Synthesis of Some Thieno Analogs of the Protoberberine and Protopine Skeletons. X-Ray Crystal Structure of 9,10-Dimethoxy-5-methyl-4,5,6,7,12,13-hexahydrothieno[3,2-e][3]benzazeci n-12-one

Abstract

The preparation of the tetracyclic derivatives, (5) and (11), thienanalogues of the tetrahydroprotoberberine alkaloids, is described.

Cyanogen bromide-induced water solvolysis of these isomeric compounds proceeded by different routes. 9,10-Dimethoxy-4,7,12,12a- tetrahydro-5H-benzo[g] thieno [3,2-a] quinolizine (11) under these conditions gave as the major product 4-(2-hydroxymethyl-4,5- dimethoxybenzyl )-4,5,6,7-tetrahydrothieno[3,2-c]pyridine-5- carbonitrile (12); no azecino derivatives were detected. By contrast such cleavage of 2,3-dimethoxy-5,8,12,12a-tetrahydro-6H- benzo [a] thieno [3,2-g] quinolizine (5) gave a major solvolytic ring- expanded product, 12-hydroxy-9,10-dimethoxy-4,5,6,7,12,13- hexahydrothieno [3,2-e][3]benzazecine-5-carbonitrile (15), and a minor elimination product, (E)-9,10-dimethoxy-4,5,6,7-tetrahydrothieno[3,2- e][3]benzazecine-5-carbonitrile (16). These last two compounds are examples of a new tricyclic ring system.

From functional group interconversions of (15) was derived the N- methyl ketone (18), the first thieno analogue of the protopine alkaloid system. The crystal and molecular structure of this compound, 9,10-dimethoxy-5-methyl-4,5,6,7,12,13-hexahydrothieno[3,2-e][3] benzazecin - 12-one (18), has been determined by single-crystal X-ray methods.