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.     

Electrical transport and magnetic ordering in R 2Ti3Ge4 (R=Dy, Ho and Er) compounds

New R ₂Ti₃Ge₄ (R=Dy, Ho and Er) intermetallic compounds have been synthesized and characterized by X-ray diffraction and low temperature ac magnetic susceptibility, electrical resistivity and thermoelectric power measurements were carried out. The compounds crystallize in the parent, Sm₅Ge₄-type orthorhombic structure (space group Pnma) and lanthanide contraction is observed as one moves along the rare-earth series. The changeover from paramagnetic to antiferromagnetic phase happens at low temperatures and the ordering temperature scales with the de Gennes factor. The electrical resistivity is metallic with a negative curvature above 100 K. Thermopower displays a weak maximum at temperatures less than 50 K signifying the possible phonon and magnon drag effects.     

Studies toward the biomimetic synthesis of tropolone natural products via a hetero Diels-Alder reaction

Analogues of the tropolone natural products pycnidione and epolone B were synthesized via a hetero Diels-Alder reaction of benzotropolone 10 with humulene. The quinone methide benzotropolone 13 was generated in situ by thermalisation of benzotropolone 10. Benzotropolone 10 was derived from phthalic acid via carbonyl ylide 8a followed by an intramolecular 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition and subsequent acid-catalyzed ring opening.     

Transannular Claisen rearrangement reactions for the synthesis of vinylcyclobutanes: formal synthesis of (±)-grandisol

Unsaturated eight-membered lactones undergo decarboxylative and non-decarboxylative transannular Ireland-Claisen rearrangement reactions, to give substituted vinylcyclobutanes. A formal synthesis of (±)-grandisol is described.     

Elastic properties of the Ta–V system: bcc Ta0.33V0.67 and C15 TaV2

Resonant ultrasound spectroscopy was used to measure the elastic constants of bcc Ta_0.33V_0.67 over the temperature range 3.5–300?K; the results were compared to earlier measurements on C15 TaV₂. The temperature dependence of the polycrystalline shear modulus is completely different in the two phases; that of the bcc phase decreases with temperature whereas that of the C15 phases increases in an anomalous fashion. This difference is consistent with a model involving doubly-degenerate levels at the X point of the Brillouin zone in the C15 phase with the Fermi level lying near the doubly degenerate level. This model accounted for the unusual behaviour of the C15 phase. Debye temperatures were determined from the ultrasonic measurements: 295?K for the C15 phase and 315?K for the bcc phase.     

Late-stage intermolecular CH activation for lead diversification: a highly chemoselective oxyfunctionalization of the C-9 position of potent bryostatin analogues

Treatment of highly potent and densely functionalized bryostatin analogue 1 with dimethyldioxirane afforded the C-9 hydroxylated hemiketal 2 via oxyfunctionalization of the C9-CH bond, one of 12 CH bonds geminal to an oxygen substituent in 1. When bryostatin analogue 3 was subjected to identical conditions, oxidation of a C-26 secondary hydroxyl group was found to compete with C-9 hydroxylation. Complete selectivity for C-9 hydroxylation was restored upon acylation of the C-26 secondary alcohol.     

A concise,selective synthesis of the polyketide spacer domain of a potent bryostatin analogue

[reaction: see text] A concise, asymmetric synthesis of the polyketide spacer domain portion (C1-C13) of a highly potent bryostatin analogue was developed. The route utilizes asymmetric hydrogenation methodology to install the C3, C5, and C11 stereocenters, while a substrate directed syn reduction sets the C9 stereocenter. The spacer domain 1 is obtained in 10 steps with a 25% overall yield and is readily incorporated into the synthesis of 2.