The Crystal and Molecular Structure of 3-Oxo-17β-acetoxy-Δ4-14α-methyl-8α, 9β, 10α, 13α-estrene

The crystal and molecular structure of 3-oxo-17β-acetoxy-Δ⁴-14α-methyl-8α, 9β, 10α, 13α-estrene, C₂₁H₃₀O₃, has been determined by X-ray diffraction analysis. The crystals belong to the orthorhombic space group P2₁2₁2₁, with the cell dimensions a = 12.093 Å, b = 19.667 Å, c = 7.746 Å; Z = 4. Intensity data were collected at room temperature with an automatic four-circle diffractometer. The structure was solved by direct methods and the parameters were refined by least-squares analysis. All the hydrogen atoms were included in the refinement. The final R value was 0.038 for 1413 observed reflections. The conformation of ring A is intermediate between a half-chair and a 1, 2-diplanar form. The hydrogens at C(9) and C(10) are anti, the B/C ring junction is trans, and rings B and C adopt chair conformations. Ring D is cis fused and is halfway between C₂ and C_s forms.     

Configuration-Odor Relationships in 5β-Ambrox

The four possible A/B cis-fused diastereoisomers of Ambrox® have been synthesized and their configurations and conformations established by X-ray and NMR analysis. Only 5β-ambrox (= 1,2,3a,4,5,5β,6,7,8,9,9a,9bα-dodecahydro-3aβ,6,6,9aβ-tetramethylnaphtho[2,1-b]furan; 5 ) has an odor quality comparable to Ambrox®. The 1,3-synperiplanar/diaxial conformation of the substituents at C(8) ( = C(3a)) and C(10) (= C(9a)) has thus been confirmed to be a compulsory structure element for the particular odor.     

Kinetics of the reactions of cyclopropane derivatives. V. The gas-phase unimolecular reactions of 1 α-chloro-2α,3α-dimethylcyclopropane and 1α-chloro-2α,3β-dimethylcyclopropane

Thermolysis of the “all-cis” compound 1α-chloro-2α,3α-dimethylcyclopropane (A) at 550–607 K and 6–115 torr is a first-order homogeneous non-radical-chain process giving penta-1,3-diene (PD) and HCl as products. The Arrhenius parameters are log₁₀A(sec^?1) = 13.92 ± 0.08 and E = 199.6 ± 0.9 kJ/mol. The isomer with trans-methyl groups, 1α-chloro-2α,3β-dimethylcyclopropane (B) reacts by two parallel first-order processes giving as observed products trans-4-chloropent-2-ene (4CP) and PD + HCl, with log₁₀A(sec^?1) = 14.6 and 13.8, respectively, and E = 199.5 and 190.2 kJ/mol, respectively. The 4CP undergoes secondary decomposition to PD + HCl (as investigated previously). Comparison of the results for compounds (A) and (B) with those for other gas-phase and solution reactions leads to the conclusion that the gas-phase thermolyses proceed by rate-determining ring opening to form olefins which may decompose further by thermal or chemically activated reactions, and that the ring opening is a semiionic electrocyclic reaction in which alkyl groups in the 2,3-positions trans to the migrating chlorine semianion move apart, with appropriate consequences for the rate of reaction and the stereochemistry of the products.     

Synthesis and transformations of (±)-trans-4aβ(H), saα(H)-octahydro-4α,7β-dimethyl-2H-1-benzopyran-2-one

Hydrogenation of 4,7-dimethylcoumarin ( 1 ) in alkaline medium has been shown to furnish a mixture of (±)-trans-4aβ(H),8aα(H)-octahydro-4α,7β-dimethyl-2H-1-benzopyran-2-one ( 2 ), (±)-trans-4aβ(H),8aα(H)-octahydro-4α,7α-dimethyl-2H-1-benzopyran-2-one ( 3 ) and (±)-cis-4aα(H),8aα(H)-octahydro-4α,7α-dimethyl-2H-1-benzopyran-2-one ( 4 ) in 40:25:35:ratio, respectively. The stereochemistry of the major hydrogenation product 2 , has been established by transforming it to p-menthane derivatives e.g. (±)-2 (R)-[2′(R)hydroxy-4′(R) methylcyclohex-(1′S)-yl]propan-1-ol ( 20 ) and (±)-trans-3α,6β-dimethyl-3aβ(H),7aα(H)-octahydrobenzofuran ( 12 ). Starting from a mixture of lactones 2, 3 and 4 , lactone 3 has been obtained in pure state employing a sequence of reactions.     

