The Synthesis of Naphthosultine and Benzodisultines and Their Pyrolysis with Dienophiles: Studies on o‐Naphthoquinodimethane and Bis‐o‐Quinodimethane

Abstract

AbstractSealed tube reactions of the naphthosultine 8 with a series of electron‐deficient dienophiles (fumaronitrile, N‐phenylmaleimide, dimethyl fumarate, and dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate) in toluene at 180 °C gave corresponding 1:1 cycloadducts 11–14 in various amounts along with rearranged naphthosulfolene 7 in 67–95% yields. The reaction of 1,2,4,5‐tetra(bromomethyl)benzene with Rongalite (sodium form aldehyde sulfoxylate) and tetrabutylammonium bromide in DMF gave benzodisultines 17 and 18 in a combined yield of 56%. Sealed tube reactions of benzodisultines 17 and 18 with a series of dienophiles in xylene at 200 °C gave corresponding 1:1 and 1:2 cycloadducts 20–27. The results suggested that thermal extrusion of sulfurdioxide from these sultines led to either o‐naphthoquinodimethane 6 (from 8) or bis‐o‐quinodimethane 19 (from 17 and 18); sub sequent trapping of these reactive intermediates by dienophiles and SO2 gave various 1:1 and 1:2 Diels‐Alder ad ducts in modest to excellent yields.