3.1. General
Infrared (IR) spectra were recorded on a Shimadzu FTIR-8600 spectrometer and JASCO FT/IR-4200. 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR spectra were measured on JEOL JNM-EX 400 and Bruker ADVACE III 600. Chemical shifts are given by δ relative to that of internal Me4Si (TMS) or the solvent (chloroform-d at 77.0 ppm in 13C-NMR). Mass spectra were obtained with Shimadzu GC-MS QP-5000. Fast atom bombardment mass spectra (FAB-MS) were obtained with Shimadzu/Kratos CONCEPT 1S or JEOL JMS-DX 303. Elemental analyses were performed at the service center of the elementary analysis of organic compounds, Kyushu University. High-resolution mass spectra (HRMS) were obtained on JEOL JMS-HX100A. Analytical thin layer chromatography (TLC) was performed on a silica gel plate (Merck, Silica gel 60 F254, 20 × 20 cm, 0.25 mm). Column chromatography was carried out with silica gel [Silica gel 60 (63–210 μm, Merck), or Silica gel 60N (63–210 μm, Kanto Chemical)] as an adsorbent. In experiments that required solvents and ethylbenzene were purchased from Sigma-Aldrich in an “anhydrous” form and used without any purification. Silica gel 40 (0.2–0.5 mm, Merck), Silica gel 60 (0.2–0.5 mm, Merck), BW-300 (40 μm, Fuji Silysia), Silica gel 60 (40–50 μm, Kanto Chemical), Silica gel 60 N (63–210 μm, Kanto Chemical), COSMOSIL 75SL-II-PREP (42–105 μm, Nacalai Tesque) and Cromatorex® NH-DM1020 (75–150 μm, aminopropyl-modified type, Fuji Silysia Chemical) were examined as the reaction medium. All reactions were carried out under argon. Other commercially available compounds were purchased from Tokyo Chemical Industry Co., Ltd., Wako Pure Chemical Industries, Ltd., Kanto Chemical Co., Inc., Nacalai Tesque Inc. and Sigma-Aldrich Co., and used without further purification. New products were fully characterized after purification by their physical constants, spectral and elemental analyses. For the products that are commercially available or already known compounds, the NMR and MS (in part) data as well as the CAS-registry numbers are given.
3.2. General Procedure for the Nitration of Aromatic Compounds on Silica Gel
A typical procedure is given for the preparation of nitronaphthalene. Pre-dried (at 110 °C for 8 h in vacuo) and stocked silica gel [COSMOSIL 75SL-II-PREP (Nacalai Tesque), 2.5 g] was charged in a round-bottom flask and dried for 5 min by heat gun (ca. 300 °C) in vacuo just before use. Naphthalene (1.28 g, 10 mmol) was added to the flask, and the mixture was stirred for 30 min at ambient temperature (ca. 25 °C). An aqueous 69% HNO3 solution (d = 1.42, 1.27 mL, 20 mmol) was gradually injected into the mixture over 1 h by syringe pump, and the mixture was stirred for 12 h. The reaction mixture was moved into a short column and eluted with ether. The eluate was washed with water, saturated NaHCO3 and brine, and dried over Na2SO4. After evaporation of the solvent, the residue was purified by column chromatography on silica gel (n-hexane/EtOAc = 19/1) to give 1.67 g (97%) of nitronaphthalene as a mixture of isomers (1-nitro/2-nitro = 96.5:3.5), recrystallization of which from ethanol gave pure 1-nitronaphthalene (1.4 g, 81%).
Ethylnitrobenzene (o-, p-isomer mixture) [
29]. A colorless oil;
1H-NMR (CDCl
3) δ 8.15 (d, 2H,
J = 8.5 Hz,
p-isomer), 7.87 (d, 1H,
J = 8.0 Hz,
o-isomer), 7.53 (t, 1H,
J = 8.0 Hz,
o-isomer), 7.38–7.31 (m, 2H+2H, mixture of isomers), 2.92 (q, 2H,
J = 7.5 Hz,
o-isomer), 2.76 (q, 2H,
J = 7.6 Hz,
p-isomer), 1.29 (t, 3H,
J = 7.5 Hz,
o-isomer), 1.28 (t, 3H,
J = 7.6 Hz,
p-isomer);
13C-NMR (CDCl
3) δ 149.1, 138.7, 132.8, 131.0, 126.6, 124.3, 25.9, 14.7 (o-isomer), 151.9, 146.0, 128.5, 123.4, 28.7, 14.8
p-isomer); CA Registry No. 612-22-6 (
o-isomer), 100-12-9 (
p-isomer).
