Dodecahedrane

Dodecahedrane is a chemical compound (C₂₀H₂₀) first synthesised by Leo Paquette of Ohio State University in 1982, primarily for the "aesthetically pleasing symmetry of the dodecahedral framework".^{[1] [2]}

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In this molecule ^[3], each vertex is a carbon atom that bonds to three neighbouring carbon atoms. Each carbon atom is bonded to a hydrogen atom as well. It has I_h symmetry (just like that other molecular sphere fullerene) evidenced by its proton NMR spectrum in which all hydrogen atoms appear at a single chemical shift of 3.38 ppm. Dodecahedrane is one of the platonic hydrocarbons, the others being cubane and tetrahedrane, and does not occur in nature.

Total synthesis

For over 30 years several research groups have actively pursued the total synthesis of dodecahedrane. A review article published in 1978 just dealt with the different strategies that existed up to then ^[4]. The first attempt was initiated in 1964 by R.B. Woodward with the synthesis of the compound triquinacene which was thought to be able to simply dimerize to dodecahedrane. Other groups joined in the race, for example that of Philip Eaton and Paul von Ragué Schleyer

Paquette's 1982 organic synthesis takes about 29 steps with raw materials cyclopentadiene (2 equivalents 10 carbon atoms), dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate (4 carbon atoms) and allyltrimethylsilane (2 equivalents, 6 carbon atoms).

In the first leg of the procedure ^[5] two molecules of cyclopentadiene 1 are coupled together by reaction with elemental sodium (forming the cyclopentadienyl complex) and iodine to dihydrofulvalene 2. Next up is a tandem Diels-Alder reaction with dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate 3 with desired sequence pentadiene-acetylene-pentadiene as in symmetrical adduct 4. An equal amount of asymmetric pentadiene-pentadiene-acetylene compound (4b) is formed and discarded.

In the next step of the sequence ^[6] iodine is temperarily introduced via an iodolactonization of the diacid of 4 to dilactone 5. The ester group is cleaved next by methanol to the halohydrin 6, the alcohol groups converted to ketone groups in 7 by Jones oxidation and the iodine groups reduced by a zinc-copper couple in 8.

The final 6 carbon atoms are inserted in a nucleophilic addition to the ketone groups of the carbanion 9 generated from allyltrimethylsilane 10 and n-butyllithium. In the next step the vinyl silane 11 reacts with peracetic acid in acetic acid in a radical substitution to the dilactone 12 followed by an intramolecular friedel-Crafts alkylation with phosphorus pentoxide to diketone 13. This molecule contains all required 20 carbon atoms and is also symmetrical which facilitates the construction of the remaining 5 carbon-carbon bonds

Reduction of the double bonds in 13 to 14 is accomplished with hydrogenation with palladium on carbon and that of the ketone groups to alcohol groups in 15 by sodium borohydride. Replacement of hydroxyl by chlorine in 17 via nucleophilic aliphatic substitution takes place through the dilactone 16 (tosyl chloride). The first C-C bond forming reaction is a kind of Birch alkylation (lithium, ammonia) with the immediate reaction product trapped with chloromethyl phenyl ether ^[2], the other chlorine atom in 17 is simply reduced. This temporary appendix will in a later stage prevent unwanted enolization. The newly formed ketone group then forms another C-C bond by photochemical Norrish reaction to 19 whose alcohol group is unduced to eliminate with TsOH to alkene 20.

The double bond is reduced with hydrazine and sequential diisobutylaluminum hydride reduction and pyridinium chlorochromate oxidation of 21 forms the aldehyde 22. A second Norrish reaction then adds another C-C bond to alcohol 23 and having served its purpose the phenoxy tail is removed in several steps: a Birch reduction to diol 24, oxidation with pyridinium chlorochromate to ketoaldehyde 25 and a reverse Claisen condensation to ketone 26. A third Norrish reaction produces alcohol 27 and a second dehydration 28 and another reduction 29 at which point the synthesis is left completely without functional groups. The missing C-C bond is put in place by hydrogen pressurized dehydrogenation with palladium on carbon at 250°C to dodecahedrane 30.

References

1. ^ Dodecahedrane Robert J. Ternansky, Douglas W. Balogh, and Leo A. Paquette J. Am. Chem. Soc.; 1982; 104(16) pp 4503 - 4504; doi:10.1021/ja00380a040
2. ^ ^{a b} Leo A. Paquette, Robert J. Ternansky, Douglas W. Balogh, and Gary Kentgen (1983). "Total synthesis of dodecahedrane". Journal of the American Chemical Society 105 (16): 5446 - 5450. doi:10.1021/ja00354a043.
3. ^ IUPAC name: hexadecahydro-5,2,1,6,3,4-[2,3]butanediyl[1,4]diylidenedipentaleno[2,1,6-cde:2',1',6'-gha]pentalene CAS number: 4493-23-6
4. ^ Towards dodecahedrane Tetrahedron, Volume 35, Issue 19, 1979, Pages 2189-2223 Philip E. Eaton doi:10.1016/0040-4020(79)80114-3
5. ^ Domino Diels-Alder reactions. I. Applications to the rapid construction of polyfused cyclopentanoid systems Leo A. Paquette and Matthew J. Wyvratt J. Am. Chem. Soc.; 1974; 96(14) pp 4671 - 4673; doi:10.1021/ja00821a052
6. ^ Topologically spherical molecules. Synthesis of a pair of C2-symmetric hexaquinane dilactones and insights into their chemical reactivity. An efficient .pi.-mediated 1,6-dicarbonyl reduction Leo A. Paquette, Matthew J. Wyvratt, Otto Schallner, Jean L. Muthard, William J. Begley, Robert M. Blankenship, and Douglas Balogh J. Org. Chem.; 1979; 44(21) pp 3616 - 3630; doi:10.1021/jo01335a003 10.1021/jo01335a003