30-Cholestanol, methyl ether oxidation

The relative reactivity of primary and secondary positions adjacent to oxygen can be strongly dependent on the nature of the oxidant. For example, treatment of the methyl ethers (8) and (10) with chromium trioxide in acetic acid leads to the formation of the formates (9) and (11), respectively (equations 13 and 14). In direct contrast, n-decyl methyl ether is oxidized exclusively to methyl n-decanoate (83% yield) by ruthenium tetroxide (equation 11). Under similar reaction conations, 3 -cholestanol methyl ether gives cholestan-3-one as the mqjor product, togedier with traces of the corresponding formate. Therefore, at least in the case of ruthenium tetroxide, primary positions appear to be more reactive than tertiary. 

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