Toluene → (+/-)-(1S,5R)-4-methylbicyclo[3.2.0]hept-3-en-6-one

Participants

Reaction Steps

3-Hydroxy-3-methylhept-6-enoic acid (5.24 g, 36.4 mmol) was dissolved in acetic anhydride (40 mL). To the solution, potassium acetate (12.52 g, 127 mmol) was added, and the mixture was stirred at room temperature for 2 hours. The reaction solution was heated to reflux and stirred for 4 hours. To the reaction solution, ice water and toluene were then added, and this mixture was stirred overnight at room temperature. The mixture was separated into aqueous and organic layers by the addition of diethyl ether and saturated saline. Then, the organic layer was washed with saturated saline and dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate, and the solvent was distilled off under reduced pressure. The residue was purified by silica gel chromatography to obtain the compound of interest as a pale yellow oil substance (1.10 g, 17%, diastereomeric mixture).

Provenance & Evidence