Nickel mercaptals

Two techniques, electrochemical reduction (section IIl-C) and Clem-mensen reduction (section ITI-D), have previously been recommended for the direct reduction of isolated ketones to hydrocarbons. Since the applicability of these methods is limited to compounds which can withstand strongly acidic reaction conditions or to cases where isotope scrambling is not a problem, it is desirable to provide milder alternative procedures. Two of the methods discussed in this section, desulfurization of mercaptal derivatives with deuterated Raney nickel (section IV-A) and metal deuteride reduction of tosylhydrazone derivatives (section IV-B), permit the replacement of a carbonyl oxygen by deuterium under neutral or alkaline conditions. 

The preparation of 7,7-d2-cholesterol in 1950 was the first example of deuterium incorporation into steroids via desulfurization of mercaptals with deuterated Raney nickel. A substantially modified version of this reaction subsequently became the first widely used method for site-specific insertion of two deuteriums in place of a carbonyl oxygen. This conversion consists of the preparation of a mercapto derivative (84 85), which usually... 

Three different methods have been discussed previously (sections III-C,III-D and IV-A) for the replacement of a carbonyl oxygen by two deuteriums. However, in the conversion of a 3-keto steroid into the corresponding 3,3-d2 labeled analog, two of the three methods, electrochemical reduction (section ni-C) and Raney nickel desulfurization of mercaptal derivatives (section IV-A), lead to extensive deuterium scrambling and the third method, Clemmensen reduction (section III-D), yields a 2,2,3,3,4,4-dg derivative. 

Deuteration at C-12 by desulfurization of 12-thioketals with Raney Nickel preparation of the ethylene thioketal, 172 desulfurization of the mercaptal, 173... 

This ester is converted in high yield to the y -ketosulfoxide by means of the dimethyl sulfoxide anion. Heating in acetic acid then produces a hemi-mercaptal acetate, which on treatment with Raney nickel gives the desired 21-acetoxy-20-ketone in a 50-70% overall yield from the -ketosulfoxide. A 17a-hydroxyl may also be present during the sequence. 

Success finally resulted when the inosose ether (20) was converted to its ethylene mercaptal. The crude mercaptal was reduced with nickel, and the crude pentol pentamethyl ether cleaved in the usual manner. 

In order to ascertain whether sufficient nickel to complete a given reaction has been used, the liquid phase may be tested for starting material before an attempt is made to isolate a product. In general the sodium fusion test for sulfur is satisfactory for this purpose but in certain individual cases a specific test may be more convenient. Thus, in the desulfurization of thioacetals (mercaptals), unreacted material... 

Four main types of antioxidants are commonly used in polypropylene stabilizer systems although many other types of chemical compounds have been suggested. These types include hindered phenolics, thiodi-propionate esters, aryl phosphites, and ultraviolet absorbers such as the hydroxybenzophenones and benzotriazoles. Other chemicals which have been reported include aromatic amines such as p-phenylenediamine, hydrocarbon borates, aminophenols, Zn and other metal dithiocarbamates, thiophosphates, and thiophosphites, mercaptals, chromium salt complexes, tin-sulfur compounds, triazoles, silicone polymers, carbon black, nickel phenolates, thiurams, oxamides, metal stearates, Cu, Zn, Cd, and Pb salts of benzimidazoles, succinic acid anhydride, and others. The polymeric phenolic phosphites described here are another type. 

A novel method of converting a carbonyl to a methylene group has been reported by Wolfrom and Karabinos (70). The carbonyl group is converted to the mercaptal or mercaptol which is hydrogenolyzed over Raney nickel to give the methylene group. This method has found applications in the fields, among others, of steroids (130-132) and strepto-myces antibiotics (133). 

When a metal ion such as nickel (II) is absent, thiazoles and mercaptals are formed. Such reactions have been carried out in which the diketone was biacetyl, 2,3-pentanedione, 2,3-octanedione, l-phenyl-l,2-propane-dione, and 1,2-cyclohexanedione (51). In like manner, the tris complexes of W,W -dimethyl-2,3-butane diimine with iron(II), cobalt(II), and nickel(II) may be prepared from methylamine and biacetyl when the appropriate metal ion (27j 28j 41) is present. Replacing methylamine with hydroxylamine causes the formation of a-dioximes (13). 

Ketone mercaptals can be desulfurized by NaBH4 (in excess) and nickel chloride in ethanol, the reaction proceding stepwise.567... 

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