Selective oxidation reactions of natural compounds with hydrogen peroxide mediated by methyltrioxorhenium

Article abstract of DOI:10.3390/molecules181113754

We have investigated the oxidative behaviour of natural compounds such as methyl abietate (1), farnesyl acetate (2), a-ionone (3), β-ionone (4), methyl linolelaidate (5), methyl linolenate (6) and bergamottin (7) with the oxidant system methyltrioxo-rhenium/ H2O2/pyridine. The reactions, performed in CH2Cl2/H2O at 25 °C, have shown good regioand stereoselectivity. The oxidation products were isolated by HPLC or silica gel chromatography and characterized by MS(EI), 1H-, 13C-NMR, APT, gCOSY, HSQC, TOCSY and NOESY measurements. The selectivity seems to be controlled by the nucleophilicity of double bonds and by stereoelectronic and steric effects.

Full text of DOI:10.3390/molecules181113754

Molecules 2013, 18, 13754-13768; doi:10.3390/molecules181113754
OPEN ACCESS
molecules
ISSN 1420-3049
www.mdpi.com/journal/molecules
Article
Selective Oxidation Reactions of Natural Compounds with
Hydrogen Peroxide Mediated by Methyltrioxorhenium
Maria E. Amato, Francesco P. Ballistreri, Andrea Pappalardo, Gaetano A. Tomaselli,
Rosa M. Toscano * and Giuseppe Trusso Sfrazzetto
Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche, Università di Catania, Viale A. Doria 6, Catania 95125, Italy;
E-Mails: eamato@unict.it (M.E.A.); fballistreri@unict.it (F.P.B.); andrea.pappalardo@unict.it (A.P.);
gtomaselli@unict.it (G.A.T.); giuseppe.trusso@unict.it (G.T.S.)
* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mail: rmtoscano@unict.it;
Tel.: +39-095-738-5006; Fax: +39-095-580-138.
Received: 17 September 2013; in revised form: 24 October 2013 / Accepted: 25 October 2013 /
Published: 7 November 2013
Abstract: We have investigated the oxidative behaviour of natural compounds such as
methyl abietate (1), farnesyl acetate (2), α-ionone (3), β-ionone (4), methyl linolelaidate (5),
methyl linolenate (6) and bergamottin (7) with the oxidant system methyltrioxo-rhenium/
H2O2/pyridine. The reactions, performed in CH2Cl2/H2O at 25 °C, have shown good regio-
and stereoselectivity. The oxidation products were isolated by HPLC or silica gel
1
chromatography and characterized by MS(EI), H-, 13C-NMR, APT, gCOSY, HSQC,
TOCSY and NOESY measurements. The selectivity seems to be controlled by the
nucleophilicity of double bonds and by stereoelectronic and steric effects.
Keywords: natural compounds oxidation; hydrogen peroxide; methyltrioxorhenium
1. Introduction
Oxyfunctionalization of cheap natural compounds is a useful protocol to obtain molecules
widely employed in the fine chemicals-based industries as fragrances, flavors, and therapeutically
active substances [1]. The most commonly employed stoichiometric oxidants are organic peroxy-
acids, particularly m-chloroperbenzoic acid (MCPBA). However, these oxidants are economically
unattractive and are not selective for the preparation of acid-sensitive epoxides [2].

Molecules 2013, 18
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Methyltrioxorhenium (CH3ReO3, MTO) in the presence of H2O2 has proven itself as an efficient
and versatile oxidation catalyst with interesting selectivity towards natural compounds, which can be
oxidized under quite mild conditions [3–21]. In previous work [22] we have observed good regio- and
stereoselectivity in the oxidation reactions by MTO/H2O2 of steroidal compounds such as
7-dehydrocholesteryl or ergosteryl acetate and the vitamins D2 and D3.
The active species involved in the oxygen transfer to the olefinic double bond are probably a
monoperoxo complex [MeRe(O)2(O2)] and a diperoxo complex [MeRe(O)(O2)2], obtained respectively
by the addition of one or two H2O2 molecules to MTO [23]. However, depending on the nature of the
epoxide, a ring opening catalyzed by the Re(VII) metal center can also occur to give 1,2-diols [3].
Moreover, the epoxide ring opening can be minimized by employing pyridine as a basic ligand.
Mechanistic investigations [24], incorporating the positive pyridine effect [16], showed that the added
−
pyridine minimizes also the MTO decomposition to perrhenate (ReO4 ) [25–29]. In this report we have
investigated the oxidation reactions of some natural compounds by MTO/H2O2/pyridine, leading to
products of practical interest or of interest as synthons in the synthesis of fine chemicals, with the aim
of assessing the parameters controlling the process.
2. Results and Discussion
We have investigated the behaviour of methyl abietate (1), farnesyl acetate (2), α-ionone (3),
β-ionone (4), methyl linolelaidate (5), methyl linolenate (6) and bergamottin (7) (Figure 1) which
underwent oxidation reactions with MTO/H2O2/pyridine in CH2Cl2 at 25 °C (Table 1).
Figure 1. Selected natural compounds which undergo oxidation reactions
with MTO/H2O2/pyridine.

