Synthese von diastereo- und enantio-selektiv deuterierten β,ε-, β,β-, β,γ- und γ,γ-Carotinen

Synthesis of Diastereo- and Enantioselectively Deuterated β,ε-, β,β-, β,γ- and γ,γ-Carotenes We describe the synthesis of (1′R, 6′S)-[16′, 16′, 16′-²H₃]-β, εcarotene, (1R, 1′R)-[16, 16, 16, 16′, 16′, 16′-²H₆]-β, β-carotene, (1′R, 6′S)-[16′, 16′, 16′-²H₃]-γ, γ-carotene and (1R, 1′R, 6S, 6′S)-[16, 16, 16, 16′, 16′, 16′-²H₆]-γ, γ-carotene by a multistep degradation of (4R, 5S, 10S)-[18, 18, 18-²H₃]-didehydroabietane to optically active deuterated β-, ε- and γ-C₁₁-endgroups and subsequent building up according to schemes \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}${\rm C}_{11} \to {\rm C}_{14}^{C_{\mathop {26}\limits_ \to }} \to {\rm C}_{40} $\end{document} and C₁₁ → C₁₄; C₁₄+C₁₂+C₁₄→C₄₀. NMR.- and chiroptical data allow the identification of the geminal methyl groups in all these compounds. The optical activity of all-(E)-[²H₆]-β,β-carotene, which is solely due to the isotopically different substituent not directly attached to the chiral centres, is demonstrated by a significant CD.-effect at low temperature. Therefore, if an enzymatic cyclization of [17, 17, 17, 17′, 17′, 17′-²H₆]lycopine can be achieved, the steric course of the cyclization step would be derivable from NMR.- and CD.-spectra with very small samples of the isolated cyclic carotenes. A general scheme for the possible course of the cyclization steps is presented.     

Diastereoselective michael addition of nitrogen and sulfur-nucleophiles to α,β-unsaturated δ-thiolactams

5,6-Dihydropyridine-2-thiones 2 are synthesized from 5,6-dihydropyridin-2-ones 1 and Lawesson reagent. Stereoselective Michael-like addition of amines, methylhydrazine or functionalized thiols affords trans piperidine-2-thiones 5 with the corresponding heterosubstituent in position 4 as major products. The configuration of the adducts 5 was determined by nmr-techniques.     

Differentiation of Boc‐protected α,δ‐/δ,α‐ and β,δ‐/δ,β‐hybrid peptide positional isomers by electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry

Two new series of Boc‐N‐α,δ‐/δ,α‐ and β,δ‐/δ,β‐hybrid peptides containing repeats of L ‐Ala‐δ⁵‐Caa/δ⁵‐Caa‐L ‐Ala and β³‐Caa‐δ⁵‐Caa/δ⁵‐Caa‐β³‐Caa (L ‐Ala = L ‐alanine, Caa = C‐linked carbo amino acid derived from D ‐xylose) have been differentiated by both positive and negative ion electrospray ionization (ESI) ion trap tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). MSⁿ spectra of protonated isomeric peptides produce characteristic fragmentation involving the peptide backbone, the Boc‐group, and the side chain. The dipeptide positional isomers are differentiated by the collision‐induced dissociation (CID) of the protonated peptides. The loss of 2‐methylprop‐1‐ene is more pronounced for Boc‐NH‐L ‐Ala‐δ‐Caa‐OCH₃ (1), whereas it is totally absent for its positional isomer Boc‐NH‐δ‐Caa‐L ‐Ala‐OCH₃ (7), instead it shows significant loss of t‐butanol. On the other hand, second isomeric pair shows significant loss of t‐butanol and loss of acetone for Boc‐NH‐δ‐Caa‐β‐Caa‐OCH₃ (18), whereas these are insignificant for its positional isomer Boc‐NH‐β‐Caa‐δ‐Caa‐OCH₃ (13). The tetra‐ and hexapeptide positional isomers also show significant differences in MS² and MS³ CID spectra. It is observed that ‘b’ ions are abundant when oxazolone structures are formed through five‐membered cyclic transition state and cyclization process for larger ‘b’ ions led to its insignificant abundance. However, b₁⁺ ion is formed in case of δ,α‐dipeptide that may have a six‐membered substituted piperidone ion structure. Furthermore, ESI negative ion MS/MS has also been found to be useful for differentiating these isomeric peptide acids. Thus, the results of MS/MS of pairs of di‐, tetra‐, and hexapeptide positional isomers provide peptide sequencing information and distinguish the positional isomers. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Heterocyclen aus α-nitroolefinen. XI . 1,2-oxazine aus α-nitroolefinen und β-dicarbonylverbindungen

