2-diphenylethylene oxides and related 1,2-diphenylethane diols

Erythro 1-(4′-chlorophenyl)- and 1-(4′-methylphenyl)-2-phenylethane diols with [1S:2R] and [1R:2S] absolute stereochemistry were synthesized and converted to the corresponding 4′-substituted [1S:2R] and [1R:2S] cis-stilbene oxides by the following sequence: formation of 2-methoxydioxalanes, conversion to halohydrins and cyclization to cis epoxides. Substantial amounts of optically active 4′-substituted trans-stilbene oxides were also produced. The enzyme epoxide hydrase stereoselectivity adds water at the [S] carbon atom of the cis-stilbene oxides with inversion of configuration to produce [R:R] diols. Facile enzymatic resolution of cis - 1 - (4′ - nitrophenyl) - 2 - phenylethylene oxide was achieved. Optical properties, including CD spectra of the above compounds are described.