Separation and Thermal Racemization of the Enantiomers of Spiro[cyclohexadiene-dihydroacridines]

 The enantiomers of substituted spirocyclohexadiene-dihydroacridines] were separated by enantioselective liquid chromatography with the sorbent/solvent systems triacetylcellulose/methanol, tris-(3,5-dimethylphenylcarbamoyl)-cellulose/silica gel (Chiralcel OD^TM)/n-heptane/2-propanol, and (+)-poly-(trityl methacrylate)/silica gel/n-heptane/2-propanol. Interconversion barriers of the enantiomers were determined for a series of derivatives by thermal racemization. Electrocyclic ring opening/ring closure in terms of the Woodward-Hoffmann rules is discussed for the enantiomerization mechanism; the interconversion of the enantiomers by enolization is ruled out by deuterium exchange experiments.