Thermische (E), (Z)-Isomerisierungen bei substituierten Propenylbenzolen

Thermal (E), (Z)-Isomerizations of Substituted Propenylbenzenes The thermal isomerizations of (E)- and (Z)-3,5-dimethyl-2-(1′-propenyl)phenol ((E)- and (Z)- 3 ), (E)- and (Z)-N-methyl-2-(1′-propenyl)anilin ((E)- and (Z)- 4 ), (E)- and (Z)-3,5-dimethyl-2-(1′-propenyl)anilin ((E)- and (Z)- 5 , (E)- and (Z)-2-(1′-propenyl)mesitylene ((E)- and (Z- 6 ), (E)- and (Z)-2-(1′-propenyl)mesitylene ((E)- and (Z)- 7 ), (E)- and (Z)-2-(1′-propenyl)toluene ((E)- and (Z)- 8 ), (E)- and (Z)-4-(1′-propenyl)toulene ((E)- and (Z)- 9 ) as well as of (E)- and (Z)-2-(2′-butenyl)-mesitylene ((E)- and (Z)- 10 ) in decane solution were studied (Scheme 2). Whereas the isomerization of the 2-propenylphenols (E)- and (Z)- 3 occurs already between 130 and 150° (cf. Table 1), the isomerization of the 2-propenylanilins 4 and 5 takes place only at temperatures between 220 and 250° (cf. Tables 2 and 3). The activation values and the experiments using N-deuterated 4 (cf. Scheme 4) show that 2-propenylphenols and -anilins isomerize via sigmatropic [1,5]-hydrogen-shifts. For the isomerization of the methyl-substituted propenylbenzenes temperatures > 360° are required (cf. Tables 4 and 5). The activation values of the isomerization of (E)- and (Z)- 6 and (E)- and (Z)- 9 are in accord with those of other (E), (Z)-isomerizations which occur via vibrationally excited singlet biradicals (cf. Table 7). Nevertheless, thermal isomerization of 2′-d-(Z)- 8 (cf. Scheme 6) demonstrates that during the reaction deuterium is partially transfered into the ortho-methyl group, i.e. 1,5-hydrogen-shifts must have participated in isomerization of (E)- and (Z)- 8 (cf. Scheme 8). Under the equilibrium conditions 2,4,6-trimethylindan ( 17 ) is formed slowly at 368° from (E)- and (Z)- 6 , very probably via a radical 1,4-hydrogen-shift (cf. Scheme 9). In a similar way 2-ethyl-4,6-dimethylindan ( 19 ; cf. Table 6) arises from (E)- and (Z)- 7 . Thermolysis of (E)- and (Z)- 10 in decane solution at 367° results in almost no (E),(Z)-isomerization. At prolonged heating 19 and 2,5,7-trimethyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene ( 20 ) are formed; these two products arise very likely from an intermolecular radical process (cf. Scheme 10).     

Reaction of 4-methylene-5(4H)-oxazolones with diazomethane

The reaction of diazomethane with some (E) and (Z)-2-substituted-4-methylene-5(4)-oxazolones ( 1a-c ) under two different conditions, has been studied. (E) and (Z)-1,2-disubstituted-7-oxo-6-oxa-4-azaspiro[2.4]-hept-4-enes ( 3a-c, 4a-c ) were mainly obtained, together with multiple addition compounds. The reaction showed to be stereoselective only when the substituents were aromatic. Acid hydrolysis of compounds 3a and 4a produced a mixture of (E) and (Z)-3,5-disubstituted-tetrahydrofuran-2-ones ( 8a, 9a ). Smooth methanolysis of the ring led to (E) and (Z)-1-benzamido-cyclopropanecarboxylic esters ( 10a-c, 11a-c ), which, on acid hydrolysis, gave (E) and (Z)-1-amino-2-phenylcyclopropanecarboxylic acids 12a and 13a . The pmr spectra have been analyzed by an iterative computer method, and the computed best values obtained have been used to deduce the stereochemistry of the spiroderivatives.     

