A-oxo-ene-diol

C/i-dihydroxylation without reduction of the alkene linkage occured during oxidation by RuCyaq. CH3CO3H/CH3CI3-CH3CN of cyclic unsaturated carbonyl and carboxylic acids to the corresponding a-oxo-ene diols (aci-reductones). This is... 

Furthermore, the method can be applied to the synthesis of 4-demethoxyadriamy-cinone, which is the side-chain of the cancer drugs adriamycins, such as idarubicin and annamycin (16). The ruthenium-catalyzed oxidation of allyl acetate 17 gives the corresponding a-hydroxyketone 18 in 60% yield [Eq. (25)] [49]. The reaction was also applied to the oxidation of a,P-unsaturated carbonyl compounds 19, and this provides a new method for the synthesis of a-oxo-ene-diols 20 [Eq. (26)] [50]. 

---