Studies on the synthesis of (+/-)-stenine: a combined intramolecular [4 + 2]-cycloaddition/rearrangement cascade

Several cyclic 2-(methylthio)-5-amidofurans containing tethered unsaturation were prepared via the reaction of dimethyl(methylthio)sulfonium tetrafluoroborate (DMSTF) with beta-alkoxy-gamma-dithiane lactams. Thermolysis of these furans resulted in an intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction (IMDAF). The resulting oxa-bridge cycloadducts underwent a subsequent 1,2-methylthio shift to form tricyclic lactams in high yield. Furan 9, annealed to an azepine ring, underwent the IMDAF reaction at or below room temperature. Conformational effects imposed by the placement of a carbonyl group within the tether, combined with a rotational bias about the C(2)-N bond, enhances the rate of the IMDAF reaction of the seven-ring system so that it occurs readily at 25 degrees C. The feasibility of using the cascade sequence in the context of a total synthesis of the Stemona alkaloid (+/-)-stenine was explored. The eventual synthesis of (+/-)-stenine was carried out by an intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction of a 2-amido-5-methylthio-substituted furan containing a trans-pent-3-enoic acid methyl ester side chain in order to create the desired azepinoindole skeleton. This was followed by a series of reductions to set the syn-anti stereochemical relationship at the incipient ring fusion sites present in stenine. All six stereocenters at the azepinoindole core were derived in high stereoselectivity from the functionality present in the rearranged cycloadduct 10. Compound 10 was converted to stenine in 11 additional steps via a sequence that features a Crabtree's-catalyst directed hydrogenation, iodolactonization, and a Keck allylation.     

Synthesis of 3‐aroyl‐4‐(3‐chromonyl)‐2‐pyrazolines

New 3‐aroyl‐4‐(3‐chromonyl)‐2‐pyrazolines have been synthesized by the reaction of 3‐(3‐aryl‐3‐oxo‐propenyl)chromen‐4‐ones and diazomethane. Some of these 2‐pyrazolines have also been N‐acylated with a mixture of anhydrous pyridine and acetic anhydride or propionic anhydride. Structures of all new compounds have been elucidated by elemental analyses, mass spectrometry, ir and nmr spectroscopic measurements.     

Modifying electronic communication in dimolybdenum units by linkage isomers of bridged oxamidate dianions

Reactions of Mo(2)(O(2)CCH(3))(DAniF)(3), DAniF = N,N'-di-p-anisylformamidinate, with oxamidate dianions [ArNC(O)C(O)NAr](2-), Ar = C(6)H(5) and p-anisyl, give pairs of isomeric compounds where the [Mo(2)] units are bridged by the oxamidate anions. For the alpha isomers, the C-C unit of the dianion is nearly perpendicular to the Mo-Mo bonds, and these are essentially perpendicular to each other. For the beta isomers, the corresponding C-C unit and the Mo-Mo bonds are essentially parallel to each other. Each type of isomer is stable in solution. The electronic communication as measured by the DeltaE(1/2) for the oxidation of each of the Mo(2) units is significantly better for the beta isomers. This is supported also by the appearance of what is conventionally called an intervalence charge-transfer band in the near infrared region upon oxidation of the beta isomers but not the alpha isomers. Molecular mechanics and DFT calculations help explain the relative conformations in the alpha isomers and the relative energy differences between the alpha and beta isomers.     

Synthese des Pyrrolizidin-Alkaloides (±)-Trachelanthamidin

Synthesis of the Pyrrolizidine Alkaloid (±)-Trachelanthamidine The important intermediate in the synthesis of the title compound 8 is the diastereoisomer mixture of ethyl 2-[2-(1,3 dioxolan-2-yl)ethyl]-5-oxopyrrolidine-3-carboxylate ( 3a/3b ) which was prepared from nitromethane, acrylaldehyde, and diethyl fumarate (Scheme). Its reduction (NaBH₄, t-BuOH, MeOH) gave exclusively the trans-alcohol 4a , which was converted to the protected pyrrolidine derivative 6 . The deprotection and reduction of 6 gave the pyrrolizidine alkaloid 8 , characterized as its hydrochloride.     

INDUCTION OF FREE RADICALS IN DNA BY PROFLAVINE AND VISIBLE LIGHT: INFLUENCE OF OXYGEN AND IONIC STRENGTH

Abstract —The photosensitization of native DNA is observed as an induction of free radicals in the DNA moiety of proflavine-DNA complexes. The intensity of the electron paramagnetic resonance spectra (at 77 K) is a measure of the number of free radicals present in frozen solutions of DNA-proflavine complexes after irradiation with visible light (Λ > 320 nm). In the absence of O₂, the photosensitization is significant but very low; it increases slightly with increasing NaCl ionic strength; it appears to be due to intercalated dye molecules and the qualitative analysis of the spectra obtained shows that mainly thymidine is involved. The reaction measured after saturation with O₂ is the same as the reaction in air but is quantitatively higher; the free radicals observed are peroxides. This induction of free radicals appears to be due to the intercalated dye molecules, each molecule acting independently. The important observation is a very sharp and large (around a hundred-fold) increase in the photosensitizing efficiency of the bound dye molecules occurring in NaCl between μ, # 0–25 and μ= 0–5 and in MgCl₂ between μ# 0–01 and μ=0–1.     

