An Efficient Synthesis of α-Bromoacetals via a Combined Chemical and Electrochemical Bromination

α-Bromoacetals (1) are valuable precursors in synthesis of α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds (2), 1-alkoxybutadienes² (3), ketene acetals³ (4), 2-methoxyallyl bromides⁴ (5) and other compounds. Because of our interest in the chemistry^5,6 of 3 and 4 we attempted to improve known procedures for the preparation of 1 with the aim to get a short and efficient synthesis of these compounds.     

Synthesis of N-Alkyl-N'-cyano-N″-4-pyridylguanidines from 4-Pyridyldithiocarbamic Acid via N-Alkyl-N′-4-Pyridylthioureas,or via 4-Pyridylcyaniminothiocarbamic Acid

Several years ago a number of antihypertensive N-alkyl-N′-cyano-N″-pyridylguanidines was prepared by addition of cyanamide to N-alkyl-N′-pyridylcarbodiimides which were obtained from the respective thioureas and phosgene or triphenylphosphine/carbon tetrachloride¹. Recently we have described some attractive synthetic methods for N-alkyl-N′-4-pyridylthioureas², based on 4-pyridyldithiocarbamic acid (1) (Scheme 1). We now report on the synthesis of N-alkyl-N′-cyano-N″-4-pyridylguanidines (4) from (1) by two different routes which ultimately may pass through a common intermediate (3) (Scheme 1).     

Synthesis of Some Non-Conjugated Dienones in the Retro-α-Ionone Series1

In the course of a study on the photochemical and thermal behaviour of β,γ-δ,ε-dienones^1-4, (E)-retro-α-ionone (2a) and a series of methylated (3, 4) and desmethyl analogues (2b-2e) have been synthesized by a simple deconjugative isomerization of the corresponding conjugated dienones in strong alkaline solution. 3-Methyl- (3) and 3,3-dimethyl-retro-α-ionone (4) have been prepared by addition of methyl chloride to a strongly alkaline solution of β-ionone (1a).⁵     

A Facile Synthesis of 2-Hydroxy-6-Methylacetophenone

Recently, we identified 2-hydroxy-6-methylacetophenone (3) and 2-acetoxy-6-methylacetophenone (4) as exocrine compounds in several neotropical species of ants in the dolichoderine genus Hypoclinea. Although 3 has been reported at least four times in the literature as a synthetic intermediate or as the object of a nuclear magnetic resonance study, neither 3 nor 4 had been reported as natural products, and 4 is a novel compound.^2,3,4,5     

A Preferred Intramolecular ‘Ene’ Reaction Between Ketene and Olefin

Aplysin (1), a marine sesquiterpene was isolated from ‘aplysia kurodai’ and its structure was ellucidated by Hirata-et-al¹. They also reported the synthesis of racemic aplysin². Their synthetic route involved cyclopentanone (2) as a well-characterized intermediate. We visualized the synthesis of cyclobutanone (3) and its subsequent conversion to (2) as an attractive alternative. But during our attempts to synthesize the said cyclobutanone, we have come across a very facile intramolecular ‘ene’ reaction between ketene and olefin. We report our unexpected observations in this communication.     

Synthesis of Retro-γ-Ionols and the Corresponding-Ionones1

Both the direct² and the sensitized^3,4 photolyses of (E)-β-ionol (2) have been studied in some detail. In a preliminary publication⁵ we have indicated that direct photolyses of (E)-β-ionol (2) with λ = 254 nm yields (Z)-retro-γ-ionol (3) as the primary product; upon further irradiation 3 is converted into the corresponding (E)-isomer (4) which rapidly yields the bicyclic alcohol 5. A quantitative study revealed that the photoconversion of (E)-β-ionol with λ = 254 nm to 3 is about 10 times faster than the conversion of 3 into (E)-retro-γ-ionol.⁶ This rate difference thus allows the photosynthesis of 3.     

Free Radical Ring-Opening Polymerization of 4-n-Hexyl- and 4-n-Decyl-2-methylene-1,3-dioxolanes

Two alkyl-substituted cyclic ketene acetals, 4-n-hexyl-2-methylene-1,3-dioxolane (4) and 4-n-decyl-2-methylene-1,3-dioxolane (6), were shown to undergo free radical ring-opening polymerization with the introduction of an ester group into the backbone of an addition polymer. The spontaneous polymerization of 4 (presumable by an ionic mechanism) produced a polymer containing no ring-opened units; furthermore 4 and 6 could be stabilized with respect to spontaneous polymerization by the addition of small amounts of pyridine. On the other hand, the polymerization of 4 in a 50% (by weight) benzene solution at 110°C with di-tertbutyl peroxide as the catalyst gave quantitative ring opening to give a polyester containing both possible isomeric ring-opened units. Bulk polymerization of 4 at 60°C at 53% conversion gave 50% ring opening which was divided 31% to 19% between cleavage to give the intermediate secondary free radical and the intermediate primary radical. Copolymerization of 4 with equimolar quantities of styrene at 110°C gave at 56% conversion a copolymer consisting of 67% styrene units, 22% ester-containing units resulting from cleavage to form a secondary radical, 7% of the isomeric ester-containing units, and 4% nonring-opened units. Polymerization studies with monomer 6 gave results very similar to those obtained with 4.     

