A CONVENIENT SYNTHESIS OF SUBSTITUTED 1,2,4-TRIOXEPANES VIA CO(II) CATALYZED OXYGENATION OF CINNAMYL ALCOHOL

Co(II) catalyzed oxygenation of three alkenes in the presence of triet hylsilane was carried out according to the Mukaiyama's procedure in tw o solvents. One product, 3-phenyl-3-triethylsilylperoxy-1-propanol der ived from cinnamyl alcohol, was simultaneously desilylated and cyclize d with aldehydes or ketones to give the corresponding 1,2,4-trioxepane s in high yields under mild condition. While aldehyde gave some select ivity when forming 1,2,4-trioxepane, unsymmetrical ketone did not give good selectivity. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.