THE INFLUENCE OF SUBSTITUENTS ON THE EASE AND DIRECTION OF RING OPENING IN THE LiAlH4–AlCl3 REDUCTIVE CLEAVAGE OF SUBSTITUTED 1,3-DIOXOLANES

Abstract

The room temperature hydrogenolysis by LiAlH4–AlCl3 of ether solutions of a number of 1,3-dioxolanes has been studied.Electron donor substituents on the C2 atom of the ring accelerate while electron acceptor substituents on C2 retard the reductive ring cleavage. The same effect but to a lesser extent is observed when these substituents are attached to the C4 or C5 atom of the ring.When electron donor substituents are attached to C4, ring cleavage occurs predominantly at the C2—O bond remote from the C4 position. On the other hand, electron-withdrawing groups attached to C4 give predominantly scission of the C2—O bond closer to the C4-substituted position. In contrast to this marked control over the direction of ring cleavage exhibited by substituents on C4, those on C2 generally have little or no effect on the direction of ring opening.A mechanistic interpretation of the results is presented.