Dimethyldioxirane Oxidation of Exocyclic (E,E)-Cinnamylideneketones

Abstract

Exocyclic (E,E)-cinnamylideneketones were oxidized by an excess of isolated dimethyldioxirane (DMDO, in acetone solution) at room temperature, providing diastereomeric mixtures of the α,β:γ,δ-diepoxides. In the case of derivatives bearing an ortho-nitrocinnamylidene moiety, α,β-monoepoxides were also isolated as minor products. The structures of all new compounds and the stereochemistry of the monoepoxides and diepoxide diastereomers were established by NMR studies.