A practical asymmetric synthesis of trans-4,5-benzhydrindan-1-ones as a precursor of A-nor B-aromatic steroidal compounds

The enantio-controlled synthesis of trans-4,5-benzhydrindan-1-ones was achieved by means of a stereoselective [4+2] cycloaddition of o-quinodimethanes generated by a thermal cleavage of benzocyclobutene derivatives as a key step. The chiral substrates of the thermal reaction were synthesized by a diastereoselective Grignard addition to the chiral O-isopropylideneglyceroketones connected to a benzocyclobutene ring, which were simply prepared from D-mannitol as a chiral source. This approach can provide a new efficient access to A-nor B-aromatic steroidal compounds.     

Cidep study of radical-ion pair systems: Photooxidation reactions of carbazoles by maleic anhydride in alcohol solution

Photooxidation (charge transfer) reactions of carbazole derivatives by maleic anhydride (MA) in alcoholic media are studied by a time-resolved cw-ESR (TRESR) and Fourier transform ESR (FTESR) techniques. The CIDEP spectra observed in the systems (methyl-, ethyl-, and phenyl-substituted carbazoles with MA) remarkably depend on the MA concentration. Under the high concentration conditions, an emissive TM (triplet mechanism) polarization with a slight A/E (absorption/emission) pattern of the RPM (radical pair mechanism) is observed. In the low concentration of MA, a TM-like absorptive polarization is superimposed on the A/E pattern of the RPM. Since this reaction takes place exclusively through the triplet state, this spectral phase reveals that the singlet state of the radical-ion pair (RIP) has an energy higher than that of the triplet state, in other words, the sign of the apparent exchange interaction of the present RIP systems is positive. The total absorptive polarization observed in the low concentration of MA is tentatively explained by the polarization transfer from the excited triplet state of carbazoles in thermal equilibrium.     

Highly (Z)-selective synthesis of beta-monosubstituted alpha,beta-unsaturated cyanides using the peterson reaction

[reaction: see text] The Peterson reaction between (t-BuO)Ph(2)SiCH(2)CN and various aldehydes furnishes the corresponding beta-monosubstituted alpha,beta-unsaturated cyanides with high Z selectivity (Z:E = 92:8 to >98:2).     

Ruthenium-catalyzed carbonylative cycloaddition of alpha-keto lactones with alkenes or alkynes: the participation of an ester-carbonyl group in cycloaddition reactions as the two-atom assembling unit

The reaction of benzofuran-2,3-dione derivatives 1 with CO and alkenes (or alkynes) results in a carbonylative [2+2+1] cycloaddition in which the ester-carbonyl group is incorporated into a two-atom assembling unit to give spirolactone derivatives 2. This reaction provides the first example of an ester-carbonyl group participating in a carbonylative cycloaddition reaction.     

Ruthenium-catalyzed reaction of alpha,beta-unsaturated imines with carbon monoxide and alkenes leading to beta,gamma-unsaturated gamma-butyrolactams: involvement of direct carbonylation at olefinic C[bond]H Bonds as a key step

The reaction of alpha,beta-unsaturated imines with CO and alkenes in the presence of Ru(3)(CO)(12) as a catalyst results in a three-component coupling reaction that gives alpha,alpha-disubstituted beta,gamma-unsaturated gamma-butyrolactams. The reaction proceeds via a two-step sequence involving the initial formation of ketone derivatives by catalytic carbonylation at the beta-olefinic C-H bonds of alpha,beta-unsaturated imines, followed by the (uncatalyzed) intramolecular nucleophilic attack of the imine nitrogen on the ketonic carbon to generate a tetrahedral intermediate, which then undergoes a 1,2-ethyl migration. The reaction of a cyclic unsaturated imine, derived from the reaction of (1R)-(-)-myrtenal with tert-butylamine, gives a beta-aminocyclopentene derivative, which is formed by an aldol-type condensation of the initially formed ketone, indicating the initial formation of ethyl ketone.     

Reaction of carbon monoxide with N-lithioketimines derived by the addition of alkyllithium to ortho-substituted benzonitriles. Diverse courses of cyclization via carbonyl anions

N-Lithioketimines, generated in situ from 2-substituted benzonitriles and t-BuLi, reacted with carbon monoxide to afford five-, six- or seven-membered cyclic products, involving participation by the ortho substituents. The reactions represent new selective transformations of carbonyllithium intermediate which previously were observed to lead to complicated reactions.