Synthesis of an Isotopically Isomeric Mixture of 1,4,6,8-Tetramethyl[13C2]azulene and Its Thermal Reaction with Dimethyl Acetylenedicarboxylate

Sodium [1,3-¹³C₂]cyclopentadienide in tetrahydrofuran (THF) has been prepared from the corresponding labelled [¹³C₂]cyclopentadiene which was synthesized from ¹³CO₂ and (chloromethyl)trimethylsilane (cf. Scheme 10) according to an established procedure. It could be shown that the acetate pyrolysis of cis-cyclopentane-1,2-diyl diacetate (cis- 22 ) at 550 ± 5° under reduced pressure (60 Torr) gives five times as much cyclopentadiene as trans- 22 . The reaction of sodium [1,3-¹³C₂]cyclopentadienide with 2,4,6-trimethylpyrylium tetrafluoroborate in THF leads to the formation of the statistically expected 2:2:1 mixture of 4,6,8-trimethyl[1,3a-¹³C₂], -[2,3a-¹³C₂]-, and -[1,3-¹³C₂]azulene ( 20 ; cf. Scheme 7 and Fig. 1). Formylation and reduction of the 2:2:1 mixture [¹³C₂]- 20 results in the formation of a 1:1:1:1:1 mixture of 1,4,6,8-tetramethyl[1,3-¹³C₂]-, -[1,3a-¹³C₂]-, -[2,3a-¹³C₂]-, -[2,8a-¹³C₂]-, and -[3,8a-¹³C₂]azulene ( 5 ; cf. Scheme 8 and Fig. 2). The measured ²J(¹³C, ¹³C) values of [¹³C₂]- 20 and [¹³C₂]- 5 are listed in Tables 1 and 2. Thermal reaction of the 1:1:1:1:1 mixture [¹³C₂]- 5 with the four-fold amount of dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate (ADM) at 200° in tetralin (cf. Scheme 2) gave 5,6,8,10-tetramethyl-[¹³C₂]heptalene-1,2-dicarboxylate ([¹³C₂]- 6a ; 22%), its double-bond-shifted (DBS) isomer [¹³C₂]- 6b (19%), and the corresponding azulene-1,2-dicarboxylate 7 (18%). The isotopically isomeric mixture of [¹³C₂]- 6a showed no ¹J(¹³C,¹³C) at C(5) (cf. Fig. 3). This finding is in agreement with the fact that the expected primary tricyclic intermediate [7,11-¹³C₂]- 8 exhibits at 200° in tetralin only cleavage of the C(1)? C(10) bond and formation of a C(7)? C(10) bond (cf. Schemes 6 and 9), but no cleavage of the C(1)? C(11) bond and formation of a C(7)? C(11) bond. The limits of detection of the applied method is ≥96% for the observed process, i.e., [1,3a-¹³C₂]- 5 + ADM→ [7,11-¹³C₂]- 8 →[1,6-¹³C₂]- 9 →[5,10a-¹³C₂]- 6a (cf. Scheme 6).     

13C?13C spin coupling constants in tetrahydronaphthylene,hexahydrobenzanthracene and benzo[a]pyrene derivatives

The ¹³C? ¹³C spin coupling constants have been determined in substituted [1-¹³C]tetrahydronaphthylenes, [5-¹³C]hexahydrobenzanthracenes and [5-¹³C]benzanthracene. In addition, the ¹³C? ¹³C spin coupling constants for 7-hydroxy[7-¹³C]benzopyrene, trans-7,8-dihydro[7-¹³C]benzopyrene-7,8-diol and trans-7,8-dihydro[10-¹³C]benzopyrene-7,8-diol are reported, together with the one-bond carbon-carbon coupling constants between C-4 and C-5 in selected 4,5-disubstituted benzopyrenes. Values for the directly bonded coupling constants and long-range coupling constants are similar to those reported previously for other aromatic and aliphatic systems. Substituent effects on carbon-carbon coupling are compared for similarly substituted cyclic and acyclic systems.     

An asymmetric synthesis of l-[3-C]phenylalanine and l-[3-C]tyrosine from [C]carbon monoxide

-[3-¹³C]Phenylalanine and -[3-¹³C]tyrosine were synthesized. [α-¹³C]Benzyl bromides were prepared from [¹³C]carbon monoxide via the palladium-catalyzed carboalkoxylation of aryl halides. The asymmetric carbon corresponding to the 2-position in phenylalanine was introduced by the diastereoselective alkylation of Dellaria's oxazinone with [α-¹³C]benzyl bromides. Finally, ethanolysis, deprotection, hydrogenolysis and acid hydrolysis of the resulting alkylated oxazinones gave -[3-¹³C]phenylalanine and -[3-¹³C]tyrosine in high optical purity.     

Carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance spectra of exo- and endo-2-norbornyltrimethyl-stannanes: Corrected assignments

The ¹³C NMR spectra of pure exo-2-norbornyltrimethylstannane and a mixture of the exo- and endo-isomers have been recorded. ¹H–¹³C polarization transfer spectra have been obtained and require the previously reported assignments for C-3 and C-4 in the exo-isomer to be reversed. The reported assignments for the endo-isomer are correct. The new assignment for C-4-exo [with J(¹¹⁹Sn,¹³C) vic=12 Hz, instead of the previously assigned J(vic)=23 Hz], has a very minor effect on the nature of the Karplus curve [for ³J(¹¹⁹Sn,¹³C)] generated previously.     

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).     

Studies on the Biosynthesis of Spirostaphylotrichin A

Incorporation of ¹⁴C-labelled acetate and amino acids as well as of [1-¹³C]-, [2-¹³C]-, and [1,2-¹³C₂] acetate, L -[methyl¹³C] methionine, [2,3-¹³C₂] succinate, and L -[2,3-¹³C₂] aspartate into spirostaphylotrichin A ( 1 ) by Staphylotrichum coccosporum demonstrates that the building blocks of 1 are 5 units of acetate/malonate, 1 unit of methionine, and a C₄-dicarboxylic acid. The latter is most likely aspartate and derived from the citric-acid cycle. Using [2-¹³C, 2-²H₃] acetate as a precursor, the starter unit of the polyketide chain was identified.     

Conformational Features of 7,8,13β,14α-Tetrahydro-N7-methylcorysaminium,a biosynthetic intermediate to the protopine-type alkaloid corycavine

The crystal structure of (±)-7,8,13β,14α-tetrahydro-N⁷-(¹³C)methylcorysaminium iodide (¹³C- 3a ·I) was investigated by X-ray analysis and thus the relative configuration (7S*,13S*,14S*) established (Fig. 1). The conformation of 3a was shown to have a cis-junction of the B/C rings and the rings A and D in an antiperiplanar position relative to the C(13)? C(14) bond (‘anti-cis’), a twisted half-chair for ring B, and a half-chair for ring C (Figs. 2 and 3). Conformation analysis by ¹H-NMR data indicated that the crystal conformation of 3a is also the preferred one in MeOH solution.     

Carbon-proton coupling constants in α-chlorostyrene-α-13C

The two stereochemically distinct two-bond carbon-13- hydrogen coupling constants J(¹³C? CH), for α-chlorostyrene-α-¹³C have been shown to be of similar magnitude but opposite sign (?6.3 and +5.6 Hz). A simple additivity relationship which adequately reproduces all the reported J(¹³C? CH) values for chloroethylenes has been found.     

Slowly Interconverting Conformers of The Briarane Diterpenoids Verecynarmin B,C, and D,Isolated from the nudibranch mollusc Armina maculata and the pennatulacean octocoral Veretillum cynomorium of East Pyrenean waters

The novel briarane diterpenoids verecynarmin B(=(?)-(1R*, 10S*, 11R*, 4E, 12Z)-briara-4,7,12,17,-tetraen-14-one; (?)- 4 ); verecynarmin C (=(?)-(1R*, 10R*, 11S*, 4E, 12Z)?11-hydroxybriara-4,7,12,17-tetraen-14-one; (?)- 5 ); and verecynarmin D (=(?)-(1R*, 10R*, 11R*, 4E, 12E)-13-chloro-11-hydroxybriara-4,7,12,17,-tetraen-14-one; (?)- 6 ) are reported here as constituents of both the Mediterranean nudibranch mollusc Armina maculata (Rafinesque) and its prey, the pennatulacean octocoral Veretillum cynomorium (PALLAS ). The structural assignments rest mainly on (i) establishing that these briaranes occur in solution as two stable conformers which interconvert slowly (ca. 10 time per second at r.t. according to dynamic NMR) by 180° flipping of the C(4)?C(5) group in the ten-membered ring (Scheme 1), (ii) deriving, for both conformers, ¹H, ¹H coupling constants from 1D spectra, as well as ¹H, ¹H, ¹³C, ¹H, and ¹³C, ¹H, and ¹³C, ¹³C, correlations from 2D experiments; (iii) subjecting the briaranes to SeO₂ oxidation at the C(16) methyl group with isomerization at the C(4)=C(5) bond to give, in each case, only one observable molecular species as shown by NMR spectroscopy (Scheme 2).     

