La réaction du diazométhane avec les phénylsulfonyl-4, tert-butyl-4, et phénylthio-4 cyclohexanones
This paper describes the reaction of diazomethane generated in situ, methanolic potassium hydroxide solution, on 4-phenylsulfonyl, 4-tert-butyl, and 4-phenylthio-cyclohexanones. In the latter two cases, the reaction leads to mixtures containing mostly the enlarged ketones along with minor quantities of the corresponding epoxides. In the first case, the enlarged ketone and the corresponding epoxides are formed in equal amounts. This marked increase in the production of epoxides is indicative of transannular interactions between the sulfonyl group and the intermediate betaine. In the ex situ reactions, methanolic solutions without potassium hydroxide, phenylsulfonylcyclohexanone yields the corresponding dimethyl acetal almost exclusively whereas the tert-butyl and phenylthioketones follow the same course as in the in situ reactions. Furthermore, it has been observed in all cases that, under the conditions used, the potassium hydroxide leads to opening of the epoxide rings to yield hydroxy-ethers of the type [Formula: see text]CH2—O—CH3. This epoxide-ring-opening was advantageously used in the preparation of pure epoxides from epimeric mixtures. The epoxides generated from the three ketones studied are mixtures of cis-trans isomers, rich in cis epimer.