IChO 2018 · Theory problem 8

Caryophyllene

β-Caryophyllene (3) is a naturally occurring sesquiterpene present in clove tree and in some traditional Czech and Slovak plants, such as the hop plant or small-leaved linden.

The synthesis of β-caryophyllene starts from a single enantiomer of dienone A. The reaction of A with silyl ketene acetal 1, followed by immediate reduction and aqueous work-up affords ketone 2. This intermediate then undergoes reaction with tosyl chloride, providing B. Basic cyclization of this compound affords C. Finally, the reaction of C with ylide D provides β-caryophyllene.

Figure 1
Figure 2

8.1 Draw the structures of compounds A–D, including the appropriate stereochemistry.

Hint: In transformation A → 2, the silyl ketene acetal acts as a nucleophile.

Due to the large ring size, both compounds 2 and 3 are stable, even though they contain a double bond in the trans configuration. trans-Cyclooctene (4) is the smallest ring that can accommodate a trans double bond. It can be prepared according to the following scheme:

Figure 3

8.2 Draw the structures of reagent E and intermediates F and G, including the appropriate stereochemistry. For F and G, tick the box indicating the stereochemical outcome.

Mark the correct answer:

☐ achiral, ☐ single enantiomer, ☐ racemic mixture, ☐ mixture of diastereoisomers

8.3 Draw the structure of the enantiomer of cycloalkene 4.

Figure 4

The two double bonds in β-caryophyllene display different reactivity: the double bond in the ring (endocyclic) is more reactive than the other one (exocyclic) due to the ring strain.

Figure 5

8.4 Draw the structures of compounds Ha + Hb, I and Ja + Jb, including the appropriate stereochemistry. Hint: Ha + Hb and Ja + Jb are pairs of diastereomers.

Interestingly, the reactivity of the double bonds is reversed when isocaryophyllene (5) is used instead of β-caryophyllene (3).

Figure 6

8.5 Draw the structures of compounds Ka and Kb.

Hint: Ka + Kb are a pair of diastereomers.

Isotope-labelled compounds are invaluable tools for reaction mechanism investigation, structure determination, and mass or NMR spectroscopy studies. Let us have a look at the synthesis of some labelled analogues of β-caryophyllene.

Figure 7

8.6 Draw the structures of compounds L and M, including the appropriate stereochemistry.

β-Caryophyllene (3) undergoes acid-catalyzed cyclization, which leads to a complex mixture of products. Among them, the pair of diastereomers Na + Nb and the pair of diastereomers 7a + 7b are the most abundant. The reaction starts with protonation of the more reactive internal double bond affording cation O. This cyclizes without the cleavage of a carbon-carbon single bond to yield diastereomeric tricyclic cations Pa and Pb, which undergo hydration to give the target alcohols Na and Nb. Alternatively, the cations Pa and Pb rearrange with the cleavage of a carbon-carbon single bond to cations Qa and Qb, which deprotonate to compounds 7a and 7b.

Figure 8

8.7 Draw the structures, including the appropriate stereochemistry, of the three intermediates O, Pa, Qa leading to the diastereomer 7a, including the appropriate stereochemistry.

8.8 Draw the structures of diastereomers Na + Nb.

Official English text of the problem.

Answers

For precise structural descriptions, use these carbon labels, independently of the bold compound numbers:

  • The nine-membered ring is \(C1-C2-C3-C4-C5-C6-C7-C8-C9-C1\).
  • The cyclobutane is \(C1-C9-C10-C11-C1\).
  • \(C12\) is the methyl on \(C4\); \(C13\) is the exocyclic methylene carbon on \(C8\); \(C14,C15\) are the methyls on \(C11\).

Thus 3, β-caryophyllene, is the \((1R,4E,9S)\) compound:

[C@@H]12CC/C(C)=C/CCC(=C)[C@H]1CC2(C)C

The names and descriptions below retain these carbon labels unless a complete tricyclic systematic name is given. Labels a/b within the epoxide and hydroboration pairs are arbitrary.

  • 8.1
Compound Identification SMILES
A \((2Z,6E)\)-6-Methylcyclonona-2,6-dien-1-one, in the single planar enantiomer corresponding to the depicted synthesis O=C1/C=C\CC/C(C)=C/CC1
B The primary O-tosylate of 2, with its existing stereochemistry retained [C@@H]1(C(C)(C)COS(=O)(=O)c2ccc(C)cc2)CC/C(C)=C/CCC(=O)C1
C Caryophyllene-derived \(C8\) ketone; identical to compound 6 [C@@H]12CC/C(C)=C/CCC(=O)[C@H]1CC2(C)C
D Methylenetriphenylphosphorane, represented in its ylide form [CH2-][P+](c1ccccc1)(c1ccccc1)c1ccccc1

Ordinary SMILES specifies the two alkene geometries of A, but does not distinguish its planar enantiomers. The required drawing is described in Solution 8.1.

