The pK_a values of conformationally fixed 1,3-dithianes were investigated with experimental and theoretical methods to gain an insight into the influence of the relative orientation of the acidic proton and the stabilising S=O or S–C bonds. Experimental values were determined with a modification of the spectrophotometric method using overlapping indicators developed by Bordwell; theoretical values were obtained with the proton exchange methods using DFT calculations. It turned out that stereoelectronic stabilisation is important for sulfides and sulfoxides, whereas charge effects become dominant in sulfones. Deprotonation of the equatorial proton is favoured for most of the compounds except for the equatorial/axial bis-sulfoxide.

Altertoxins I–III, alterlosins I and II, alteichin (alterperylenol), stemphyltoxins I–IV, stemphyperylenol, stemphytriol, 7-epi-8-hydroxyaltertoxin I, and 6-epi-stemphytriol are mycotoxins derived from perylene quinone, for which the absolute configuration was not known. Electronic circular dichroism (ECD) spectra were calculated for these compounds and compared with measured spectra of altertoxins I–III, alteichin, and stemphyltoxin III and with reported Cotton effects. Specific rotations were calculated and compared with reported specific rotations. The absolute configuration of all the toxins, except for stemphyltoxin IV, could thus be determined. The validity of the assignment was high whenever reported ECD data were available for comparison, and the validity was lower when the assignment was based only on the comparison of calculated and reported specific rotations. ECD spectra are intrinsically different for toxins with a biphenyl substructure and for toxins derived from dihydroanthracene.

A total synthesis of the reported structure of altenuisol is described. Comparison of the ¹H NMR spectra of the synthesized compound and of the natural product revealed that the originally proposed structure was not correct. Consequently, two constitutional isomers were synthesized. The spectra of one of these compounds – a structure originally proposed as the structure of altertenuol – matched perfectly with the spectra of the natural product. The total synthesis of altenuisol was thus achieved starting with phloroglucinic acid and protocatechuic aldehyde in 10 steps and in 23 % yield, where the longest linear sequence consisted of 6 steps. The key step was a Suzuki coupling with concomitant formation of the lactone ring. Whether altertenuol is identical with altenuisol could not be decided.

Conformationally constrained derivatives of 1,3-dithianes (5-tert-butyl- and 4,6-dimethyl-1,3-dithiane and dithiadecalin) have been oxidised with various oxidants to yield axial and equatorial sulfoxides, disulfoxides and sulfones. Axial sulfoxides were prepared by nucleophilic hydroxide addition to the corresponding 2-alkylidene derivatives with subsequent retro-aldol-type elimination. The reaction outcome is related to the relative energies of the derivatives, as demontstrated by DFT calculations. The NMR spectroscopic data of the compounds obtained were analysed to identify ⁴J couplings. It was found that only ⁴J W couplings can be observed regardless of whether there is an axial or an equatorial sulfoxide, sulfide or sulfone group present in between the respective C–H moieties. A previously postulated γ-gauche effect of axial sulfoxides (but not of equatorial sulfoxides or sulfones) leading to the shielding of carbon atoms is not unambiguously supported by the NMR spectroscopic data of conformationally fixed derivatives.

A hydrogen chloride-free variation of the Pinner reaction was developed, in which alcohols react with carbonitriles to furnish carboxylates. Best results were achieved with aliphatic alcohols, and aliphatic or benzylic nitriles in the presence of 2 equiv. of trimethylsilyl triflate (Me₃SiOTf). With these substrates, yields exceeding 80% were achieved. A strictly neutral variation of this protocol is possible, when 1 equiv. of Et₃N is added to the reaction mixture.