Dialkenyl cyclobutane

The Cope rearrangement was used in the total synthesis of (-)-asterisca-nolide (14), a novel sesquiterpene natural product4 (Scheme 1.4e). Ring-opening metathesis of the cyclobutene 15 with ethylene in the presence of the ruthenium catalyst 165 proceeded smoothly to provide the cyclooctadiene 18 via Cope rearrangement of the intermediate dialkenyl cyclobutane (17). 

This strategy has been successfully applied to the synthesis of (+)-asteriscanolide. Ring opening metathesis of the highly strained cyclobutene photoadduct 54 results in formation of the c/5-dialkenyl cyclobutane 55 with... 

The presence of hetero-atoms within the system, remote from the alkene double bonds, does not have an adverse influence on the SET processes that occur. Thus irradiation of the diene 33 in benzene solution with 1,4-dicyanonaphthalene as the electron-transfer sensitizer affords the cyclobutane 34 in 78% yield. Various examples of the reaction were described giving cyclobutane derivatives in 54-69% yield. Benzene, or an arene solvent, is vital for the success of the reaction. When acetonitrile is used, allylation of the sensitizer (akin to the photo-NOCAS reaction) results in the formation of the three products 35-3718. (2 + 2)-Cyclization of this type described for 33 is also seen with the dialkenyl ether 38. When 38 is irradiated using X > 350 nm or X > 450 nm in acetonitrile... 

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See also in sourсe #XX -- [ ]

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