Cyclo hexane-1,3-diols, reactions with

Romo et al. have used Lewis acids to catalyze the formation of a-silyl-/ -lactones in their synthesis of potential inhibitors of yeast 3-hydroxy-3-methyl glutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) synthase <1998BMC1255>. In addition to various Lewis acid catalysts, a chiral promoter based on the chiral diol (l/ ,2R)-2-[(diphenyl)hydroxymethyl]cyclo-hexan-l-ol was introduced to the reaction in an attempt to improve the stereoselectivity. A variety of chiral 2-oxetanones were formed, with enantioselectivities ranging from 22% to 85%. Dichlorotitanium-TADDOL catalysts 113 and 114 have also been used in an attempt to encourage the stereoselective [2+2] cycloaddition of silyl ketenes and aldehydes (TADDOL = (—)-/ra r-4,5-bis(diphenyl-hydroxymethyl)-2,2-dimethyl-l,3-dioxolane), although this method only afforded 2-oxetanones in moderate yields and optical purity (Equation 41) <1998TL2877>. 

Cobalt(II) salts are effective catalysts for the oxidation of 1,2-glycols with molecular oxygen in aprotic polar solvents such as pyridine, 4-cyanopyridine, benzonitrile, DMF, anisole, chlorobenzene and sulfolane. Water, primary alcohols, fatty acids and nitrobenzene are not suitable as solvents. Aldehydic products are further oxidized under the reaction conditions. Thus, the oxidative fission of rram-cyclo-hexane-l,2-diol gives a mixture of aldehydes and acids. However, the method is of value in the preparation of carboxylic acids from vicinal diols on an industrial scale for example, decane-1,2-diol is cleaved by oxygen, catalyzed by cobalt(II) laurate, to produce nonanoic acid in 70% yield. ... 

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