Dihydro-1,2-oxazines 8 and 12-oxazines 12 are formed by the reaction of the nitronic acids of the adducts of α-nitroolefins and β-dicarbonyl compounds ( 6 ) by two ways: A ) The nitronic acids 6 are heated in a boiling solution of urea in ethanol or methanol. B ) The nitronic acids 6 are reduced with an aqueous solution of ammoniachloride and sodium sulfide. ¹H-nmr and ¹³C-nmr investigations prove the constitutions. The mechanism is discussed.     

Thiocyanate-assisted demetallation of α,β,γ,δ-tetra(p-sulfophenyl)porphinatoindium(III) in aqueous media

The rate law for the demetallation of the title indium(III)-porphin complex in aqueous acidic thiocyanate media at 3.00M ionic strength was found to be of the form where [H₄P^2?] is the concentration of the diacid product formed, [InP]_t is the total concentration of all forms of indium(III)-porphin complex present, and a and b are constants. The constant a is a pseudo-third-order rate constant with the value (0.057 ± 0.005)M^?2 s^?1 and b has the value 0.704M^?2 at 50.5°C. If the mechanism for demetallation involves ringpuckering with the attachment of two H⁺ ions, then 1/b can be identified with the product K₁K₂ for the stepwise dissociation of two protons from two ring pyrrolic nitrogen atoms of H₂InP^?. In the sulfonated tetraphenylporphin used for these studies the ring pyrrolic nitrogen atoms seem to be the most probable sites for protonation. If this identification is correct, the value of 1.42 ± 0.13 found for the product K₁K₂ shows the enormous effect that the presence of the In³⁺ center has on the ionization constants of these two protons. That the kinetic studies show saturation effects with respect to proton addition to InP^3? may result from the fact that In³⁺ sits about 0.6 Å above the porphin ring.     

Multichain copoly(α-amino acid). I. Multichain copoly(α-amino acid) prepared by reaction of copoly(L-lysine γ-methyl-L-glutamate) with N-carboxy anhydride of Nϵ-carbobenzyloxy-L-lysine

Polymerization of the N-carboxy anhydride of N^?-carbobenzyloxy-L -lysine in the presence of multifunctional polymeric initiator, copoly(L -lysine γ-methyl-L -glutamate) was studied in N,N-dimethylformamide containing 3% (v/v) of dimethyl sulfoxide. Multichain copoly(α-amino acid), i.e., multi-N^?-poly(N^?-carbobenzyloxy-L -lysine)copoly(L -lysine γ-methyl-L -glutamate), was obtained with linear poly(N^?-carbobenzyloxy-L -lysine) as by-product that could be removed by reprecipitation as was evidenced by gel-permeation chromatography. The degree of polymerization of the branch polymer chains estimated by the osmometric molecular weight determination and amino acid analysis was between 20 and 60, which decreased with increasing lysine content of the polymeric initiator. The stability of α-helical conformation of the multichain copoly(α-amino acid) was studied in the chloroform–dichloroacetic acid system at 25°C by the ORD technique. The α-helical conformation of poly(N^?-carbobenzyloxy-L -lysine) branches was less stable than those of linear poly(N^?-carbobenzyloxy-L -lysine) and the core molecular chains of the multichain copoly(α-amino acid).     

Photochemische Reaktionen. 121. Mitteilung. Zur Photochemie von ε,ζ-Methano-α,γ-dienonen und 7,8-Methano-1,3,5-trienen

Photochemistry of ε,ζ-Methano-α,γ-dienones and 7,8-Methano-1,3,5-trienes Irradiation of the δ-cyclopropyl-dienone (E)- 6 (λ ≥ 347 nm) gives (Z)- 6, 10 (1,5-sigmatropic H-shift), (E/Z)- 9 (electrocyclic process involving C(ε), C(ζ)-cleavage) and 11 (ring opening). The corresponding 6-cyclopropyl-triene (E)- 7 gives on singlet excitation (δ > 280 nm) 14 (1,5-sigmatropic H-shift) and, to a smaller extent, the bicyclo [3.2.0] heptenyl-dienes (E/Z)- 13 . However, on triplet excitation (λ ≥ 347 nm, benzophenone) (E)- 7 gives (E/Z)- 13 as the main products. On both ¹π,π*- and ³π,π*-excitation, (Z)- 7 and 15 are formed in small amounts.     