Synthèse et stéréochimie de perhydrocyclopenta[b]furannones-3-cis et perhydrocyclopenta[b]furannols-3-cis

Synthetic route to new cis-perhydrocyclopenta[b]furan-3-ones and cis-perhydrocyclopenta[b]furan-3-ols is described. Their configurations and conformations were inferred by ¹H and ¹³C nmr spectroscopy. A certain rigidity is associated with the bond common to the two fused ring. The conformation of tetrahydrofuran-3-one ring appears to be a composite of the C, and C₂ forms depending on the C-2 substitution.     

16α,17α‐Epoxy‐20‐oxopregn‐5‐en‐3β‐yl acetate

The title compound, C₂₃H₃₂O₄, has a 3β configuration, with the epoxy O atom at 16α,17α. Rings A and C have slightly distorted chair conformations. Because of the presence of the C5=C6 double bond, ring B assumes an 8β,9α‐half‐chair conformation slightly distorted towards an 8β‐sofa. Ring D has a conformation close to a 14α‐envelope. The acetoxy and acetyl substituents are twisted with respect to the average molecular plane of the steroid. The conformation of the mol­ecule is compared with that given by a quantum chemistry calculation using the RHF–AM1 (RHF = Roothaan Hartree–Fock) Hamiltonian model. Cohesion of the crystal can be attributed to van der Waals interactions and weak intermolecular C—H?O interactions, which link the mol­ecules head‐to‐tail along [101].     

20, 21-Azirdin-Steroide: Reaktion von Derivaten der Oxime von 5-Pregnen-20-on,9β,10α-5-Pregnen-20-on und 9β,10α-5,7-Pregnadien-20-on mit Lithiumaluminiumhydrid und von 3β-Hydroxy-5-pregnen-20-on-oxim mit Grignard-Verbindungen

20, 21-Aziridine Steroids: Reaction of Derivatives of the Oximes of 5-Pregnen-20-one, 9β, 10α-5-Pregnen-20-one and 9β, 10α-5,7-Pregnadiene-20-one with Lithium Aluminium Hydride, and of 3β-Hydroxy-5-pregnen-20-one Oxime with Grignard Reagents. Reduction of 3β-hydroxy-5-pregnen-20-one oxime ( 2 ) with LiAlH₄ in tetrahydrofuran yielded 20α-amino-5-pregnen-3β-ol ( 1 ), 20β-amino-5-pregnen-3β-ol ( 3 ), 20β, 21-imino-5-pregnen-3β-ol ( 6 ) and 20β, 21-imino-5-pregnen-3β-ol ( 9 ). The aziridines 6 and 9 were separated via the acetyl derivatives 7 and 10 . The reaction of 6 and 9 with CS₂ gave 5-(3β-hydroxy-5-androsten-17β-yl)-thiazolidine-2-thione ( 8 ). Treatment of the 20-oximes 12 and 15 of the corresponding 9β,10α(retro)-pregnane derivatives with LiAlH₄ gave the aziridines 13 and 16 , respectively. Their deamination led to the diene 14 and triene 17 , respectively. Reduction of isobutyl methyl ketone-oxime with LiAlH₄ in tetrahydrofuran yielded 2-amino-4-methyl-pentane ( 19 ) as main product, 1, 2-imino-4-methyl-pentane ( 22 ) as second product and the epimeric 2,3-imino-4-methyl-pentanes 20 and 21 as minor products. – 3β-Hydroxy-5-pregnen-20-one oxime ( 2 ) was transformed by methylmagnesium iodide in toluene to 20α, 21-imino-20-methyl-5-pregnen-3β-ol ( 23 ) and 20β, 21-imino-20-methyl-5-pregnen-3β-ol ( 26 ). Acetylation of these aziridines was accompanied by elimination reactions leading to 3β-acetoxy-20-methylidene-21-N-acetylamino-5-pregnene ( 30 ) and 3β-acetoxy-20-methyl-21-N-acetylamino-5,17-pregnadiene ( 32 ). The reaction of oxime 2 with ethylmagnesium bromide in toluene gave 20α, 21-imino-20-ethyl-5-pregnen-3β-ol ( 24 ) and 20α,21-imino-20-ethyl-5-pregnen-3β-ol ( 27 ). Acetylation of 24 and 27 led to 3β-acetoxy-20-ethylidene-21-N-acetylamino-5-pregnene ( 31 ), 3β-acetoxy-20-ethyl-21-N-acetylamino-5,17-pregnadiene 33 and 3β, 20-diacetoxy-20-ethyl-21-N-acetylamino-5-pregnene ( 37 ). With phenylmagnesium bromide in toluene the oxime 2 was transformed to 20β, 21-imino-20-phenyl-5-pregnen-3β-ol ( 25 ) and 20β,21-imino-20-phenyl-5-pregnen-3β-ol ( 28 ). Acetylation of 25 and 28 yielded 3β-acetoxy-20-phenyl-21-N-acetylamino-5, 17-pregnadiene ( 34 ) and 3β,20-diacetoxy-20-phenyl-21-N-acetylamino-5-pregnene ( 39 ). LiAlH₄-reduction of 39 gave 3β, 20-dihydroxy-20-phenyl-21-N-ethylamino-5-pregnene ( 41 ). – The 20, 21-aziridines are stable to LiAlH₄. Consequently they are no intermediates in the formation of the 20-amino derivatives obtained from the oxime 2 .     

