REGIOSELECTIVE CLEAVAGE REACTION OF THE METHYLENEDIOXY RING IN AROMATIC COMPOUNDS CONTAINING ELECTRONWITHDRAWING GROUPS WITH SODIUM ALKOXIDES-ALCOHOLS IN DIMETHYL SULFOXIDE

Article abstract of DOI:10.3987/COM-90-5341

The reaction of 6-bromopiperonal (1) with sodium alkoxides (MeONa or PhCH2ONa)-alcohols (MeOH or PhCH2OH), and sodium alkoxides (MeONa, PhCH2ONa or PhONa)-phenol (PhOH) in dimethyl sulfoxide gave 3-hydroxybenzene derivatives (3, 5 and 6) and 4-hydroxybenzene derivative (4), respectively.The reactivity and formational mechanism of various nucleophilic reagents (alkoxide anions) formed from the alcohols and phenol by sodium alkoxides in the regioselective cleavage reactions are discussed.