Chemoselectivity, dioxirane epoxidation

The chemoselectivity, regioselectivity, diastereoselectivity, and enantioselectivity of heteroatom oxidations, epoxidations and CH insertions by dioxiranes have been reviewed.26 The selective ring-opening reactions of epoxides at high pressures have been reviewed (in Japanese).27... 

The chemoselectivity of the dioxirane oxyfunctionalization usually follows the reactivity sequence heteroatom (lone-pair electrons) oxidation > JT-bond epoxida-tion > C-H insertion, as expected of an electrophilic oxidant. Because of this chemoselectivity order, heteroatoms in a substrate will be selectively oxidized in the presence of C-H bonds and even C-C double bonds. In allylic alcohols, however, C-H oxidation of the allylic C-H bond to a,/ -unsaturated ketones may compete efficaciously with epoxidation, especially when steric factors hinder the dioxirane attack on the Jt bond. To circumvent the preferred heteroatom oxidation and thereby alter the chemoselectivity order in favor of the C-H insertion, tedious protection methodology must be used. For example, amines may be protected in the form of amides [46], ammonium salts [50], or BF3 complexes [51] however, much work must still be expended on the development of effective procedures which avoid the oxidation of heteroatoms and C-C multiple bonds. 

E)-3-Arylidenethiochroman-4-oncs possess thioether and oi,[)-unsaturatcd ketone functionalities both of which are susceptible to oxidation by DMD. In fact, chemoselective oxidation at sulfur is observed with a separable mixture of the sulfoxide and sulfone being produced in >5 1 ratio. A similar situation holds for the related thioflavanones. Epoxidation of the alkenic double bond in the thiochromanone 1,1-dioxides alone can be achieved using methyl(trifluoromethyl)-dioxirane (Scheme 65) <1994T13113>. However, reaction of NaOCl with 3-arylidenethioflavanones gives the epoxide and subsequent oxidation with DMD then gives a mixture of the sulfoxide and sulfone <2003MRC193>. 

Nikje MMA, Mozaffari Z. Chemoselective epoxidation of hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene (HTPB) using in-situ generated dimethyl dioxirane (DMD). Des Monomers Polym. 2007 10 67-77. 

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