2-Nitro-m-cresol [
23]. Yellow solid;
1H-NMR (CDCl
3) δ 10.32 (s, 1H), 7.37 (dd,
J = 8.4, 7.5 Hz, 1H), 7.01 (ddq,
J = 8.4, 1.5, 0.6 Hz, 1H), 6.83 (ddq,
J = 8.4, 1.5, 0.6 Hz, 1H), 2.62 (s, 3H);
13C-NMR (CDCl
3) δ 155.3, 136.8, 135.3, 135.2, 124.0, 117.6, 22.4; CA Registry No. 4920-77-8.
4-Nitro-m-cresol [
23]. Yellow solid;
1H-NMR (CDCl
3) δ 8.06–8.04 (m, 1H), 6.77–6.75 (m, 2H), 5.96 (s, 1H), 2.61 (s, 3H);
13C-NMR (CDCl
3) δ 159.8, 142.2, 137.5, 127.9, 118.9, 113.6, 21.5; CA Registry No. 2581-34-2.
6-Nitro-m-cresol [
23]. Yellow solid;
1H-NMR (CDCl
3) δ 10.61 (s, 1H), 7.98 (d, 1H,
J = 8.7 Hz), 6.94 (ddq, 1H,
J = 1.9, 0.8, 0.4 Hz), 6.78 (ddq, 1H,
J = 8.7, 1.9, 0.6 Hz), 2.40 (s, 3H);
13C-NMR (CDCl
3) δ 155.1, 149.8, 131.7, 124.9, 121,6, 119.6, 21.9; CA Registry No. 700-38-9.
Methyl-p-benzoquinone [
16]. Yellow solid;
1H-NMR (CDCl
3) δ 6.77 (d, 1H,
J = 10.0 Hz), 6.72 (dd, 1H,
J = 10.0, 2.5 Hz), 6.62 (dq, 1H,
J = 2.5, 1.7 Hz), 2.07 (d, 3H,
J = 1.7 Hz);
13C-NMR (CDCl
3) δ 187.7, 187.6, 145.9, 136.6, 136.5, 133.3, 15.8; CA Registry No. 553-97-9.
3.3. General Procedure for the Silica Gel-Mediated One-Pot Wittig Olefination of Aldehydes
Typical procedure is given for the preparation of ethyl cinnamate: To silica gel (Merck’s Silica gel 40, 1 g) were added successively benzaldehyde (104.8 µL, 1 mmol), ethyl chloroacetate (108 µL, 1 mmol), diisopropylethylamine (175.1 µL, 1 mmol), and triphenylphosphine (265 mg, 1 mmol) [or tri-n-butylphosphine (202 mg, 1 mmol)] and the whole mixture was stirred for 6 h at 90 °C (or for 2 h at room temperature). The reaction mixture was moved into a short column and eluted with ether. The eluate was concentrated and purified by preparative TLC on silica gel to give 176.1 mg (>99%, E/Z = 93/7) of ethyl cinnamate.
Ethyl Cinnamate [
56]
. An oil;
1H-NMR (CDCl
3) δ 7.69 (d, 1H,
J = 16.1 Hz), 7.51–7.54 (m, 2H), 7.37–7.40 (m, 3H), 6.44 (d, 1H,
J = 16.1 Hz), 4.27 (dd, 2H,
J = 14.2, 7.3 Hz), 1.34 (t, 3H,
J = 7.3 Hz); CA Registry Nos. 4192-77-2 (
E-isomer), 4610-69-9 (
Z-isomer).
Ethyl 4-Methoxycinnamate [
57]
. An oil (96%,
E/Z = 94/6);
1H-NMR (CDCl
3) δ 7.64 (d, 1H,
J = 16.1 Hz), 7.48 (dd, 2H,
J = 6.8, 2.0 Hz), 6.90 (dd, 2H,
J = 6.8, 2.0 Hz), 6.31 (d, 1H,
J = 16.1 Hz), 4.25 (dd, 2H,
J = 14.2, 7.3 Hz), 3.84 (s, 3H), 1.33 (t, 3H,
J = 7.3 Hz); CA Registry Nos. 24393-56-4 (
E-isomer), 51507-22-3 (
Z-isomer).
Ethyl 4-Methylcinnamate [
57]. An oil (93%,
E/Z = 94/6);
1H-NMR (CDCl
3) δ 7.66 (d, 1H,
J = 16.1 Hz), 7.42 (d, 2H,
J = 8.3 Hz), 7.19 (d, 2H,
J = 8.3 Hz), 6.39 (d, 1H,
J = 16.1 Hz), 4.26 (dd, 2H,
J = 14.2, 7.3 Hz), 2.37 (s, 3H), 1.34 (t, 3H,
J = 7.3 Hz); CA Registry Nos. 24393-49-5 (
E-isomer), 97585-04-1 (
Z-isomer).
