Diradical‐Promoted Two‐Carbon Ring‐Expansion Reactions by Thermal Isomerization: Synthesis of Functionalized Macrocyclic Ketones

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Abstract
A new method for the smooth and highly efficient preparation of functionalized macrocyclic ketones has been developed. Pyrolysis of medium‐ and large‐ring 3‐vinylcycloalkanones by dynamic gas‐phase thermo‐isomerization (DGPTI) at 600–630° yielded, under insertion of a previously attached vinyl side chain by means of a 1,3‐C shift, the corresponding γ,δ‐unsaturated cycloalkanones. The yield of the two‐carbon ring‐expanded ketones greatly depended on the relative ring strains of substrate and product (5–87%, cf. Table 5). The formation of minor amounts of one‐carbon ring‐expanded cycloalkenes (cf. Scheme 6). Recombination within the generated diradical intermediate in terminal vinylogous position led to the observed products, while reclosure gave recovered starting material. Substituents on the vinyl moiety were transferred locospecifically into the ring‐expanded products. An isopropenyl group did not significantly affect the isomerization process, whereas substrates bearing a prop‐1‐enyl group in β‐position enabled competing intramolecular H‐abstraction reactions, leading to acyclic dienones (cf. Schemes 9–11). DGPTI of the 13‐membered analogue directly yielded 4‐muscenone, which, upon hydrogenation, led to the valuable musk odorant (±)‐muscone. Increasing the steric hindrance on the vinyl moiety gave rise to diminishing amounts of the desired γ,δ‐unsaturated cycloalkanones. This novel two‐carbon ring‐expansion protocol was also successfully applied to 3‐ethynylcycloalkanones, giving rise to the corresponding ring‐expanded cyclic allenes (cf. Scheme 13).

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