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.     

Chemistry of trifluorostyrenes and their dimers: 2. Synthesis of substituted α, β, β-trifluorostyrenes and α, β, β-trifluoroethenylnaphthalenes. Hammett correlations of their NMR parameters and the concept of “distorted π-electron clouds”

Six α, β, β-trifluorostyrenes with the following substituents, viz., p-MeO, p-Me, m-Me, p-Cl, m-Cl, and m-CF₃, were synthesized by the reaction of the corresponding Grignard reagents with tetrafluoroethylene in tetrahydrofuran. Similarly, α-and β-trifluoroethenylnaphthalenes were prepared. The substituent electronic effects on the ¹⁹F-NMR parameters were investigated for the trifluorostyrenes (I). Linear correlations between the Hammett σ constants and the following ¹⁹F-NMR parameters were established, namely, chemical shifts δ. (F¹) and δ (F²), coupling constants J₁₂, differences of chemical shifts Δδ_3-1 (δ (F³)—δ(f¹) or Δδ_3-2. The results are consistent with previous expectations based on the simple concept of “distorted π-electron clouds”. Facts are presented which indicate that the Δδ_3-1 (or Δδ_3-2) values may serve as empirical measures of the degree of polarization of the π bonds of these fluoroolefins.     

Photochemische Reaktionen. 116. Mitteilung [1]. Notiz zur 1γ, δ*-induzierten Photospaltung von γ, δ-Epoxy-eucarvon

π, π*-Induced Photocleavage of γ, δ-Epoxy-eucarvone . On ¹π, π*-excitation 1 undergoes cleavage of the C, C-oxirane bond ( 1 → c ) and isomerizes to the bicyclic dihydrofurane compound 5 . In addition, 1 shows photocleavage of the C (γ), O-oxirane bond ( 1 → d ) and gives the isomers 2, 3, 6, 7 and 8. Furthermore, the cyclohexenone 9 and the cyclohexene-1, 4-dione 10 are formed presumably via an intermediate 13 , which could also arise from d. Besides these products the compounds 11 and 12 are obtained, which are photoproducts of 2 .     

Preparation and antibacterial activity of aromatic derivatives of β-aminopropionic and γ-aminobutyric acid

Ten aromatic derivatives of β-aminopropionic acid and γ-aminobutyric acid were prepared.Their compositions and structures were identified by elemental analysis,IR,and 1H NMR.They have been examined for their antibacterial action against Staphylococcua aurens and Escherichia coli.These compounds showed higher activity than the aromatic derivatives of ct-amino acid which were reported previously.The general conclusion to be drawn is that the distance between amino and carboxylic group in these molecules could affect their antibacterial activity.Furthermore,those compounds with p-methyl substituent in phenyl ring exhibit higher activity than the others,and all the compounds exhibit higher activity against Escherichia coli and against Staphylococcua aureus.     

The effect of amino acid backbone length on molecular packing: crystalline tartrates of glycine, β‐alanine, γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA) and dl‐α‐aminobutyric acid (AABA)