Straightforward Preparation of (2E,4Z)-2,4-Heptadien-1-ol and (2E,4Z)-2,4-Heptadienal

Abstract

A concise synthesis of (2E,4Z)-2,4-heptadien-1-ol and (2E,4Z)-2,4-heptadienal is presented. Commercially available (Z)-2-penten-1-ol was converted to ethyl-(2E,4Z)-2,4-heptadienoate by reaction with activated MnO₂ and (carboethoxymethylene)triphenylphosphorane in the presence of benzoic acid as a catalyst. Ethyl-(2E,4Z)-2,4-heptadienoate was converted to (2E,4Z)-2,4-heptadien-1-ol with LiAlH₄. The alcohol was partially oxidized to (2E,4Z)-2,4-heptadienal with MnO₂. The title compounds are male-specific, antennally active volatile compounds from the Saltcedar leaf beetle, Diorhabda elongata Brulle (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) and have potential use in the biological control of the invasive weed saltcedar (Tamarix spp).     

Candidate Trail Attractants of Reticultermes lucifugus: Stereoselective Syntheses of (3Z, 6E,BE)-(3Z, 6E, 8Z)-and (3Z, 6Z, 8Z)-3,6,8 -Dodecatrien-1-OL1

Stereoselective syntheses on a gram scale of (3Z,6E,8E)-, (3Z,6E,8Z)-and (3Z,6Z,8Z)-3,6,8-dodecatrien-1-ol, 8, 9 and 10, respectively, are described. A key step of the synthesis of 8 consisted of a copper-mediated coupling reaction between 4-(2-tetrahydropyranyloxy)-1-butynylmagnesium bromide (15) and the mesyl ester of (2E,4E)-2,4-octadien-1-ol (14). A similar copper-mediated reaction between 15 and the mesyl ester of (E)-2-octen-4-yn-1-ol (19) was used to construct the C-12 carbon skeleton of 9. On the other hand, the synthesis of 10 was based on a palladium-promoted reaction between (Z)-1-bromo-1-pentene (23) and the organozinc bromide derived from 3,6-heptadiyn-1-yl acetate (27).     

Das Carotinoidspektrum der Hagebutten von Rosa pomifera: Nachweis von (5Z)-Neurosporin; Synthese von (3R, 15Z)-Rubixanthin

Carotenoids from Hips of Rosa pomifera: Discovery of (5Z)-Neurosporene; Synthesis of (3R, 15Z)-Rubixanthin Extensive chromatographic separations of the mixture of carotenoids from ripe hips of R. pomifera have led to the identification of 43 individual compounds, namely (Scheme 2): (15 Z)-phytoene (1) , (15 Z)-phytofluene (2) , all-(E)-phytofluene (2a) , ξ-carotene (3) , two mono-(Z)-ξ-carotenes ( 3a and 3b ), (6 R)-?, ψ-carotene (4) , a mono-(Z)-?, ψ-carotene (4a) , β, ψ-carotene (5) , a mono-(Z)-β, ψ-carotene (5a) , neurosporene (6) , (5 Z)-neurosporene (6a) , a mono-(Z)-neurosporene (6b) , lycopene (7) , five (Z)-lycopenes (7a–7e) , β, β-carotene (8) , two mono-(Z)-β, β-carotenes (probably (9 Z)-β, β-carotene (8a) and (13 Z)-β, β-carotene (8b) ), β-cryptoxanthin (9) , three (Z)-β-cryptoxanthins (9a–9c) , rubixanthin (10) , (5′ Z)-rubixanthin (=gazaniaxanthin; 10a ), (9′ Z)-rubixanthin (10b) , (13′ Z)- and (13 Z)-rubixanthin (10c and 10d , resp.), (5′ Z, 13′ Z)- or (5′ Z, 13 Z)-rubixanthin (10e) , lutein (11) , zeaxanthin (12) , (13 Z)-zeaxanthin (12b) , a mono-(Z)-zeaxanthin (probably (9 Z)-zeaxanthin (12a) ), (8 R)-mutatoxanthin (13) , (8 S)-mutatoxanthin (14) , neoxanthin (15) , (8′ R)-neochrome (16) , (8′ S)-neochrome (17) , a tetrahydroxycarotenoid (18?) , a tetrahydroxy-epoxy-carotenoid (19?) , and a trihydroxycarotenoid of unknown structure. Rubixanthin (10) and (5′ Z)-rubixanthin (10a) can easily be distinguished by HPLC. separation and CD. spectra at low temperature. The synthesis of (3 R, 15 Z)-rubixanthin (29) is described. The isolation of (5 Z)-neurosporene (6a) supports the hypothesis that the ?-end group arises by enzymatic cyclization of precursors having a (5 Z)- or (5′ Z)-configuration.     

