A Case of Serendipity: Synthesis, Characterization, and Unique Chemistry of a Stable, Ring-Unsubstituted Aliphatic p-Quinone Methide

Org Lett. 2019 Apr 5;21(7):2326-2329. doi: 10.1021/acs.orglett.9b00615. Epub 2019 Mar 12.

Abstract

We report the serendipitous synthesis of an indefinitely solution-stable ring-unsubstituted aliphatic p-quinone methide (p-QM) and detail its remarkable reaction chemistry through three archetypical chemical transformations: hydrogenation, hydride reduction, and nucleophilic addition. For example, the p-QM hydrogenates in a counterintuitive way; it resists all attempts at aromatization by catalytic reduction. Paradoxically, it does undergo aromatization/rearrangement upon reduction with LiAlH4. Nucleophilic addition of thiol results in an unanticipated rearrangement instead of the expected 1,6-conjugate addition. We hope that this highly stable p-QM and its unique reactivity provide some new insights into the chemistry of this important class of organic molecules.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't