The Course of the Catalytic Hydrogenation/Isomerization Reaction of Steroidal Ring B Olefins in the 13β- and 13α-Series

The course of the catalytic hydrogenation and isomerization (H₂/Raney-Ni/dioxane or H₂/Pd/C/EtOH) of Δ^5.7-, Δ⁷-, Δ⁸-, and Δ⁸⁽¹⁴⁾-steroid olefins was shown to depend strongly on the configuration at C(13). The known hydrogenation/isomerization of reactions of Δ^5.7-dienes in the 13β-series to Δ⁷-(H₂/Raney-Ni/dioxane) and Δ⁸⁽¹⁴⁾-olefins (H₂/Pd/C/EtOH) were also confirmed in the 3β, 19-epoxy-13β- and 3-Oxo-19-acetoxy-13β-steroid series (e.g. 32 → 35 → 37 , Scheme 3). On the other hand, in the corresponding 13α-steroid series the same reactions afforded the Δ⁷-. and the Δ⁸-olefins (mixture of products with H₂/Raney-Ni/dioxane; quantitatively the Δ⁸-compounds with H₂/Pd/C/EtOH; s. e.g. Scheme 3). A similar dependence on the C(13) configuration was observed in the allylic oxidation of these olefins with SeO₂ (Fieser's test, see Table), and in the acid catalyzed opening of the 7α, 8α-epoxides (e.g. 60 → 62 + 63 in the 13β-series, and 56 → 64 + 65 in the 13α-series, Scheme 8).     

Zur Lokalisierung funktioneller Gruppen mit Hilfe der Massenspektrometrie. XVII—Massenspektren von 3,6,20β-Trihydroxy-pregnanen

Mass spectra of 3,6,20β-trihydroxypregnanes differ greatly, depending upon the nature of the A/B ring fusion and the positions of the hydroxy groups. Of all the isomers only 3α,6β,20β-trihydroxy-5β-pregnane produces an intense, structurally significant, ion at m/e 263. For 3β,6α,20β-trihydroxy-5α-pregnane an ion of m/e 141 is typical.     

3β,7α,12α‐Tri­formyl­oxy‐24‐nor‐5β‐chol‐22‐ene

The title compound, alternatively called 24‐nor‐5β‐chol‐22‐ene‐3β,7α,12α‐triyl triformate, C₂₆H₃₈O₆, has a cis junction between two of the six‐membered rings. All three of the six‐membered rings have chair conformations that are slightly flattened and the five‐membered ring has a 13β,14α‐half‐chair conformation. The 3β, 7α and 12α ring substituents are axial and the 17β group is equatorial. The 3β‐formyl­oxy group is involved in one weak intermol­ecular C—H⋯O bond, which links the mol­ecules into dimers in a head‐to‐head fashion.     

Dissimilar behaviour of 3β, 16α-dihydroxy-5α-androstan-17-one Diacetate under Basic and Acidic Conditions

The base-catalysed rearrangement of 3β, 16α-dihydroxy-5α-androstan-17-one diacetate ( 1 ) in (D₆)benzene/ CD₃OD to 3β, 17β-dihydroxy-5α-androstan-16-one ( 3 ) is followed by ¹³C-NMR spectroscopy. By the same procedure, it is determined that in (D₆)benzene/CD₃OD, but under acid catalysis, 1 does not rearrange to 3 but yields the intermediate product 3β, 16α-dihydroxy-5α -androstan-17-one 17α -methyl hemiacetal ( 5 ).     

