Stereoselective Synthesis of (Z)-1-Benzhydryl-4-cinnamylpiperazines via the Wittig Reaction

A synthetic method of producing (E)- and (Z)-isomers of 1-benzhydryl-4-cinnamylpiperazines in a specific ratio from corresponding benzhydrylpiperazine is described. Of the three compounds synthesized (5a–c), the ratio of E/Z-isomers remained around 15:85. The key intermediates, 1-benzhydryl-4-(2,2-dimethoxyethyl)piperazine derivatives (3a–c), were prepared by nucleophilic substitution reaction of benzhydrylpiperazines (2a–c) with chloroacetaldehyde dimethylacetal in good yield (up to 88%). Hydrolysis of 3a–c gave the corresponding aldehydes 4a–c, which when subjected to the Wittig reaction followed by column purification to afford 1a–c (E-isomers) and 6a–c (Z-isomers) in pure form. The isolated compounds were characterized by NMR and mass spectral analysis.

[Supplementary materials are available for this article. Go to the publisher's online edition of Synthetic Communications® for the following free supplemental resource(s): Full experimental and spectral details.]     

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.     

Synthesis and reactions of 1-[1-oxido-2-(3,4)-pyridinyl]-2-methyloxiranes with nitrogen nucleophiles

Reaction of 2(3,4)-pyridinecarboxaldehydes (5) with ethylidenetriphenylphosphorane afford a mixture of stereoisomers Z-( 6 ) and E-1-[2(3,4)-pyridinyl]-1-propenes ( 7 ). m-Chloroperbenzoic acid oxidation of 6 and 7 yields a 60:40 mixture of Z-( 8 ) and E-1-[1-oxido-2(3,4)-pyridinyl]-2-methyloxiranes ( 9 ). The regiospecific reaction of Z-isomers 8a-c with cyclic amines as piperidine give rise to threo-1-hydroxy-1-[1-oxido-2(3,4)-pyridinyl]-2-(1-piperidino)propanes ( 10 ) while the E-isomer 9a yields erythro- 11 . On tho other hand, the E-isomers 9b and 9c having 1-oxido-3(4)-pyridinyl substituents afford erythro- 12 resulting from attack by piperidine at C-1 of the oxirane. Reductive deoxygenation using 10% palladium on charcoal and hydrogen gas effectively removed the N-oxide substituent from the threo- 10 and erythro- 11 β-aminoalcohols. Dilute solution ir spectroscopy indicated the existance of strong intramolecular hydrogen bonding in the β-aminoalcohols 10 and 11 . The assignment of relative configuration of diastereoisomers 10 and 11 was based on the magnitude of the vicinal coupling constant J where J threo is greater than J erythro.     

Absolute Konfiguration von Loroxanthin (=(3R, 3′R, 6′R)-β, ϵ-Carotin-3, 19, 3′-triol)

Absolute Configuration of Loroxanthin (=(3R, 3′R, 6′R)-β, ?-Carotene-3, 19, 3′-triol) ‘Loroxanthin’, isolated from Chlorella vulgaris, was separated by HPLC. methods in two major isomers, a mono-cis-loroxanthin and the all-trans-form. Solutions of the pure isomers easily set up again a mixture of the cis/trans-isomers. Extensive ¹H-NMR. spectral measurements at 400 MHz allowed to establish the 3′, 6′-trans-configuration at the ?-end group in both isomers and the (9E)-configuration in the mono-cis-isomer. The absolute configurations at C(3) and C(6′) were deduced from CD. correlations with synthetic (9Z, 3R, 6′R)-β, ?-carotene-3, 19-diol ( 5 ) and (9E, 3R, 6′R)-β, ?-carotene-3, 19-diol ( 6 ), respectively. Thus, all-trans-loroxanthin ( 3 ) is (9Z, 3R, 3′R, 6′R)-β, ?-carotene-3, 19, 3′-triol and its predominant mono-cis-isomer is (9E, 3R, 3′R, 6′R)-β, ?-carotene-3, 19, 3′-triol ( 4 ). Cooccurrence in the same organism and identical chirality at all centers suggest that loroxanthin is biosynthesized from lutein ( 2 ).     

