Electrochemically Mediated Oxidative Transformations of Substituted 4-Methoxystilbenes: Effect of Ortho-Substituted Nucleophilic Groups.

A systematic study was undertaken to determine the influence of ortho'-substituted nucleophilic groups (OH, NH2, or NHR) on the reactivity of anodically generated 4-methoxy- and 3,4-dimethoxystilbene cation radicals. The results showed that when ortho-substituted nucleophilic groups such as OH and NHR are present in the other ring, both direct and crossover intramolecular cation-nucleophile reactions occur to give bisbenzofurans/bisindoles or fused bisbenzopyrans/bisquinolines, respectively. Where an additional 3-methoxy substituent is present, bridged oxocine/azocine products are formed in addition to the bisbenzopyrans/bisquinolines and bisbenzofurans/bisindoles. Mechanistic rationalization of the observed behavior is presented based on a generalized pathway involving fast cation radical dimerization following electron transfer, followed by direct and crossover trapping of the benzylic cations by the ortho-substituted oxygen and nitrogen nucleophilic groups. In the instances where an additional 3-methoxy group is present, the bridged oxocine/azocine products are also formed as a result of competing aromatic substitution (Friedel-Crafts reaction). The results have shed further light and provided additional clarification on the reactivity of anodically generated stilbene cation radicals.

Transformations of Ferric Chloride-Generated Stilbene Cation Radicals. The Effect of Aromatic Substitution and a Comparison with Anodic Oxidation.

A systematic study on the FeCl3-induced oxidation of 1,2-diarylalkenes was carried out with the focus on the variation of product type as a function of aromatic substitution, as well as to compare the reactivity of stilbene cation radicals generated via Fe(III) oxidation with those generated by anodic oxidation. The aromatic substituents were found to fall into three main categories, namely those that give rise to tetralins and/or dehydrotetralins, those that give products possessing pallidol and ampelopsin F-type carbon skeletons, and last, those that give rise to trimeric products, indanes, and dehydrotetralins/tetralins. The latter are those stilbenes with a para-methoxy substituent in one ring and a para- or meta-EWG (CF3, NO2, Cl, F) in the other, and represent the most prominent departure when compared with the behavior of the same stilbenes under the conditions of anodic oxidation. Reaction pathways to rationalize the formation of the different products are presented.

Biomimetic oxidative dimerization of anodically generated stilbene radical cations: effect of aromatic substitution on product distribution and reaction pathways.

A systematic study of the electrochemical oxidation of 1,2-diarylalkenes was carried out with the focus on detailed product studies and variation of product type as a function of aromatic substitution. A reinvestigation of the electrochemical oxidation of 4,4'-dimethoxystilbene under various conditions was first carried out, and all products formed were fully characterized and quantitated. This was followed by a systematic investigation of the effect of aromatic substitution on the nature and distribution of the products. The aromatic substituents were found to fall into three main categories, viz., substrates in which the nature and position of the aromatic substituents gave rise to essentially the same products as 4,4'-dimethoxystilbene, for example, tetraaryltetrahydrofurans, dehydrotetralins, and aldehydes (p-MeO or p-NMe2 on one ring and X on the other ring, where X = o-MeO or p-alkyl, or m- or p-EWG; e.g., 4-methoxy-4'-trifluoromethylstilbene); those that gave rise to a mixture of indanyl (or tetralinyl) acetamides and dehydrotetralins (or pallidols) (both or one ring substituted by alkyl groups, e.g., 4,4'-dimethylstilbene); and those where strategic placement of donor groups, such as OMe and OH, led to the formation of ampelopsin F and pallidol-type carbon skeletons (e.g., 4,3',4'-trimethoxystilbene). Reaction pathways to rationalize the formation of the different products are presented.

Transformations of the 2,7-Seco Aspidosperma alkaloid leuconolam, structure revision of epi-leuconolam, and partial syntheses of leuconoxine and leuconodines A and F.

Several transformations of the seco Aspidosperma alkaloid leuconolam were carried out. The based-induced reaction resulted in cyclization to yield two epimers, the major product corresponding to the optical antipode of a (+)-meloscine derivative. The structures and relative configuration of the products were confirmed by X-ray diffraction analysis. Reaction of leuconolam and epi-leuconolam with various acids, molecular bromine, and hydrogen gave results that indicated that the structure of the alkaloid, previously assigned as epi-leuconolam, was incorrect. This was confirmed by an X-ray diffraction analysis, which revealed that epi-leuconolam is in fact 6,7-dehydroleuconoxine. Short partial syntheses of the diazaspiro indole alkaloid leuconoxine and the new leuconoxine-type alkaloids leuconodines A and F were carried out.