Conformations of the Ten-membered Ring in 5, 10-Secosteroids. III: (Z)-3β- and (Z)-3α-Hydroxy-5, 10-seco-1 (10)-cholesten-5-one Esters and (Z)-5, 10-seco-1 (10)-Cholestene-3, 5-dione

(Z)-3β-Acetoxy- and (Z)-3 α-acetoxy-5, 10-seco-1 (10)-cholesten-5-one ( 6a ) and ( 7a ) were synthesized by fragmentation of 3β-acetoxy-5α-cholestan-5-ol ( 1 ) and 3α-acetoxy-5β-cholestan-5-ol ( 2 ), respectively, using in both cases the hypoiodite reaction (the lead tetraacetate/iodine version). The 3β-acetate 6a was further transformed, via the 3β-alcohol 6d to the corresponding (Z)-3β-p-bromobenzoate ester 6b and to (Z)-5, 10-seco-1 (10)-cholestene-3, 5-dione ( 8 ) (also obtainable from the 3α-acetate 7a ). The ¹H-and ¹³C-NMR. spectra showed that the (Z)-unsaturated 10-membered ring in all three compounds ( 6a , 7a and 8 ) exists in toluene, in only one conformation of type C ₁, the same as that of the (Z)-3β-p-bromobenzoate 6b in the solid state found by X-ray analysis. The unfavourable relative spatial factors (interdistance and mutual orientation) of the active centres in conformations of type C ₁ are responsible for the absence of intramolecular cyclizations in the (Z)-ketoesters 6 and 7 ( a and c ).     

Transformations of isomeric naphthopyranones. The synthesis of substituted β-naphthyl-α,β-dehydro-α-amino acid derivatives

The opening of the pyranone ring in 2H-naphtho[1,2-b]pyran-2-one derivative (1) and 3H-naphtho[2,1-b]-pyran-3-one derivatives 8 and 20 with nucleophiles afforded 3-(naphthyl-1)- and 3-(naphthyl-2)propenoates (substituted β-naphthyl-α,β-dehydro-α-amino acid derivatives) 7, 13, 14, 15, 24 , and 35 .     

Quinoline syntheses by reaction of hydrazoic acid with α,β-disubstituted cis-chalcones

Hydrazoic-sulfuric acid mixture converted cis-α-phenyl-β-benzoylchalcone (trans-dibenzoylstilbene, 4 ) into 2,3-diphenyl-4-benzoylquinoline ( 5 ) the structure of which was proved by debenzoylation to 2,3-diphenylquinoline. α,β-Diphenyl and cis-α,β-dibromochalcones similarly were converted respectively into 2,3,4-triphenylquinoline ( 19 ) and 2-phenyl-3,4-dibromoquinoline ( 20 ). The structure of 19 was shown by difference from the corresponding isoquinoline 21 (synthesized). Smith's mechanism for the analogous conversion of o-phenylbenzophenone into 9-phenylphenanthridine through the 9-fluorenol and the 9-hydroazide with loss of nitrogen and ring expansion, was supported by methyl label experiments using 2-(p-tolyl)benzophenone which gave a 53:47 mixture of 3- and 8-methyl-6-phenylphenanthridines. Applicability of the mechanism to the reactions with disubstituted cis-chalcones was shown by sulfuric acid conversions of two of these into indenol 22 and 2-bromo-3-phenylindenone ( 24 ), respectively. trans-Dibenzoylstilbene underwent resinification in sulfuric acid, giving the quinoline ( 5 ) only when hydrazoic acid was present.     

α-Chlor-nitrone IV: Zur Stereochemie der λ-Lacton-Synthese und eine Methode zum Aufbau von α-Methyliden-λ-lactonen aus Olefinen. Über synthetische Methoden, 8. (vorläufige) Mitteilung

The Ag⁺-induced reaction between N-cyclohexyl-α-chloro-propionaldonitrone and the two diastereomeric 2-butenes in liquid SO₂ is a stereospecific cis-addition. The use of N-cyclo-hexyl-α,β-dichloro-propionaldonitrone in this type of reaction provides a preparative route from olefines to α-methylidene-butyrolactones.     

