Acid-catalyzed solvolysis of polyenol ethers. III. Effect of the alkoxy moiety

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4020(01)89330-3

The dependence of the solvolysis of polyenol ethers on the nature of the alkoxy moiety has been studied. A new reaction path, leading to the formation of ω-hydroxy (methoxy) substituted aldehydes and -esters, was established. The proposed reaction pathway (scheme 6) is initiated by an electron transfer from the polyenol ether to molecular oxygen, followed by combination of the two radicals to a peroxide zwitterion. Upon protonation, solvent adds to the ω-carbon atom of the polyene to give an intermediate that can either loose water to form an ester, or loose the alkoxy moiety to give an aldehyde. This mechanism is believed to be involved in the strong mutagenic activity displayed by many polyenol ethers, including the natural mutagen fecapentaene-12.