[reaction: see text] A novel method for the synthesis of Delta(1)-1,2-diazetines is presented. Diels-Alder cycloaddition of dienophile 4 with five dienes afforded cycloadducts in good to excellent yields. Four of the obtained cycloadducts were converted to the corresponding diazetines.

A homologous series of tricyclic diazetines (6a-c), differing by the number of methylene groups in the saturated bridges of the fused carbon bicycles, was synthesized. The DeltaH++ of decomposition for each of the diazetines to afford N2 and the corresponding alkene was determined experimentally: 6a, 31.7; 6b, 39.3; 6c, 38.8 kcal/mol. The ground-state strain energy of each diazetine was estimated utilizing computationally obtained DeltaHf's for each of the experimentally investigated diazetines as well as several other diazetines whose DeltaH++'s had been previously reported in the literature. The sum of the ground-state strain energies and DeltaH++'s of decomposition for all of the diazetines was nearly constant, with an average value of 59 kcal/mol, suggesting that all of the diazetines decompose via the same mechanism. Generally, the higher the ground-state strain energy of the diazetine, the less the DeltaH++ for decomposition. The decomposition transition states for 6a-c and 7 were modeled computationally at the RB3LYP/6-311+G(3df,2p)//UB3LYP/6-31+G(d,p) level. The agreement of the experimentally determined DeltaH++ values with transition-state energies obtained computationally supports the reaction mechanism originally proposed by Yamabe that the elimination process occurs by an unsymmetrical, yet concerted, transition state with strong biradical character.

The zinc–mediated aqueous Barbier–Grignard reaction of cyclic allylic bromide substrates with various aldehydes and ketones to afford homoallylic alcohols was investigated. Aromatic aldehydes and ketones afforded adducts in good yields (66–90%) and with good diastereoselectivities. Non–aromatic aldehydes also reacted well under these conditions, but only poor yields were obtained with non–aromatic ketones. Regioselectivity was high when some substituted cyclic allylic bromides were investigated.

heterocyclic 4-membered rings heterocyclic 4-membered rings R 0055 -114Synthesis of ∆ 1 -1,2-Diazetines via a Diels-Alder Cycloaddition Approach. -A novel method for the synthesis of title diazetines is presented, involving the Diels-Alder cycloaddition of dienophile (IV) to various dienes. Hydrolysis of the urazole ring of the adducts then releases the diazetines. -(BRETON, GARY W.; SHUGART, JOHN H.; HUGHEY, CHRISTINE A.; PERALA, SUZANNE M.; HICKS, ALISA D.; Org. Lett. 3 (2001) 20, 3185-3187; Dep. Chem., Berry Coll., Mount Berry, GA 30149, USA; EN)