Reaction of lithio -butyl trimethylsilylacetate with aldehydes and ketones. A synthesis of α,β-unsaturated esters

Novel Syntheses of alpha,beta-Unsaturated Esters, alpha,beta-Unsaturated gamma-Lactones, and 2-Alkoxypyrroles via 1,2,4-Triazole-Stabilized Allenic Anions

The dianion 12 (right harpoon over left harpoon 13) of 1-(1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)phenylpropargyl ethyl ether 11(readily prepared from phenylpropargylaldehyde diethyl acetal 8 and 1,2,4-triazole) reacts with alkyl halides, aldehydes, ketones, and alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones to give exclusively gamma-substituted allenic products of type 10. These adducts underwent mild in situ hydrolysis enabling convenient syntheses of alpha,beta-unsaturated esters 9a-c and alpha,beta-unsaturated gamma-lactones 16, 18, 20, and 22. Reactions of dianion 13 with imines generated the 1,3,4-trisubstituted 2-alkoxypyrroles 27, 30, and 31 in high yields. The alkyl-substituted analog 34 underwent similar reactions to give predominantly the gamma-products 39,40, and 42 along with a small proportion of alpha-analogs.

Fourier-transform infrared difference spectroscopy of rhodopsin and its photoproducts at low temperature

Fourier-transform infrared difference spectroscopy has been used to detect the vibrational modes in the chromophore and protein that change in position or intensity between rhodopsin and the photoproducts formed at low temperature (70 K), bathorhodopsin and isorhodopsin. A method has been developed to obtain infrared difference spectra between rhodopsin and bathorhodopsin, bathorhodopsin and isorhodopsin, and rhodopsin and isorhodopsin. To aid in the identification of the vibrational modes, we performed experiments on deuterated and hydrated films of native rod outer segments and rod outer segments regenerated with either retinal containing 13C at carbon 15 or 15-deuterioretinal. Our infrared measurements provide independent verification of the resonance Raman result that the retinal in bathorhodopsin is distorted all-trans. The positions of the C = N stretch in the deuterated pigment and the deuterated pigments regenerated with 11-cis-15-deuterioretinal or 11-cis-retinal containing 13C at carbon 15 are indicative that the Schiff-base linkage is protonated in rhodopsin, bathorhodopsin, and isorhodopsin. Furthermore, the C = N stretching frequency occurs at the same position in all three species. The data indicate that the protonated Schiff base has a C = N trans conformation in all three species. Finally, we present evidence that, even in these early stages of the rhodopsin photosequence, changes are occurring in the opsin and perhaps the associated lipids.