The phenolic oxidation of a β-methylchalcone

The phenolic oxidation of 2',4-dihydroxy-4'-methoxy-β-methylchalcone using alkaline potassium ferricyanide gives an aurone rather than an isoflavone. This result is discussed in the context of current theories regarding the biosynthesis of flavonoid and isoflavonoid compounds.     

Beitrag zur Analyse von Stibin

Zusammenfassung Es wird ein Verfahren zur Bestimmung von Stibin beschrieben, das sich sowohl zur Analyse von SbH₃ in organischen Lösungsmitteln als auch zur Bestimmung von flüssigem oder festem SbH₃ eignet. Hierbei wird das Stibin mit überschüssigem Brom zu Sb^V oxydiert, danach mit SO₂ zu Sb^III reduziert und dieses oxydimetrisch mit Jod oder Bromat titriert.

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Summary A method is proposed for the determination of stibine, applicable to its solutions in organic solvents and also to the solvent-free liquid or solid substance. The procedure involves oxidation of SbH₃ with an excess of bromine to Sb^V, reduction to Sb^III with SO₂, and oxidimetric titration of the trivalent antimony with iodine or bromate.

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Herrn Professor Dr. C. Mahr zum 65. Geburtstag gewidmet.     

Cover Picture

The cover picture shows a model of the "progenitor-TADDOLs" in front of a panorama of the Fünffingersstocks and the Wenden Glacier in the Titlisgebiet (Switzerland). The model is flanked by a stylized view of the general mechanistic model for the preferred stereochemical pathway of the Ti-TADDOLate-catalyzed reaction of chelating substrates (left) and a blackboard (right) showing formulae of compounds that can be prepared with high enantioselectivity by nucleophilic addition in the presence of titanium TADDOLates. From TADDOL, introduced in 1982, a genuine auxiliary system for the "introduction of chirality" (not only by reaction) has been developed, which, in the final sprint against the competition has a good chance of securing a place on the winning podium. The photograph of the mountain landscape was taken by Dr. J. Frackenpohl, the cover picture was generated by one of the authors (A.H.) of the comprehensive review of TADDOLs in this issue (p. 92 ff.) with the help of the program Povray. Supporting information for this article is available on the WWW under http://www.angewandte.com or from the author.     

Efficient synthesis of sulfonic,phosphoric, and phosphinic esters employing alkylating polymer-bound reagents

The efficient esterification of various sulfonic acids and sulfonates using polymer-bound triazenes based on the triazene T2 linker is described. Esterification of enantiopure alpha-substituted sodium sulfonates was performed in the presence of an alkylating resin without racemization. Racemization is a serious drawback in the esterification route via sulfonyl chlorides because of intermediate sulfene formation. To demonstrate the versatility of this protocol, phosphoric and phosphinic acids have been converted into the corresponding esters as well. All products were obtained in good yield and excellent purities without any further purification steps.     

Reactivity sequences of dipolarophiles towards diazocarbonyl compounds - MO perturbation treatment

Whereas diazomethane cycloadditions are only accelerated by electron-attracting substituents in the olefinic or acetylenic dipolarophile, the cycloadditions of diazoacetic, diazomalonic and diazo(phenylsulfonyl)acetic ester show in accordance with the PMO treatment U-shaped activity functions when log k₂ is plotted versus the lowest IP of the dipolarophiles.     

Efficient synthesis of [3H]-sanglifehrin A via selective oxidation/reduction of alcohols at C31 and C35

[Reaction: see text]. Sanglifehrin A is a novel complex natural product showing strong immunosuppressive activity and remarkably high affinity for cyclophilin A. To assess its pharmacokinetic properties in vivo, an efficient synthetic route was developed to introduce a tritium label in position C35 of sangliferin A via an oxidation/reduction strategy. The synthetic approach is particularly attractive, because the C35-oxo intermediate 7 is available in good yield on large scale and the reducing agent, lithium tri-sec-butylborotritide, is readily available. An attempt to apply a similar strategy to the alcohol in position C31 led primarily to C31-epi-hydroxy sanglifehrin A under a variety of conditions.