Siloxy cyclobutene

The construction of the tricyclo[5.2.0.02,6]nonane (26, n = 1) and tricyclo[6.2.0.02,7]decane (26, n = 2) frameworks involved the [2 4- 2] cycloaddition of readily accessible31,32 l,2-bis(trimethyl-siloxy)cyclobutene and cnone 25, n = 1 or 2, respectively.33 The yields (75-80%) were good for adducts 26a, c, e, and g. Lower yields (40-50%) were observed for adducts 26b and 26f, while adduct 26d was only isolated in a trace amount. The most interesting and important reaction, related to the total synthesis of eudesmane sesquiterpenes, was the photochemical reaction of (-)-piperitone (25g) with l,2-bis(trimethylsiloxy)cyclobutene, which gave c/.v,(5wf/u W-2/j,7/i-dimethyl-4/ -isopropyl-l f ,8Jf -bis(triniethylsiloxy)tricyclo[6.2.0.0z 7]dec-3-one (26g) with the relative cis configuration of the methyl (R2) and isopropyl (R3) groups.33,34 Some of the other photochemical [2 + 2] cycloaddition reactions utilizing l,2-bis(trimethyl-siloxy)cyclobutene are shown by the formation of 2735,36 and 28.37... 

A modification of this method utilizes the direct conversion of l,2-bis(trimethyl-siloxy)cyclobutene in one step to 2,2-disubstituted cyclopentane-1,3-diones. For example, 2-ethyl-2-methylcyclopentane-l,3-dione (3) was obtained in 91% yield from 1.2-bis(trimethyl-siloxy)cyclobutene and butan-2-one 2,2-dimethylpropane-l,3-diyl acetal.41 Further examples... 

Cyclobutane-l,2-dione has been isolated from the bromination of 1,2-bis(trimethyl-siloxy)cyclobutene, prepared by sodium induced acyloin cyclization of butanedioate in the presence of chlorotrimethylsilane . The acyloin cyclization of 1,4-, 1,5- and 1,6-diesters to give four-, five- and six-membered rings and the cyclization of )9-chloro esters to three-membered rings in the presence of chlorotrimethylsilane, which usually requires highly dispersed sodium, has been recently simplified by the use of sonochemical activation. The ring contraction of cyclobutane-1,2-diones to 1-hydroxyeyclopropanecarboxylic acid (7) and derivatives may be catalyzed by aqueous acid or base, by methoxide anion, amines or hydrazines and even takes place, though more slowly, in pure water or ethanol. ... 

Cycloaddition. A silver-catalyzed [2 + 2] cycloaddition has been described. Although AgOTf is not the most efficient silver salt, it promotes the formation of functionalized cyclobutenes from siloxy alkynes and unsaturated ketones in reasonable yields... 

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