(all-E)-12′-Apozeaxanthinol,Persicaxanthine und Persicachrome

( all-E)-12′-Apozeanthinol, Persicaxanthine, and Persicachromes Reexamination of the so-called ‘persicaxanthins’ and ‘persicachromes’, the fluorescent and polar C₂₅-apocarotenols from the flesh of cling peaches, led to the identification of the following components: (3R)-12′-apo-β-carotene-3,12′-diol ( 3 ), (3S,5R,8R, all-E)- and (3S,5R,8S,all-E)-5,8-epoxy-5,8-dihydro-12′-apo-β-carotene-3,12′-diols (4 and 5, resp.), (3S,5R,6S,all-E)-5,6-epoxy-5,6-dihydro-l2′-apo-β-carotene-3,12′-diol =persicaxanthin; ( 6 ), (3S,5R,6S,9Z,13′Z)-5,6-dihydro-12′apo-β-carotene-3,12′-diol ( 7 ; probable structure), (3S,5R,6S,15Z)-5,6-epoxy-5,6-dihydro-12′-apo-β-carotene-3,12′-diol ( 8 ), and (3S,5R,6S,13Z)-5,6-epoxy-5,6-dihydro-12′-apo-β-carotene-3,12′-diol ( 9 ). The (Z)-isomers 7 – 9 are very labile and, after HPLC separation, isomerized predominantly to the (all-E)-isomer 6 .     

1H NMR spectra of E and Z pyridine-2-carbaldehyde 2′-pyridylhydrazone and related compounds

Proton magnetic resonance spectra at 100 MHz are reported for the E- and Z-isomers of pyridine-2-carbaldehyd 2′- pyridylhydrazone in carbon tetrachloride, d₆-dimethylsulphoxide and d₆-benzene solutions, and for various monomethylated derivatives in d₆-dimethylsulphoxide. The spectral parameters obtained by analysis with the help of LAOCOON 3 are discussed in terms of solvent effects and the chemical shift changes consequent upon isomerisation are evaluated. Some conclusions are reached concerning the preferred conformations of the E- and Z-isomers of pyridine-2-carbaldehyde 2′-pyridylhydrazone.     

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).     

C45- and C50-Carotehoids. Part 8. Synthesis of (all-E,2S,2′S)-bacterioruberin, (all-E,2S,2′S)-monoanhydrobacterioruberin, (all-E,2S,2′S)-bisanhydrobacterioruberin, (all- E,2R,2′R)-3,4,3′,4′-tetrahydrobisanhydro- bacterioruberin,and (all-E,S)-2-isopentenyl-3,4-dehydrorhodopin

Starting from (R)-3-hydroxybutyric acid ((R)- 10 ) the C₄₅- and C₅₀-carotenoids (all-E,2S,2′S)-bacterioruberm ( 1 ), (all-E,2S,2′S)-monoanhydrobacterioruberin ( 2 ), (all-E,2S,2′S)-bisanhydrobacterioruberin ( 3 ), (all-E,2R,2′R)-3,4,3′,4′-tetrahydrobisanhydrobacterioruberin ( 5 ), and (all-E,S)-2-isopentenyl-3,4-dehydrorhodopin ( 6 ) were synthesized. By comparison of the chiroptical data of the natural and the synthetic compounds, the (2S)- and (2′S)-configuration of the natural products 1–3 and 6 was established.     

Synthese von enantiomerenreinem Mimulaxanthin und seiner (9Z,9′Z)- und (15Z)-Isomeren

