Photochemical studies on bis-sulfide and -sulfone tethered polyenic derivatives.

This study focusses on the [2 + 2]-photocycloaddition of a symmetric polyenic system tethered by an aryl bis-sulfide or sulfone platform. Using direct irradiation or photosensitization, no expected ladderane product was isolated. In most cases, only tricyclic products including a single cyclobutane moiety were formed. Irradiation of bis-acrylic precursors in water with encapsulation by a host (cyclodextrin or cucurbituril) provided a stereoselective access to valuable cyclobutyl adducts.

Asymmetric hydroalkoxylation of non-activated alkenes: titanium-catalyzed cycloisomerization of allylphenols at high temperatures.

The asymmetric catalytic addition of alcohols (phenols) to non-activated alkenes has been realized through the cycloisomerization of 2-allylphenols to 2-methyl-2,3-dihydrobenzofurans (2-methylcoumarans). The reaction was catalyzed by a chiral titanium-carboxylate complex at uncommonly high temperatures for asymmetric catalytic reactions. The catalyst was generated by mixing titanium isopropoxide, the chiral ligand (aS)-1-(2-methoxy-1-naphthyl)-2-naphthoic acid or its derivatives, and a co-catalytic amount of water in a ratio of 1:1:1 (5 mol % each). This homogeneous thermal catalysis (HOT-CAT) gave various (S)-2-methylcoumarans with yields of up to 90 % and in up to 85 % ee at 240 °C, and in 87 % ee at 220 °C.

Cyclization of ortho-hydroxycinnamates to coumarins under mild conditions: A nucleophilic organocatalysis approach.

(E)-Alkyl ortho-hydroxycinnamates cyclize to coumarins at elevated temperatures of 140-250 °C. We find that the use of tri-n-butylphosphane (20 mol %) as a nucleophilic organocatalyst in MeOH solution allows cyclization to take place under much milder conditions (60-70 °C). Several coumarins were prepared, starting from ortho-hydroxyarylaldehydes, by Wittig reaction with Ph(3)P=CHCO(2)Me to (E)-methyl ortho-hydroxycinnamates, followed by the phosphane catalyzed cyclization.