Direct cleavage of internal epoxides with periodic acid

Abstract

Abstract Reaction of methyl esters of epoxidized fatty acids with paraperiodic acid led to direct cleavage of epoxide functions and the production of aldehydes and methyl azelaaldehydate. The reaction was carried out in aqueous dioxane. The use of other solvents and the influence of reaction variables was examined. The reaction is essentially quantitative for methyl, 9,10‐epoxystearate.