Dioxetans synthesis methods

The recently discovered preparative methods for the synthesis of 1.2-dioxetane derivatives (see Section V.) have made these compounds and their chemiluminescent decomposition the subject of especially intensive study. 

This section details the methods of preparation that have been utilized over the last decade for the synthesis of 1,2-dioxetanes 1 and 1,2-dioxetanones 2 (rt-peroxy lactones). 

Kopecky s synthesis of trimethyldioxetane employed the base-mediated dehydrohalogenation of 2-methyl-2-hydroperoxy-3-bromobutane. Subsequently, this type of eliminative cyclization (14) has been applied to the preparation of scores of dioxetanes. Additionally, many dioxetanes have been prepared by the addition of singlet oxygen to electron-rich olefins which do not possess allylic hydrogens (15), a method discovered first by Bartlett and Schaap... 

In addition, silver-catalyzed asymmetric aza-Diels-Alder reactions provide a useful route to optically active nitrogen-heterocyclic compounds such as piperidines or pyrid-azines. Substituted dihydrobenzofurans can also be enantioselectively prepared through silver-promoted allylation of aldehydes. Other types of silver-mediated cyclizations can also be used in the synthesis of tetrahydrofnrans, tetrahydropyrans, 1,2-dioxetanes, 1,2-dioxolanes, medium-sized lactones, dihydroisoqninolines, and so on. Silver salts can also be used as cocatalysts with other transition metals. Unique activity was observed for these silver-based systems in several cases. Conseqnently, the use of silver can enrich several available heterocyclization methods, and fnrther developments in the application of chiral silver complexes will hopefnlly appear in the near future. 

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