Synthesis of 6α-methyl-16α,17α-cyclohexano-19-norprogesterone from a 19-methyl-6-desmethyl precursor

After prolonged refluxing of 19-tosyloxy-16α,17α-cyclohexanopregn-5-en-3β-ol-20-one (3) with NaI in 2-propanol, the initially formed 19-iodo derivative (4) undergoes supraface migration of the CH₂I group from the C(10) atom to the C(6) atom, probably through involvement of a homoallyl cation. The resulting 6β-iodomethyl-16α,17α-cyclohexano-19-norpregn-5(10)-en-3β-ol (5) was transformed in three steps into 6α-methyl-16α,17α-cyclohexano-19-norprogesterone (6α-methyl-19-nor-D′ ₆-pentarane,8). The transformation of compound5 into the target product8 also gave a side product, a pentarane with aromatic ringA (10), which was isolated and characterized by spectroscopic methods. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 9, pp. 1688–1691, September, 1997.     

Highly efficient Beckmann rearrangement and dehydration of oximes

Under mild conditions, Beckmann rearrangement of a variety of ketoximes could proceed in the presence of chlorosulfonic acid using toluene as a solvent with excellent conversion and selectivity. This procedure could also be applied in the dehydration of aldoximes for obtaining the corresponding nitriles.     

Metalloporphyrin Cr(TPP)Cl-catalyzed Claisen rearrangement of simple aliphatic allyl vinyl ethers and its unique stereoselectivity

The catalytic Z-selective Claisen rearrangement of simple aliphatic allyl vinyl ethers can be achieved using a chromium(III) porphyrin complex, Cr(TPP)Cl, as a catalyst: Cr(TPP)Cl significantly enhances reversal of E-Z selectivity in the thermal Claisen rearrangement of allyl vinyl ethers, especially, 4,5- and 4,6-disubstituted derivatives, at low catalyst loading.     

Recyclization of pyrimidinium salts into 1,2,4-triazole derivatives

The interaction of the iodomethylates of pyrimidinyl-2-acetic acid derivatives with monosubstituted hydrazines, in addition to the products of a Kost-Sagitullin rearrangement, leads also to N-substituted triazoles. The structure of the triazoles was demonstrated by NOESY NMR experiments. The structure of the reaction products was determined on the basis of the response observed in the spectra between the methyl group protons of the triazole ring and the spatially close proton of the substituent in position 1 and a conclusion was drawn on the direction of the primary attack of nucleophile in the recyclization process of the pyrimidinium salts into a 1,2,4-triazole. __________ Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 8, pp. 1175–1179, August, 2007.     

The chemistry of the azanonaborane cluster RNH2---B8H11NHR

The preparation and properties of the R¹R²NH---B₈H₁₁NHR cluster are described. The cluster is stable to aqueous solutions and can be made water-soluble by the introduction of a few hydrophilic groups. This makes the cluster a good candidate as the boron moiety in compounds for boron neutron capture therapy. The chemistry of the cluster preparation, the stability of the cluster, and conditions for reactions of the organic moieties are reviewed. Pyridine derivatives of the cluster show electronic interaction between the cluster and the pyridine.     

Smiles rearrangement for the synthesis of 5-amino-substituted [1]benzothieno[2,3-b]pyridine

The Smiles rearrangement was successfully applied to 4-hydroxybenzo[b]thiophene furnishing a facile entry to the 4-amino derivative. The rearrangement was extended to 5-methoxy-4-methoxycarbonyl[1]benzothieno[2,3-b]pyridine obtained via aza-Wittig/electrocyclization reaction of novel N-(4-methoxybenzothiophen-2-yl)iminomethyldiphenylphosphorane with methyl trans-4-oxo-2-pentenoate. The preparation of a novel 5-amino-4-methoxycarbonyl[1]benzothieno[2,3-b]pyridine, which is of interest as a potential secondary peptide structure mimic, was successfully achieved.     

Synthesis, structural characterization, and skeletal rearrangement of dibenzo tricyclo[3.3.0.0]-1,2,5,6-tetrasubstituted octanes

Dibenzo tricyclo[3.3.0.0^2,6]-1,2,5,6-tetrasubstituted octanes, the ‘twisted’ highly strained valence isomers of substituted dibenzo[a,e]cyclooctatetraenes, were synthesized and their structure characterized by single-crystal X-ray analysis. Their skeletal rearrangement was experimentally observed.     

Facial selectivity of the Ireland-Claisen rearrangement of allylic esters of 2-methyl and 2-methoxycyclopentanecarboxylic acids

Ketene silylacetals derived from prenyl and (Z)- and (E)-crotyl 2-methylcyclopentanecarboxylates (9) were subjected to the Ireland-Claisen rearrangement. All three substrates rearranged with complete facial selectivity, but the (Z)- and (E)-crotyl systems gave a mixture comprised of the same diastereomers of 1-(1-methyl-2-propenyl)-2-methylcyclopentanecarboxylic acid (14) in ratios of 2:1 and 1:2, respectively. In contrast, the ketene silylacetals prepared from allyl and prenyl 2-methoxycyclopentanecarboxylates (22) underwent rearrangements with both facial stereochemistries.     

Cyclodextrin catalysis of the smiles rearrangement of 4-nitrophenyl salicylate

α- and β-Cyclodextrins accelerate the Smiles rearrangement of 4-nitrophenyl salicylate which proceeds through the mechanism of intramolecular aromatic nucleophilic substitution. The binding and catalytic rate constants were calculated from the dependences of the observed pseudo-first-order rate constants of the rearrangement reaction on cyclodextrin concentration obtained at various pH values. The catalysis was interpreted in terms of a tighter binding of the anionic, highly delocalized δ-complex intermediate than that of the substrate to cyclodextrins.     

Synthesis and thermal cyclization of an enediyne-sulfonamide

The synthesis of an enediyne sulfonamide by alkylidene carbene rearrangement is reported. The compound cyclizes thermally to give the Bergman product, which was prepared independently for comparison. Like other σ-acceptor substituents at the enediyne alkyne termini, such as fluoride, oxonium or ammonium groups, the sulfonamide moiety enhances the reactivity for thermal Bergman cyclization as shown by the cyclization kinetic of the title compound.