The photochemistry of proaporphines: a new route to the aporphines

Proaporphines undergo light catalyzed rearrangement. Pakistanamine ($\text{1}$) is thus converted into lumipakistanine ($\text{2}$), while pronuciferine ($\text{7}$) and N-acetylnorpronuciferine ($\text{8}$) afford the corresponding C-9 hydroxylated aporphines $\text{9}$ and $\text{10}$. Possible biogenetic schemes for the formation of C-8, C-9-, and C-8,9-substituted aporphines are presented.     

Synthesis of erythrinin A,a naturally occurring pyranoisoflavone

Erythrinin A ($\text{10}$) has been synthesised by the oxidative rearrangement of dihydropyranochalcone $\text{1}$ with thallium(III) nitrate (TTN) in trimethyl orthoformate (TMOF) to the dimethyl acetal $\text{2}$, followed by cyclisation to $\text{3}$, demethylation to $\text{6}$ and dehydrogenation. Compound $\text{10}$ could also be obtained from chalcone $\text{4}$ on similar rearrangement followed by cyclisation, demethoxymethylation and dehydrogenation. In another route, chalcone $\text{7}$ was oxidatively rearranged with TTN in TMOF, to $\text{8}$ which on treatment with HCl yielded $\text{10}$.     

1-methyl-(D3)-trishomocubane

The acid catalysed rearrangement of 8-methyl-pentacyclo(5.4.0.0^2,6.0^3,10.0^5,9)undecan-8-endo-o1 ($\text{8}$) to 3-methyl-(D₃)-trishomocuban-4-o1 ($\text{9}$) provided the key step to the synthesis of the title compound ($\text{11}$).     

Successive methyl migrations occurring in the acid treatment of 1-epoxyethyl-1,2,2-trimethyl-cyclopentane derivative

Acid treatment of (IR, 3S,1′S)-1-(1′,2′-Epoxyethyl)-1,2,2-trimethyl-3-acetoxymethyl-cyclopentane $\text{6}$) has been shown to yield three products ($\text{8}$, $\text{9}$, $\text{10}$), among which $\text{8}$ and $\text{9}$ are 1-oxa-bicyclo[3.3.0]octane derivatives formed $\text{via}$ successive methyl migrations followed by an oxorane ring closure.     

Ritter-reaction on steroids: Ring expansion of steroid oxethans into dihydrooxazines

The 3β-acetoxy-16β,17β-epoxymethyleneandrost-5-ene ($\text{1}$) transforms into the dihydrooxazine condensed to the sterane skeleton ($\text{4}$$\text{a}$,$\text{b}$,$\text{c}$,$\text{e}$,$\text{g}$,$\text{i}$) in a ring-expansion reaction with alkyl and aryl nitriles in the presence of HBF₄— diethyletherate The 3β-acetoxy-16α, 17α-epoxymethyleneandrost-5-ene ($\text{9}$) undergoes a Wagner-Meerwein rearrangement under similar conditions.     

An adamantane rearrangement. A new pathway

Tricyclo(4.2.2.o^1,5)decane ($\text{7}$) in the presence of AlBr₃ rearranges partly “forwards” to adamantane ($\text{1}$) and partly “backwards” to tetrahydrodicyclopentadiene ($\text{2}$, largely the oxo isomer). Intermediate $\text{14}$, characterizing the $\text{7}$→exo-$\text{8}$→$\text{14}$→$\text{3}$→$\text{1}$ forward pathway, is found only in small amounts. The detection of a new intermediate, $\text{12}$, also shows that a second major rearrangement route from $\text{7}$ to $\text{1}$ is being utilized (see dashed lines in Figure 1).     

Condensed cyclic and bridged-ring systems : part 12: A novel synthetic route to 4-p-methoxyphenyl-bicyclo[ 2.2.2 ]octan-2-ones and some bicyclo [ 3.2.1 ] octane derivatives by acid-catalyzed intramolecula

The efficacy of a new acid-catalyzed intramolecular C-alkylation has been demonstrated by the synthesis of 1-methyl-4-$\text{p}$-methoxyphenylbicyclo [2.2.2] octan-2-one ($\text{5}$) and 4-$\text{p}$-methoxyphenylbicyclo [2.2.2] octan-2-one ($\text{6}$) from easily accessible starting materials. The carbinol $\text{20}$, derived from $\text{5}$, undergoes facile rearrangement leading to 1-$\text{p}$-methoxyphenyl-4-methyl bicyclo [3.2.1] oct-3-ene ($\text{22}$), which has been transformed to $\text{endo}$-1-$\text{p}$-methoxyphenyl-4-methylbicyclo [3.2.1] octan-3-one ($\text{25}$).     