Synthesis of Enantiomerically Pure Mimulaxanthin and of Its (9Z,9′Z)- and (15Z)Isomers We present the details of a synthesis of optically active, enantiomerically pure stereoisomers of mimulaxanthin (=(3s,5R,6R,3′S,5′R,6′R)-6,7,6′,7′-tetradehydro-5,6,5′,6′-tetrahydro-β,β-carotin-3,5,3′,5′-tetrol) either as free alcohols 1a and 24a or as their crystalline (t-Bu)Me₂Si ethers 1b and 24b . Grasshopper ketone 2a , a presumed synthon, unexpectedly showed a very sluggish reaction with Wittig-Horner reagents. Upon heating with the ylide of ester phosphonates, an addition across the allenic bond occurred. On the contrary, a slow but normal 1,2-addition took place with the ylide from (cyanomethyl)phosphonate but, unexpectedly, with concomitant inversion at the chiral axis. So a mixture of(6R,6S,9E,9Z)-isomers 6 – 9 was produced {(Scheme 1). However, a fast and very clean 1,2-addition occurred with the ethynyl ketone 12 to yield the esters 13 and 14 (Scheme 2). DIBAH reduction of the separated stereoisomers gave the allenic alcohols 15 and 16 in high yield. Mild oxidation to the aldehydes 17 and 18 followed by their condensation with the acetylenic C₁₀-bis-ylide 19 led to the stereoisomeric 15,15′-didehydromimulaxanthins 20 and 22 , respectively (Schemes 3 and 4). Mimulaxanthins 1 and 24 were prepared by partial hydrogenation of 20 and 22 followed by a thermal (Z/E)-isomerization. As expected, the mimulaxanthins exhibit very weak CD curves, obviously caused by the allenic bond that insulates the chiral centers in the end group from the chromophor. On the contrary, some of the C₁₅-allenic synthons showed not only fairly strong CD effects but also a split CD curve which, in our interpretation, results from an exciton coupling between the allene and the C(9)?C(10) bond. We postulate a rotation around the C(8)? C(9) bond, presumably caused by an intramolecular H-bond in 16 or by a dipol interaction between the polarized double bonds in 6 , 7 , 8 , and 17 .     

Synthesis of (all-E,2R,2′R)-oscillol

Optically active (all-E,2R,2′R)-oscillol (= (all-E,2R,2′R)-3,4,3′,4′-tetradehydro-1,2,1′,2′-tetrahydro-ψ,ψ-carotene-1,2,1′,2′-tetrol; 1 ) was synthesized according to the C₁₀ + C₂₀ + C₁₀ = C₄₀ strategy, applying the Wittig reaction to couple the synthons 4 and 6 . The chiral centre was introduced by a Sharpless dihydroxylation of 3-methylbut-2-enyl 4-nitrobenzoate ( 8 ).     

Studies on chiral thiophosphoric acids and their derivatives: 4. The stereospecific synthesis of optically active O-ethyl O-phenyl O-(1-methyl-2-ethoxycarbonyl) vinyl phosphorothionate

The stereoisomers (3 and 4) of O-ethyl O-phenyl O-(1-methyl-2-ethoxycarbonyl) vinyl phosphorothionate have been synthesized by the reaction of optically active O-ethyl O-phenyl phosphorothiochloride 2 with ethyl acetoacetate under different conditions. 3 (100% Z-isomer, determined by ¹H NMR) was synthesized by the reaction of 2 with ethyl sodio-acetoacetate in the mixed solvent of 1:3 toluene-dioxane at 50°C. 4 (>95% E-isomer) was obtained by the reaction of 2 with ethyl acetoacetate in presence of t-BuOK in DMSO at 15°C. 100% E-isomer 4 was separated from crude 4(>95% E-isomer) by column chromatography on silica gel (petroleum ether-ether 6:1). By this reaction either Z- or E-isomers were formed with inversion of the configuration at phosphorus atom. Thus, six stereoisomers of 3 and 4 which were prepared from 2 (RS, S, R) by the above method namely (RS)-Z, (R)-Z, (S)-Z and (RS)-E, (R)-E, (S)-E.     

