Cedrane oxide ozonation

Few synthetically useful examples of the oxidation of ethers by oxygen or ozone have been publish-ed.7 96 Q0 In 1978, Ourisson and coworkers reported that ozonization of the natural product cedrane oxide (43) on silica gel at -78 °C led to the formation of the corresponding lactone (44) in 30% yield (equation 32).A small amount of the tertiary alcohol (45) was also produced. Later, in the course of a chiral total synthesis of compactin, Hirama examined the ozonolysis of the alkene (46 equation 33). ° Under carefully controlled conditions, selective ozonolysis of the double bond could be achieved in 88% yield. However, when excess ozone was employed, significant amounts of the benzoate (47) were obtained, even at -78 C. In subsequent studies, benzyl ethers of primary and secondary alcohols,and carbohydrates were oxidized to the corresponding benzoates in excellent yields. Surprisingly, no further synthetic rqrplications of this reaction have been reported. 

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