Compounds with bridgehead nitrogen. 44—the conformational analysis of perhydropyrido[1,2-c] [1,3]thiazine

The 270 MHz NMR data on trans- and cis-(H-4a, H-7)-7-ethylperhydropyrido[1,2-c][1,3]thiazine show heavy conformational bias to the trans- and S-inside cis-fused conformations, respectively. Comparison of the ¹³C NMR spectra of these anancomeric systems with the ¹³C NMR spectrum of perhydropyrido[1,2-c][1,3]thiazine indicates a trans-?S-inside cis-conformational equilibrium for the latter compound in CDCl₃ at 25°C, containing ca 75% trans-fused conformer. The ¹³C NMR spectrum of perhydropyrido[1,2-c][1,3]-thiazine at ?75°C showed 64% trans-fused conformer and 36% S-inside cis-conformer.     

Zur Biosynthese der Rubratoxine

In order to check the hypothesis that rubratoxin B ( 2 ), a C₂₆-metabolite, is formed biogenetically by head-to-tail coupling of two identical C₁₃-precursors derived from decanoic acid and oxaloacetic acid, two labelled forms of the postulated C₁₃-intermediate 2-((E)-1'-octenyl)-3-[¹⁴C]methyl- and 2-((E)-1'-octenyl)-3-[¹³C]-methylmaleic anhydride ( 10 ), were synthesized. The labelled compounds 10 as well as a number of other ¹⁴C]- and [¹³C]-labelled potential precursors were administered to growing cultures of Penicillium rubrum STOLL . Significant incorporation rates of acetate (as intact units) and malonate were observed. Propionate was incorporated after decarboxylation. Succinate exhibited the highest rate of incorporation. The results are in agreement with the assumption that the C₁₀-chain is formed by the fatty acid pathway and the C₃-unit via the tricarboxylic acid cycle. After administration of 10 randomization of the label was observed. Thus the question whether compound 10 is a biogenetic intermediate remains unanswered.     

Zum Mechanismus der α-Alkinon-Cyclisierung: Synthese und Thermolyse von 1-(1-Methylcyclopentyl)[3-13C]prop-2-inon

On the Mechanism of the α-Alkynone Cyclization: Synthesis and Thermolysis of 1-(1-Methylcyclopentyl)[3-¹³C]prop-2-ynone The relative migratory aptitude of two acetylenic substituents in the α-alkynone cyclization, a thermal conversion of α-acetylenic ketones A to 2-cyclopentenones C , was investigated by isotope-labeling experiments. The α-alkynone [β-¹³C]- 1 , specifically labeled with ¹³C at the β-acetylenic C-atom C(3), was synthesized by an intramolecular Witting reaction (230–300°) of the diacylmethylidenephosphorane [¹³C]- 7. The latter resulted from acylation of methylidenetriphenylphosphorane with the acid chloride 4 to yield the acylmethylidenephosphorane 5 , which in turn was formylated with acetic [¹³C]formic anhydride ([¹³C]- 6. ) Upon thermolysis of [β-¹³C]- 1 , its label at C(β) was transferred almost exclusively to C(β) of the 2-cyclopentenone moiety in the resulting cyclization product [¹³C]- 2. We conclude that there is a distinct preference for hydrogen migration in the acetylene → alkylidene carbene isomerization (A → B) which precedes the cyclization step (B → C). No evidence was found for a fast reversibility of this isomerization (A ? B) involving both acetylenic substituents.     

Synthesis of 4-aryl-2,3,6,7-tetrahydro-1H-pyrimido[4,5-b][1,4]-diazepin-6-ones from 4,5-diamino-1H-pyrimidin-6-ones and 1-aryl-3-(dimethylamino)-1-propanones

The reaction of 1-aryl-3-(dimethylamino)-1-propanones 1 with one equivalent of 4,5-diamino-1H-pyrimidin-6-ones 2 , in acidic medium, leads to the formation of 4-aryl-2,3,6,7-tetrahydro-1H-pyrimido[4,5-b]-[1,4]diazepin-6-ones 3 . The structure elucidation of the products is based on detail nmr analysis of experiments such as ¹³C, ¹H and DEPT including selective ¹³C{¹H} decoupling experiments.     

1H and 13C NMR Assignments for a 27-Norolean-13-en-3-hydroxy-28-oic Acid Glycoside from Isertiahaenkeana

A nortriterpene glycoside, pyrocincholic acid 3β-O-β-6-deoxy-D-glucopyranoside-28-O-β-D-glucopyranoside, was isolated from the leaves of Isertia haenkeana and its structure established by ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectral studies. The complete ¹H and ¹³C NMR resonance assignments for this triterpene were confirmed by the conventional 1D NMR methods and 2D shift-correlated NMR techniques: DQF COSY, TOCSY, ROESY and HMQC.     

Carbon-13 NMR study of some isomeric n-nitroindazole derivatives

The ¹³C NMR spectra of 1,5- and 2,x-dinitroindazoles “x=4-7” and 3-bromo-1,x-dinitroindazoles are recorded and discussed. The data on he 2,x-dinitroindazoles confirm our previous structurea assignment based on ¹H NMR spectroscopy. The ¹³C NMR spectra established that in the novel 3-bromo-1,x-dinitroindazoles the N-nitro group is attached at N-1.     