Photochemical valence tautomerization of berberinephenolbetaines to 8,14-cycloberbines,versatile aziridine derivatives for spirobenzylisoquinolines

Irradiation of the berberinephenolbetaines ($\text{8}$$\text{a}$, $\text{8}$$\text{b}$, and $\text{8}$$\text{c}$) effected valence tautomerization to give the 8,14-cycloberbines ($\text{9}$$\text{a}$, $\text{9}$$\text{b}$, and $\text{9}$$\text{c}$), the aziridine derivatives, in high yield. The 8,14-cycloberbines were efficiently converted to the spirobenzylisoquinolines by regioselective C bond cleavage.     

An intramolecular diels-alder approach to quassinoids—a stereoselective construction of a-aromatic klaineanone

Thermolysis of a benzocyclobutene derivative ($\text{20}$) prepared from norcamphor produced stereoselectively a tetracyclic compound ($\text{2}$), which was converted to a lactone ($\text{21}$) having correct stereochemistry at C₇, C₈, C₉, C₁₁, C₁₃, and C₁₄ positions of (±)-klaineanone.     

Inter vs intramolecular amidoalkylations of aromatics - a new synthesis of oxindoles,isoquinolones and benzazepinones

A new synthesis of oxindoles ($\text{8}$) isoquinolones ($\text{5}$) and benzazepinones ($\text{10}$) by the intramolecular amidoalkylation of aromatic amides of bismethoxycarbonylaminoacetic acid ($\text{4}$, $\text{7}$, $\text{9}$) is described.     

Adamantane rearrangement mechanisms. 1,2-trimethylenenorbornanes

Unexpected differences in the aluminium bromide-catalyzed rearrangement behaviour of 1,2-$\text{endo}$-trimethylenenorbornane ($\text{1}$) and its 1,2-$\text{exo}$-isomer ($\text{2}$) are interpreted. Isotopic labelling studies indicate that reversible abstraction of the tertiary 2-$\text{endo}$ hydride in $\text{2}$ does not occur. Instead, rearrangement to $\text{6}$ is favored. The label scrambling in the final product, adamantane ($\text{8}$), is attributed to degenerate isomerization in the proto-adamantyl precursor, $\text{7}$.     

Athrotaxis alkaloids. Part I. Alkaloids of A. Cupressoides

Eleven homoerythrina-type alkaloids ($\text{tilda1}$-$\text{tilda9}$, $\text{tilda11}$, $\text{tilda12}$) have been isolated from A. cupressoides (Taxodiaceae), of which six ($\text{tilda6}$-$\text{tilda9}$, $\text{tilda11}$,$\text{tilda12}$) had not previously been reported.     

Synthesis of 4a-, 4e-phenyladamantanones and 2,4-o-benzenoadamantane by π-route

The acid catalysed reaction of 4-oxa-homoadamantan-5-one ($\text{1}$) with benzene yielded a mixture of 4^a-phenyladamantan-2-one ($\text{7}$), the equatorial isomer' ($\text{8}$) and 2-phenyl-2,4-o- benzenoadamantane ($\text{9}$) A plausible reaction pathway for the occurrence of $\text{9}$. is put forward. The structure of $\text{9}$, was deduced from spectroscopic data and reaction of the proposed intermediate 2,4^a-diphenyladamantan-2-ol ($\text{11}$) with acid. 2,4-o-Ben-zenoadamantane ($\text{16}$) is prepared likewise.     

N-Acylated α-aminonitriles and their conversion into 5-aminooxazole, 5(4h)-oxazolone and 4(5h)-imidazolone derivatives

In contrast with the reaction of α-aminonitriles $\text{1}$a, the corresponding $\text{N}$-acylated α-aminonitriles $\text{1}$b-f and oxalyl chloride do not yield pyrazinone derivatives, but 5-aminooxazoles $\text{9}$-$\text{11}$ or 4(5$\text{H}$)-imidazolones $\text{12}$, the latter being converted in some cases into imidazo [2,1-$\text{a}$]isoquinoline-2,5,6(3$\text{H}$)-triones. Reactions of compounds $\text{1}$b-f and ethyl chlorooxoacetate provide evidence for a 5(4$\text{H}$)-iminooxazole intermediate $\text{7}$, which aromatizes to yield 5-aminooxazoles $\text{9}$-$\text{11}$; however, unaromatizable īntermediates of type $\text{7}$ - isolable as 5(4$\text{H}$)y-oxazolones $\text{13}$ after hydrolysis - undergo a catalyzed Dimroth-type rearrangement to give imidazolone derivatives $\text{12}$.     

