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Zerumbone (1) was isolated from fresh rhizomes of Zingiber zerumbet Smith in yields of 0.3-0.4% by simple steam distillation and recrystallization. 1 accepted 2 equiv of hydrogen cyanide at the C6 and C9 double bonds of the cross-conjugated dienone system to give a mixture of diastereomers 3a-d. In the presence of potassium cyanide, the dominant isomer 3a was isomerized to a mixture of 3a-d. Under controlled conditions, 1 added one mole of methanol regio- and stereoselectively at the C6 double bond to give adduct 4a. With potassium cyanide, 4a was transformed to the mixture of 3a-d. 1 took up one mole of bromine at C6 double bond to give a diastereomeric mixture of adducts 5a and 5b. Treatment of 5a with potassium cyanide gave a mixture of cyclopropanecarboxylic acid 6a and 6b. This unique ring-contracting cyclopropane formation is pictured as a sequential Favorskii type reaction. alpha-Cyclodextrin improved the selectivity and yields of the reactions conducted in an aqueous medium.

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Benzo[1,2,3]trichalcogenoles with two bromine atoms on the benzene ring, 5,6-dibromo-4,7-diethylbenzo[1,2,3]trichalcogenoles (1a) and (1b) (chalcogen: 1a = S; 1b = Se), were first prepared by treating 2,3,5,6-tetrabromo-1,4-diethylbenzene (TBDEB) with elemental sulfur or amorphous selenium in DBU at 140 degrees C (for 1a) and 100 degrees C (for 1b) for 24 h. The structures of 1a and 1b were verified by NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and elemental analysis. X-ray crystallographic analysis ultimately showed that the substitution reactions of TBDEB proceeded at the two adjacent bromine atoms. To apply 1a and 1b to construction of phthalocyanine derivatives with sulfur or selenium functional groups, 4,5-bis(benzylchalcogeno)-3,6-diethylphthalonitriles (5a) and (5b) as key intermediates were prepared by way of introduction of alkyl groups (2-cyanoethyl or 4-nitrophenethyl groups) on two chalcogen atoms, substitution of two bromine atoms with nitrile groups, and subsequent exchange of alkyl groups with benzyl groups. Compound 5a was treated with lithium in n-pentanol at 100 degrees C for 1 h to produce 2,3,9,10,16,17,23,24-octakis(benzylthio)-1,4,8,11,15,18,22,25-octaethylphthalocyanine (6a). A similar treatment of 5b in n-hexanol at 100 degrees C for 2 h gave phthalocyanine 6b. The structures of 6a and 6b were determined by (1)H NMR spectroscopy and MALDI-TOFMS. X-ray crystallographic analysis of 6a was also performed. The Q-band absorptions (lambda(max)) for 6a and 6b in UV-vis spectra were observed at 755 nm (log epsilon = 5.1) and 757 nm (log epsilon = 5.1), respectively, and their electrochemical properties were verified by cyclic voltammetry in dichloromethane with Ag/AgNO(3) as a reference electrode. Compounds 6a and 6b were further treated with lithium in THF/NH(3) at -78 degrees C and then with dibutyltin dichloride to produce phthalocyanine derivatives 8a and 8b with four dichalcogenastannole rings by way of octachalcogenate phthalocyanines 7a and 7b.