Synthesis of δ-cyclohexyl- and δ,δ-alkylene-α,α-dicarbonyl-substituted dienes and study of their valence isomerization

β-Cyclohexylacrolein, β-cyclohexylmethacrolein, or α-cycloalkylidenalkanals were condensed with methyl acetoacetate or dimethyl malonate to give the δ-cyclohexyl- and δ,δ-alkylene-substituted α,α-dicarbonyl-containing α,β∶γ,δ-dienes. The structures of the reaction products were studied using¹H NMR,¹³C NMR, and UV spectroscopy. The diene keto esters bearing no substituents at the γ-position were shown to be in fact three-component equilibrium mixtures comprised ofE- andZ-isomers of the diene (at the α,β bond) and a corresponding 2H-pyran. On the other hand, for keto esters with a Me group at the γ-position the equilibrium is shifted entirely to the 2H-pyrans. In contrast with the keto esters, dienic diesters exist only in the open form.