Halonium Ion-Mediated Reaction of Unsaturated Hydroperoxy Acetals. Competition between the Formation of Cyclic Peroxides and the Migration of the Methoxy (or Hydroxy) Group

Abstract

Monoozonolyses of dienes 2 in methanol gave in each case the corresponding unsaturated alpha-methoxy hydroperoxides 3. Capture of 2-alkyl-substituted cyclohexanone oxides by methanol was highly diastereoselective, thereby providing exclusively the hydroperoxides derived from attack by methanol from the less hindered face of the carbonyl oxide intermediates. Halonium ion-mediated reactions of the hydroperoxides 3 gave the novel methoxy- or hydroxy-migrated products, together with the expected halogen-substituted 1, 2-dioxanes and/or 1,2-dioxepanes, the composition of the product mixture being a function of the halogenating agent utilized and the structure of 3.