3,4-Methylenedioxybenzyl alcohol

Oxidation of tazettinol with manganese dioxide afforded 2-(4-hy-droxyphenyl)-4,5-methylenedioxybenzyl alcohol. Presumably the primary oxidation product (CLVI) underwent jS-elimination to give CLVII,... 

Pyrethroids from Chrysanthemic Acid, The unsaturated side chains of the allethrolone alcohol moieties of the natural pyrethrins are readily epoxidized by microsomal oxidases and converted to diols, thus detoxifying the insecticides. Esterification of chrysanthemic acid (9), R = CH3, with substituted benzyl alcohols produces useful insecticides barthrin [70-43-9], 2-chloro-3,4-methylenedioxybenzyl ( )-of,/ra/w-chrysanthemate, and dimethrin [70-38-2], 2,4-dimethylbenzyl ( )-og/rinsecticidal activity but are of very low mammalian toxicity, ie, rat oralLDBOs >20,000 mg/kg. 

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