Retention of Configuration and E/Z Stereoselectivity in the Photolysis of cis ‐ and trans ‐Tetraalkyl‐4‐methylene‐1‐pyrazolines

Abstract

The isomeric 4-methylene-1-pyrazolines cis- and trans-2 are synthesized by a Wittig reaction from the pyrazolin-4-ones cis- and trans-1, respectively. Direct irradiation with 350-nm light of cis-2 affords the alkylidenecyclopropanes cis-8, (E)- and (Z)-9 (64: 17: 19) besides molecular nitrogen and small amounts of the 4-methylenepyrazolidine cis-7 as a result of photoreduction. Under the same conditions, trans-2 is converted into trans-8 as well as (E)- and (Z)-9 (64: 14: 22). The configurations of cis- and trans-8 have been established by means of a 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition with mesityl nitrile oxide which furnishes two cycloadducts from cis-8, e.g. cis-14A and B, but only one cycloadduct from trans-8, viz. trans-14. The configurations of (E)- and (Z)-9 have been assigned on the basis of homoallylic 1H,1H coupling constants and nuclear Overhauser experiments. The results demonstrate that, on the least-motion paths leading to cis- and trans-8, the configuration of the ring substituents in cis- and trans-2 is completely retained. Of the non-least-motion products (E)- and (Z)-9 the latter is favoured regardless of the configuration of the precursors cis- and trans-2 though the extent of (Z) selectivity depends on that configuration. The results are interpreted in terms of bis-orthogonal trimethylenemethane diradicals as primary intermediates from which irreversible paths bifurcate. Cyclization yields cis-8 (from cis-2) or trans-8 (from trans-2) and 90°-bond rotations afford two diastereomeric mono-orthogonal trimethylenemethane diradicals [(E)- and (Z)-18] which eventually cyclize to the corresponding non-least-motion products (E)-9 and (Z)-9.