Studies on ketene and its derivatives. CXI . Photoreaction of diketene with 2(1H)-quinolone derivatives

Photoreaction of diketene with 4-methyl-2(1H)-quinolone and 1,4-dimethyl-2(1H)-quinolone gave 2R*,2aR*,SbR*- and 2R*,2aS*8bS*-8b-methyl-3-oxo-1,2,2a,3,4,8b-hexahydrocyclobuta[c]quinoline-2-spiro-2′-(oxetan)-4′-one ( 6a and 6b ), and their 4-methyl derivatives 7a and 7b , respectively. Thermolysis of compounds 6 and 7 afforded 2aR*,8bS*-8b-methyl-2-methylene-3-oxo-1,2,2a,3,4,8b-hexahydrocyclobuta[c]quinoline ( 8 ) and its 4-methyl derivatives 9 , respectively. Similarly, photolysis of diketene and 4-acetoxy-2(1H)-quinolone gave 1R*,2aS*,8bS*- and 1R*,2aR*,8bR*-8b-acetoxy-3-oxo-1,2,2a,3,4,8b-hexahydrocyclobuta[c]-quinoline ( 11a and 11b ). Alcoholysis of compounds 11a and 11b with hydrogen chloride in methanol gave 1-hydroxy-1-(methoxycarbonyl)methylcyclobuta[c]quinoline derivative 12 and 13 which were transformed to 4-acetyl-3-methyl-2(1H)-quinolone ( 15 ) by further alcoholysis. Photoreaction of diketene with 2(1H)-quinolone derivatives gave the corresponding cyclobuta[c]quinoline spirooxetanone derivatives 18 and 23 , which, by thermolysis, were transformed to 2-methylenecyclobuta[c]quinoline 23 and 25 , respectively.     

Syntheses of (2R,4'R,8'R)-alpha-tocopherol and (2R,3'E,7'E)-alpha-tocotrienol.

Reaction of trimethyl-hydroquinone with methyl vinyl ketone in acidic methanol gave rac.-2-methoxy-2,5,7,8-tetramethyl-chroman-6-ol ( 8 ). This acetal was converted in four steps to rac.-(6-hydroxy-2,5,7,8-tetramethyl-chroman-2-yl)acetic acid ( 13 ). Acid 13 was readily resolved with α-methyl-benzylamine to give the (S)-enantiomer 14 . Treatment of the unwanted (2 R)-isomer with acid regenerated 13 , thus leading to an efficient use of this compound. Employing a side chain derived from phytol, 14 was converted to (2R, 4′R, 8′R)-α-tocopherol ( 1d , ‘natural’ vitamin E). A reaction sequence from 14 involving two highly stereoselective Claisen rearrangements has provided the first total synthesis of (2R,'E,7′E)-α-tocotrienol ( 2d ).     

Investigation of the reactions of fluorine containing 3-hydrazino-5H-1, 2, 4-triazino[5, 6-b]indoles with ethyl acetoacetate. Synthesis of some novel tetracyclic ring systems

Novel tetracyclic ring systems viz. 3-methyl-1-oxo-12H-1, 2, 4-triazepino[3′,4′:3, 4][1, 2, 4]triazino[5, 6-b]indole ( 4a ) and 3-methyl-5-oxo-12H-1, 2, 4-triazepino[4′,3′:2, 3][1, 2, 4]triazino[5, 6-b]indole ( 5a ), having angular and linear structures respectively, were synthesized by the cyclization of 3-oxobutanoic acid [5H-1, 2, 4-triazino-[5, 6-b]indole-3-yl]hydrazone ( 3a ). However, cyclization of 3b (R = CH_a, R¹ = R² = H) afforded the angular product 4b exclusively. Moreover, cyclization of 3c (R = R³ = H, R¹ = F) yielded 7-fluoro-1-0xo-10H-1, 3-imidazo[2′,3′:3, 4][1, 2, 4]triazino[5, 6-b]indole ( 6c ) and 7-fluoro-3-oxo-10H-1, 3-imidazo[3′,2′:2, 3][1, 2, 4]triazino-[5, 6-b]indole ( 7c ) instead of the expected triazepinone derivatives. Compound 3d (R = R¹ = H, R² = CF₃) also gave an imidazole derivative but only one angular product was obtained. In all these reactions, formation of the angular product involving cyclization at N-4 is favoured. Characterization of these products have been done by elemental analyses, ir, pmr, ¹⁹F nmr and mass spectral studies.     

