N-heteroatom substitution effect in 3-aza-cope rearrangements.

Background: The nature of the heteroatom substitution in the nitrogen of a 3-aza-Cope system is explored.

Results: While N-propargyl isoxazolin-5-ones suffer 3-aza-Cope rearrangements at 60°C, the corresponding N-propargyl pyrazol-5-ones need a higher temperature of 180°C for the equivalent reaction. When the propargyl group is substituted by an allyl group, the temperature of the rearrangement for both type of compounds is less affected by the nature of the heteroatom present.

Studies in sigmatropic rearrangements of N-prenylindole derivatives--a formal enantiomerically pure synthesis of tryprostatin B.

Rearrangement of N(a)-prenyl-N(b)-acetyltryptamine, induced by BF3.Et2O at low temperature, leads to a 2-prenyl derivative, and thence to the tricyclic tryptamine 7 and the indoline 8. Similarly, N(a)-prenyl-N(b)-phthaloyl-l-tryptophan methyl ester furnished the corresponding 2-prenyl derivative 16, a known advanced precursor of tryprostatin B.

Studies in 3-oxy-assisted 3-aza cope rearrangements.

On thermolysis appropriately substituted N-silyloxy-N-allyl enamines undergo smooth 3,3-sigmatropic rearrangments to the corresponding N-silyloxy imino ethers.