Role of the methoxy group in product formation via TiCl4 promoted 4-phenyldioxolane isomerizations

Abstract

The product distribution obtained from the TiCl4 initiated intramolecular isomerizations of 4- methoxyphenyl- and trimethoxyphenyldioxolanes at -78 oC, -30 oC and 0 oC provided insights into the important regiochemical role played by these groups in such Mukaiyama- type rearrangements through their resonance effects on the aryl ring of the dioxolanes.Our interest in naphthopyranquinones as potential antimicrobial and antibiotic agents has extended over two decades1-6 as a result of their well documented importance.7,8 Additionally, the synthesis of benzopyrans as model systems has received attention by ourselves6,9-13 and others.14- 16 Of particular interest to us was our earlier discovery of a TiCl4 - induced intramolecular isomerization in which phenyl- and naphthyldioxolanes were stereoselectively transformed into their corresponding benzo- and naphthopyrans.17