Versuche zur Synthese von 9β, 10α-Steroiden; B,C,D-tricyclische Verbindungen

In a search for a new and efficient synthesis of the compound 7 , the cyclization of 5 (obtained by a Michael-reaction from 3 and 4 ) was studied. Treatment of 5 with strong acid furnished the known dienedione 8 . Mild acidic conditions gave the bridged alcohol 9 and other, unidentified products, rather than the desired enone 6 . Under basic conditions, 5 did not cyclize to 6 , but underwent retro-Michael reaction. Attempts were then made to convert the dienedione 8 to the 14α-enone 19 . However, both catalytic hydrogenation and lithium-ammonia reduction of 8 yielded mainly 14β-products. In some hydrogenation experiments, isomerization of the dienedione 8 to the phenols 13 (major) and 14 (minor) occurred. The stereochemistry of the new isomeric des-A-androst-9-en-5, 17-diones ( 16, 17 and 20 ) was determined by chemical and spectroscopic methods.     

The synthesis of β-heteroarylamino-α,β-dehydro-α-amino acid and β-heteroarylamino-α-amino acid derivatives

From heteroarylaminomethyleneoxazolones 4 , obtained from N-heteroarylformamidines 2 and 2-phenyl-5-oxo-4,5-dihydro-1,3-oxazole ( 3 ), the following β-heteroarylamino-α,β-dehydro-α-amino acid derivatives were prepared: methyl 8 and ethyl esters 9 , amides 10 and 11 , hydrazides 12 , and azides 15 . By catalytic hydrogenation the compounds 4 were converted into β-heteroarylamino substituted amides 18 and β-heteroarylamino-α-amino acids 20 .     

Electron ionization mass spectra of some 4β-phenyl-substituted cycloalkane-cis-fused 1,3-oxazin-2(3H)-ones, -2(3H)-thiones and 1,4-oxazepin-3(4H)-ones

The 70 eV mass spectra of 4β-phenyl-substituted cyclopentane- and cyclohexane cis-fused 1,3-oxazin-2(3H)-ones, the two related 2-thiones, 6,7-cis-trimethylene-5β-phenyl-1,4-oxazepin-3(4H)-one and its 2β-methyl derivative were recorded and their fragmentations examined by means of metastable ion analysis, collision induced dissociation technique and exact mass measurement. The fragmentation patterns of the 1,3-oxazin-2(3H)-ones were relatively simple: the favored formation of cycloalkene ions implied that a considerable proportion of the molecular ions might possess an enol structure. Changes in the size of the fused cycloalkane ring had little or no effect on the fragmentations. Instead, small changes in the heterocyclic part of the molecule caused remarkable effects on the fragmentation behavior. Compared to 1,3-oxazin-2(3H)-ones studied, both 1,3-oxazine-2(3H)-thiones and 1,4-oxazepin-3(4H)-ones showed much more complicated fragmentation patterns.     

Enzyme‐Mediated Preparation of (+)‐ and (−)‐β‐Irone and (+)‐ and (−)‐cis‐γ‐Irone from Irone alpha®

