Cobalt mediated cyclisations of epoxy olefins

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/0040-4039(91)80866-5

Irradiation of solutions of β-hydroxycobaloximes e.g. (2), (5), (9) and (13) derived from epoxy olefins [e.g. (1), (8) and (12)] and cobalt(I) dimethylglyoxime, using a sunlamp at room temperature, leads to facile cyclisation producing cycloalkanols e.g. (4), (6), (10) and (14). By contrast, only the products viz (3), (7) and (11) of dehydrocobaltation are produced when the same β-hydroxycobaloximes are heated under reflux in benzene.