  • 8.2

E: Peracetic acid, an acceptable peroxyacid epoxidizing reagent: CC(=O)OO.

F: trans-2-(Diphenylphosphanyl)cyclooctan-1-ol, racemic mixture:

  • \((1R,2R)\): O[C@H]1[C@H](P(c2ccccc2)c2ccccc2)CCCCCC1
  • \((1S,2S)\): O[C@@H]1[C@@H](P(c2ccccc2)c2ccccc2)CCCCCC1

In dry THF, before protonation, F is its lithium alkoxide; see Solution 8.2.

G: trans-2-(Diphenylphosphoryl)cyclooctan-1-ol, racemic mixture:

  • \((1R,2R)\): O[C@H]1[C@H](P(=O)(c2ccccc2)c2ccccc2)CCCCCC1
  • \((1S,2S)\): O[C@@H]1[C@@H](P(=O)(c2ccccc2)c2ccccc2)CCCCCC1

  • 8.3

The answer is the opposite planar enantiomer of \((E)\)-cyclooctene, obtained by reflecting the complete drawing of 4 left-to-right, including its perspective bonds.

SMILES: C1CC/C=C/CCC1

Both planar enantiomers have this ordinary SMILES. Their opposite ring handedness must be shown geometrically.

  • 8.4
Compound Identification SMILES
Ha \(C4,C5\)-epoxide of β-caryophyllene; new configurations \(4S,5S\) [C@@H]12CC[C@@]3(C)[C@H](CCC(=C)[C@H]1CC2(C)C)O3
Hb The other \(C4,C5\)-epoxide; new configurations \(4R,5R\) [C@@H]12CC[C@]3(C)[C@@H](CCC(=C)[C@H]1CC2(C)C)O3
I 4-[(1S,2R)-3,3-Dimethyl-2-(3-oxobutyl)cyclobutyl]pent-4-enal, the endocyclic ozonolysis product [C@@H]1(CCC(C)=O)[C@@H](C(CCC=O)=C)CC1(C)C
Ja \(C5\)-alcohol from internal hydroboration–oxidation; new configurations \(4R,5S\) [C@@H]12CC[C@@H](C)[C@@H](O)CCC(=C)[C@H]1CC2(C)C
Jb The other \(C5\)-alcohol; new configurations \(4S,5R\) [C@@H]12CC[C@H](C)[C@H](O)CCC(=C)[C@H]1CC2(C)C

All retain the original configurations at \(C1,C9\). The exocyclic methylene survives all three reactions.

  • 8.5

Ka and Kb are the two \(C8\) epimers of the primary alcohol obtained by converting the exocyclic \(\ce{=CH2}\) of isocaryophyllene into \(\ce{-CH2OH}\). The internal \(Z\) alkene remains intact.

Compound New configuration SMILES
Ka, isocaryophyllene-derived \(C13\) alcohol \(C8=S\) [C@@H]12CC/C(C)=C\CC[C@H](CO)[C@H]1CC2(C)C
Kb, its \(C8\) epimer \(C8=R\) [C@@H]12CC/C(C)=C\CC[C@@H](CO)[C@H]1CC2(C)C
  • 8.6
Compound Identification SMILES
L β-Caryophyllene with exocyclic \(\ce{=CD2}\), formula \(\ce{C15H22D2}\) [C@@H]12CC/C(C)=C/CCC(=C([2H])[2H])[C@H]1CC2(C)C
M \(C7,C7\)-dideuterated ketone 6, formula \(\ce{C14H20D2O}\) [C@@H]12CC/C(C)=C/CC([2H])([2H])C(=O)[C@H]1CC2(C)C
  • 8.7
Intermediate Identification SMILES
O \(C4\) carbocation formed by protonation at \(C5\): (1R,9S)-4,11,11-trimethyl-8-methylidenebicyclo[7.2.0]undecan-4-ylium [C@@H]12CC[C+](C)CCCC(=C)[C@H]1CC2(C)C
Pa \(C4-C13\)-cyclized \(C8\) carbocation: (2R,5R,8S)-4,4,8-trimethyltricyclo[6.3.1.0²,⁵]dodecan-1-ylium [C@@H]12CC[C@]3(C)CCC[C+](C3)[C@H]1CC2(C)C
Qa Rearranged \(C9\) carbocation: (1S,5S,8S)-4,4,8-trimethyltricyclo[6.3.1.0¹,⁵]dodecan-2-ylium [C@@H]12CC[C@]3(C)CCC[C@]1(C3)[CH+]CC2(C)C
  • 8.8

Both products are stereoisomers of 4,4,8-trimethyltricyclo[6.3.1.0²,⁵]dodecan-1-ol, the caryolan-1-ol framework.

