Steven rearrangement

Two efficient syntheses of strained cyclophanes indicate the synthetic potential of allyl or benzyl sulfide intermediates, in which the combined nucleophilicity and redox activity of the sulfur atom can be used. The dibenzylic sulfides from xylylene dihalides and -dithiols can be methylated with dimethoxycarbenium tetrafiuoroborate (H. Meerwein, 1960 R.F. Borch, 1968, 1969 from trimethyl orthoformate and BFj, 3 4). The sulfonium salts are deprotonated and rearrange to methyl sulfides (Stevens rearrangement). Repeated methylation and Hofmann elimination yields double bonds (R.H. Mitchell, 1974). 

Such reductive ring contractions of sulfones are formally similar to two other methods capable of supplanting a sulfur atom by a carbon-carbon double bond the Ramberg-Backlundand Stevens rearrangements. The distinguishing feature of this novel approach to cyclobutenes consists in the resultant higher level of alkyl substitution at the sp -hybridized centers. 

In the preparation of C-nor-D-homosteroid hormone analogs Mitsuhashi and Harada extended the Bamford-Stevens rearrangement to the cholanic acid series. Treatment of 3a-hydroxy-12-oxocholanic acid /j-toluene-... 

Sommelet rearrangement, intermediate temperatures favor Stevens rearrangement,- and high temperatures promote elimination to form isoindoles. Treatment of 2-methyl-2-o-tolylmethylisoindolinium... 

A quaternary ammonium species 1, bearing an electron-withdrawing group Z a to the nitrogen center, can rearrange to a tertiary amine 3, when treated with a strong base. This reaction is known as the Stevens rearrangement. ... 

Scheme 2.53 [2,3]-Stevens rearrangement of a vinylaziridine-derived ammonium ylide 219.

The aza-[2,3]-Wittig rearrangement of a vinylaziridine-derived quaternary azir-idinium ylide (i.e., [2,3]-Stevens rearrangement) has recently been reported (Scheme 2.53) [86], The aziridinium ylide 219, generated by the intramolecular reaction of a copper carbenoid tethered to a vinylaziridine, underwent a [2,3]-Ste-vens rearrangement to furnish the bicydic amine 220 with the indolizidine skeleton. 

The mechanism as we have pictured it can lead only to an ortho product. However, a small amount of para product has been obtained in some cases. A mechanism in which there is a dissociation of the ArC—N bond (similar to the ion-pair mechanism of the Stevens rearrangement, p. 1419) has been invoked to explain the para products that are observed. 

For a method that uses nonbasic conditions, and gives high yields of the Sommelet-Hauser product, with little or no Stevens rearrangement, see Nakano, M. Sato, Y. J. Org. Chem., 1987, 52, 1844 Shirai, N. Sato, Y. J. Org. Chem., 1988, 53, 194. 

Sulfur ylids containing a Z group give an analogous rearrangement, often also referred to as a Stevens rearrangement. In this case too, there is much evidence... 

Rearrangements closely resembling the Stevens rearrangement have been investigated by applying Grignard reagents or potassium t-butoxide in dimethyl-formamide (low availability of protons) to cis- and trans-2,4-diphenylthietane oxides and dioxides . The main results are summarized in equation 97 and 98. 

Scheme 52). The reaction will proceed via the enolate 292 and the quinodimethide 293 as key intermediates. Basic treatment of 291 did not cause the Stevens rearrangement but gave the Hofmann degradation product 295. 

Scheme 55. Stevens rearrangement to spirobenzylisoquinolines. Reagents a, PhLi, LAH, or NaCH2SOCH3.

Kano et al. (161,162) also investigated the Stevens rearrangement of tetrahydroprotoberberine metho salts 302 with dimsylsodium and obtained the spirobenzylisoquinolines 303 in high yield (Scheme 56). Similarly C-homoprotoberberine 304 gave the new spiro compound 305, whereas B-homoprotoberberine 306 afforded only the Hofmann degradation product 307. 

Kametani et al. (163-165) studied the Stevens rearrangement using sodium bis(2-methoxyethoxy)aluminum hydride as the base in dioxane. It became clear from studies using deuterium-labeled or optically active compounds that quasi-axially oriented hydrogens at C-8 and C-14 were independently abstracted by the base, leading to a spirobenzylisoquinoline and an 8-... 

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