Synlett 2006(2): 279-282  
DOI: 10.1055/s-2005-923606
LETTER
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Epoxidation of 4-Alkylidenecyclopentenones

Mohammed Ahmar, Stéphane Thomé, Bernard Cazes*
Université Claude Bernard-LYON, UMR-CNRS 5181, Laboratoire de Chimie Organique 1, Bât. CPE-Lyon, 43 Bd. du 11 Novembre 1918, 69622 Villeurbanne, France
Fax: +33(4)72431214; e-Mail: cazes@univ-lyon1.fr;
Further Information

Publication History

Received 8 November 2005
Publication Date:
23 December 2005 (online)

Abstract

The exocyclic double bonds of 4-alkylidenecyclopentenones are selectively epoxidized by MCPBA to give epoxy-cyclopentenones, which under acidic conditions undergo ring-opening to furnish diols.

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Laurent, S.; Chorfa, N.; Ahmar, M.; Cazes, B. Synlett, submitted.

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Typical Procedure (Table [1] , entry 3): To a stirred solution of cyclopentenone 3c (207 mg, 1 mmol) in toluene (8 mL) at 0 °C, was added MCPBA (50%; 690 mg, 2 mmol). The mixture was warmed to r.t. and stirred for 5 h. The mixture was diluted with H2O and extracted with Et2O. The combined extracts were washed with a solution of NaHCO3, brine and then dried over anhyd MgSO4. After filtration, the solution was concentrated under vacuum. Purification of the crude product by flash chromatography (silica gel, petroleum ether-Et2O, 80:20) provided epoxycyclopenten-one 4c (180 mg, 81%) as a yellow oil. 4c: R f 0.33 (petroleum ether-Et2O, 70:30). IR (thin film): 2860, 2820, 1660, 1650, 1400, 1375, 1250, 1165, 915, 790 cm-1. 1H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl3): δ = 3.26 (t, 3 J = 5.6 Hz, 1 H), 2.56 (d, 2 J = 19.0 Hz, 1 H), 2.41 (d, 2 J = 19.0 Hz, 1 H), 1.80 (s, 3 H), 1.78 (s, 3 H), 1.20-1.60 (m, 10 H), 0.88 (t, 3 J = 6.6 Hz, 3 H). 13C NMR (75 MHz, CDCl3): δ = 204.5 (C=O), 165.4 (Cq), 141.8 (Cq), 66.0 (CqO), 60.5 (CHO), 37.6 (COCH2), 32.1 (CH2), 31.1 (CH2), 29.5 (CH2), 26.6 (CH2), 22.9 (CH2), 14.4 (CH3), 10.7 (CH3), 8.8 (CH3). MS (ES): m/z = 223 (MH+), 445 (2 M + H+).

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Acetoxycyclopentenone 3e was prepared by acetylation of the corresponding hydroxymethylcyclopentadienone obtained by the Pauson-Khand cycloaddition of acetylene to 2-methyl-2,3-butadien-1-ol: Ahmar, M.; Thomé, S.; Cazes, B. unpublished result.

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4e: IR (thin film, trans/cis): 3077, 2937, 1718 (OC=O), 1685 (C=O), 1578, 1376, 1230, 1040, 967, 811, 719 cm-1. trans-4e 1H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl3): δ = 7.29 (d, 3 J = 5.8 Hz, 1 H), 6.46 (d, 3 J = 5.8 Hz, 1 H), 4.14 (d, 2 J = 12.5 Hz, 1 H), 4.09 (d, 2 J = 12.5 Hz, 1 H), 2.71 (d, 2 J = 19.2 Hz, 1 H), 2.47 (d, 2 J = 19.2 Hz, 1 H), 2.09 (s, 3 H), 1.49 (s, 3 H). 13C NMR (75 MHz, CDCl3): δ = 204.1 (C=O), 170.6 (OC=O), 158.4 (=CH), 139.5 (=CH), 69.4 (CqO), 67.3 (CH2OAc), 63.9 (CqO), 38.1 (COCH2), 20.8 (OCCH3), 16.2 (CH3). cis-4e 1H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl3): δ = 7.34 (d, 3 J = 6.0 Hz, 1 H), 6.43 (d, 3 J = 6.0 Hz, 1 H), 4.27 (d, 2 J = 12.0 Hz, 1 H), 4.20 (d, 2 J = 12.0 Hz, 1 H), 2.67 (d, 2 J = 19.2 Hz, 1 H), 2.44 (d, 2 J = 19.2 Hz, 1 H), 2.09 (s, 3 H), 1.45 (s, 3 H). 13C NMR (75 MHz, CDCl3): δ = 204.1 (C=O), 170.5 (OC=O), 158.3 (=CH), 139.4 (=CH), 69.7 (CqO), 65.8 (CH2OAc), 63.9 (CqO), 38.1 (COCH2), 20.8 (OCCH3), 16.2 (CH3).