Structural Analogs of Previtamin D3
J . Org. Chem., Vol. 62, No. 26, 1997 9007
285 to 325 nm (Φ 0.01 to 0.08) with a sudden 2-fold
increase (Φ 0.02 to 0.04) from 302 to 306 nm. With
evidence from the previtamin D3 fluorescence spectrum,
fluorescence lifetime, wavelength dependence of the
fluorescence quantum yield, and temperature dependence
of fluorescence intensity studies, the 2-fold increase in
quantum yields from pre D3 to pro D3 has been inter-
preted as the participation of both 2A (S1) and 1B (S2)
excited states in the phototransformation.3,10 The two
structural analogues 1a and 2a bearing the same triene
chromophore display a similar wavelength-quantum
yield profile for the photochemical ring closure (see
Figure 2) as the pre D3 to pro D3, including a 1.4-1.8-
fold increase in the quantum yields for the conversion of
1a f 1c and 2a f 2c between the excitation wavelengths
of 306 and 309 nm. This finding points to the fact that
in the ring-closure process 1a and 2a also react photo-
chemically by the participation of both the low-lying 2A
(S1) and 1B (S2) excited states. Schematically, the
potential surfaces of 2A and 1B states along the conro-
tatory coordinate of compounds 1a and 2a are similar to
that of the pre D3 potential surface model.3 With the
wavelength shorter than 306 nm, excitation occurs at the
higher energy 1B (S2) allowed state11e and eventually
partitions between (a) cis-trans isomerization such as
(1a f 1b) or (2a f 2b), (b) decay to the 2A surface giving
ring-closure products, or (c) decay to the starting ground
state. Above 306 nm, the mixing3,11 of 2A and 1B states
intensifies the extinction coefficient for absorption to the
2A state and allows the molecules, preferentially, to be
excited to the 2A surface at the red edge of the absorption
band and so the quantum yield for ring-closure slowly
increases from 296 to 306 nm. At wavelengths longer
than 309 nm, the 2A state is directly exicited to give ring
closure product 1c and 2c in high yield, and the relax-
ation path from the 1B (S2) state to the ground state or
isomerization to 1b or 2b in the 1B (S2) state is dimin-
ished.
1a and 2a , over a 3-nm change in excitation wavelength
is due to the participation and mixing of both 2A and 1B
excited states. At λ e 306 nm, the 1B state is initially
excited and then (a) partitions between isomerization to
1b and 2b, (b) decays to the 2A state to give 1c and 2c,
and (c) decays to the ground state. At λ g 309 nm, the
2A state is directly excited to give 1c and 2c, and the
relaxation path from 1B state to the ground state or
isomerization in the 1B state is diminished.
Exp er im en ta l Section
Gen er a l Meth od s. 1H NMR (400 MHz) and 13C NMR
(100.6 MHz) spectra were measured in CDCl3 solutions
calibrated with MeSi4. Et2O and THF were distilled from
sodium and benzophenone. UV spectra were run in hexane
unless otherwise stated. Solvents used in irradiation were
spectroscopic grade. Unless otherwise stated, other solvents
and reagents were reagent-grade commercial materials used
as supplied. Flash chromatography was done on 230-400
mesh silica gel. Irradiation mixtures were separated by using
preparative TLC silica plates (20 × 20, 1000 microns). Ana-
lytical GLC was performed on a carbowax capillary column
(30 m × 0.25 mm). Solvent evaporation after extraction was
carried out under reduced pressure using a Rotovap apparatus.
tr a n s-1,2-Di(1-cycloh exen yl)et h en e (1b ). 1-Cyclohex-
enylcarboxaldehyde5a (3a ) (3.0 g, 27 mmol) was added to a
solution of triphenyl(1-cyclohexenylmethyl)phosphonium bro-
mide6 (4) (9.0 g, 21 mmol), n-butyllithium (11 mL, 2.3 M in
hexane, 25 mmol), and THF (40 mL) with stirring at 0 °C. The
reaction mixture was refluxed for 3 h, and then water was
added. The reaction mixture was extracted with petroleum
ether. The organic portion was separated and dried (MgSO4).
The solvent was evaporated, and the crude residue was then
chromatographed with petroleum ether to give a pale yellow
oil consisting of trans-1,2-di(1-cyclohexenyl)ethene (2.0 g, 52%)
and cis-1,2-di(1-cyclohexenyl)ethene (0.2 g, 5%). Trans iso-
mer: IR νmax 2950, 1644, 1459, 1448, 1141, 962 cm-1; 1H NMR
δ 1.62 (m, 8H), 2.14 (m, 8H), 5.73 (m, 2H), 6.13 (s, 2H); 13C
NMR δ 22.6, 22.7, 24.6, 26.0, 128.6, 128.8, 136.0, MS m/z 188,
145 (base), 117,105, 91, 77; UV λmax (ꢀ) 259 (20 570), 268
(24 900), 280 (20 000).
