FACE SELECTIVITY IN THE PATERNO-BUCHI REACTIONS OF METHACRYLONITRILE TO 5-SUBSTITUTED ADAMANTAN-2-ONES

The photocycloaddition of methacrylonitrile to 5-substituted adamantan -2-ones (1-X) produces two geometrically isomeric oxetanes in which th e oxygen atom and the 5-substituent are in anti or syn positions. The substituent was varied from fluoro, chloro, bromo, phenyl to SiMe(3) a nd the product ratios, except for SiMe(3), were similar (ca. 56:44) in all instances. Structure determination of the anti and syn oxetanes w ere carried out by H-1 and C-13 NMR and mass spectroscopy. The structu re of syn-5-bromospiro[adamantane-2,2'-oxetane] (syn-5-Br) was further supported by single-crystal X-ray crystallography. The product format ion bias resulting from the attack on the zu-face is discussed in term s of transition-state hyperconjugation, but new results for photocyclo addition reactions of 5-trimethylsilyl-substituted adamantan-2-one (1- SiMe(3)), with both fumaronitrile and methacrylonitrile, show an unpre cedented sigma-electron-withdrawing characteristic with this substitue nt.