We report a novel 1:1 cocrystal of β‐alanine with dl ‐tartaric acid, C₃H₇NO₂·C₄H₆O₆, (II), and three new molecular salts of dl ‐tartaric acid with β‐alanine {3‐azaniumylpropanoic acid–3‐azaniumylpropanoate dl ‐tartaric acid–dl ‐tartrate, [H(C₃H₇NO₂)₂]⁺·[H(C₄H₅O₆)₂]⁻, (III)}, γ‐aminobutyric acid [3‐carboxypropanaminium dl ‐tartrate, C₄H₁₀NO₂⁺·C₄H₅O₆⁻, (IV)] and dl ‐α‐aminobutyric acid {dl ‐2‐azaniumylbutanoic acid–dl ‐2‐azaniumylbutanoate dl ‐tartaric acid–dl ‐tartrate, [H(C₄H₉NO₂)₂]⁺·[H(C₄H₅O₆)₂]⁻, (V)}. The crystal structures of binary crystals of dl ‐tartaric acid with glycine, (I), β‐alanine, (II) and (III), GABA, (IV), and dl ‐AABA, (V), have similar molecular packing and crystallographic motifs. The shortest amino acid (i.e. glycine) forms a cocrystal, (I), with dl ‐tartaric acid, whereas the larger amino acids form molecular salts, viz. (IV) and (V). β‐Alanine is the only amino acid capable of forming both a cocrystal [i.e. (II)] and a molecular salt [i.e. (III)] with dl ‐tartaric acid. The cocrystals of glycine and β‐alanine with dl ‐tartaric acid, i.e. (I) and (II), respectively, contain chains of amino acid zwitterions, similar to the structure of pure glycine. In the structures of the molecular salts of amino acids, the amino acid cations form isolated dimers [of β‐alanine in (III), GABA in (IV) and dl ‐AABA in (V)], which are linked by strong O—H…O hydrogen bonds. Moreover, the three crystal structures comprise different types of dimeric cations, i.e. (A…A)⁺ in (III) and (V), and A⁺…A⁺ in (IV). Molecular salts (IV) and (V) are the first examples of molecular salts of GABA and dl ‐AABA that contain dimers of amino acid cations. The geometry of each investigated amino acid (except dl ‐AABA) correlates with the melting point of its mixed crystal.     

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.     

Synthesis,structural, conformational and biochemical study of some 3β-acyloxytropan-3α-carboxylic acid hydrochlorides

A series of 3β-acyloxytropan-3α-carboxylic acid hydrochlorides have been synthesized and studied by ¹H and ¹³C nmr spectroscopy, and the crystal structure of 3β-(3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoyloxy)tropan-3α-carboxylic acid hydrochloride 4c has been determined by X-ray diffraction. The compounds studied display in methanol-d₄ the same preferred conformation. The pyrrolidine and piperidine rings adopt a flattened N8 envelope and distorted chair conformation; puckered at N8 and flattened at C3 respectively with the N-substituent in equatorial position with respect to the piperidine ring. In all cases, there is only one mode (axial) of proton uptake at the piperidine nitrogen atom. These results are in close agreement with that found for compound 4c in the crystalline state. The inhibitory ability of the title compounds upon ³ H -GABA binding to sinaptosomal brain membranes is also reported.     

Synthesis and structure of new types of organogermanium compounds containing α‐amino acid or α‐aminophosphonic acid moieties

A series of germasesquioxides and germatranes containing α‐amino acid or α‐aminophosphonic acid moieties was synthesized by the reaction of β‐trichlorogermylpropionyl chloride with α‐amino acid esters or α‐aminophosphonates. The structures of all products were confirmed by ¹H NMR, ³¹P NMR, and IR spectra, and elemental analyses. The intramolecular monocyclic penta‐coordinated structure of the trichlorogermyl intermediate was determined by X‐ray diffraction. The X‐ray analyses showed that the geometry about the germanium atom was a slightly distorted trigonal bipyramid, and a coordinate covalent bond exists between the oxygen and the germanium atoms. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 10: 73–78, 1999     

β‐Cyclodextrin‐catalyzed decomposition of Caro's acid

The kinetics and mechanism of decomposition of peroxomonosulphate (PMS) in aqueous sodium hydroxide medium in the presence β‐cyclodextrin has been investigated. The rate of decomposition of PMS is considerably enhanced by the added β‐cyclodextrin. The reaction follows first order kinetics with respect to [PMS]. The experimental results suggest the formation of β‐cyclodextrin peroxy anion by the interaction between SO₅^2?, and β‐cyclodextrin anion (BCDO^?). β‐Cyclodextrin peroxy anion subsequently reacts with PMS to give O₂, SO₄^2? and β‐cyclodextrin anion. The rate constant for the β‐cyclodextrin‐catalyzed decomposition of SO₅^2? (BCD + SO₅^2?) is of the same order of magnitude as that of the reaction HSO₅^2? + SO₅^2? products. © 2002 Wiley Periodic mals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 34: 508–513, 2002     

Demetallation of α, β, γ, δ-tetra(p-sulfophenyl)porphineiron(III) in sulfuric acid-ethanol-water media