Synthesis of Heterocyclic Ketene N,S- and N,O-Acetals with Ester Substituent in the Heterocyclic Ring

Heterocyclic ketene N,S-acetals 3 or N,O-acetals 5 were synthesized by the reaction of ketene S,S-acetals 1 with cysteine ester hydrochloride 2 or serine ester hydrochloride 4 in the presence of a base.     

A Convenient Synthesis of 2,3-Diphenyl-2-cyanooxiranes

Several studies¹ have been reported on the synthesis of 2,3-diphenyl-2-cyanooxiranes. Kohler and Brown^la synthesized the oxirane in ca. 30% yield by reaction of desyl chloride with potassium cyanide in aqueous alcohol. However, the method which they employed seems to be rather complicated. Such reaction of desyl bromide with cyanide ion has not been studied in detail. We now report that cis- and trans-2,3-diphenyl-2-cyanooxiranes (2a-d and 3a-d) are conveniently obtained in good yields by reaction of 4′-substituted desyl bromide (1a-d) with 40% aqueous potassium cyanide in a mixture of dichloromethane and triethylbenzylammonium chloride (TEBAC); the total yield of 2c and 3c, for example, was as high as 86%. When cethyltriethylammonium bromide was used as a     

Synthesis of Methyl 1-Thio-L-Rhamnopyranoside-Derivatives

Abstract

Both anomers of methyl 1-thio-L-rhamnopyranosides were prepared through methylation of the corresponding isothiouronium salt. 2,3-0-Isopropylidene-, benzylidene-and the until now unknown diphenyl-methylene acetals were synthesized. Phase-transfer catalysed benzylation and LiA1H₄-AlCl₃-type hydrogenolysis of benzylidene acetals were used to obtain partially benzylated derivatives. Comparing the C NMR data of the synthesized compounds with those of their 0-glycoside analogues revealed that the 0→S exchanges at the anomeric centres caused drastic upfield shifts (～15 ppm) at C-1 and moderate downfield shifts at C-2 and C-5, as well. The chemical shift values of other carbons are not sensitive to the 0→S replacement.     

A Total Synthesis of (±)-Trichodiene

Trichodiene (1), a sesquiterpene hydrocarbon, was isolated from the extract of mycelium of Trichothecium roseum. The structure of trichodiene (1) was elucidated by Nozoe and Machida in 1970 via degradation and spectroscopy.¹ Trichodiene (1) has been shown to be the biogenetic precursor of the trichothecane family of sesquiterpenoids as characterized by the cytotoxic fungal metabolite (-)-trichodermin (2).^2,3 The structure and absolute stereochemistry of (-)-trichodermin (2) were determined by X-ray diffraction and, therefore, the structure and absolute stereochemistry of trichodiene (1) are now firmly established.⁴ We wish to report a total synthesis of (±)-trichodiene (1) via previously reported lactone 3.^5,6     

Synthesis of Bicyclo[4.2.0]Octa-3,7-Diene-2,5-Diones

The bicyclo[4.2.0]octa-3,7-diene-2,5-diones (1) are of interest in that they are valence isomers of 1,4-cyclooctatetraenoquinones. The most obvious route for the formation of such compounds is the [2+2] photoaddition of alkynes to p-benzoquinones. Such a reaction has been observed in the case of 1,4-naphthoquinones. With p-benzoquinones, however, it has been observed in the case of 2-methoxy-p-benzoquinone (2a) alone, while p-benzoquinone (2b) and chloranil (2c) give products derived from addition of acetylenes to a carbonyl rather than an ethylenic bond; ^3,4 such products also accompany the products from 1,4-naphthoquinones referred to above.^1,3     

An Improved Synthesis of Hexamethylphenalene

The synthesis of 1,3,4,6,7,9-hexamethylphenalene (2) has been improved from 15 steps to a four step procedure. The overall yield has been increased from an estimated 5% to 45%. Key steps in the synthesis are the reaction of 3,5-dimethylbenzylmagnesium chloride with 2,4-pentanedionato lithium in THF to make 5-(3,5-dimethyl-phenyl)-4-methyl-4-hydroxy-2-pentanone (5) and the Lewis acid acylation-alkation of 1,3,6,8-tetramethylnaphthalene using 3-chlorobutanoic chloride in hexane with sonication to make 1,3,4,6,7,9-hexamethyl-phenalane (2).     