Über die Temperaturabhängigkeit der 13C-NMR.-Spektren von Tetracarbonyl (η-(Z)-cycloocten)eisen und (Z)-cycloocten

On the Temperature Dependence of the ¹³C-NMR.-Spectra of Tetracarbonyl (η-( Z )-cyclooctene)iron and of ( Z )-Cyclooctene Reaction of (Z)-cyclooctene (1) with Fe₂(CO)₉ in pentane at 0° yielded tetracarbonyl(η-(Z)-cyclooctene)iron (2) as a yellow oil which can be stored over a longer period only at ?78°. It is shown that the title compounds ( 1 and 2 , respectively) are fluxional. The activation parameters for the conformational C-atom site exchange of (Z)-cyclooctene (1) and tetracarbonyl (η-(Z)-cyclooctene)iron (2) (in CCl₂F₂) have been determined between 113 K and 151 K for 1 and between 151 K and 205 K for 2 , respectively, by a complete line shape analysis of the temperature dependent proton noise-decoupled ¹³C-NMR. signals of the olefinic C-atom. The kinetic data and activation parameters are given in Tables 1 and 2.     

Biosynthesis of δ-Jasmin Lactone ( = (Z)-Dec-7-eno-5-lactone) and (Z,Z)-Dodeca-6,9-dieno-4-lactone in the Yeast Sporobolomyces odorus

(all-Z)-(9,10,12,13,15,16-²H₆)Octadeca-9,12,15-trienoic acid ( = α-linolenic acid; D₆- 4 ) was synthesized to investigate the biochemical formation of linolenic-acid-derived aroma compounds in cultures of the yeast Sporobolomyces odorus, using an established gas chromatographic/mass spectrometric (GC/MS) method. Three compounds were identified as labeled: (Z)-dec-7-eno-5-lactone (δ-jasmin lactone), (Z,Z)-dodeca-6,9-dieno-4-lactone, and (2E,4Z)-hepta-2,4-dienoic acid. Both lactones were biosynthesized mostly under conservation of the initial configuration from their corresponding oxygenated linolenic-acid intermediates. The application of (13S,9Z,11E,15Z)-13-hydroxy(9,10,12,13,15, 16-²H₆)octadeca-9,11,15-trienoic acid (D₆- 7 ) as a OH-functionalized precursor of δ-jasmin lactone allowed to gain insight into the stereochemical course of the biosynthesis to both enantiomers of this lactone. In this experiment, 88.3% of the metabolized labeled precursor was transformed under retention of the original configuration of the (R)-enantiomer. This investigation is also a contribution to a better understanding of the C?C bond isomerization steps which took place during the β-oxidative degradation of the substrate.     

HPLC von Carotinen mit ψ-Endgruppen und (Z)-Konfiguration an terminalen konjugierten Doppelbindungen; Isolierung von (5Z)-Lycopin aus Tomaten

HPLC of Carotenes with ψ-End Groups and (Z)-Configuration at Terminal Conjugated Double Bonds; Isolation of (5Z)-Lycopene from Tomatoes Five carotenes bearing (5Z)-ψ-end groups were synthesized and carefully characterized: (5Z)-lycopene ( 6 ), (5Z5′Z)-lycopene ( 7 ), (5′Z)-neurosporene ( 8 ), (5′Z)-β,ψ-carotene ( 12 ), and (5′Z)-ε,ψ-carotene ( 14 ). Lycopene 6 was isolated from tomatoes and its structure proven by ¹H-NMR spectroscopy.     

Stereoselektive Synthesen von (Z)-(10-Methoxy-4H-benzo[4,5]cyclohepta[1,2-b]thiophen-4-yliden)essigsäure

Stereoselective Syntheses of (Z)-(10-Methoxy-4H-benzo[4,5]cyclohepta[1,2-b]thiophen-4-ylidene)acetic Acid Two stereoselective syntheses for the antiinflammatory compound 1 ((Z)-isomer) are described. In the first approach (Strategy A, Scheme 1) the stereoselective synthesis of 1 was realized via the bicyclic compound 11 under thermodynamic conditions, followed by a thiophene annelation with retention of the double-bond geometry (Schemes 2–4). Optimized conditions were necessary to avoid (E/Z)-isomerization during annelation. In the second approach (Strategy B, Scheme 1), diastereoisomer 17b was obtained selectively from a mixture of the diastereoisomers 17b and 18b by combining thermodynamic epimerization and solubility differences (Scheme 5). Diastereoisomer 17b was converted into the tricyclic compound 23 using a novel thiophene annelation method which we described recently (Scheme 6). In a final step, a stereospecific ‘syn’-elimination transformed the sulfoxide 24 into the target compound 1 (Scheme 7). To avoid (E/Z)-isomerization, it was necessary to trap the sulfenic acid liberated during the reaction. The key reactions of both approaches are highly stereoselective (> 97:3).     

