I. P. Klimenko

Synthesis and chemical transformations of 2-cyclopropyl-2-diazoacetates

Methyl 2-cyclopropyl-2-diazoacetate was synthesized from acetylcyclopropane in few chemical steps in ∼55% total yield. Its copper or rhodium-catalyzed dediazoniation exclusively proceeds through the intramolecular isomerization of generated cyclopropyl(methoxycarbonyl)carbene to 1-methoxycarbonylcyclobutene, irrespective of the presence or the absence of unsaturated compounds. However, in the presence of acrylates or strained cycloalkenes, this diazo ester is being slowly involved into the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition, giving cyclopropyl-substituted pyrazolinecarboxylates, which in case of 1-pyrazolines easily lose nitrogen molecule to selectively afford 1-cyclopropylcyclopropanecarboxylate derivatives.

Generation of diazo-2-methylenecyclopropane and its 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition to acrylates

N-(2-Methylenecyclopropyl)-N-nitrosourea (2) was synthesized for the first time (yield 70%) and its decomposition induced by bases was studied. In particular, treatment with MeONa/MeOH at-30°C in the presence of methyl methacrylate gives the corresponding I-pyrazoline stereoisomers, the products of [3+2]-cycloaddition of diazo-2-methylene-cyclopropane (1) generatedin situ. Decomposition of2 on treatment with K2CO3 at 0–5°C in the presence of acrylonitrile also proceeds as [3+2]-cycloaddition: however, the expected 2-pyrazoline easily isomerizes into 5(3)-isopropenyl-3(5)-cyanopyrazole. Buta1,2,3-triene is the main product of base-induced decomosition of2 in the absence of unsaturated substrates.

Synthesis and structure of 4′,4′-dimethyl[16α,17α]spiropentanopregn-4-ene-3,20-dione

Abstract4′,4′-Dimethyl[16α,17α]spiropentanopregn-4-ene-3,20-dione was synthesized. The addition of diazo-2,2-dimethylcyclopropane generated from N-(2,2-dimethylcyclopropyl)-N-nitrosourea to 16,17-didehydropregnenolone acetate occurs regio-and stereospecifically to give 3β-acetoxy-1′,1′-dimethyl-20-oxopregn-5-ene-[16α,17α;7′,6′]-4′, 5′-diazaspiro[2.4]-hept-4′-ene in high yield. Its thermolysis affords a spiropentane-containing steroid, which is transformed into the target diketone. The anti position of the gem-dimethyl group in the fused spiropentane fragment is evident from the X-ray diffraction study of the final product.

Generation of cyclopropanediazonium and its chemical transformations in the presence of phenol

The reaction of phenol with cyclopropanediazonium ion generated in situ from N-cyclopropyl-N-nitrosourea by the action of K2CO3 or Cs2CO3 was studied. The main reaction pathway is diazo coupling of cyclopropanediazonium with phenol to give 4-(cyclopropyldiazenyl)phenol, and only traces of isomeric 2-(cyclopropyldiazenyl)phenol were formed. The reaction was accompanied by partial denitrogenation of the diazonium ion with formation of cyclopropyl and allyl cations which gave rise to a number of by-products. All transformation products were characterized by the 1H and 13C NMR spectra with detailed signal assignment.

Formation and reactions of substituted diazocyclopropanes and cyclopropyldiazonium ions

Decomposition of N-nitroso-N-cyclopropylureas at 5—7 °C on treatment with K2CO3 containing 15—20% H2O allows simultaneous generation of both substituted diazocyclopropanes and cyclopropyldiazonium ions, which can react according to 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition or azo-coupling pattern with appropriate substrates. The nature of substituents in the cyclopropyl ring have a pronounced influence on the product ratio (and, probably, on the equilibrium between the diazo compound and the diazonium ion). Thus, on treatment with a base in the presence of equimolar amounts of methyl metacrylate as a trap for the diazo compound and 2-naphthol as a trap for the diazonium ion, N-cyclopropyl- and N-(2,2-dimethylcyclopropyl)-N-nitrosourea azo coupling products predominate. Conversely, N-(2,2-dichlorocyclopropyl)-N-nitrosourea is transformed predominantly into 1,3-cycloaddition products. A rationalization for the experimental data is proposed.

1,3-Dipolar cycloaddition ofin situ generated 2,2-dimethyl-and 2,2-dichlorodiazocyclopropanes to 3,3-dimethylcyclopropene

Abstract2,2-Dimethyl- and 2,2-dichlorocyclopropyl-N-nitrosoureas were synthesized for the first time. Under the action of MeONa/MeOH at −10°C, these compounds generate the corresponding 2,2-dimethyl- and 2,2-dichlorodiazocyclopropanes, which are readily trapped by 3,3-dimethylcyclopropene to give the products of 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition,viz., isomeric substituted spiro(2,3-diazabicyclo[3. 1 .0] hex-2-ene-4,1 ′-cyclopropanes), in yields of about 70%,