Epoxidations of alkenes and cycloalkenes

In the present section are discussed, in turn, the most important subclasses of alkene oxides that are known to be substrates of EH. The sequence begins with epoxides of unconjugated alkenes and ends with epoxides of complex, conjugated cycloalkenes of biochemical and pharmacological interest. 

More examples of epoxidations of alkenes, cycloalkenes, and aromatic compounds having double bonds in their side chains are shown in equations 59-63 [129, 210, 217, 251, 300, 315, 330, 338, 679, 689, 746, 751]. 

Mechanisms of hydrolysis of epoxides derived from simple alkenes and cycloalkenes 250... 

It should be noted that while the mechanism outlined in this section describes the overall features of 0,-alkene chemistry, there are also other minor paths as well. For example, small yields of epoxides that appear to be formed in the primary reaction have been observed as products of the reactions of some dienes and cycloalkenes (e.g., see Paulson et al., 1992b and Atkinson et al., 1994a, 1994b). The reader should consult the rather extensive ozone literature for further details on both the condensed- and gas-phase reactions. 

The catalytic properties of Del-Ti-MWW have been compared with those of other titanosilicates in the epoxidation of cyclic alkenes (Table 4.4). The TON decreased sharply for TS-1, Ti-beta and 3D Ti-MWW with increasing molecular size of cyclic alkenes. Ti-MCM-41 with mesopores, however, showed higher TONs for cyclooctene and cyclododecene. This implies that the reaction space is extremely important for the reactions of bulky molecules. The delamination of Ti-MWW increased the TON greatly for not only cyclopentene but also bulkier cycloalkenes. Especially, the catalytic activity of Del-Ti-MWW was about 6 x higher than that of Ti-MWW for cyclooctene and cyclododecene. Del-Ti-MWW even turned out to be superior to Ti-MCM-41 in the epoxidation of bulky substrates. This should be due to the high accessibility of Ti active sites in Del-Ti-MWW. Thus the delamination was able to change Ti-MWW into an effective catalyst applicable to reactions of bulky substrates. 

Kinetic and computational studies by Shea and Kim on MCPBA epoxidations of a series of cyclic alkenes including bridgehead alkenes and tra/w-cycloalkenes have shown that the reactivity depends primarily on the strain energy relief in the transition state <92JA3044>. 

The rates of epoxidation of cyclododecene with a series of aliphatic peroxy-acids have been correlated, using the Taft equation. The reaction constant (p ) was + 2.0 and the steric constant (6) was found to be essentially zero. A two-parameter correlation has been found for the effect of basicity and polarity of the solvent on the rate of epoxidation of propene with peracetic acid. Rate constants and activation parameters for the epoxidation of a number of cycloalkenes, including (11 R = H or COOMe), (12 R = H, Ph, or 2-furyl), (13), (14), and cyclo-octa-l,5-diene, have been measured. An isokinetic relationship was demonstrated, with the isokinetic temperature of 3 C. There was only a weak dependence of the rate on the structure of the alkene. 

Oxidation of Alkenes to Oxirans by Peroxy-acids. The mechanism of the reaction of m-chloroperbenzoic acid with double bonds has been investigated through a study of the epoxidation of a series of cycloalkenes (of ring sizes 5,6,7,8, and 12) and substituted cyclohexenes.The second-order rate constants were determined in CHCI3 at 0—30°C, and the data support a 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction. 

Cycloalkenes and styrenes have been epoxidized by an aqueous solution of sodium bromite in the presence of CuS04 5H20 at room temperature [14]. In the absence of copper ion, no epoxidation occurs. It has been hypothesized that the unstable Cu(Br02)2 is the oxidizing species (Scheme 6.2). Manganese porphyrin complexes have been used to catalyze the epoxidation of simple alkenes in aqueous medium. 

The data in Table 10.1 suggest that the reactivity of epoxide hydrolase toward alkene oxides is highly variable and appears to depend, among other things, on the size of the substrate (compare epoxybutane to epoxyoctane), steric features (compare epoxyoctane to cycloalkene oxides), and electronic factors (see the chlorinated epoxides). In fact, comprehensive structure-metabolism relationships have not been reported for substrates of EH, in contrast to some narrow relationships that are valid for closely related series of substrates. A group of arene oxides, along with two alkene oxides to be discussed below (epoxyoctane and styrene oxide), are compared as substrates of human liver EH in Table 10.2 [119]. Clearly, the two alkene oxides are among the better substrates for the human enzyme, as they are for the rat enzyme (Table 10.1). 

Alkenes may also react with certain oxidizing agents to result in anti hydroxyla-tion. Treatment with peroxycarboxylic acids435 leads initially to an epoxide. Ring scission of the latter via an SN2 reaction in an anti manner with the corresponding carboxylic acid or water gives the trans monoester or tram diol, respectively. Complete anti stereoselectivity and high yields in the oxidation of cycloalkenes are... 

---