Ethyl 4-Chlorocinnamate [
56]. An oil (99%,
E/Z = 92/8);
1H-NMR (CDCl
3) δ 7.63 (d, 1H,
J = 16.1 Hz), 7.45 (dd, 2H,
J = 6.8, 2.0 Hz), 7.36 (dd, 2H,
J = 6.8, 2.0 Hz), 6.41 (d, 1H,
J = 16.1 Hz), 4.27 (dd, 2H,
J = 14.2, 7.3 Hz), 1.34 (t, 3H,
J = 7.3 Hz); CA Registry Nos. 24393-52-0 (
E-isomer), 63757-30-2 (
Z-isomer).
Ethyl 4-Cyanocinnamate [
56]. Colorless needles (96%,
E/Z = 90/10);
1H-NMR (CDCl
3) δ 7.68 (d, 2H,
J = 8.3 Hz), 7.66 (d, 1H,
J = 16.1 Hz), 7.61 (d, 2H,
J = 8.3 Hz), 6.52 (d, 1H,
J = 16.1 Hz), 4.29 (dd, 2H,
J = 14.4, 7.1 Hz), 1.35 (t, 3H,
J = 7.1 Hz); CA Registry Nos. 62174-99-6 (
E-isomer), 92636-30-1 (
Z-isomer).
Ethyl 4-Nitrocinnamate [
56]. Light yellow needles (83%,
E/Z = 90/10);
1H-NMR (CDCl
3) δ 8.25 (d, 2H,
J = 8.8 Hz), 7.71 (d, 1H,
J = 16.1 Hz), 7.67 (d, 2H,
J = 8.8 Hz), 6.56 (d, 1H,
J = 16.1 Hz), 4.30 (dd, 2H,
J = 14.2, 7.3 Hz), 1.36 (t, 3H,
J = 7.3 Hz); CA Registry Nos. 24393-61-1 (
E-isomer), 51507-21-2 (
Z-isomer).
Ethyl 2-Nonenoate [
43]. An oil (54%,
E/Z = 85/15);
1H-NMR (CDCl
3) δ 6.97 (dt, 1H,
J = 15.6, 7.3 Hz), 5.81 (dt, 1H,
J = 15.6, 1.5 Hz), 4.18 (dd, 2H,
J = 14.2, 7.3 Hz), 2.19 (dd dd, 2H,
J = 14.6, 8.8, 7.3, 1.5 Hz), 1.44 (dd, 2H,
J = 14.6, 7.3 Hz), 1.24–1.35 (m, 6H), 1.29 (t, 3H,
J = 7.3 Hz), 0.88 (t, 3H,
J = 6.8 Hz); CA Registry Nos. 38112-59-3 (
E-isomer), 72284-17-4 (
Z-isomer).
Ethyl 3-Cyclohexylacrylate [
57]. An oil (99%,
E/Z = 97/3);
1H-NMR (CDCl
3) δ 6.91 (dd, 1H,
J = 16.1, 6.8 Hz), 5.76 (dd, 1H,
J = 16.1, 1.5 Hz), 4.18 (dd, 2H,
J = 14.2, 7.3 Hz), 2.13 (dt, 1H,
J = 6.8, 1.5 Hz), 1.66–1.78 (m, 4H), 1.31–1.08 (m, 9H); CA Registry Nos. 17343-88-3 (
E-isomer), 18521-02-3 (
Z-isomer).
Ethyl 5-Phenyl-2-pentenoate [
56]. An oil (46%,
E/Z = 87/13);
1H-NMR (CDCl
3) δ 7.29 (t, 2H,
J = 7.3 Hz), 7.17–7.22 (m, 3H), 7.00 (dt, 1H,
J = 15.6, 6.8 Hz), 5.85 (dt, 1H,
J = 15.6, 1.5 Hz), 4.18 (dd, 2H,
J = 14.2, 7.3 Hz), 2.78 (t, 2H,
J = 7.3 Hz), 2.52 (dd, 2H,
J = 7.3, 1.5 Hz), 1.28 (t, 3H,
J = 7.3 Hz); CA Registry Nos. 55282-95-6 (
E-isomer), 88842-13-1 (
Z-isomer).
