A protodesilylation route for 2-Aza-1,3-diene synthesis

A new methodology for 2-aza-1,3-diene synthesis involving protodesilylation reactions of N-1-triethylsilylallyl-imines and their propargyl analogs is described. Synthetic sequences for the preparation of these allyl and propargyl imines starting with propargyl amine are presented. The silylallyl and silylpropargyl imines are transformed to 2-azadiene products by use of CsF induced desilylation via a pathway involving generation and regioselective γ-protonation of intermediate 1-imino-allyl and propargyl anions. Alkylative-desilylation of the silylallyl and propargyl imines leads to generation of N-1-alkylallyl-imines and propargyl analogs via α-alkylation of intermediate anions. Finally, the stereochemistry of azadiene formation has been probed by use of the conversion of N-(1-triethylsilylpropen-1-yl) benzaldimine to 1-phenyl-2-aza-1,3-pentadiene. Solvent, water concentration and a metal cation complexing agent all appear to influence the stereoselectivity of this process.     

UV-mediated decomposition of diazomalonates in benzene: Unexpected access to functionalized bicyclo[3.2.0]heptane skeleton

Upon irradiation with 300-nm UV light, the photolysis of diazomalonates in benzene unexpectedly affords 2,6-dicarboxylate bicyclo[3.2.0]hepta-2,6-dienes in low yields. These products are proven to be derived from cyclohepta-1,3,5-triene intermediates presumably via a tandem 1,5-carboxylate migration/[2+2] cycloaddition sequence.     

A computational study of the factors controlling triplet-state reactivity in 1,4-pentadiene

The triplet-state reactions of 1,4-pentadiene have been investigated using density functional theory (UB3LYP) and ab initio (CASSCF) calculations with a 6-31G basis set. Intramolecular [2 + 2] photocycloadditions and three different reaction pathways leading to vinylcyclopropane have been examined. The computed results are in good agreement with the experimental observations, predicting the dominant product to be vinylcyclopropane produced by a di-pi-methane rearrangement, and the favored [2 + 2] cycloaddition product to be bicyclo[2.1.0]pentane. Reaction pathways involving initial C-C or C-H bond cleavage were found to be too high in energy to be significant. Both the [2 + 2] cycloadditions and the di-pi-methane rearrangement proceed through cyclic biradical intermediates formed on the triplet surface. The relative rates of formation of these triplet biradicals are found to depend on three factors: biradical stability, the geometry of the transition structure, and orbital interactions through bonds.     

N-Dimethoxyphenylation of highly basic pyrazoles during undivided electrolysis

The reactions of pyrazole, 3,5-dimethylpyrazole, and its 4-nitro derivatives with 1,4-dimethoxybenzene during undivided amperostatic electrolysis in MeCN (CH₂Cl₂) were studied. The basicity of the medium, which depends on the solvent nature, the nature and concentration of pyrazole and the acid-base properties of additives, and the amount of electricity passed determine the yield and relative content of the target products, viz., 1,4-dimethoxy-2-(pyrazol-1-yl)benzenes (1) and 1,4-dimethoxy-1,4-di(pyrazol-1-yl)cyclohexa-2,5-dienes (2). The process occurs mainly through the interaction of the nonionized solvato complex of pyrazole with the 1,4-dimethoxybenzene radical cation and affords radical intermediates structurally similar to compounds 1 and 2. The key stage of the process determining the 1 : 2 ratio is the rearrangement of the intermediately produced 1,4-dimethoxy-1-(pyrazol-1-yl)arenonium cation to the 1-(pyrazol-1-yl)-2,5-dimethoxyarenonium cation.     

Mechanistic and synthetic aspects of 2-aza-1,3-diene preparation through N-(1-triethylsilylallyl)imine protodesilylation

Features of a novel method for preparation of 2-aza-1,3-dienes involving CsF induced protodesilylation of N-(1-triethylsilylallyl)imines is described.Substances containing the 2-aza-1,3-diene grouping represent a unique class of compounds as a result of their potentially interesting excited- and ground- state chemistry. Particularly significant is the Diels-Alder reactivity of these substances.¹ Several procedures with varying and often limited generality have been developed to prepare 2-aza-1,3-dienes.² In recent efforts designed to explore the chemistry of 2-aza-1,3-dienes,^1c we have explored a potentially versatile method to prepare these substances (Scheme 1) involving N-(1-trialkylsilylallyl)-imine protodesilylation reactions.     

