Isopropenyl acetate: A cheap and general acylating agent of alcohols under metal-free conditions

Functionalized primary, secondary and tertiary alcohols are efficiently acetylated by isopropenyl acetate and catalytic p-TsOH.     

High-pressure access to the Δ9-cis- and Δ9-trans-tetrahydrocannabinols family

Diels-Alder reactions of a range of 1-(alkoxy/alkyl-substituted phenyl)buta-1,3-dienes with methyl vinyl ketone and methyl acrylate carried out in ethanol as the reaction medium under 9 kbar pressure were investigated. The use of high pressure as the activating method of the Diels-Alder reactions allows the efficient and endodiastereoselective generation of a series of cis-cyclohexenyl-benzene cycloadducts, which are selectively converted into their trans-epimers. The cis-cyclohexenyl-benzenes and trans-cyclohexenyl-benzenes produced are useful precursors for accessing substituted privileged cis-6a,7,8,10a-tetrahydro-6H-benzo[c]chromene and trans-6a,7,8,10a-tetrahydro-6H-benzo[c]chromene skeletons. The total syntheses of Δ(9)-cis-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and Δ(9)-trans-THC, through the use of selected Diels-Alder adducts, are described. Finally, a route for obtaining Δ(9)-trans-THC in both enantiomeric pure forms based on the (S)-(-)-1-amino-2-(methoxymethyl)pyrrolidine (SAMP)-hydrazone method is also reported.     

Determination of phenolic compounds in wines by novel matrix solid-phase dispersion extraction and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry

A novel matrix solid-phase dispersion (MSPD) extraction method was developed to extract simultaneously 23 phenolic compounds from wine samples prior to determination by gas chromatography with mass spectrometric detection in the selected ion monitoring mode. Different parameters of the MSPD technique such as dispersant solid-phase, eluting solvent, and sample ionic strength and pH were optimized. The optimized MSPD procedure requires a small volume of wine (1 mL), commercial silica gel (1.5 g) as dispersant solid-phase and a small volume of ethyl acetate (5 mL) as eluting solvent. Under these conditions, the extraction of the studied compounds was almost complete (mean values of recoveries between 87 and 109%) in a short time (15 min). Moreover, satisfactory standard deviations of repeatability (RSD<9% in most cases), linear regression coefficients (r(2)>0.993) and detection limits (<8 microg/L) confirm the usefulness of the methodology for routine monitoring of the concentration of individual phenolic antioxidants in wines. Application was illustrated by analysis of different wine samples.     

Structure Determination of an Unusual [2.2]paracyclophane Derivative by NMR Spectroscopy

Our ongoing study on cycloaddition reactions of dienes with different dienophiles afforded a great variety of derivatives with interesting molecular structures and electronic behavior. A new type of angularly annelated [2.2]paracyclophane (3) has been synthesize by the Diels–Alder reaction of 4-(2-propenyl[2.2]paracyclophane (1) and 1,4-benzoquinone (2) under high pressure conditions. The structure determination of this compound has been achieved by NMR measurements and semiempirical calculations.     

Simple extraction method and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry in the selective ion monitoring mode for the determination of phenols in wine

The concentrations of 22 components of wine, including most of those that have been shown to possess significant biological properties, have been determined by a fast and simple analytical method based on gas chromatography with mass spectrometric detection in the selective ion monitoring mode (GC/MS-SIM). The procedure involves an easy liquid-liquid extraction and derivatization methods of flavanols, phenols and carboxylic acid, using a very small wine volume. The average recovery (Rcv) ranged from 73 to 107% and linear regression coefficients (r(2)) were in a range of 0.981or=0.999. The GC/MS-SIM technique gives good specificity and sensitivity, and can therefore be suitable for routine monitoring of the concentration of individual phenolic antioxidants during winemaking and the aging process.     

Unexpected chlorination of angularly annelated [2.2]paracyclophanes during DDQ oxidation

DDQ treatment of the Diels-Alder products 1 unexpectedly led to chloroderivatives 2. Chlorination did not occur during DDQ treatment of the fully aromatised compounds 3. These results point out that DDQ acted as an oxidant and source of chlorine.     

Synthesis of Some 4-Cyanocaranes

Four optically active 4-cyanocaranes diaste-reoisomers have been synthesized starting from (+)-car-3-ene and their structures supported by chemical evidences and X-ray analysis.     

Synthesis of Trans-Carah-4-Carboxylic Acids

The synthesis of the optically active transcaran-4-carboxylic acids 4a and 5a is reported. Methylene-cis-and trans-caranes (8) and (9) were prepared by Wittig reaction from (-)-cis-caran-4-one (6). The structure of the described compounds are supported by chemical evidence.     

Exploration of synthetic strategies for the stereoselective preparation of novel tetrahydrofuran-containing biaryls: A high-pressure promoted Diels-Alder approach

Three stereoselective synthetic approaches to tetrahydrofuran-containing biaryl scaffolds are described. All approaches involve a high-pressure promoted Diels-Alder reaction of substituted diene with methyl propiolate to give, after aromatization, the corresponding biaryl. The tetrahydrofuran moiety can be created starting from aryl-Br or aryl-CO₂Me functional groups through a γ-phenylseleno ketone intermediate.     

Regiochemistry of the Diels-Alder Reaction of 1-Ethenyl-hydronaphthalenes and 2-Methyl-2-cyclopenten-1-one

Diels-Alder reactions of 2-methyl-2-cyclopenten-l-one with l-ethenylhydronaphthalenes are described. The structure analysis of the reaction products by NMR spectroscopy is reported. The regioselectivity as well as the diastereoselectivity of the cycloadditions are discussed.