The (−)‐ and (+)‐β‐irones ((−)‐ and (+)‐ 2 , resp.), contaminated with ca. 7 – 9% of the (+)‐ and (−)‐trans‐α‐isomer, respectively, were obtained from racemic α‐irone via the 2,6‐trans‐epoxide (±)‐ 4 (Scheme 2). Relevant steps in the sequence were the LiAlH₄ reduction of the latter, to provide the diastereoisomeric‐4,5‐dihydro‐5‐hydroxy‐trans‐α‐irols (±)‐ 6 and (±)‐ 7 , resolved into the enantiomers by lipase‐PS‐mediated acetylation with vinyl acetate. The enantiomerically pure allylic acetate esters (+)‐ and (−)‐ 8 and (+)‐ and (−)‐ 9 , upon treatment with POCl₃/pyridine, were converted to the β‐irol acetate derivatives (+)‐ and (−)‐ 10 , and (+)‐ and (−)‐ 11 , respectively, eventually providing the desired ketones (+)‐ and (−)‐ 2 by base hydrolysis and MnO₂ oxidation. The 2,6‐cis‐epoxide (±)‐ 5 provided the 4,5‐dihydro‐4‐hydroxy‐cis‐α‐irols (±)‐ 13 and (±)‐ 14 in a 3 : 1 mixture with the isomeric 5‐hydroxy derivatives (±)‐ 15 and (±)‐ 16 on hydride treatment (Scheme 1). The POCl₃/pyridine treatment of the enantiomerically pure allylic acetate esters, obtained by enzymic resolution of (±)‐ 13 and (±)‐ 14 , provided enantiomerically pure cis‐α‐irol acetate esters, from which ketones (+)‐ and (−)‐ 22 were prepared (Scheme 4). The same materials were obtained from the (9S) alcohols (+)‐ 13 and (−)‐ 14 , treated first with MnO₂, then with POCl₃/pyridine (Scheme 4). Conversely, the dehydration with POCl₃/pyridine of the enantiomerically pure 2,6‐cis‐5‐hydroxy derivatives obtained from (±)‐ 15 and (±)‐ 16 gave rise to a mixture in which the γ‐irol acetates 25a and 25b and 26a and 26b prevailed over the α‐ and β‐isomers (Scheme 5). The (+)‐ and (−)‐cis‐γ‐irones ((+)‐ and (−)‐ 3 , resp.) were obtained from the latter mixture by a sequence involving as the key step the photochemical isomerization of the α‐double bond to the γ‐double bond. External panel olfactory evaluation assigned to (+)‐β‐irone ((+)‐ 2 ) and to (−)‐cis‐γ‐irone ((−)‐ 3 ) the strongest character and the possibility to be used as dry‐down note.     

Thermische Lactonisierung von Estern γ-Brom-α, β-ungesättigter Carbonsäuren zu Δα-Butenoliden. Direkte γ-Bromierung von α, β-ungesättigten Säuren

By heating with iron powder at 120–150° some γ-bromo-α, β-unsaturated carboxylic methyl esters, and, less smothly, the corresponding acids, were lactonized to Δ^7alpha;-butenolides with elimination of methyl bromide. The following conversions have thus been made: methyl γ-bromocrotonate ( 1c ) and the corresponding acid ( 1d ) to Δ^α-butenolide ( 8a ), methyl γ-bromotiglate ( 3c ) and the corresponding acid ( 3d ) to α-methyl-Δ^α-butenolide ( 8b ), a mixture of methyl trans- and cis-γ-bromosenecioate ( 7c and 7e ) and a mixture of the corresponding acids ( 7d and 7f ) to β-methyl-Δ^α-butenolide ( 8c ). The procedure did not work with methyl trans-γ-bromo-Δ^α-pentenoate ( 5c ) nor with its acid ( 5d ). Most of the γ-bromo-α, β-unsaturated carboxylic esters ( 1c, 7c, 7e and 5c ) are available by direct N-bromosuccinimide bromination of the α, β-unsaturated esters 1a, 7a and 5a ; methyl γ-bromotiglate ( 3c ) is obtained from both methyl tiglate ( 3a ) and methyl angelate ( 4a ), but has to be separated from a structural isomer. The γ-bromo-α, β-unsaturated esters are shown by NMR. to have the indicated configurations which are independent of the configuration of the α, β-unsaturated esters used; the bromination always leads to the more stable configuration, usually the one with the bromine-carrying carbon anti to the carboxylic ester group; an exception is methyl γ-bromo-senecioate, for which the two isomers (cis, 7e , and trans, 7d ) have about the same stability. The N-bromosuccinimide bromination of the α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acids 1b , 3b , 4b , 5b and 7b is shown to give results entirely analogous to those with the corresponding esters. In this way γ-bromocrotonic acid ( 1 d ), γ-bromotiglic acid ( 3 d ), trans- and cis-γ-bromosenecioic acid ( 7d and 7f ) as well as trans-γ-bromo-Δ^α-pentenoic acid ( 5d ) have been prepared. Iron powder seems to catalyze the lactonization by facilitating both the elimination of methyl bromide (or, less smoothly, hydrogen bromide) and the rotation about the double bond. α-Methyl-Δ^α-butenolide ( 8b ) was converted to 1-benzyl-( 9a ), 1-cyclohexyl-( 9b ), and 1-(4′-picoly1)-3-methyl-Δ^α-pyrrolin-2-one ( 9 c ) by heating at 180° with benzylamine, cyclohexylamine, and 4-picolylamine. The butenolide 8b showed cytostatic and even cytocidal activity; in preliminary tests, no carcinogenicity was observed. Both 8b and 9c exhibited little toxicity.