Compound Configurations in this tricyclic name SMILES
Na \((1R,2S,5R,8S)\) [C@@H]12CC[C@]3(C)CCC[C@@](O)(C3)[C@H]1CC2(C)C
Nb \((1S,2S,5R,8R)\) [C@@H]12CC[C@@]3(C)CCC[C@](O)(C3)[C@H]1CC2(C)C

Solution

8.1 — Conjugate addition, cyclobutane formation, and methylenation

The silyl ketene acetal 1 is the trimethylsilyl ketene acetal of methyl isobutyrate:

COC(=C(C)C)O[Si](C)(C)C

Its carbon bearing the two methyl groups is nucleophilic. In 2, that carbon has become \(C11\), attached to \(C1\), two methyl groups, and a hydroxymethyl group.

Consequently, disconnecting the \(C1-C11\) bond identifies A as an α,β-unsaturated ketone whose conjugated double bond is \(C9=C1\). The other alkene, \(C4=C5\), is already present.

For the requested drawing of A:

  1. Start with the nine-membered ring drawn in 2.
  2. Remove the complete \(\ce{-C(CH3)2CH2OH}\) substituent from \(C1\).
  3. Replace \(C1-C9\) by a cis, or \(Z\), double bond.
  4. Retain the internal \(E\) alkene and the ring handedness corresponding to the depicted enantiomeric series.

Numbering the monocyclic ketone from its carbonyl gives \((2Z,6E)\)-6-methylcyclonona-2,6-dien-1-one. Its formula is \(\ce{C10H14O}\), as required. Its chirality is associated with the folded trans-cycloalkene ring, rather than a tetrahedral stereogenic carbon.

The first reaction is a Mukaiyama–Michael addition. The ketene acetal attacks the β-carbon \(C1\); the ketone-derived oxygen is initially present in a silylated enol intermediate. Immediate DIBAL-H reduction converts the ester-derived group into \(\ce{-CH2OH}\). Aqueous work-up restores the ketone.

The resulting hydroxy ketone 2 is:

[C@@H]1(C(C)(C)CO)CC/C(C)=C/CCC(=O)C1

A balanced net organic equation, using \(\ce{[H]}\) for a formal reducing-hydrogen equivalent, is

\[ \ce{C10H14O + C8H18O2Si + H2O + 4[H] -> C14H24O2 + CH3OH + (CH3)3SiOH}. \]

The four reducing-hydrogen equivalents correspond to the two hydride transfers and protonation steps needed to reduce an ester to a primary alcohol.

Tosyl chloride converts the primary alcohol into B. No bond to a stereogenic carbon is broken, so the existing configuration is retained:

\[ \ce{ROH + TsCl + C5H5N -> ROTs + C5H6N+ + Cl-}. \]

Here \(\ce{ROH}\) is 2, and \(\ce{ROTs}\) is B.

Potassium tert-butoxide then removes an α-hydrogen from \(C9\). The resulting enolate attacks the primary carbon \(C10\) intramolecularly, displacing tosylate and forming the \(C9-C10\) bond. This closes the four-membered ring \(C1-C9-C10-C11\), giving C with the trans ring-junction stereochemistry shown in the final product:

\[ \ce{B + KOtBu -> C + KOTs + tBuOH}. \]

Finally, deprotonation of methyltriphenylphosphonium bromide gives D:

\[ \ce{[Ph3PCH3]Br + n-BuLi -> Ph3P=CH2 + n-BuH + LiBr}. \]

The Wittig reaction replaces the \(C8\) carbonyl oxygen by \(\ce{CH2}\):

\[ \ce{C14H22O + Ph3P=CH2 -> C15H24 + Ph3P=O}. \]

The phosphorus-containing product is triphenylphosphine oxide, O=P(c1ccccc1)(c1ccccc1)c1ccccc1.


8.2 — Epoxide opening and stereospecific elimination

The starting alkene is cis-cyclooctene, C1CC/C=C\CCC1. A peroxyacid such as peracetic acid E epoxidizes it in one step:

\[ \ce{C8H14 + CH3C(=O)OOH -> C8H14O + CH3COOH}. \]

The product is meso-1,2-epoxycyclooctane:

O1[C@H]2CCCCCC[C@@H]12

Lithium diphenylphosphide opens the epoxide by backside attack. The carbon–oxygen bond at the attacked carbon breaks, so the phosphorus group and the remaining oxygen substituent are trans.

