From dipivaloylketene to tetraoxaadamantanes
Dipivaloylketene (2) is obtained by flash vacuum pyrolysis of furan-2,3-dione 6 and dimerizes to 1,3-dioxin-4-one 3, which is a stable but reactive ketene. The transannular addition and rearrangement of enols formed by the addition of nucleophiles to the ketene function in 3 generates axially chiral 2,6,9-trioxabicyclo[3.3.1]nonadienes (bisdioxines) 4. When arylamines are used as the nucleophiles under neutral conditions, decarboxylation occurs during the formation of bisdioxines 8. However, when water or alcohols are added to 3 under acidic conditions, bisdioxine-carboxylic acids and esters 10 and 11 are obtained. Acid hydrolysis of the bisdioxines proceeds through the addition of water to a C=C double bond and results in a second transannular oxa-Michael-type reaction and generation of tetraoxaadamantanes 5. This reaction is decarboxylative when free carboxylic acid functions are present in the bisdioxines, thus forming 21 and 22, but carboxylic acid derivatives are preserved to yield compounds 20, 23, 25, 28, and 29. A hydrogenolysis of the dibenzyl ester 23 yields the free dicarboxylic acid 24. The tetraoxaadamantanes are formed in high yields (65–95%) in most cases, but the addition of water to the concave inside of the bisdioxines becomes severely hindered in cyclic derivatives, so that the 38-membered ring compound 32 requires microwave heating at 170 °C to form tetraoxaadamantane 33, and the catenated compound 36 and calix[6]arene derivative 37 did not form tetraoxaadamantanes. The reaction mechanisms of bisdioxine and tetraoxaadamantane formation are discussed.
Macrocyclic Systems Containing 2,6,9-Trioxabicyclo[3.3.1]-nona-3,7-dienes as Chiral Spacer Groups: Synthesis, Stereochemical Features and Preliminary Complexation Properties
Novel 2:2-macrocycles bearing bridged concave 2,6,9-trioxabicyclo[3.3.1]nona-3,7-dienes as chiral spacer units were obtained by cyclocondensation reaction of the chiral bisacid chloride and the corresponding diols, while use of methylene diamines instead of diols afforded 1:1 macrocycles only. Applying the same, but now template-assisted, experimental procedure to the reaction of the bisacid chloride with triethylene glycol brought about a significant increase in yield as well as a suitable simplification of the work-up during preparation and separation of the corresponding 1:1 as well as 2:2 macrocycles, when compared to results reported previously. HPLC separation on chiral columns revealed the presence of diastereoisomers [R,R(S,S)- and R,S-(meso)-forms] for all 2:2 macrocycles, which was further evidenced by the CD spectrum of one of those species as an example. Preliminary ESI-MS experiments indicated strong complexation abilities of the sulphur-containing ligand towards Ag(I), Cu(II) and Au(III) ions.
[CpRu(IV)(π-C3H5)(2-quinolinecarboxylato)]PF6 Complex: A Robust Catalyst for the Cleavage and Formation of Allyl Ethers
A facile and efficient method for the quantitative synthesis of [CpRu(IV)(π-C 3 H 5 )(2-quinolinecarboxylato)]PF 6 from [CpRu(CH 3 CN) 3 ]PF 6 , 2-quinolinecarboxylic acid, and 2-propen-1-ol has been established. The cationic Ru(IV) complex is air- and moisture-stable, and can be stored in a vial for at least six months. This complex realizes a simple and easy operation for both the deallylation of allyl ethers in methanol and the dehydrative allylation of alcohols. Furthermore, with removal of the volatile allyl methyl ether co-product from the reaction system, the robust catalyst can attain a turnover of 10000 cycles of allyl ether cleavage.