Stilbene[
58]. Colorless solid (66%,
E/Z = 67/33);
1H-NMR (CDCl
3) δ 7.17–7.38 (m, 10H,
E-isomer), 7.13–7.27 (m, 10H,
Z-isomer), 6.61 (s, 2H,
Z-isomer), 6.60 (s, 2H,
E-isomer); CA Registry Nos. 103-30-0 (
E-isomer), 645-49-8 (
Z-isomer).
α-Benzylidene-γ-butyrolactone [
59]. Yellow solid (52%,
E/Z = 95/5);
1H-NMR (CDCl
3) δ 7.59 (t, 1H,
J = 2.9 Hz), 7.51 (d, 2H,
J = 6.8 Hz), 7.41–7.47 (m, 3H), 4.48 (t, 2H,
J = 7.3 Hz), 3.27 (dt, 1H,
J = 11.7, 2.9 Hz); CA Registry Nos. 30959-91-2 (
E-isomer), 40011-26-5 (
Z-isomer).
Chalcone [
59]. Colorless solid (85%,
E/Z = 99.7/0.3);
1H-NMR (CDCl
3) δ 7.95–8.04 (m, 2H), 7.82 (d, 1H,
J = 16.1 Hz), 7.42–7.66 (m, 11H); CA Registry Nos. 614-47-1 (
E-isomer), 614-46-0 (
Z-isomer).
3.4. General Procedure for the Silica Gel-Mediated Morita-Baylis-Hillman Reaction
Typical procedure is given for the preparation of methyl 2-[hydroxy(4-nitrophenyl)methyl]acrylate: To a mixture of DABCO (0.084 g, 0.75 mmol) and silica gel (Merck’s Silica gel 40, 0.5 g), p-nitrobenzaldehyde (0.079 g, 0.5 mmol) and methyl acrylate (0.05 mL, 0.55 mmol) were added. The whole mixture was stirred at room temperature for 4 h. On completion of the reaction, the reaction mixture was moved into a short column and eluted with CH2Cl2. Evaporation of the solvent afforded the desired product, which was further purified by silica gel chromatography to give the pure product as an oil (0.111 g, 90%).
Methyl 2-(Hydroxy(4-nitrophenyl)methyl)acrylate [
54]. An oil;
1H-NMR (CDCl
3) δ 8.20 (dt, 2H,
J = 9.1, 2.1 Hz), 7.57 (dt, 2H,
J = 9.1, 2.1 Hz), 6.40 (d, 1H,
J = 0.5 Hz), 5.88 (d, 1H,
J = 0.5 Hz), 5.64 (d, 1H,
J = 5.5 Hz), 3.74 (s, 3H), 3.36 (d, 1H,
J = 6.0 Hz);
13C-NMR (CDCl
3) δ 166.3, 148.9, 147.3, 141.1, 127.4, 127.1, 123.5, 72.3, 52.1; CA Registry No. 114106-93-3.
Methyl 2-[Hydroxy(4-fluoro-3-nitrophenyl)methyl]acrylate . A yellow oil (77%); IR (KBr) 3484, 1715, 1540, 1440, 1351, 1154; 1H-NMR (CDCl3) δ 8.07 (m, 1H), 7.68 (m, 1H), 7.27 (m, 1H), 6.40 (s, 1H), 5.95 (s, 1H), 5.59 (s, 1H), 3.75 (s, 3H), 3.59 (bs, 1H); 13C-NMR (CDCl3) δ 166.1, 156.03, 140.8, 138.7 (d, J = 5.0 Hz), 133.6 (d, J = 9.0 Hz), 127.0, 127.0, 124.0 (d, J = 2.0 Hz), 118.2 (d, J = 21.0 Hz), 71.66, 52.1; HRMS (FAB+) m/z calcd for C11H11O5NF (M+H) 256.0621, found 256.0619; Anal. calcd for C11H10O5NF: C: 51.77%; H: 3.95%; N: 5.49%; found: C: 51.71%; H: 3.93%; N: 5.44%.
Methyl 2-[Hydroxy(2,3,4,5,6-pentafluorophenyl)methyl]acrylate . Colorless solid (79%); IR (KBr) 3470, 1709, 1524, 1505, 1306, 1063, 997; 1H-NMR (CDCl3) δ 6.48 (s, 1H), 6.10 (s, 1H), 5.89 (s, 1H), 3.74 (s, 3H), 3.43 (bs, 1H); 13C-NMR (CDCl3) δ 165.8, 146.3–136.2 (m), 126.6, 114.9 (m), 64.1, 52.0; HRMS (FAB+) m/z calcd for C11H8O3F5 (M+H) 283.0394, found 283.0395; CA Registry No. 1019127-87-7.