The rate of demetallation of α, β, γ,δ-tetra(p-sulfophenyl)porphineiron (III), Fe(TPPS)^3-, was determined in sulfuric acid-ethanol-water media for 8.5-10.65M sulfuric acid at different temperatures. The overall reaction was the conversion of the complex Fe(TPPS)^3- into the diacid species H₄TPPS^2- without other spectrophotometrically important species being formed to an appreciable extent, as shown by three isosbestic points at 418, 462, and 563 nm. The rate was first order in the Fe(TPPS)^3- concentration. The pseudo-first-order rate constants k were exponentially dependent on the sulfuric acid concentration, and log k was linearly dependent on the Hammett acidity function –H₀. The average ΔH? and ΔS? values for five reaction media were 18.4 ± 1.4 kcal/mol and 19 ± 3 cal/°K · mol, respectively. The linear relationship between log k and (-H₀) and the approximately constant values of ΔH? ΔS? over the acid range investigated indicated that the same mechanism of demetallation was operative over this acid range. Because of the dependence of the pseudo-first-order rate constants on the acidity of the medium, the mechanism probably involves the addition of protons to pyrrole N atoms to assist in the breaking of iron (III)-nitrogen bonds.     

Multichain copoly(α-amino acid). III. Multichain copoly(α-amino acid) prepared by the reaction of copoly(L-lysine γ-methyl-L-glutamate) with N-carboxy anhydride of β-benzyl L-aspartate

Graft copolymerization of N-carboxy anhydride of β-benzyl-L -aspartate onto copoly(L -lysine γ-methyl-L -glutamate) was carried out in N,N-dimethylformaide which contained 3 v/v% of dimethyl sulfoxide to obtain multi-N^ε-poly(β-benzyl-L -aspartyl)copoly(L -lysine γ-methyl-L gluta mate). The degree of polymerization of the branch chain attained was much influenced by the interval of the grafting sites of the copoly(L -lysine γ-methyl-L -glutamate). The solvent-induced two-step conformational transition of the multichain copoly(α-amino acid) was observed in the chloroform-dichloroacetic acid system at 25°C by the ORD technique. The stability of the α-helical conformation of the backbone polymer chain was decreased by the presence of poly(β-benzyl-L -aspartyl) branch chains that could form unstable α-helical conformations of opposite spirals.     

Reaction of Cα,O-dilithiooximes with functionalized carbonyl compounds. Part 2 . Reaction with α-chloroketones and α,β-unsaturated aldehydes and ketones

The reaction of Cα,O-Dilithiooximes 2 and α-chloroketones afforded 5-(hydroxymethyl)-Δ²-soxazolines 4 . α,β-Unsaturated aldehydes and ketones reacted with 2 to give the corresponding acyclic 1,2-addition products 5 . The latter were cyclized with phosphorus pentoxide to 5-vinyl-Δ²-isoxazolines 6 .     

Photochemische Reaktionen. 71. Mitteilung. Die Photoisomerisierung eines spirocyclischen α, β-Epoxyketons

On direct UV. irradiation and on triplet sensitization with acetophenone the spirocyclic epoxyketone (R)-(?)- 9 undergoes racemization (Φ^313/334 0.014, Φ^Sens 0.0060) and rearrangement to the enantiomeric spiro-β-diketones (R)-(+)- 14 (Φ^313/334 0.068, Φ^Sens 0.0037) and (S)-(?)- 14 (Φ^313/334 0.024, Φ^Sens 0.0023). The quantum yield data show that triplet reaction due to intersystem crossing is unimportant on direct irradiation, and they exclude that one common diradical intermediate of type d (Scheme 8) for the three reaction paths is involved in both the singlet and the triplet reaction. The postulate of photolytic Cα? O epoxide cleavage to intermediates of type d for the rearrangement requires that the rate of rearrangement is greater than the rate of rotation around the Cα? Cβ; bond in a given d , and that the rate difference is greater in singlet-generated d than in the triplet analogue. Reclosure of diradicals d and/or photolytic Cα? Cβ cleavage to diradical e and reclosure can account for the racemization of 9 . The optically active spiro-β-diketone 14 was found to racemize also on direct irradiation and on triplet sensitization. Furthermore, both 14 and the isomeric β-diketone 20 , which was obtained by UV. irradiation of the homocyclic epoxyketone 19 , photochemically isomerize to the enol lactones 23 and 21 , respectively.