Regioselectivity of the tri-pi-methane rearrangement: mechanistic and exploratory organic photochemistry

The di-pi-methane rearrangement with two pi-groups attached to the central "methane carbon" of the reactant and which leads to a pi-substituted cyclopropane has been studied intensively. Our present research had the goal of elucidating the regioselectivity of the tri-pi-methane counterpart. The reactants with three pi groups attached to the central carbon mechanistically are capable of affording both di-pi-methane and tri-pi-methane photoproducts. In common with the di-pi-methane system, bridging of two of the pi-systems affords a cyclopropyldicarbinyl diradical intermediate that opens to an allyl carbinyl diradical. This diradical has the option of closing to a three-membered or a five-membered ring. It was found that the regioselectivity of the initial pi-pi-bridging step and the three-ring opening of the cyclopropyldicarbinyl diradical exhibit regioselectivity parallel to that of the di-pi counterpart. Both three-ring and five-ring photoproducts were formed with the ratio varying with conversion. Since the three-ring (i.e. di-pi-methane) photoproducts were found to ring expand to the five-ring (i.e. tri-pi-methane) products, kinetics were employed to determine to what extent the reaction proceeds in a two-step versus direct formation of the five-ring product. It was found that the direct route was the major one.     

Rhodium complex-catalyzed cycloisomerization of allenenes: exo and endo cyclization depending on the auxiliary ligands

In the presence of a catalytic amount of a rhodium(I) complex, allenenes undergo cycloisomerization reactions resulting in the selective formation of exo-alkylidenecarbocycles and heterocycles. In the catalytic system of rhodium complexes with triaryl phosphites, cyclic 1,4- or 1,5-dienes are formed in good to excellent yields in the formal exo-cyclization mode via the metallacycle intermediate having an exo-alkylidene moiety. In this cycloisomerization, (E)- and (Z)-allenenes are transformed stereospecifically to the corresponding cyclic (E)- and (Z)-1,4-dienes, respectively. On the other hand, the reactions under carbon monoxide atmosphere exclusively afford seven-membered-ring products through an endo-mode cyclization. The unusual cyclization involves an allylic C-H activation process. The allenene bearing a silicon substituent at the olefinic terminus incorporates carbon monoxide to give the corresponding [2+2+1] cycloaddition product. This result apparently indicates that the catalysis of the rhodium complex is explained in terms of the oxidative cyclization of an allenene to furnish the key exo-alkylidene metallacycle intermediate at the first stage of the catalysis.     

Cyclization of electron-deficient cyclopentadienone with 2-alkenyl and 2-alkynylamines via sequential pericyclic reaction pathway.

The pericyclic reactions of 2,5-bis(methoxycarbonyl)-3,4-diphenylcyclopentadienone (1a) with both allylic and propargylic amines have been investigated. The reaction proceeded via initial formation of the 1,4 adducts followed by the ene cyclization and/or sequential pericyclic reactions depending upon the structures of the amines. The reaction of 1a with diallylamine (2a) gave the tetracyclic compound (3a). On the other hand, the reaction of 1a with 2-propynylamine (2c) gave exclusively the bicyclic compound (5c). In the reactions with the secondary 2-propynylamines (2d,e), the tetracyclic compounds (3d,e) were exclusively formed. The reactions of 1a with alpha-branched primary 1,1-dialkyl-2-propynylamines (2f,g) gave mixtures of 3- and 5-type compounds. The tetracyclic compounds 3 were formed from the intramolecular [4+2]pi cycloadditions of the [1,5]-sigmatropic rearrangement products of the 1,4 adducts of 1a and 2, followed by the [1,5]-sigmatropic rearrangement of hydrogen and dehydrogenation. The bicyclic compounds 5 were derived from the [2pi+2pi+2sigma] reaction of the 1,4 adducts of 1a and 2. The one-pot multistage sequential pericyclic reactions were discussed on the basis of the X-ray crystallographic structures and the MO calculation data.     