Trapping tetramethoxyzincate and -cobaltate(II) between Mo24+ units

Two compounds of a new type, [Mo(2)](CH(3)O)(2)M(CH(3)O)(2)[Mo(2)] where [Mo(2)] is an abbreviation for Mo(2)[(p-MeOC(6)H(4))NCHN(p-MeOC(6)H(4))](3) and M = Zn (1) and Co (2), are reported. Discrete [M(OR)(4)](2-) ions, either as such or in the mu(2),eta(4) role, have not heretofore been described. In these compounds they have distorted tetrahedral structures and bridge two [Mo(2)] groups in much the same way as did SO(4)(2-), MoO(4)(2-), and WO(4)(2-) ions in other recently reported compounds (Cotton, F. A.; Donahue, J. P.; Murillo, C. A. Inorg. Chem. 2001, 40, 2229). The (1)H NMR spectrum of 1 and the visible spectrum and magnetic properties of 2 are consistent with these structures. The M(OCH(3))(4) bridges are moderately effective in coupling the two [Mo(2)] redox centers. Compounds 1 and 2 may also be viewed as having Zn(II) and Co(II) centers tetrahedrally coordinated by the bidentate ligand [Mo(2)[(p-MeOC(6)H(4))NCHN(p-MeOC(6)H(4))](3)(OMe)(2)](-). From that point of view they may be compared with Zn(DPM)(2) and Co(DPM)(2) (3), where DPM is the anion of dipivaloylmethane. For purposes of comparison, 3 has been fully characterized structurally, spectroscopically, and magnetically. Close analogies between 2 and 3 are shown to exist.     

Notiz über einen Zugang zu β, γ-ungesättigten Carbonsäurederivaten mit Hilfe der Amidacetal-Claisenumlagerung. Über synthetische methoden, 17. Mitteilung

Note on a preparation of β, γ-unsaturated carboxylic acid derivatives using the amide acetal Claisen rearrangement 3-(Trimethylsilyl)allyl alcohols smoothly undergo the amide acetal Claisen rearrangement furnishing allyl silanes. Subsequent protolysis with HF at ?20° provides a convenient, stereoselective method for the preparation of β, γ-unsaturated carboxylic acid derivatives. Three model examples illustrate the procedure.     

Zur Kenntnis des Faktors F430 aus methanogenen Bakterien: Struktur des proteinfreien Faktors

Factor F430 from Methanogenic Bacteria: Structure of the Protein-free Factor Factor F430, the porphinoid nickel-containing coenzyme of the methylcoenzyme-M reductase of metanogenic bacteria is shown to be the 3³,8³,12²,13³,18²-pentaacid derivative of the pentamethylester F430M, the structure of which had been determined previously (see structural formulae 1 and 2 ). The structure assignment rests on chromatographic, UV/VIS-, CD-, IR-, and ¹³C-NMR-spectroscopic as well as FAB-mass spectral comparision of F430 with F430M and the pentaacid prepared by acid-catalyzed hydrolysis of F430M. In the cells of Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum, factor F430 is present in a ‘bound’ and also, depending on the growth conditions, in ‘free’ form, the latter being defined as the part of total F430 that can be extracted from the cells under extremely mild conditions (80% EtOH at 0–4°). From the (protein)-‘bound’ form, F430 is extracted by subsequently treating the cells at 0–4° with 80% EtOH containing (e.g.), 2m LiCi. From both sources, the extracted factor is the same pentaacid, and there is no indication for the existence of a protein-free F430 species that would contain additional (covalently bound) structural elements.     

Non-trivial behavior of palladium(II) acetate

Reaction of activated palladium metal with a HNO3/acetic acid mixture produces both orange Pd3(OAc)6, 1, and purple Pd3(OAc)5(NO2), 2. Compound has a trinuclear structure derived from that of the well-known triangular complex 1 in which one acetate group has been replaced by a nitrite group which is bonded to one palladium atom by the nitrogen atom and to another Pd atom using one of the oxygen atoms. Highly pure 1 can be made by continuous removal of the nitric oxides from the reaction mixture using a flow of N2. 1H NMR spectra of solutions of 1 in CDCl3 and C6D6 show several signals of various intensities when a small amount of water is present in the deuterated solvents but only one signal when the solvents are thoroughly dried. These results are consistent with the occurrence of one or more hydrolysis processes when the solvents contain water and suggest that hypotheses about various [Pd(OAc)2]n aggregates that have previously been brought forward in the literature to explain the complexity of the spectrum of 1 are unnecessary, especially for nonpolar solvents. Compound 2 does not hydrolyze, and in wet or dried solvents shows a 1H NMR spectrum that consists of five equal-intensity signals due to the five nonequivalent acetate groups.