Hydrogen Peroxide → 4,4-Dimethyl-3,5,8-trioxabicyclo[5.1.0]octane

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Reaction Steps

To a suspension of sodium carbonate (37 g, 0.35 mole) in a mixture of the dioxepin (II) (158.7 g, 1.26 mole), benzonitrile (127.9 g, 1.26 mole) and methanol (150 ml), was added 30% aqueous hydrogen peroxide (42.2 g, 1.24 mole) during 30 min at such a rate that the temperature stayed below 80°. The mixture was kept at 80° with an oil bath for 2 hr, by which time 99% of the hydrogen peroxide added had reacted. The mixture was decanted and, then, subjected to fractional distillation first at 60 mm, then at 20 mm and finally at 6 mm. The fraction boiling at 75°-85° at 6 mm was refractionated at 6 mm to obtain the product (III) as a colorless liquid. (125.5 g) (70% yield). b.p. 82°-87°/6 mm.

Provenance & Evidence