When 1b and 2b were irradiated in the presence of
9-fluorenone as a triplet sensitizer, a mixture of cis and
trans isomers was obtained and there was no sign of any
ring-closure product being observed. This points to the
fact that the triplet state is only limited to cis/trans
isomerization and the photochemical ring closure reaction
for 1a f 1c and 2a f 2c occurs in the singlet excited
state.1b,c The sudden increase in quantum yields in the
ring-closure closure reaction within 306-309 nm could
not be due to the ground-state conformational effect
because the molar extinction coefficient of 1a and 2a
decreased by 36% for 1a and by 29% for 2a within that
narrow range.3a
cis-1,2-Di(1-cycloh exen yl)eth en e (1a ). A solution of
trans-1,2-di(1-cyclohexenyl)ethene (0.2 g, 1.1 mmol), 9-fluo-
renone (0.58 g, 3.2 mmol), hexane (150 mL), and benzene (25
mL) contained in a Pyrex tube was sealed with a rubber
septum at 0 °C and purged with N2. The solution was
irradiated in a Rayonet apparatus equipped with 350 nm
lamps through a Uranium glass filter for 3 h (N2 purging).
The solvent was evaporated, and the crude residue was
chromatographed with petroleum ether to give a pale yellow
oil of cis-1,2-di(1-cyclohexenyl)ethene (0.08 g, 40%) and trans-
1,2-di(1-cyclohexenyl)ethene (0.07 g, 35%). The spectral data
for 1b were same as above. Cis isomer (1a ): IR νmax 2952,
1
1643, 1459, 1447, 1138, 922 cm-1; H NMR δ 1.57, (m, 8H),
2.09 (m, 8H), 5.60 (m, 2H), 5.70 (s, 2H); 13C NMR δ 22.2, 22.9,
25.6, 28.4, 127.6, 130.7, 136.4; MS m/z 188, 145 (base), 131,
117, 105, 91, 77; UV λmax (ꢀ) 246 (12 840).
Con clu sion s
tr a n s-2-(1-Cycloh exen yl)-1-(2-m eth yl-1-cycloh exen yl)-
eth en e (2b).6 The reaction procedure was as described above.
2-Methyl-1-cyclohexene carboxaldehyde5b (3b) (0.9 g, 7.3 mmol)
was allowed to react with (1-cyclohexenylmethylidene)triph-
enylphosphorane to give trans-2-(1-cyclohexenyl)-1-(2-methyl-
1-cyclohexenyl)ethene (0.8 g, 55%): IR νmax 2950, 1643, 1468,
The 1.4-1.8-fold increase in quantum yields of photo-
chemical cyclization of two structural pre D3 analogues,
(10) Alternatively, Fuss, Olivucci, and Robb (Fuss, W.; Lochbrunner,
S. J . Photochem., submitted) have studied the reaction route that
occurs once the excited reactant is on the lower lying excited state (2A,
S1 state) and have suggested the conical intersection mechanism to
explain the wavelength dependence of the quantum yields of pre D3.
The excited pre D3 enters two different conical intersection points
where ring closure to pro D3 competed with the double bond isomer-
ization to Tachy3 that are of different barriers (Bernardi, F.; Olivucci,
M.; Robb, M. Isr. J . Chem. 1993, 33, 265).
(11) (a) Granville, M. F.; Kohler, B. E.; Snow, J . B. J . Chem. Phys.
1981, 75, 3765. (b) Ackerman, J . R.; Kohler, B. E. J . Chem. Phys. 1982,
77, 3967. (c) Kohler, B. E. J . Chem. Phys. 1990, 93, 5838. (d) Buma,
W. J .; Kohler, B. E.; Song, K. J . Chem. Phys. 1991, 94, 4691. (e) Kohler,
B. E. Chem. Rev. 1993, 93, 41.
1
1459, 1144, 961 cm-1; H NMR δ 1.63 (m, 8H), 1.77 (s, 3H),
2.14 (m, 8H), 5.76 (m, 1H), 6.19, 6.61 (AB quartet, 2H, J ) 16
Hz); 13C NMR δ 19.4, 22.6, 22.7, 22.9, 23.0, 24.6, 25.5, 26.1,
33.1, 123.6, 127.9, 128.6, 129.0, 132.7, 136.4; MS m/z 202, 187,
159, 145 (base), 131, 117, 91, 77; UV λmax (ꢀ) 268 (34 310), 278
(42 100), 289 (31 750).
cis-2-(1-Cycloh exen yl)-1-(2-m et h yl-1-cycloh exen yl)-
eth en e (2a ). The sensitized photochemical isomerization
procedure was as described above. trans-2-(1-cyclohexenyl)-
1-(2-methyl-1-cyclohexenyl)ethene (2b) (0.25 g, 1.2 mmol) was