Anhydro rings

O-isopropylidene derivative (57) must exist in pyridine solution in a conformation which favors anhydro-ring formation rather than elimination. Considerable degradation occurred when the 5-iodo derivative (63) was treated with silver fluoride in pyridine (36). The products, which were isolated in small yield, were identified as thymine and l-[2-(5-methylfuryl)]-thymine (65). This same compound (65) was formed in high yield when the 5 -mesylate 64 was treated with potassium tert-hx Xy -ate in dimethyl sulfoxide (16). The formation of 65 from 63 or 64 clearly involves the rearrangement of an intermediate 2, 4 -diene. In a different approach to the problem of introducing terminal unsaturation into pento-furanoid nucleosides, Robins and co-workers (32,37) have employed mild base catalyzed E2 elimination reactions. Thus, treatment of the 5 -tosylate (59) with potassium tert-butylate in tert-butyl alcohol afforded a high yield of the 4 -ene (60) (37). This reaction may proceed via the 2,5 ... 

IV. The Scission of Anhydro Rings of the Ethylene Oxide Type. 47... 

It is to be noticed that although the anhydro ring of levoglucosan is stable to alkali (Tanret s preparative method consisted in the heating of aromatic jS-D-glucosides with aqueous alkali), it readily undergoes scission in the presence of acid. An isomeric glucose anhydride prepared in 1912 by E. Fischer showed, however, very different properties. 

The two main classes of anhydro sugars are therefore the ethylene oxide and the hydrofuranol types. Other anhydro ring systems are known but the number of representatives of such systems is not great. 

The most common is the seven-membered ring type represented by levo-glucosan. Examples have been recorded of a fourth type, namely that in which the anhydro ring is four-membered, but only two of these examples are well authenticated.9 10... 

In order that anhydro ring closure should occur, it is necessary that a second hydroxyl group be available in the molecule. If all the hy-... 

If the disposition of hydroxyl groups is such that either an ethylene oxide or a hydrofuranol ring could be formed, then it is the three-membered anhydro ring that is preferentially established. Thus, if 6-tosyl-isopropylidene-D-glucofuranose (XII), in which there are present free hydroxyls at C3 and C5, is submitted to alkaline hydrolysis, it is the 5,6-anhydride VI alone that is formed7 the 3,6-anhydride appears only if the hydroxyl at C5 is protected by substitution as in X. 

An interesting contrast has been observed between the respective actions of acid and alkali on 3,4-anhydro-l,2-isopropylidene-D-tagatose (XXIVo). The anhydro ring of this compound shows considerable resistance to both mineral acids and alkali. Cleavage by sodium meth-... 

Another example is provided by the observation of Ohle and Wilcke16 that whereas 3-tosyl-l,2-isopropylidene-D-glucofuranose (XXXV) is saponified without anhydro ring formation and without Walden inversion, the triacetate of methyl 3-tosyl-/3-D-glucofuranoside (XXXVI) is... 

The inference is that the hydrofuranol ring of XL can never be directly formed by the saponification of a 3-tosyl ester of D-glucose, but only indirectly by the intermediate formation and scission of an anhydro ring of the ethylene oxide type. The sequence of reactions involved in the conversion of methyl 3-tosyl-jS-D-gIueoside into methyl 3,6-anhydro-n-glucoside is shown by XXXVI to XL. 

Another example of the formation of a 3,6-anhydro ring by the saponification of a 3-tosyl-D-glucose derivative is furnished by the work of Peat and Wiggins11 who were able to isolate derivatives of no less than three anhydro sugars, one of which was 3,6-anhydro-D-glucose, from the... 

The product retains, however, the configuration of D-galactose and is in fact methyl trimethyl-D-galactopyranoside (LII). The intermediate formation of a 1,3-anhydro ring is postulated. 

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