Catalyzed Reactions of 1,2-Bisketenes - Source for New Classes of Potentially Biologically Active Compounds

New catalytic reactions have been developed to transform readily available 1,2-bisketenes into valuable precursors for preparative organic chemistry and into potentially biologically active compounds. In addition to the catalytic stepwise conversion of both ketenyl groups of various 1,2-bisketenes with nucleophiles and olefines to form medium-ring compounds, cycloaddition products and several succinic derivatives, a new copper complex catalyzed ring closure reaction with hydroxyl group bearing compounds was discovered, which leads to almost unknown ring products - 5-alkoxy-2,3-dihydrofuran-2-ones - as potential biomimetics. Secondary reactions of the new ring products are also a subject of this account.

asymmetric catalysis - bisketenes - copper chelate catalysis - dihydrofuranones - medium ring compounds - nucleophilic addition