(E/Z)‐Isomerization of (all‐E)‐5,6‐Diepikarpoxanthin

(all‐E)‐5,6‐Diepikarpoxanthin (=(all‐E,3S,5S,6S,3′R)‐5,6‐dihydro‐β,β‐carotene‐3,5,6,3′‐tetrol; 1 ) was submitted to thermal isomerization and I₂‐catalyzed photoisomerization. The structures of the main products, i.e. (9Z)‐ ( 2 ), (9′Z)‐ ( 3 ), (13Z)‐ ( 4 ), (13′Z)‐ ( 5 ), and (15Z)‐5,6‐diepikarpoxanthin ( 6 ), were determined by their UV/VIS, CD, ¹H‐NMR, and mass spectra. In addition, (9Z,13′Z)‐ or (13Z,9′Z)‐ ( 7 ), (9Z,9′Z)‐ ( 8 ), and (9Z,13Z)‐ or (9′Z,13′Z)‐5,6‐diepikarpoxanthin ( 9 ) were tentatively identified as minor products of the I₂‐catalyzed photoisomerization.     

Zur Photochemie von (Z,Z)-2,7-Cyclodecadien-1-on und 4,8-Cyclododecadien-1-on. Synthese und Eigenschaften von Tricyclo[5.3.0.02,8]decan-Systemen

On the Photochemistry of (Z,Z)-2,7-Cyclodecadien-1-one and 4,8-Cyclododecadien-1-one. Synthesis and Properties of Tricyclo[5.3.0.0^2,8]decane Systems Irradiation of (Z,Z)-2,7-cyclodecadien-1-one ( 3 ) yields (Z,Z)-3,7-cyclodecadien-1-one ( 12 ) or tricyclo-[5.3.0.0^2,8]decan-4-one ( 16 ), depending on the reaction conditions. Irradiation of 4,8-cyclododecadien-1-one ( 28 ) results also in a light-induced transannular [2 + 2] cycloaddition, yielding tetracyclo[7.3.0.0^2,100^3,6]dodecan-1-one ( 30 ). Starting from 16 , the preparation of tricyclo[5.3.0.0^2,8]dec-4-ene ( 19 ), tricyclo[5.3.0.0^2,8]dec-4-ene ( 21 ) and tricyclo[5.3.0.0^2,8]deca-3,5-diene ( 24 ) is described. The ¹H-NMR and ¹³C? NMR spectra of the newly prepared compounds are discussed. In the case of 19, 21 , and 24 , the electronic structure is discussed on hand of their PE spectra.     

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 .     

A Concise Synthesis of (E)- and (Z)-Neomanoalides

The first synthesis of (Z)-neomanoalide ( 4 ) and an improved synthesis of its (E)-isomer 3 was accomplished in a concise, regiocontrolled manner by exploiting 2-[(tert-butyl)dimethylsiloxy]-4{[(tert-butyl)dimethylsiloxy]-methyl}furan ( 6 ) as the key reagent. Lithiation of 6 and subsequent reaction with the (2Z)- or (2E)-isomer of (6E)-3-{[(tert-butyl)dimethylsiloxy]methyl}-7-methyl-9-(2′,6′,6′-trimethylcyclohex-1′-enyl)nona-2,6-dienyl bromide ( 5 ), followed by hydrolysis, afforded the corresponding neomanoalide.     

Stereoselective Synthesis of Alkyl Z -2-(2-Amino-4-oxo-1,3-thiazol-5(4 H )-yliden)Acetates in Solventless Conditions

Tiourea reacts with dialkyl acetylenedicarboxylates in solventless conditions to form 1:1 adducts, which undergo a cyclization reaction to produce alkyl Z-2-(2-amino-4-oxo-1,3-thiazol-5(4H)-yliden)acetates in fairly good yields. The stereochemistry of the ethyl Z-2-(2-amino-4-oxo-1,3-thiazol-5(4H)-yliden)acetate was established by the use of X-ray single crystal structure analysis. The reaction is completely stereoselective.     