Carbon-13 NMR spectra of isocoumarin,N-methyl-1(2H)-isoquinolinone and related compounds

The ¹³C NMR spectra of isocoumarin, N-methyl-1(2H)-isoquinolinone and 14 of their 3- and/or 4-substituted derivatives were measured and assigned with the aid of various spectral techniques. The values of the one-bond and some of the long-range ¹³C-¹³C-¹H coupling constants are reported. The effect of substitution on the ¹³C chemical shifts is discussed.     

Preparation and Mechanism of Solvolysis of N-Hydroxy-α-oxobenzeneethanimidoyl Chloride,a 2-(Hydroxyimino)-1-phenylethan-1-one Derivative: Molecular Structure of α-Oxo-oximes (=α-(Hydroxyimino) Ketones)

Acid-catalyzed methanolysis of N-hydroxy-α-oxobenzeneethanimidoyl chloride ( 1 ), a 2-(hydroxyimino)-1-phenylethan-1-one derivative obtained in one step from acetophenone, leads to a constant ratio of methyl α-oxobenzeneacetate ( 2 ) and methyl α-(hydroxyimino)benzeneacetate ( 3 ). ¹³C(α) Labelled [¹³C]- 1 affords ¹³C(α) labelled [¹³C]- 3 , thus discarding the hypothesis of its formation via 1,2-arene migration. The reported sequence opens a novel approach to phenylglyoxylic and mandelic acid esters (=α-oxobenzeneacetic and α-hydroxybenzeneacetic acid esters), from acetophenone. The molecular structures of 1 and 3 were determined by X-ray structure analysis and compared with previously reported crystallographic data of α-oxo-oximes (=α-(hydroxyimino) ketones) 4 and 6 – 8 . The unique stereoelectronic characteristics of the α-oxo-oxime moiety are discussed. All α-oxo-oximes share the following structural characteristics: (E)-configuration of the oxime C=N−OH bond (i.e. OH and C=O trans), the s-trans conformation of the oxo and imino moieties about the C(α)-C(=NOH) single bond, and intermolecular H-bonding. They differ from the isostructural β-diketone enols by the absence of resonance-assisted intramolecular H-bonding.     

1H and 13C NMR spectra of cyclic trimers,tetramers and pentamers derived from p-substituted phenylacetylenes

The ¹H and ¹³C spectra of p-substituted 1,3,5-triarylbenzenes, 7- and p-substituted 1,3,9-triaryl-9-methyl-fluorenes and 2-, 10- and p-substituted 6,12,13a-triaryl-12-methylbenzo(6,7)cycloheptadieno[1,2,3-jk]fluorenes have been examined. p-Substituents were methoxy, methyl and fluorine groups. The ¹H spectra were recorded at 300 MHz and permitted assignments for the aromatic protons by selective proton decouplings. Partial assignment of the carbon atoms in the ¹³C spectra was also possible.     

Biosynthesis of cytochalasans. Part 4. The mode of incorporation of common naturally-occurring carboxylic acids into cytochalasin D1.

Utilization of sodium [1-¹⁴C]-, [2–¹⁴C]-, and [1,2-¹³C]-acetates, [1-¹⁴C]-, [1-¹³C]-, or [2-¹⁴C]-propionates, [1-¹⁴C]-or [2-¹⁴C]-malonates, of [1-¹⁴C]- or of [1-¹⁴C]-myristic acid, or of [1-¹⁴C]- and [1-¹⁴C]-palmitic acid in the biosynthesis of cytochalasin D ( 1 ) by Zygosporium masonii was determined by degradation studies or by carbon magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The precursors were incorporated primarily via the acetate-malonate pathway to generate 1 from nine intact acetate units, eight of which are coupled in a head to tail fashion to form the C₁₆-polyketide moiety.     

Carbon-13 NMR spectra of monosubstituted pyrazines

Carbon-13 NMR chemical shifts and one-bond carbon–hydrogen coupling constants have been obtained at 15·09 MHz. The trends in the carbon chemical shifts obtained for the pyrazines parallel those of monosubstituted benzenes and 2-substituted pyridines, except for the direct effect of substitution where the pyrazines resemble pyridines not benzenes. The substituent effects on the ¹³C NMR spectra are generally quite similar to those in the ¹H NMR spectra. The ¹³C NMR spectrum of the tautomeric hydroxypyrazine has been compared with the ¹³C NMR spectra of 2-, 3- and 4-hydroxypyridines. Hydroxy compounds that can exist as a cyclic amide show a large meta substituent effect on the chemical carbon shift.