A Stereochemical and Kinetic Study of the Conversion of Methyl Cyclopropyl Ketones to 4,5-Dihydrofurans

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Abstract
The thermal and photochemical conversion of (1R*,2R*,3S*), (1S*,2R*,3S*), and (1S*,2R*,3R*)-1-acetyl-1,2-dimethyl-3-phenylcyclopropane (1, 2, and 3) to cis- and trans-2,3,4-trimethyl-5-phenyl-4,5-dihydrofurans has been studied. Concurrent with this reaction is an equilibration of 1, 2, and 3, a thermal ring opening of 1 by a 1,5-hydrogen shift, and a cyclopropane-to-propene type reaction under the photochemical conditions. The dihydrofuran from 1 and 2 by the thermal and photochemical conditions is 97% trans- and 3% cis- corresponding to predominant retention at the migrating carbon. The dihydrofuran formed from 3 by the thermal and photochemical reaction is 85% cis- and 15% trans- again corresponding to predominant retention. A kinetic study of the rearrangement of 1-acetyl-1-methyl-2-phenylcyclopropane to 1,2-dimethyl-5-phenyl-4,5-dihydrofuran provides Ea of 48.1 kcal/mol and log A of 14.9 for this first order reaction in the temperature range of 255–288 °C.It is concluded that the thermal and photochemical reactions occur by a non-concerted process through a common 1,3-diradical intermediate in which bond rotation and ring closure steps are competitive.

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