Stereoselective Synthesis of (Z)‐4‐(2‐Bromovinyl)benzene‐sulfonyl Azide and Its Synthetic Utility for the Transformation to (Z)‐N‐[4‐(2‐Bromovinyl)benzenesulfonyl]imidates

A novel method for the stereoselective synthesis of (Z)‐4‐(2‐bromovinyl)benzenesulfonyl azide by simultaneous azidation and debrominative decarboxylation of anti‐2,3‐dibromo‐3‐(4‐chlorosulfonylphenyl)propanoic acid using NaN₃ only was developed. Facile transformation of (Z)‐4‐(2‐bromovinyl)benzenesulfonyl azide to (Z)‐N‐[4‐ (2‐bromovinyl)benzenesulfonyl]imidates was also achieved by Cu‐catalyzed three‐component coulping of (Z)‐4‐(2‐bromovinyl)benzenesulfonyl azide, terminal alkynes and alcohols/phenols.     

Cycloaddition Reactions of 7‐Benzylidenecycloocta‐1,3,5‐triene with Ethenetetracarbonitrile and 4‐Phenyl‐3H‐1,2,4‐triazole‐3,5(4H)‐dione

An (E)/(Z) mixture (3 : 2) of 7‐benzylidenecycloocta‐1,3,5‐triene ( 5 ) is obtained when 1‐benzylcycloocta‐1,3,5,7‐tetraene ( 7 ), prepared by an improved procedure, is treated with t‐BuOK in THF. Alternatively, a ca. 9 : 1 mixture (E)/(Z)‐ 5 can be prepared in a Wittig reaction involving benzaldehyde and cycloocta‐2,4,6‐trien‐1‐ylidenetriphenylphoshorane ( 9 ). Treatment of (E)/(Z)‐ 5 88 : 12 with ethenetetracarbonitrile (TCNE) gave a complex mixture of products, from which seven mono‐adducts and two bis‐adducts were isolated (Sect. 2.2.1). Of the mono‐adducts, four are π4+π2 adducts: two ((E)‐ and (Z)‐isomers) are derived from valence tautomers of the two isomers of (E)/(Z)‐ 5 , while it is tentatively suggested that the other two (again (E)‐ and (Z)‐isomers) are formed from the intermediacy of a pentadienyl zwitterion (Sect. 2.3). The remaining three mono‐adducts, two of which are epimers, are π8+π2 adducts. It is suggested that they are derived from the intermediacy of homotropylium zwitterions (Sect. 2.3). For the two bis‐adducts, it is postulated that they are derived from an initial π2+π2 cycloaddition involving the homotropylium zwitterions followed by π4+π2 cycloaddition to the valence tautomer of each of the π2+π2 cycloadducts. With 4‐phenyl‐3H‐1,2,4‐triazole‐3,5(4H)‐dione ( 6 ), (E)/(Z)‐ 5 91 : 9 yielded two π4+π2 cycloadducts ((E)‐ and (Z)‐isomers) as well as two epimeric π8+π2 cycloadducts (Sect. 2.2.2). The intermediacy of pentadienyl (tentative suggestion) and homotropylium zwitterions accounts for the formation of the products (Sect. 2.3).     

Chinazolincarbonsäuren. VII. Mitteilung. Ein einfacher Zugang zu (4-Oxo-3,4-dihydrochinazolin-3-yl)-alkansäuren, (4-Oxo-3,4-dihydro-1,2,3-benzotriazin-3-yl)-alkansäuren und deren Estern

Quinazoline Carboxylic Acids. An Easy Route to (4-Oxo-3,4-dihydroquinazolin-3-yl)-alkanoic Acids, (4-Oxo-3,4-dihydro-1,2,3-benzotriazin-3-yl)-alkanoic Acids and their Esters A new route was found for the synthesis of (4-Oxo-3,4-dihydroquinazolin-3-yl)-alkanoic acids ( 8 ) and (4-Oxo-3,4-dihydro-1,2,3-benzotriazin-3-yl)-alkanoic acids ( 6 ) by cyclization of the N-(2-aminobenzoyl)amino acids 5 with HCOOH or HNO₂. 2H-3,1-Benzoxazine-2,4(1H)-diones ( 1 ) reacted with glycine esters to 2 , which were cyclized by HNO₂ to the esters 4 . Ester 4 was hydrolyzed to 6 (X = CH₂). Diones 1 reacted with the most common amino acids (as the ammonium salt of tertiary amine) to amino-alkanoic acids 5 , which were cyclized with orthoformate to 7 or 8 depending on the reaction conditions.     