Synthesis and conformational behaviour of tri-3-methyltrianthranilides. A new example of spontaneous resolution and inclusion compound formation on crystallisation

The tri-3-methyltrianthranilide derivatives ($\text{7}$)–($\text{9}$) have been synthesised. Dynamic ¹H n.m.r. spectroscopy indicates that the $\text{N}$,$\text{N}$′,$\text{N}$″-trimethyl derivative ($\text{8}$) exists in solution as slowly ring inverting ($\text{16}$ ? $\text{16}$*) enantiomeric helical conformations. X-Ray crystallography shows that the $\text{N}$,$\text{N}$′-dimethyl-$\text{N}$″-benzyl derivative ($\text{9}$) undergoes spontaneous resolution when it crystallises as a 1:1 adduct from toluene. The host molecules adopt a helical conformation (Figure 1) within a lattice structure that contains chiral channels (Figure 2) occupied by guest solvent molecules.     

Enamine chemistry—XXIII: The [4+2] cycloaddition reactions between enaminothiones and electrophilic olefins and acetylenes

The enamino-thione, 1c, reacts with acrylonitrile and 2-chloroacrylonitrile at room temperature to give 3,4-dihydro-4-(1-pyrrolidinyl)-2$\text{H}$-thiopyrans, 4 and 5, respectively. The reaction between 1-aryl-3-(1-pyrrolidinyl) (piperidino)-apropene-1-thiones, 1a-c (1d-f), and dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate gives 4-(1-pyrrolidiny)(piperidino)-4$\text{H}$-thiopyrans, 6a-c (6d-f). Compounds 1a-c (1d-f) and ethyl propiolate produce 2-(1-pyrrolidinyl) (piperidino)-2$\text{H}$-thiopyrans, 8a-c (8d-f), and a new type of rearrangement is observed. The 2$\text{D}$-thiopyran, 9, is formed from 1b and ethyl 3$\text{D}$-propiolate, which elucidates the mechanism. ¹H and ¹³C NMR data of 6 and 7 are discussed.     

An approach to the enantiocontrolled synthesis of pseudomonic acids via a novel mono—claisen rearrangement

A short, efficient approach to a key chiral intermediate for the synthesis of pseudomonic acids A and C is delineated.Pseudomonic acids A($\text{1a}$), B($\text{1b}$), and C($\text{2}$) are members of a novel of “C-glycopyranoside” antimicrobial agents which have recently attracted synthetic attetion.² Presently, we wish to report a short efficient stratedy towards the total synthesis of opticaly active pseudomonic acids. The sequence is highlighted by a novel controlled mono-Claisen rearrangement and a highly regioselective π-allylpalladium mediated displacement.Diacetyl-(L)-arabinal ($\text{3}$)³ was converted to the bis-ketenesilylacetal $\text{4}$ and warmed to 60°C according to the Ireland ester-enolate Claisen rearrangement method.⁴ Over a period of ≈5h, smooth conversion to a major rearranged product $\text{5}$ was observed by 300 MHz NMR. The identity of $\text{5}$ was confirmed by direct desilylation and methylation (KF, KHCO₃, H₂O, HMPA, CH₃I). After flash chromatography, compound $\text{7}$ was isolated in 55% overall yield from $\text{3}$. Careful inspection of the crude methylation product revealed the presence of ≈5% doubly rearranged product $\text{6}$.The rearrangement of $\text{4}$ to $\text{5}$ is a unique example of a selective mono-Claisen rearrangement in which the rate of a second similar Claisen rearrangement ($\text{5}$ → $\text{6}$) is much slower under the reaction conditions. Although the reasons for this interesting selectivity are unclear at this time,⁵ in practice, the mono-Claisen rearrangement obviates the need for selective differentiation of the two hydroxyl groups, a difficult task at best, in this case.Palladium mediated allylic acetate displacement provided an ideal method for introduction of a second chemodifferentiated side chain with allylic retention and retention of stereochemistry. Alkylation of $\text{7}$ with sodiothylmalonate using 5 mole % Pd(O)dppe₂⁶ was unusually facile (<45 min, 25°C, THF). After semi-preparative HPLC, essentially a single regio- and stereoisomer was isolated in 96% yield.⁷ Structure $\text{8}$ was confirmed by extensive ¹H-NMR decoupling, as well as an off-resonance ¹³C-NMR experiment. In particular, H₁ (δ 4.53) was coupled vicinally to H₆ and H₆′ (5 Hz, 8 Hz) and H₂ (1.5 Hz), and allylically to H₃ (2 Hz). In contrast, H₄ (δ 2.78) was coupled to H₇ (10 Hz), H_5e and H_5a (1.8 Hz, 4 Hz), H₃ (5 Hz), and H₂ (<1 Hz). In addition, H₁ and H₄ exhibited a small long range coupling constant (J = <1 Hz). The coupling constants rule out

