Deformative transition of the Menschutkin reaction and helical atropisomers in a congested polyheterocyclic system.

A 4,7-phenanthroline polycyclic 1A designed for probing the limits of the Menschutkin reaction was synthesized in a six-step sequence. The rotational barrier of the phenyl ring nearby the N-methyl group in rac-2A was estimated to be ≫ 18.1 kcal/mol from VT-NMR experiments, making them a new type of helical atropisomer. The methylation rate constants of 9 and 1A with MeI was found to be 2.22 × 10(-4) and 9.62 × 10(-6) s(-1) mol(-1) L, respectively; thus, the formation rate of (P/M)-2A is one of the slowest rates ever reported for a Menschutkin reaction. The N-methyl protons in (P/M)-2A exhibit a significant upfield shift (Δδ 1.0 ppm) in its (1)H NMR, compared to those without a nearby phenyl, indicating a strong CH-π interaction is involved. Conformational flexibility in dipyridylethene 9 is clearly shown by its complexation with BH3 to form helical atropisomers (P,P/M,M)-10. The pKa values of the conjugate acids of 1A and 9 in acetonitrile were determined to be 4.65 and 5.07, respectively, which are much smaller compared to that of pyridine 14a (pKa = 12.33), implying that the basicity, nucleophilicity, and amine alkylation rates of 1A and 9 are markedly decreased by the severe steric hindrance of the flanking phenyl rings in the polyheterocycles.

The synthesis of rigid polycyclic structures for the study of diatropic or steric effects of a phenyl ring on CF bond.

Polycyclic compounds 1a-c were synthesized to study the diatropic effects of a flanking phenyl ring on nearby CH and CF bonds. (19)F NMR spectra of 1b and 1c were strongly deshielded compared with those of the ring-opened compounds 3b, 7b, and 7c. DMol3 calculations on 1a-c provided quantitative bond lengths and torsional angles to support the conclusion that the downfield shifts in the (19)F NMR spectra are mainly due to steric interactions between the CF bonds and the π clouds of the phenyl ring(s).

Intervention of phenonium ion in Ritter reactions.

The transformation of phenylethyl chloride to 3,4-dihydroisoquinolines is shown to proceed via phenonium ion. The evidence comes from a study of dideuterated analogue 4, and the monomethylated and dimethylated compounds 2 and 3.

Structural Amendment and Stereoselective Synthesis of Mutisianthol.

cis-1-(5-Acetoxy-3,6-dimethyl-1-indanyl)-2-methyl-1-propene synthesized from 3,6-dimethyl-1-indanone was found to be different from mutisianthol by spectral comparison. The presence of a high-field signal in the NMR spectrum of the final product and various intermediates, characteristic of the cis-1,3-dialkylindanes but absent in the spectrum of the natural terpene, suggests a revision of the structure of mutisianthol to the trans isomer. The trans-indane which was subsequently obtained indeed exhibits data fully agreeable with mutisianthol. A similar stereochemical revision for jungianol is also indicated.