Synthesis of 6-Styrylheptalenes

4-Methylazulenes 3 , 15 , and 23 were transformed into 4-(methylthio)methyl]azulene 4 , and azulene-4-carbaldehyde dimethyl dithioacetals 16 and 24 , respectively. Vilsmeier formylation of 4 and 16 , and subsequent reduction led to the 1-methyl derivatives 6 and 18 , respectively. The thermal reaction of azulenes 6 , 18 , and 24 with dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate (ADM) in toluene afforded heptalenes with a (methylthio)methyl group or a bis(methylthio)]methyl group at C(6). Chlorination of (methylthio)methyl]heptalene 7 , followed by treatment with HgO and BF₃⋅OEt₂ in aqueous tetrahydrofuran (THF), led to 6-formylheptalene-dicarboxylate 12 in excellent yield. Similarly, hydrolysis of 18 and 24 by HgO and BF₃⋅OEt₂ in aqueous THF afforded the 6-formyl derivatives 21 and 27 , respectively. Wittig reaction of the 6-formyl-substituted heptalenes and phosphonium salts 13a – e in the two-phase system CH₂Cl₂/2n aqueous NaOH resulted in the formation of 6-styryl-substituted heptalenes.