Steric and electronic effects on the heterolytic H2‐splitting by phosphine‐boranes R3B/PR′3 (R = C6F5, Ph; R′ = C6H2Me3, tBu,Ph, C6F5, Me,H): A computational study

The steric and electronic effects exerted by the substituents R/R′ on the heterolytic H₂‐splitting by phosphine‐boranes R₃B/PR′₃ [R = C₆F₅ ( 1 ), Ph ( 2 ); R′ = C₆H₂Me₃ ( a ), tBu ( b ), Ph ( c ), C₆F₅ ( d ), Me ( e ), H ( f )] have been studied by performing quantum mechanical density functional theory and RI‐MP2 calculations. Energy decomposition analyses based on the block‐localized wavefunction method show that the nature of the interaction between R₃B and PR′₃ is strongly dependent on the B? P distance. With short B? P distances (～2.1 Å), the strength of Lewis pairs results from the balance among various energy terms, and both strong and weak dative bonds can be found in this group. However, at long B? P distances (>4.0 Å), the correlation and dispersion energy (ΔE_corr) dominates. In other words, the van der Waals (vdW) interaction rules these weakly bound complexes. No ion‐pair structures of 1f and 2c – 2f can be located as they instantly converge to vdW complexes R₃B···H₂···PR′₃. We thus propose a model, which predicts that when the sum (E_hp) of the hydride affinity (HA) of BR₃ and the proton affinity (PA) of PR′₃ is higher than 340.0 kcal/mol, the ion‐pair [R₃BH^?][HPR′] can be observed, whereas with E_hp below this value, the ion pair would instantly undergo the combination of proton and hydride with the release of H₂. The overall reaction energies ( 1a – 1e and 2a – 2b ) can be best described by a fitting equation with HA(BR₃), PA(PR′₃), and the binding energy ΔE_b(BR₃/PR′₃) as predictor variables: ΔE_R([R₃BH^?][HPR′]) = ?0.779HA(BR₃) ? 0.695PA(PR′₃) ? 1.331 ΔE (BR₃/PR′₃) + 245.3 kcal/mol. The fitting equation provides quantitative insights into the steric and electronic effects on the thermodynamic aspects of the heterolytic H₂‐splitting reactions. The electronic effects are reflected by HA(BR₃) and PA(PR′₃), and ΔE_b can be significantly influenced by the steric overcrowding. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2011     

Synthesis and Stereoisomerization of 2-(1-Alkoxyimino-2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)-5-trimethylsilylfurans

2-(1-Alkoxyimino-2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)-5-trimethylsilylfurans were synthesized by the condensation of 2-(trifluoroacetyl)-5-trimethylsilylfuran with alkoxyamines. According to ¹H and ¹⁹F NMR spectroscopic data, the alkoxyimino group in the E-isomers descreens the H-3 and H-4 protons of the furan ring more strongly than in the Z-isomers, shifting their signals downfield. The fluorine atoms of the α-trifluoromethyl group in the Z-isomer are characterized by a downfield shift in relation to the E-isomer. __________ Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 6, pp. 834–838, June, 2005.     

Synthesis of enantiomers of 2′-aminomethyl-5-benzylacyclouridine (AM-BAU) and 2′-aminomethyl-5-benzyloxybenzylacyclouridine (AM-BBAU). Potent inhibitors of uridine phosphorylase

Racemic 2′-aminomethyl-5-benzyl-acyclouridine (AM-BAU, 5 ) and 2′-aminomethyl-5-benzyloxybenzyla-cyclouridine (AM-BBAU, 6 ) have been found to be very active inhibitors of uridine phosphorylase [1]. Their enantiomers were synthesized from chiral 2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxolane-4-methanol ( 7a,b ). S-(—)-AM-BAU ( 5a ) and S-(—)-AM-BBAU ( 6a ) were prepared from the R-(—) isomer 7a , and R(+)-AM-BAU ( 5b ) and R-(+)-AM-BBAU (6b) from the S-(+) isomer 7b . A different route from the S-(+) isomer 7b to S-(—)-AM-BBAU ( 6a ) was also determined to be feasible.     

