Abstract
Alkylation reactions of 3‐(X‐sulfonyl)benzo[a]heptalene‐2,4‐diols (X=Ph, morpholin‐4‐yl) and their dimethyl ethers were studied. The diols form with K~2~CO~3~/MeI in aqueous media the 1‐methylated benzoheptalenes, but in yields not surpassing 20% (Table 1). On the other hand, 2,4‐dimethoxybenzo[a]heptalenes can easily be lithiated at C(3) with BuLi and then treated with alkyl iodides to give the 3‐alkylated forms in good yield (Table 2). Surprising is the reaction with two equiv. or more of t‐BuLi since the alkylation at C(4) is accompanied by the reductive elimination of the X‐sulfonyl group at C(3) (Table 3). Most exciting is also the course of 2,4‐dimethoxy‐3‐(phenylsulfonyl)benzo[a]heptalenes in the presence of an excess of MeLi. After the expected exchange of MeO against Me at C(4) (Scheme 6), rearrangement takes place under formation of 4‐benzyl‐2‐methoxybenzo[a]heptalenes and concomitant loss of the sulfonyl group at C(3) (Table 4). In the case of X=morpholin‐4‐yl, rearrangement cannot occur. However, the intermediate benzyl anions of Type E (Scheme 8) react easily with O~2~ of the air to build up corresponding benzo[a]heptalene‐4‐methanols (Table 6).