Z/E‐Isomerism of 3‐[4‐(dimethylamino)phenyl]‐2‐(2,4,6‐tribromophenyl)acrylonitrile: crystal structures and secondary intermolecular interactions

The Z and E isomers of 3‐[4‐(dimethylamino)phenyl]‐2‐(2,4,6‐tribromophenyl)acrylonitrile, C₁₇H₁₃Br₃N₂, ( 1 ), were obtained simultaneously by a Knoevenagel condensation between 4‐(dimethylamino)benzaldehyde and 2‐(2,4,6‐tribromophenyl)acetonitrile, and were investigated by X‐ray diffraction and density functional theory (DFT) quantum‐chemical calculations. The (Z)‐( 1 ) isomer is monoclinic (space group P2₁/n, Z′ = 1), whereas the (E)‐( 1 ) isomer is triclinic (space group P, Z′ = 2). The two crystallographically‐independent molecules of (E)‐( 1 ) adopt similar geometries. The corresponding bond lengths and angles in the two isomers of ( 1 ) are very similar. The difference in the calculated total energies of isolated molecules of (Z)‐( 1 ) and (E)‐( 1 ) with DFT‐optimized geometries is ∼4.47 kJ mol⁻¹, with the minimum value corresponding to the Z isomer. The crystal structure of (Z)‐( 1 ) reveals strong intermolecular nonvalent Br…N [3.100 (2) and 3.216 (3) Å] interactions which link the molecules into layers parallel to (10). In contrast, molecules of (E)‐( 1 ) in the crystal are bound to each other by strong nonvalent Br…Br [3.5556 (10) Å] and weak Br…N [3.433 (4) Å] interactions, forming chains propagating along [110]. The crystal packing of (Z)‐( 1 ) is denser than that of (E)‐( 1 ), implying that the crystal structure realized for (Z)‐( 1 ) is more stable than that for (E)‐( 1 ).     

Tetradentate nitrogen-containing ligands bis-5-(2-pyridylmethylidene)-3,5-dihydro-4<Emphasis Type="Italic">H</Emphasis>-imidazol-4-ones and their coordination compounds with Cu<Superscript>I</Superscript> and Cu<Superscript>II</Superscript>

Tetradentate N₄-type organic ligands containing two 5-(2-pyridylmethylidene)-2-thio-3,5-dihydro-4H-imidazol-4-one fragments linked by two-, four-, or six-carbon polymethylene bridges between the sulfur atoms were synthesized. Mono- and dinuclear complexes of these ligands with copper(II) chloride, as well as with copper(I) and copper(II) perchlorates, were prepared. The structure of the coordination compound (5Z,5′Z)-2,2′-(butane-1,2-diyl-disulfanyldiyl)bis-5-(2-pyridylmethylidene)-3-phenyl-3,5-dihydro-4H-imidazol-4-one with copper(I) perchlorate was established by X-ray diffraction. The copper atom in this complex is in a distorted tetrahedral coordination formed by four nitrogen atoms of two imidazole and two pyridine rings. The perchlorate anion is located in the outer sphere of the complex and is not involved in the coordination with the copper ion. The electrochemical study of the ligands and the complexes was carried out by cyclic voltammetry and rotating disk electrode voltammetry. The initial reduction of the complexes under study occurs at the metal atom. The length of the polymethylene bridge in the ligand has only a slight effect on the redox properties of the ligands and the complexes.     

Stereocontrolled synthesis of (3Z,5E)-6-aryl-3-methylhexa-3,5-dien-1-ols,intermediates in the synthesis of strobilurin antibiotics

(2E,4E)-5-Aryl-2-(2-benzyloxyethyl)penta-2,4-dien-1-als (aryl is phenyl and 4-methox-yphenyl) were reduced with NaBH₄ quantitatively and stereospecifically to the corresponding penta-2(E),4(E)-dien-1-ols. The hydroxymethyl group in the latter was transformed into a methyl one with a stereoselectivity of 92–97%. Debenzylation of the resulting (1E,3Z)-1-aryl-6-benzyloxy-4-methylhexa-1,3-dienes with AlCl₃ in the presence of PhNMe₂ afforded the target (3Z,5E)-6-aryl-3-methylhexa-3,5-dien-1-ols; the configuration of the C=C bonds in the conjugated aryl diene systems was retained at 95%.