Aliphatic esters methyl formate

The mechanism of this reaction has been studied by several groups [133,174-177]. The consensus is that interaction of ester with the phenolic resole leads to a quinone methide at relatively low temperature. The quinone methide then reacts rapidly leading to cure. Scheme 11 shows the mechanism that we believe is operative. This mechanism is also supported by the work of Lemon, Murray, and Conner. It is challenged by Pizzi et al. Murray has made the most complete study available in the literature [133]. Ester accelerators include cyclic esters (such as y-butyrolactone and propylene carbonate), aliphatic esters (especially methyl formate and triacetin), aromatic esters (phthalates) and phenolic-resin esters [178]. Carbamates give analogous results but may raise toxicity concerns not usually seen with esters. 

Contrary to their abundance and essential contribution in fruit flavors, aliphatic and aromatic monofunctional esters are less represented in roasted coffee volatiles. For example methyl formate (F.l) and methyl acetate (F,7) were the only esters identified in a coffee aroma (see Alcohols, Section 5.B) by Merritt et al. (1963), representing 10.3% of the aroma in nearly equal proportions. They do not significantly contribute to the character of the beverage (apart from a few, particularly F.40, F.42 and F.46 which contribute to an off-flavor produced by unhealthy green beans (Bade-Wegner et al., 1998, Full et al., 2000). By way of compensation, when esters are associated, for instance, with heterocyclic rings, thiols or phenols, they can sometimes afford original flavor notes. In this chapter, only relatively simple esters are enumerated and discussed. Some esters with a function either on the acid part or the alcohol part are also mentioned. 

C-H-Oleflnation. Pd(II)-mediated aromatic C(sp2)-H olefi-nation occurs via a tandem reaction with tosylamide as directing group and bond formation partner (eq 12). The reaction tolerates different substituents at the phenyl ring such as methyl, methoxy, bromine, fluorine, trifluoromethyl and biphenyl with yields from 64% to 87%. Further, instead of CO Bu aliphatic esters as well as carbonyl, carboxamide, halogens, and aryl substitutents are suitable substrates. ... 

The Pictet-Spengler reaction has mainly been investigated as a potential source of polycyclic heterocycles for combinatorial apphcations or in natural product synthesis [149]. Tryptophan or differently substituted tryptamines are the preferred substrates in a cyclocondensation that involves also aldehydes or activated ketones in the presence of an acid catalyst. Several versions of microwave-assisted Pictet-Spengler reactions have been reported in the hter-ature. Microwave irradiation allowed the use of mild Lewis acid catalysts such as Sc(OTf)3 in the reaction of tryptophan methyl esters 234 with different substituted aldehydes (aliphatic or aromatic) [150]. Under these conditions the reaction was carried out in a one-pot process without initial formation of the imine (Scheme 86). 

Routes to aliphatic nitro compounds include the reaction of an alkyl halide (of good SN2 reactivity) with nitrite ion. Suitable solvents are methyl-sulfinylmethane [dimethyl sulfoxide, (CH3)2SO] and dimethylmethanamide (dimethylformamide). As will be seen from Equation 24-6, formation of the nitrite ester by O- instead of N-alkylation is a competing reaction ... 

Most of the other products found in irradiated meat volatiles except those containing sulfur or aromatic rings may also be accounted for by mechanisms associated with alkyl free radical formation in the fat. Oxygenated compounds are far less abundant than hydrocarbons, but appreciable amounts of a homologous series of n-aliphatic alcohols up to hexanol are found. Of these, only ethanol is detected in the unirradiated controls. Since the water content of meat averages nearly 60%, the formation of alcohols may be thought to occur by reaction of the alkyl free radical with water. Such a mechanism is supported by the fact that only traces of alcohols are found in irradiated dry butterfat and were undetected in irradiated triglycerides or methyl esters of fatty acids. 

A quantitative assessment of the effects of head group bulk on, S k2 and E2 reactions in cationic micelles has been made.148 The kinetics of the acid-catalysed hydrolysis of methyl acetate in the presence of cationic, anionic, and non-ionic surfactants has been reported on.149 The alkaline hydrolysis of -butyl acetate with cetyltrimethylammonium bromide has also been investigated.150 The alkaline hydrolysis of aromatic and aliphatic ethyl esters in anionic and non-ionic surfactants has been studied.151 Specific salting-in effects that lead to striking substrate selectivity were observed for the hydrolysis of /j-nitrophenyl alkanoates (185 n = 2-16) catalysed by the 4-(dialkylamino)pyridine-fimctionalized polymer (186) in aqueous Tris buffer solution at pH 8 and 30 °C. The formation of a reactive catalyst-substrate complex, (185)-(186), seems to be promoted by the presence of tris(hydroxymethyl)methylammonium ion.152... 

Both ketones and aldehydes, as well as acylsilanes can be employed as carbonyl substrates in the new p-lactone synthesis (Table). Reactions involving ketones are most conveniently carried out by adding the neat carbonyl compound to the thiol ester enolate solution. Under these conditions aliphatic aldehydes react to form substantial quantities of 2 1 adducts however, formation of these side products can be suppressed simply by slowly adding the aldehyde component as a precooled (-78°C) solution to the reaction mixture. Wide variation is also possible in the thiol ester component, although a few limitations of the method have been noted. For example, a,p-unsaturated ketones such as methyl vinyl ketone and cyclohexenone fail to yield p-lactones, and attempts to generate p-lactones with severe steric crowding have also met with limited success.3... 

Capillary gas chromatographic determination of optical purities, investigation of the conversion of potential precursors, and characterization of enzymes catalyzing these reactions were applied to study the biogenesis of chiral volatiles in plants and microorganisms. Major pineapple constituents are present as mixtures of enantiomers. Reductions, chain elongation, and hydration were shown to be involved in the biosynthesis of hydroxy acid esters and lactones. Reduction of methyl ketones and subsequent enantioselective metabolization by Penicillium citrinum were studied as model reactions to rationalize ratios of enantiomers of secondary alcohols in natural systems. The formation of optically pure enantiomers of aliphatic secondary alcohols and hydroxy acid esters using oxidoreductases from baker s yeast was demonstrated. 

Unsaturated Lignin Model Compounds Double bonds in lignin model compounds are attacked by peracetate ions. Dehydro-di-woeugenol (XXI, Figure 12.9) reacted with epoxidation of the aliphatic double bond and formation of the diol. The double bonds in stilbenes [59] and coniferaldehyde [90] are also cleaved. FemUc acid (IVa) and its ethyl ester reacted slowly at 50°C the methyl ether, 3,4-dimethoxy cinnamic acid, was much less reactive and was almost quantitatively recovered [55]. The reactions of ferulic acid and its ethyl ester (both in the trans form) were accompanied by trans-cis isomerization, perhaps an indication of reversible phenoxy radical formation. HomovanilUc acid (XXXa) was also formed the proposed mechanism involved epoxidation of the a-P double bonds followed by decarboxylation. 

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