Syntheses of Unique Bicyclophostones and Unexpected Difference in the Reaction of Lawesson's Reagent vs. P2S5 with Cis-Bicyclophostone (1)

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to synthesize trans-l and determine the equilibriurr constant with cis-1. Oniy the synthesis¹ and x-ray structure² of the cis isomer have bcen reported. Four prior synthetic routes to make the vans isomer³ gave only cis product. For example, intrarmolecular ring closure of the cis or trains isomers of 4 (R= (CH₂)₃OH) with LiH or thermal closure of the cis or trans 4 (R= (CH₂)₂) gave only cis-1. Since both iosmers of 1,8-dioxabicyclo4.4.0] decane are known and readily equilibrate (57% cis and 43% trans), the apparent inaccessibility of trans-1 attracted our attention. Thc preparation of trans-1 was achieved by treatment of cis-1 with Lawesson's reagent (LR) to provide cis-2. followed by oxidation with m-chloroperbenzoic acid/trifluoroacetic acid to give a 5:1 mixture of cis:trans 1, respectively. An unexpected formation of the sulfur analogue of 1 was observed on treatment of cis-1 with P₂S₅/pyridine at reflux temperatures to give a 1.6:1 mixture of cis:trans 3, respectively. Thermal quilibration of 1 at 204°C provided an equilibrium ratio of 99.5% cis and 0.5% of the trans isomer. However, equilibration of 3 at 250°C led to 82.2:17.8 ratio in favor of the cis isomr. These results are consistent with semiemperical MO calculations. The stereochemical outcome on treatment of 4 with LR was also investigated. X-ray structures for six compounds: trans-1, cis-2, cis and trans-3; cis-4 (R=Ph), and cis-5, (R = Ph) wen determined.