regioisomer $\text{9}$ and are fully consistent with the indicated conformation, which minimizes 1,3-diaxial-like interactions.Finally, catalytic osmylation of $\text{8}{}^8$ gave a single cis-diol $\text{10}$ in nearly quantitative yield. Appending of suitably functionalized side chains to provide an enantiocontrolled synthesis of pseudomonic acids A($\text{1a}$) and C($\text{2}$) is in progress.^9,10     

Kalashine,a novel type aporphine-benzylisoquinoline alkaloid

$\text{Berberis orthobotrys}$ produces the new dimer kalashine ($\text{1}$), together with the previously reported pakistanamine ($\text{2}$) and pakistanine ($\text{3}$). Kalashine is the first aporphine-benzylisoquinoline known to be substituted at C-11. Acid catalyzed rearrangement of pakistanamine ($\text{2}$) in 3N HCl leads to 1-0-methylpakistanine ($\text{6}$) together with small amounts of 1-0-methylkalashine ($\text{7}$) and (+)-armepavine ($\text{8}$). Rearrangement of $\text{2}$ using methanol containing a little 3N HCl gives about equal amounts of $\text{6}$ and 1,10-di-O-methylpakistanine ($\text{9}$).     

Reactions of β-substituted amines-IV: Kinetics and stereochemistry of the thermal to (r) 3-chloro-1-ethylpiperidine,and the stereo-chemical course of their reactions with nucleophiles

The rate of the thermal rearrangement of (S) 2 chloromethyl-1-ethylpyrrolidine [(S)-1a] to (R)-3-chloro-1-ethylpiperidine [(R) 2a] has been examined at three temperatures in benzene by PMR and polarimetry. The rearrangement was shown to be completely stereospecific and to obey a simple first order rate law. The calculated E_a ΔH3 and ΔS3 were 22 ± 2 $\text{kcal}\text{mole}$ (25°), 21 ± 2.5 $\text{kcal}\text{mole}$ (25°) and - 10 ± 2 e.u. (0°K) respectively. The effect of solvents having differing dielectric constants was also studied. A transition state 9'a and an ion pair intermediate 3a are suggested for the rearrangement. The stereochemical course of the reactions of (S)-1a, (R)-2a and (S)-2a with hydroxide and methoxide ions have been shown to be 100% stereospecific with an uncertainty of about 1%. The absolute configurations of all optically active reactants and products [(S)- and (R)-4a, (S)-4b (R)- and (S)-5a, (R)-5b, (S,S')-6a, (S,R')-7a and (R,R')-8a] were established by chemical correlations with known compounds or by ORD and chemical inference. The ring opening of both the primary and secondary aziridinium ion positions of 1-azonia-1-ethylbicyclo [3.1.0]hexane [(S)-3a] by nucleophiles proceeds entirely by S_N2 processes. The conversion of (R)-1-ethyl-3-hydroxypiperidine [(R)-5a] to (S)-2a. HCl with thionyl chloride in chloroform proceeds by inversion with 4.8% racemization, whereas the thermal rearrangement of (S)-1a to (R)-2a occurs with complete retention of absolute configuration.     

In vitro conversion of humulene to Δ8(13)−carpenellene. Cyclopropane sliding reaction

Tricyclic epoxide $\text{7}$, derived from humulene 6,7-epoxide underwent unusual rearrangement on treatment with TMSOTf to give an apparently methyl group migrated product $\text{8}$ which was converted to a irregular isoprenoid hydrocarbon Δ⁸⁽¹³⁾-capnellene.