Synthesis of 4-alkoxycarbonyl-butenolides by uncatalyzed one-pot cyclization of 1,3-bis(silyloxy)alk-1-enes with oxalyl chloride

Benzophosphol-3-yl Triflates as Precursors of 1,3-Diarylbenzophosphole Oxides

A simple method for the synthesis of 3-arylbenzophosphole oxides under Suzuki-Miyaura coupling conditions has been presented. It employs benzophosphol-3-yl triflate starting materials which, prior to our work, had not been used for the synthesis of 3-arylbenzophosphole oxides. The reactions proceed over 24 h and provide a library of 3-arylbenzophosphole oxides. The synthetic access to the benzophosphol-3-yl triflates has been improved. The preliminary photophysical properties of some 3-arylbenzophosphole oxides have been investigated by absorption and emission measurements. The theoretical calculations were performed to establish structure-property relationships.

A Novel Trisubstituted Tetrahydropyran as a Possible Pheromone Component for the South American Cerambycid Beetle Macropophora accentifer

A novel trisubstituted tetrahydropyran was isolated and identified from the sex-specific volatiles produced by males of the cerambycid beetle Macropophora accentifer (Olivier), a serious pest of citrus and other fruit crops in South America. The compound was the major component in the headspace volatiles, and it was synthesized in racemic form. However, in field trials, the racemate was only weakly attractive to beetles of both sexes, suggesting that attraction might be inhibited by the presence of the "unnatural" enantiomer in the racemate. Alternatively, the male-produced volatiles contained a number of minor and trace components, including a compound tentatively identified as a homolog of the major component, as well as a number of unsaturated 8-carbon alcohols and aldehydes. Further work is required to conclusively identify and synthesize these minor components, to determine whether one or more of them are crucial components of the active pheromone blend for this species.

Site-Selective α-Alkoxyl Alkynation of Alkyl Esters Mediated by Boryl Radicals

A novel method for site-selective C-H functionalization of ethyl acetate mediated by pyridine-boryl radicals is presented, delivering a variety of 4-phenylbut-3-yn-2-yl acetate derivatives under mild conditions. A distinguishing feature of this reaction is that the pyridine-ligated boryl radicals can abstract the inactive α-hydrogen of the alkoxyl group instead of the α-hydrogen of carbonyl groups described in a previous report using amine-ligated boryl radicals. Significantly, substrates with halogen atoms are compatible under the reaction conditions.

Isotetronic acids from an oxidative cyclization

Oxidation of methyl enones with selenium dioxide leads to a cascade of reactions culminating in the formation of isotetronic acids.