Synthesis of 5,6-dihydro-2H-thiins and 2,3-dihydro-1,4-oxathiins based on 1-benzylsulfonyl-1,1-dihydropolyfluoroalkan-2-ones

1-Benzylsulfonyl-1,1-dihydropolyfluoroalkan-2-ones react with phthalimidosulfenyl chloride or succinimidosulfenyl chloride to form the sulfenylated products on the active methylene group, 1-benzylsulfonyl-1-phthalimido(succinimido)thiopolyfluoroalkan-2-ones. Decomposition of the latter leads to formation of 1-benzylsulfonyl-1-thioxopolyfluoroalkan-2-ones. These compounds easily undergo the hetero Diels-Alder reaction with electron-rich 1,3-dienes as dienophiles and with electron-rich olefins as hetero-1,3-dienes. Polyfluoroalkyl substituted derivatives of six-membered sulfur-containing heterocycles, 5,6-dihydro-2H-thiins and 2,3-dihydro-1,4-oxathiins, are obtained as a result of these reactions.     

Conjugate addition to 1-phosphono-2-aza-1,3-butadienes: synthesis of phosphonylated gamma-lactams

Several 1-phosphono-2-aza-1,3-butadienes, 1 and 13-20, were evaluated in the reaction with different enolate-type nucleophiles to induce addition at the 1- or the 4-position of the azadiene. 1-Phosphono-2-azadienes 1 react with sodium malonate at the 1-position, leading to the formation of bisenamines 12 after elimination of the phosphonate moiety. On the contrary, sodium malonate adds at the 4-position of 1-aryl-1-phosphono-2-azadienes 14-19 when the azadienes bear a halogenated phenyl substituent, and the resulting addition products 21-26 are easily transformed into the corresponding phosphonylated gamma-lactams 35-40. The regioselectivity of the addition is explained by reversal of polarization of the azadiene due to the electron-withdrawing character of the halogenated phenyl substituents.     

Aza-2-diènes-1,3 3. Nouvelles voies d'accès à des amino-2-pyrazines substituées

2-Aza-1,3-dienes. A New Approach to Substituted 2-Aminopyrazines Treatment of enamines by tosylated isonitrosomalono derivatives gives access to 5-dialkylamino-1, 1-dicyano 2-aza-1,3-dienes (or 1-methoxycarbonyl analogous) which are precursors of various regiospecific 5,6-substituted 2-amino-3-cyano (or methoxycarbonyl) pyrazines. Some examples of utilisation of these intermediates for synthesis of lumazines, pteridines, and other bicyclic skeletons are described.     

Synthesis of N-vinyl 2,2-bisphosphonoaziridines from 1,1-bisphosphono-2-aza-1,3-dienes

N-Vinyl 2,2-bisphosphonoaziridines are formed by treatment of 1,1-bisphosphono-2-aza-1,3-dienes with diazomethane. Depending on the substituents at the 4-position of the 1,1-bisphosphono-2-aza-1,3-dienes, exclusively 1-(ethenylamino)-2-phosphonoethenylphosphonates or mixtures of 1-(ethenylamino)-2-phosphonoethenylphosphonates and 2-imino-2-phosphonoethylphosphonates are obtained as side products.     

Excited- and ground-state versions of the tri-pi-methane rearrangement: mechanistic and exploratory organic photochemistry

The di-pi-methane rearrangement with two pi-groups bonded to a single carbon leading to pi-substituted cyclopropanes is now well established. The present research had as its goal the exploration of molecular systems having three pi-moieties attached to an sp(3)-hybridized atom in a search for a tri-pi-methane rearrangement. Indeed, it was found that such systems do rearrange photochemically to afford cyclopentenes. However, it was also established that vinylcyclopropanes ring-expand to cyclopentenes on direct irradiation. Since both three-ring and five-ring photoproducts often are found to be produced, it was important to establish that the observed photochemistry was really the result of a true single-step tri-pi-methane rearrangement and not the consequence of two sequential rearrangements, first to form a vinyl cyclopropane which subsequently ring expanded to the cyclopentene. The general situation has three species-A, B, and C-corresponding to tri-pi-methane reactant A, vinylcyclopropane photoproduct B, and cyclopentene photoproduct C. Three rate constants are involved, k(1) for A --> B, k(2) for A --> C, and k(3) for B --> C. The kinetics were applied to two examples with provision to avoid differential light absorption; this utilized singlet sensitization. It was determined that direct formation of the cyclopentene photoproduct proceeds more rapidly than the ring-expansion route. In contrast to the di-pi-methane rearrangement, the tri-pi-methane reaction was found to be preferred by the singlet, while in these sterically congested systems, the triplet led to di-pi-methane reactivity. Finally, a ground-state counterpart of the reaction was obtained.     