The two epoxide carbons are enantiotopic. Attack at either gives one member of the \((R,R)/(S,S)\) pair. Since the reagents are achiral, F is racemic.

Strictly, the immediate product in dry THF is lithium trans-2-(diphenylphosphanyl)cyclooctan-1-olate. One enantiomer is

[Li+].[O-][C@H]1[C@H](P(c2ccccc2)c2ccccc2)CCCCCC1

and the other has both @ symbols changed to @@. Its formation is balanced by

\[ \ce{C8H14O + C12H10LiP -> C20H24LiOP}. \]

Protonation, available in the subsequent acetic-acid-containing medium, gives the alcohol F:

\[ \ce{C20H24LiOP + CH3COOH -> C20H25OP + CH3COOLi}. \]

Hydrogen peroxide oxidizes the phosphine to the phosphine oxide G, without changing the carbon configurations:

\[ \ce{C20H25OP + H2O2 -> C20H25O2P + H2O}. \]

Thus G is also racemic. Phosphorus introduces no additional stereogenic centre because its two phenyl substituents are identical.

Sodium hydride deprotonates the alcohol. The alkoxide attacks phosphorus, and the resulting cyclic elimination arrangement fragments to the \(E\) alkene. The net equation is

\[ \ce{C20H25O2P + NaH -> C8H14 + C12H10NaO2P + H2}. \]

The phosphorus product is sodium diphenylphosphinate:

[Na+].[O-]P(=O)(c1ccccc1)c1ccccc1

The two enantiomers of G give the two planar enantiomers of trans-cyclooctene.


8.3 — Enantiomer of trans-cyclooctene

The double bond remains \(E\). What changes is the handedness of the ring passing around that double bond.

An exact drawing instruction is to reflect every feature of the supplied drawing in a vertical mirror line, including the bold perspective bonds. This produces the opposite planar enantiomer.

The ordinary SMILES C1CC/C=C/CCC1 encodes the connectivity and \(E\) geometry, but not this conformational handedness.


8.4 — Selective reactions of the internal double bond

The problem specifies that the strained internal \(C4=C5\) double bond reacts preferentially.

Epoxidation. Peracetic acid transfers oxygen to the alkene in a concerted, stereospecific reaction:

\[ \ce{C15H24 + CH3C(=O)OOH -> C15H24O + CH3COOH}. \]

Approach from the two faces gives Ha and Hb. The two bonds to the newly introduced oxygen form from the same face. The original \(E\)-alkene relationship is therefore preserved in the epoxide: the two ring continuations remain trans across the epoxide.

The new configurations are \(4S,5S\) in the listed Ha and \(4R,5R\) in Hb. Because the pre-existing \(C1,C9\) configurations remain fixed, the products are diastereomers.

Ozonolysis. Cleavage of \(C4=C5\) gives:

  • a ketone at \(C4\), because that alkene carbon bears a methyl group;
  • an aldehyde at \(C5\), because that alkene carbon bears hydrogen.

The nine-membered ring opens, while the cyclobutane and exocyclic methylene remain intact. This gives I. With dimethyl sulfide as reductant, the balanced net equation is

\[ \ce{C15H24 + O3 + (CH3)2S -> C15H24O2 + (CH3)2SO}. \]

Hydroboration–oxidation. Boron attaches preferentially to the less substituted carbon \(C5\), and hydrogen attaches to \(C4\). Addition is syn. Oxidation replaces the carbon–boron bond by a carbon–oxygen bond with retention at carbon.

Thus the added \(C4\)-hydrogen and \(C5\)-OH are syn. Addition from the two alkene faces gives Ja and Jb, with the configurations listed above.

One borane molecule has three B–H bonds, so \(\tfrac13\) equivalent supplies one hydroboration per substrate molecule. A balanced net equation in basic aqueous solution is

\[ \ce{3 C15H24 + BH3 + 3 H2O2 + OH- -> 3 C15H26O + B(OH)4-}. \]


8.5 — Hydroboration of isocaryophyllene

Isocaryophyllene 5 has the internal \(Z\) alkene:

[C@@H]12CC/C(C)=C\CCC(=C)[C@H]1CC2(C)C

Here the exocyclic double bond reacts preferentially. Boron adds to terminal \(C13\), and hydrogen adds to \(C8\). Oxidation therefore gives a primary hydroxymethyl group, \(\ce{-CH2OH}\), attached to \(C8\).

