Thietane Formation in the Solid State

Sakamoto et al. reported an intramolecular [2+2] thietane formation in the solid state (Scheme 7). [26] Achiral A-(thiobenzoyl)methacrylamide 39 formed (E,Z)-conformation of the imide moiety, crystallized in a chiral space group Phhh, and the photolysis of single homochiral crystals at room temperature resulted in the formation of an optically active thietane-fused 3-lactam (40,75%) with 10% ee. The solid-state photoreaction proceeded even at -45°C to give higher ee value, 40% ee (conv. 30%, yield 70%). 

Similar absolute asymmetric synthesis was demonstrated in the solid-state photoreaction of A-(P,y-unsaturated carbonyl)thiocarbamate 41. [27] Achiral 0-methyl AT-(2.2-dmeth ibut-3-enoyl)-iV-phenylthiocarbarnate 41 crystallized in chiral space group P2i, and irradiation of these crystals gave optically active thiolactone in 10-31% ee. A plausible mechanism for the formation of 42 is rationalized on the basis that photolysis of 41 undergoes [2 + 2] cyclization to thietane and is subsequently followed by rearrangement to thiolactone 42. 

The solid-state photoreaction of O-methyl iV-(/3,7-unsaturated carbonyl)-iV-phenylthiocarbamate resulted in intramolecular [2+2]-thietane 23 formation, followed by rearrangement to 7-thiolactone 24 (Scheme 1) <1998CC2315>. 

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