2,6-Diazasemibullvalenes: synthesis, structural characterization, reaction chemistry, and theoretical analysis

A series of 2,6-diazasemibullvalenes (NSBVs) were synthesized and isolated from the reaction of 1,4-dilithio-1,3-dienes with nitriles via oxidant-induced C-N bond formation. For the first time, the activation barrier and an X-ray crystal structure of a substituted 2,6-diazasemibullvalene were determined. All NSBVs show extremely rapid aza-Cope rearrangement in solution, but the rapid aza-Cope rearrangement is "frozen" in the solid state, as shown by solid-state NMR measurements and X-ray single-crystal structural analysis. Insertion of unsaturated compounds or a low-valent metal center into the NSBV C-N bond gave diverse and interesting ring-expansion products. Theoretical analysis showed that the localized structure is predominant and that the homoaromatic delocalized structure exists as a minor component in the equilibrium.     

UV-induced generation of rare tautomers of 2-thiouracils: a matrix isolation study

Unimolecular photoisomerization reactions were studied for 2-thiouracil, 6-aza-2-thiothymine, 1-methyl-2-thiouracil, and 3-methyl-2-thiouracil isolated in low-temperature Ar matrixes. The IR spectra have revealed that before UV irradiation all the matrix-isolated compounds adopted exclusively the oxo-thione tautomeric form. Upon UV (lambda > 320 nm) irradiation of the matrixes, two oxo-thiol photoproducts were generated for monomeric 2-thiouracil as well as for monomeric 6-aza-2-thiothymine. Generation of these products corresponds to transfer of a proton from either the N(1)-H or N(3)-H group to the sulfur atom of the C(2)=S thiocarbonyl moiety. The first of the above reactions was photoreversible. As a consequence, after prolonged UV irradiation most of the material was transformed into the oxo-thiol-N(1)H form. The hydroxy-thiol tautomers of 2-thiouracil and 6-aza-2-thiothymine were also photogenerated as minor products. For 1-methyl-2-thiouracil and 3-methyl-2-thiouracil, thione --> thiol phototautomeric reactions yielded the oxo-thiol isomers of the compounds. Since these reactions were photoreversible, the final stages of the photoinduced processes corresponded, for both methylated 2-thiouracils, to photostationary states. All the products of the investigated photoreactions were identified by comparison of their IR spectra with the spectra calculated at the DFT(B3LYP)/6-311++G(2d,p) level.     

2 + 4] and [4 + 2] cycloadditions of o-thioquinones with 1,3-dienes: a computational study

Cycloadditions of o-thioquinones (o-TQs) with 1,3-dienes could proceed via either a [2 + 4] or a [4 + 2] mechanism. Under kinetic control and with acyclic dienes the reaction affords the spiro cycloadducts 5deriving from the [2 + 4] path as the main products. Under thermodynamic control, or with cyclic dienes, the o-TQs behave as heterodienes to give the benzoxathiin derivatives 4, in most cases with complete regioselectivity. In the present computational study, DFT calculations were performed in order to achieve a deep understanding of both [2 + 4] and [4 + 2] paths. The reactions of three o-TQs with six 1,3-dienes were thoroughly investigated at the B3LYP/TZVP//B3LYP6-31G level, and the two reaction mechanisms were then compared, evidencing that [2 + 4] cycloadditions are kinetically favored, strongly asynchronous, or even unconcerted, while [4 + 2] reactions are thermodynamically favored, quite asynchronous, but undoubtedly concerted. Moreover, the observed regioselectivity was rationalized by mean of the FMO theory and by comparison of the activation energies for different pathways.     