Synthetic studies aimed at the elucidation of the stereostructure of the aggregation pheromone, 2-methyl-6-(4′-methylenebicyclo[3.1.0]hexyl)hept-2-en-1-ol,produced by the male stink bug Erysarcoris lewisi

The male-produced aggregation pheromone of the stink bug Erysarcoris lewisi Distant was shown to be one of the two diastereomers of (2Z,6R)-2-methyl-6-(4′-methylenebicyclo[3.1.0]hexyl)hept-2-en-1-ol by synthesizing and bioassaying (2E,6R)-, (2E,6S)-, (2Z,6R)-, and (2Z,6S)-isomers. These were synthesized from the enantiomers of citronellal by employing an intramolecular α-ketocarbene addition to a double bond and the E-selective or Z-selective olefination of a formyl group as the key steps. A reliable method was developed for the preparation of ethyl 2-(di-o-tolylphosphono)propanoate, Ando’s reagent for Z-selective olefination.     

Azimine IV. Kinetik und Mechanismus der thermischen Stereoisomerisierung von 2,3-Diaryl-1-phthalimido-aziminen

Azimines IV. Kinetics and Mechanism of the Thermal Stereoisomerization of 2,3-Diaryl-1-phthalimido-azimines¹) Mixtures of (1E, 2Z)- and (1Z, 2E)-2-phenyl-1-phthalimido-3-p-tolyl-azimine ( 3a and 3b , resp.) and (1E, 2Z)- and (1Z, 2E)-3-phenyl-1-phthalimido-2-p-tolylazimine ( 4a and 4b , resp.) were obtained by the addition of oxidatively generated phthalimido-nitrene (6) to (E)- and (Z)-4-methyl-azobenzene ( 7a and 7b , resp.). Whereas complete separation of the 4 isomers 3a, 3b, 4a and 4b was not possible, partial separation by chromatography and crystallization led to 5 differently composed mixtures of azimine isomers. The spectroscopic properties of these mixtures (UV., ¹H-NMR.) were used to determine the ratios of isomers in the mixtures, and served as a tool for the assignment of constitution and configuration to those isomers which were dominant in each of these mixtures, respectively. Investigation of the isomerization of the azimines 3a, 3b, 4a and 4b within the 5 mixtures at various concentrations by ¹H-NMR.-spectroscopy at room temperature revealed that only stereoisomers are interconverted ( 3a ? 3b; 4a ? 4b) and that the (1E, 2Z) ? (1Z, 2E) stereoisomerization is a unimolecular reaction. These observations exclude an isomerization mechanism via an intermediate 1-phthalimido-triaziridine (2) or via dimerization of 1-phthalimido-azimines (1) , respectively. The 3-p-tolyl substituted stereoisomers 3a and 3b isomerized slightly slower than the 3-phenyl substituted ones 4a and 4b , an effect which is consistent with the assumption that the rate determining step of the interconversion of (1E, 2Z)- and (1Z, 2E)-1-phthalimido-azimines (1a ? 1b) is the stereoisomerization of the stereogenic center at N(2), N(3), either by inversion of N(3) or by rotation around the N(2), N(3) bond. The total isomerization process is assumed to occur via the thermodynamically less stable (1Z, 2Z)- and (1E, 2E)-isomers 1c and 1d , respectively, as intermediates in undetectably low concentrations which stay in rapidly established equilibria with the observed, thermodynamically more stable (1E, 2Z)- and (1Z, 2E)-isomers 1a and 1b , respectively. At higher temperatures, the azimines 3 and 4 are transformed into N-phenyl-N,N′-phthaloyl-N′-p-tolyl-hydrazine (8) with loss of nitrogen.     

Reaction of N1,N2-diarylacetamidines with (2,4,7-trinitro-9H-fluoren-9-ylidene)propanedinitriles

Novel spiro[fluorene-9,4′-(1′,2′,3′,4′-tetrahydropyridine)]-5′-carbonitriles 6a-c have been obtained from the reaction of N¹,N²-diarylacetamidines 1a-c with (2,4,7-trinitro-9H-fluoren-9-ylidene)propanedinitrile ( 2 ) in ethyl acetate solutions at ambient temperature for 6a,b or under reflux for 6c , respectively.