Only \(C8\) becomes a new stereogenic centre. Addition from its two faces gives Ka and Kb, which have opposite \(C8\) configurations while retaining the original ring-junction configurations and the \(Z\) internal alkene.

The net balance is again

\[ \ce{3 C15H24 + BH3 + 3 H2O2 + OH- -> 3 C15H26O + B(OH)4-}, \]

now with 5 as substrate and Ka/Kb as products.


8.6 — Deuterium incorporation

Formation of L. The reagent is dideuteriomethylenetriphenylphosphorane:

[C-]([2H])([2H])[P+](c1ccccc1)(c1ccccc1)c1ccccc1

Its carbon becomes the exocyclic carbon of the Wittig product. Both deuterium atoms therefore appear on \(C13\):

\[ \ce{C14H22O + Ph3P=CD2 -> C15H22D2 + Ph3P=O}. \]

The existing alkene geometry and ring-junction stereochemistry remain unchanged.

Formation of M. Base-catalyzed enolization exchanges the two α-hydrogens on the methylene \(C7\). Repeated deprotonation and deuteration in excess heavy water gives \(C7D_2\).

The other α-position, \(C9\), is the constrained ring junction. Enolization there would require a severely strained junction geometry; its hydrogen is retained in the specified product. Thus the two deuteriums are both on \(C7\), rather than distributed over the two α-carbons.

The exchange balance is

\[ \ce{C14H22O + 2 D2O <=> C14H20D2O + 2 HOD}. \]

This gives exactly the formula printed for M.


8.7 — Carbocation cyclization and rearrangement

All three requested cations have formula \(\ce{C15H25+}\).

Formation of O. Protonation occurs at \(C5\) of the internal alkene, placing the positive charge on methyl-substituted \(C4\). This gives the tertiary carbocation O:

\[ \ce{C15H24 + H+ -> C15H25+}. \]

The exocyclic \(C8=C13\) double bond remains available for intramolecular attack.

Formation of Pa. The exocyclic alkene attacks the \(C4\) carbocation through its terminal carbon \(C13\):

  • the new bond is \(C4-C13\);
  • \(C8=C13\) becomes a single bond;
  • the positive charge moves to \(C8\).

No carbon–carbon single bond breaks in this step. The newly formed methylene bridge gives the tricyclic caryolane framework.

The two possible configurations at newly tetrahedral \(C4\) give Pa and Pb. The configuration of Pa is selected by the requirement that the subsequent rearrangement give the forward-pointing bridge drawn in 7a.

Formation of Qa. The adjacent cyclobutane undergoes a Wagner–Meerwein rearrangement:

\[ \sigma(C1-C9)\longrightarrow C8^+. \]

Precisely:

  • \(C1-C9\) breaks;
  • \(C1-C8\) forms;
  • the positive charge moves from \(C8\) to \(C9\).

This expands the cyclobutane into the five-membered ring

\[ C1-C11-C10-C9-C8-C1. \]

The migration retains the spatial configuration at the migrating end. Some \(R/S\) descriptors change because the CIP priorities change, without inversion of the carried-through stereochemistry.

Finally, loss of a proton from \(C10\) forms \(C9=C10\), giving 7a and regenerating acid:

\[ \ce{C15H25+ -> C15H24 + H+}. \]

The resulting 7a, (1S,5S,8S)-4,4,8-trimethyltricyclo[6.3.1.0¹,⁵]dodec-2-ene, is

[C@@H]12CC[C@]3(C)CCC[C@]1(C3)C=CC2(C)C

This reproduces the alkene position and the forward methylene bridge in the supplied drawing.


8.8 — Hydration of Pa and Pb

Water attacks the \(C8\) carbocation of Pa or Pb. Deprotonation of the resulting oxonium ion gives Na or Nb:

\[ \ce{C15H25+ + H2O -> C15H26O + H+}. \]

The overall acid-catalyzed hydration is therefore

\[ \ce{C15H24 + H2O -> C15H26O}. \]

The original cyclobutane remains intact. Both products contain:

  • the new \(C4-C13\) bond;
  • the \(C4-C13-C8\) methylene bridge;
  • OH on \(C8\);
  • the original stereochemical arrangement at \(C1,C9\).

For the requested pair, the two new bridgehead configurations at \(C4,C8\) are reversed together. In a schematic drawing of the large ring, the methylene bridge occupies one face, while the \(C4\)-methyl and \(C8\)-OH point toward the opposite face. Reversing these new stereochemical features gives the other diastereomer, while the original ring-junction stereochemistry is retained.

The answers were checked against the official answers published by the organisers.