Thermal isomerization of cis,anti,cis-tricyclo[6.3.0.0(2,7)]undec-3-ene to endo-tricyclo[5.2.2.0(2,6)]undec-8-ene

[reaction: see text] The gas-phase thermal isomerization of cis,anti,cis-tricyclo[6.3.0.0(2,7)]undec-3-ene (1) to endo-tricyclo[5.2.2.0(2,6)]undec-8-ene (2) at 315 degrees C occurs cleanly through a symmetry-forbidden [1,3] suprafacial,retention (sr) pathway.     

The [M?OH]+ ions of m- and p-ethylnitrobenzene: A common structure?

The structures of the [M? OH]⁺ ions of m- and pethylnitrobenzene have been compared by measurements of metastable ion spectra, collisional activation spectra, kinetic energy releases and critical energies for the formation of these ions and their subsequent decomposition. Normalized rates of fragmentation of metastable molecular ions and metastable [M? OH]⁺ ions have been compared for ion lifetimes up to 30 μs. The energy measurements fail to distinguish between the structures of the [M? OH]⁺ ions, but the normalized fragmentation rates and the collisional activation spectra show their structures to be different.     

Biomimetic cycloaddition approach to tropolone natural products via a tropolone ortho-quinone methide

[reaction: see text] A study toward a possible biomimetic hetero Diels-Alder reaction is reported between humulene and a novel tropolone ortho-quinone methide. A suitable tropolone ortho-quinone methide precursor has been prepared from 3-methyl-2-furoate. Heating the ortho-quinone methide precursor gave a tropolone ortho-quinone methide, which in the presence of humulene underwent a hetero Diels-Alder reaction to give a deoxy analogue of epolone B.     

The resolution of racemic 2-alkyl-1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acids

Practical procedures for the resolution of racemic modification of (1$\text{R}$, 2$\text{S}$)-and (1$\text{S}$, 2$\text{R}$)-1-amino-2-ethylcyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid $\text{1a}$,$\text{b}$,(1$\text{R}$, 2$\text{S}$)- and (1$\text{S}$, 2$\text{R}$)-1-amino-2-methylcyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid $\text{2a}$,$\text{b}$, and (1$\text{R}$, 2$\text{R}$)- and (1$\text{S}$, 2$\text{S}$)-1-amino-2-methylcyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid $\text{3a}$,$\text{b}$ are described; the structures as $\text{1a}$,$\text{2a}$, and $\text{3a}$ were confirmed by X-ray-crystallographic methods.     

Total syntheses of (-)-haemanthidine, (+)-pretazettine, and (+)-tazettine

[structures: see text] The total syntheses of the amaryllidaceae alkaloids haemanthidine, pretazettine, and tazettine as optically pure enantiomers are reported. Using D-mannose as the starting material, the critical relative stereochemical relationships are established with an intramolecular nitrone-alkene cycloaddition reaction. The synthetic route leads successively to (-)-haemanthidine and then to (+)-pretazettine and (+)-tazettine, taking advantage of the well-established complex relationships among these three alkaloids.     

Kinetic energy dependence of the reactions of N+ and N2+ with molybdenum

Mass-selected beams of N⁺ and N₂⁺ in the energy range 5–50 eV react with molybdenum to produce a surface nitride. The relative reaction cross section for N⁺ reaction is higher than that of N₂⁺ in the range 5–25 eV and N₂⁺ exhibits a reaction threshold near 7 eV. The N₂⁺ threshold suggests collisional dissociation prior to reaction.     

Base-assisted intramolecular 6-acetoxypyranone-acetylene [5+2] cycloaddition. Synthesis and reactivity of novel oxa-tricyclo[5.3.1.0]undecenones

The synthesis of 3,11-dioxatricyclo[5.3.1.0^1,5]undeca-5,9-dien-8-ones is reported from suitable 5-substituted furfuryl alcohols bearing an acetylenic side-chain. Successive peracid-mediated oxidative rearrangement of furan carbinols and base-assisted intramolecular 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition afforded oxygen-bridged tricyclo-undecane derivatives. Stereoselective transformations of cycloadducts are also discussed.     

Penicillin biosynthesis: Retention of configuration at c-3 of valine during its incorporation into the arnstein tripeptide

[3-³H]-valine was efficiently synthesised from sodium α-ketoisovalerate. With a β-lactam negative mutant of C. acremonium, l-[1-¹⁴C-3-³H]-valine and dl-[1-¹⁴C-3-³H]-valine were independently incorporated into the Arnstein tripeptide dimer, i.e. Bis-δ-(l-α-aminodipyl)-l-cystinyl-bis-d-valine, with full retention of trieium at C-3 of the d-valine residue. This result strongly suggested retention of configuration at C-3 of valine when the tripeptide was biosynthesised, and further limited the number of possible mechanisms for the biosynthesis of penicillins.     

Synthesis of marine sponge alkaloid hachijodine B and a comment on the structure of ikimine B and on the absolute configuration of niphatesine D

The syntheses of the proposed structures of hachijodine B 1, ikimine B 2 and niphatesine D 3 from S-citronellol are described. Our results suggest that the gross structures of hachijodine B and niphatesine D are correct, but that ikimine B was incorrectly assigned. We have also established that the previous absolute stereochemical assignment for niphatesine D is unreliable.