The Absolute Configuration of 1-Methylindane

It is shown unequivocally by chemical correlations (cf. Schemes 1--3) and Raman optical activity spectra (cf. Fig. 1 and 2) that the (R)-configuration has to be attributed to (+)-1-methylindane ((+)- 1 ). This is in contradiction to an earlier assignment of the (R)-configuration to (?)- 1 [2] which was based on the (R)-configuration of (+)-indane-1-carboxylic acid ( 3 ) [11].     

Thermisches Verhalten von Cyclopropa[c]chromenen

The Cyclopropa[c]chromenes 14 , trans-and cis- 15 , trans-and cis- 16 and 17 rearrange on heating > 200° in N, N-diethylaniline to give 2-alkyl-2H-chromenes 7, 8, 21, 22. The rate determining step of this rearrangement is the ‘homoelectrocyclic’ ring opening of the cyclopro-pa[c]chromenes to give ω-allyl-quinomethanes of type 4. These intermediates show fast [1,5s] and [1,7a] H-shifts, followed by electrocyclic ring closure. Deuterium labelling experiments are in agreement with this mechanism. The remarkable dependence of the rates of rearrangement with respect to the stereochemistry of the cyclopropa[c]chromenes (cf. table 2) suggests that in the first step only one of the two possible disrotatory modes of ring opening is involved.     

Die thermische Umlagerung von 2-(Buta-1′,3′-dienyl)-phenolen in 2-Alkyl-2H-chromene; Beispiele für aromatische [1,7a]- und [1,5s]sigmatropische Wasserstoffverschiebungen

2-(1′-cis,3′-cis-)- and 2-(1′-cis,3′-trans-Penta-1′,3′-dienyl)-phenol (cis, cis- 4 and cis, trans- 4 , cf. scheme 1) rearrange thermally at 85–110° via [1,7 a] hydrogen shifts to yield the o-quinomethide 2 (R ? CH₃) which rapidly cyclises to give 2-ethyl-2H-chromene ( 7 ). The trans formation of cis, cis- and cis, trans- 4 into 7 is accompanied by a thermal cis, trans isomerisation of the 3′ double bond in 4. The isomerisation indicates that [1,7 a] hydrogen shifts in 2 compete with the electrocyclic ring closure of 2 . The isomeric phenols, trans, trans- and trans, cis- 4 , are stable at 85–110° but at 190° rearrange also to form 7 . This rearrangement is induced by a thermal cis, trans isomerisation of the 1′ double bond which occurs via [1, 5s] hydrogen shifts. Deuterium labelling experiments show that the chromene 7 is in equilibrium with the o-quinomethide 2 (R ? CH₃), at 210°. Thus, when 2-benzyl-2H-chromene ( 9 ) or 2-(1′-trans,3′-trans,-4′-phenyl-buta1′,3′-dienyl)-phenol (trans, trans- 6 ) is heated in diglyme solution at >200°, an equilibrium mixture of both compounds (～ 55% 9 and 45% 6 ) is obtained.