One-Pot Synthesis of Tri-Acetalated Aldohexoses with 1,1-Dialkoxycyclohexane–p-Toluenesulfonic Acid

Abstract

2-Deoxy-d-arabino-hexose (1), 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-d-glucose (2), and 2-deoxy-2-trifluoroacetamido-d-glucose (3) were each treated with 1,1-dimethoxycyclohexane or 1,1-dibenzyloxycyclohexane in 1,4-dioxane in the presence of p-toluenesulfonic acid. The major products were the 1,1-dimethyl or 1,1-dibenzyl acetals (4-9) of 3,4:5,6-di-O-cyclohexylidene-2-deoxy-aldehydo-d-arabino-hexose, and of 2- (acylamino)-3,4:5,6-di-O-cyclohexylidene-2-deoxy-aldehydo-D-glucose. The dibenzyl acetal derivatives were converted, by hydro-genolysis, into the corresponding, acyclic aldehydes (10-12) in good yields.     

Synthesis of Heterobicycles of δ-Lactam Fused with 1,3-Diazaheterocycles by the Reaction of Heterocyclic Ketene Aminals with α,β-Unsaturated Carboxylic Esters

Heterobicycles of δ-lactam fused with imidazolidine (4, 7), hexahydropyrimidine (5, 8), or hexahydro-1, 3-diazepine (6, 9) were synthesized by the reaction of heterocyclic ketene aminals 1, 2 or 3 with ester of α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acids.     

The Reaction of N-Phenyliminoketenylidenetriphenyl-phosphorane with α,β-Unsaturated Carbonyl Compounds. Synthesis of New Pyran Derivatives

Abstract

The reaction of N-phenyliminoketenylidenetriphenylphosphorane [a] (1), with 2-benzylidene-1, 3-indandione (2), 1,2-diphenyl-3,4-pyrazolidenedione (3)and/or 5-benzylidene barbituric acid (4) has been investigated. When ylide 1 was allowed to react with compounds 2, 3 or 4 in THF at ambient temp. the corresponding new pyrano-phosphoranylidenes 5, 6 or 7 were obtained. The elemental microanalyses, IR, ¹H NMR, ³¹P NMR and MS data agree with the structure of the cyclic iminophosphoranes by [4+2]-cycloaddition and exclude 4-membered ring structure by [2+2]-cycloaddition. When the Wittig reaction was carried on the pyrano-phosphoranes 5, 6 or 7 using p-nitrobenzaldehyde, the exocyclic olefins together with triphenylphosphine oxide were isolated.     

Synthesis of γ-Lactone of 1R-CIS 2,2-Dimethyl-3-(2,2,2-tribromo-1-hydroxyethyl)cyclopropane Carboxylic Acid,A Key Intermediate for Deltamethrin,From (+)-3-Carene

1R-cis-2,2-Dimethyl-3-(2,2-dibromovinyl)cyclopropane carboxylic acid¹ (1), the acid moiety of the highly potent photostable pyrethroid deltamethrin (2) has been obtained either by a Wittig reaction on 1R-cis-caronaldehyde ester (3) employing 1, 1-dibromomethylenetriphenylphosphorane or from the bicyclic tribromo-lactone^2,3 (4) by reaction with zinc and acetic acid. Lactone (4) is thus an important intermediate in the deltamethrin synthesis.     

The Reaction of Benzoyl Substituted Heterocyclic Ketene Aminals with 4-Nitrobenzhydroximic Acid Chloride

Heterocyclic ketene aminals 1 or 2 reacted with 4-nitrobenzhydroximic acid chloride (3) to give the 3,5-diaryl-4-(2-imidazolinyl)-isoxazoles 4 or 3,5-diaryl-4-(2-tetrahydropyrimidinyl)-isoxazoles 5. The mechanism of their formation were also discussed.     

Stereoselective Total Synthesis of Sesquiterpenoids: (+)-Sativene and (+)-Cyclosativene

Abstract

The well-known tricyclic sesquiterpenoid (?)-sativene, isolated in 1965 from Helminthosporium sativum and shown to possess structure and absolute configuration as indicated by structure 1 ³, has been implicated^3,4 as an intermediate in the biogenesis of the fungal toxin (?)-helminthosporal (2)⁵. Two total syntheses of the racemic modification of sativene have been reported^6,7. A closely related sesquiterpenoid, (+)-cyclosativene, was isolated from Abies magnifica A. Murr. and was shown to possess structure 3 ^8,9. The absolute configuration of this material, although not established unambiguously, has been proposed¹⁰ as indicated by formula 3. The total synthesis of cyclosativene has not as yet been achieved directly, although it has been obtained indirectly via acid-promoted rearrangement of sativene^8,9,11,12. We report herein a total synthesis of (+)-sativene (4) and (+)-cyclosativene (3) via a stereoselective route which unambiguously establishes the absolute configuration of both natural products.     

Synthesis of Benzoyl Substituted Heterocyclic Ketene Aminals by Condensation of Benzoyl Ketene Mercaptals with Diamines

2-(Benzoylmethylene)imidazolidines 2 and 5,-hexahydropyrimidines 3 and 6, or -hexahydro-1H-1,3-diazepines 4 were synthesized by the reaction of benzoyl substituted ketene mercaptals 1 with diamines.