Photochemical reactivity of 1-substituted-1-aza-1,4-dienes promoted by electron-acceptor sensitizers. Di-pi-methane rearrangements and alternative reactions via radical-cation intermediates

Irradiation of a series of beta,gamma-unsaturated imines, oxime acetates, and oxime methyl ethers, using 9,10-dicyanoanthrathene (DCA) or dicyanodurene (DCD) as electron acceptor sensitizers, affords the corresponding cyclopropanes resulting from 1-aza-di-pi-methane rearrangements via radical cations. In some cases, alternative reactions of these intermediates occur to yield nitriles, dihydroquinolines, dihydronaphthalene derivatives, and cycloaddition products. Some of these products result from reactions via alkene radical-cation intermediates while others arise by pathways involving imine radical-cation intermediates. The yields of products formed in these processes were significantly higher when DCD was used as electron-acceptor sensitizer instead of DCA.     

One-pot synthesis of 1-aryl-3-methyl-1,3-dienes using methallyl(trimethyl)silane and aldehydes and their low temperature (Z)→(E) isomerization induced by sulfur dioxide

2-Methylprop-2-ene-1-sulfonyl fluorides can be easily prepared via the ene reaction of methallylsilanes and SO₂. In the presence of a base, aldehydes and 2-methylprop-2-ene-1-sulfonyl fluorides give 1,3-(E) and (Z)-dienes. Their (Z)→(E) isomerization by classical means fails or leads to their polymerization. It is shown that SO₂ can isomerize 1-aryl-3-methyl-1,3-dienes at low temperature, without formation of sulfolenes (cheletropic addition/elimination). Preliminary mechanistic studies suggest that SO₂ adds to 1,3-dienes forming 1,4-diradical intermediates that are responsible for the (Z)→(E) isomerizations.     

Claisen rearrangement of allyl phenyl ether and its sulfur and selenium analogues on electron impact

The electron impact (EI) mass spectrum of allyl phenyl ether (1) includes an ion at m/z 106 that is formed mainly by the loss of CO from the molecular ion, as supported by high resolution and MS/MS data. The formation of the [M - CO](+) ion from 1 can be explained in terms of the Claisen rearrangement of 1 after ionization in the ion source of the mass spectrometer. Similarly, allyl phenyl sulfide (2) and allyl phenyl selenide (3) showed characteristic ions corresponding to [M - CH(3)](+), [M - XH](+) (X = S or Se) and [M - C(2)H(4)](+.), and the formation of these ions are explained via Claisen rearrangement of 2 and 3 in the ion source of the mass spectrometer resulting in a mixture of rearrangement products. The formation of molecular ions of 2-allyl thiophenol and 2-allyl selenophenol as intermediates, that cannot be isolated as the neutrals from the solution phase Claisen rearrangement of 2 and 3, respectively, is clearly indicated in the gas phase. The mass spectra of the rearrangement products obtained from the solution phase reaction were also consistent with the proposal of formation of these products in the ion source of the mass spectrometer. The formation of characteristic fragment ions attributed to the Claisen rearrangement products are also evident in the collision induced dissociation spectra of the corresponding molecular ions. Copyright 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

8-Oxabicyclo[5.1.0]octa-2,4-dien Thermische und lichtinduzierte Isomerisierung

8-Oxabicyclo[5.1.0]octa-2, 4-diene ( 1 ) yields 2,4,6-heptatrienaldehyde as major primary rearrangement product upon pyrolysis in a flow system between 200 and 300°. Above 500° o-cresol, benzaldehyde and benzene are obtained. Bicyclo[3.2.0]hept-2-en-7-one, 2,3- and 2, 5-dihydrobenzaldehyde are shown to be intermediates in this transformation to stable aromatic products. The observed conversions can be rationalized as proceeding mostly through allowed pericyclic reaction steps with heterogeneous, acid catalysed reactions participating to a minor extent. Irradiation of 1 affords 3-oxatricyclo[4.2.0.0^2,4]oct-7-ene, 2,4,6-heptatrienal and 3,5-cycloheptadienone. Upon sensitized irradiation only the latter two compounds are formed.