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Table 1. Oxidation products of selected natural compounds with MTO/H2O2/pyridine in
CH2Cl2 at 25 °C a.
Time Conv.
Product selectivities
Entry
(h)
(%)
(%)
13
13
13
H
O
H
OH
8
14
14
14
8
8
7
7
7
1
0.5
88
O
O
O
COOCH3
COOCH3
COOCH3
8 (53)
6
10 (19)
9 (28)
2
10
O
6
2
2
10
O
6
10
OAc
OA
OAc
11
11
7
7
3
7
3
11
3
O
O
2
3
0.5
18
95
13 (42)
12 (26)
11 (32)
O
O
7
7
6
6
8
8
5
5
100
4
4
O
O
15 trans (14)
14 cis (86)
O
7
6
8
O
4
20
75
5
16 (100)
O
O
O
O
13
13
9
9
H3C(H2C)4
H3C(H2C)4
H3C(H2C)4
(CH2)7COOCH3
(CH2)7COOCH3
(CH2)7COOCH3
10
12
10
12
5
8
8
99
98
18 (20)
17 (22)
19 (58)
COOCH3
COOCH3
COOCH3
12
13
16
15
9
10
6 b
O
O
O
20 (18)
21 (17)
22 (18)
13
18
O
12
17
O
7
4
62
O
O
O
23 (100)
Entries 1–7 referred to the starting natural compounds reported in Figure 1, respectively.
a Substrate/H2O2/MTO/pyridine (1:1.5:0.05:0.12); b A mixture of bisepoxides is also obtained (47%).
2.1. Methyl Abietate (1)
The oxyfunctionalization of methyl abietate (1), the diterpene which is the main component of rosin
acids, is of interest in the research field on separation of rosin acids from pine oleoresin—based on
double bond oxidation processes—and in the low cost synthesis of rosin acid derivatives
having multiple functional groups. The oxidation of methyl abietate with MTO/H2O2/pyridine leads
to synthons for the stereoselective syntheses of bioactive natural compounds. Ketone 8, derived
from the oxidation of ring B, is the main product. Formation of 8 has been already observed by
Haslinger et al. [30]. Probably, the first step of the reaction involves the formation of the epoxide
obtained by electrophilic oxygen transfer to the double bond of ring B. Subsequent reorganization of
the epoxide mediated by the presence of the rhenium derivative (Lewis acid) leads to the formation of
the ketone 8 (Scheme 1).

Molecules 2013, 18
Scheme 1. Suggested formation pathway for the oxidation product 8.
13757
Lewis acid promoted rearrangement of epoxides into carbonyl compounds is an important and well
known reaction [31,32] utilised in many cases for the synthesis of biologically active compounds. The
remaining oxidation products 9 [33,34] and 10 are secondary oxidation products derived from the
further oxidation of 8 (Scheme 2).
Scheme 2. Suggested pathway of formation of γ-hydroxyketone 10.
The diastereoselective formation of compound 9 by oxidation of 8 is probably due to the presence
of the methyl group in position 10 which makes the attack of the upper face of the ring C by the bulky

Molecules 2013, 18
13758
oxidant reagent (rhenium peroxide) sterically hard. The formation of the α-epoxide is supported by the
1H-NMR signal of H-14 which appears as a singlet rather than a doublet indicating that there is no
coupling with H-8 because the two protons form a 90° dihedral angle. Hydration of ketoepoxide 9 leads
to the formation of diol 10a, which undergoes a 1,2-elimination assisted by rhenium and pyridine to yield
the γ-hydroxyketone 10. Since it is reported [33,34] that when the OH group of the γ-hydroxyketone 10
linked at the C-13 atom is in axial position the 1H-NMR signal of H-14 occurs at 6.75 ppm, we assume
that in our case this OH group is in equatorial position because H-14 signal shifts upfield to 5.26 ppm.
2.2. All-Trans Farnesyl Acetate (2)
Farnesyl epoxides are very useful starting compounds for the biomimetic synthesis of a large variety
of natural monocyclic terpenoids [35,36]. Oxidation of farnesyl acetate (2) afforded the two
monoepoxides 11 [37] and 12 [35,37] and a mixture of stereoisomeric diepoxides 13 [38] (see Table 1).
The formation of the oxidation products, in agreement with the electrophilic oxygen transfer
mechanism, is controlled by the nucleophilicity of double bonds. Therefore the reaction occurs in a
regioselective manner at the double bonds C10-C11 and C6-C7 since the double bond C2-C3 is less
reactive because is located nearby an electron withdrawing functional group.
The formation of the mixture of stereoisomeric diepoxides 13 was confirmed by the presence in the
1H-NMR spectrum (see ESI, S18) of six singlets assigned to the three methyl groups linked to carbons
C-11 and C-7 of the two three-membered rings, respectively.
2.3. α-Ionone (3) and β-Ionone (4)
α-Ionone (3) undergoes the oxidation reaction in a very good selective manner to yield mainly
the monoepoxide 14 [39] (racemic cis-4,5-epoxy-4,5-dihydro-α-ionone) and small amounts of
monoepoxide 15 [39] (racemic trans-4,5-epoxy-4,5-dihydro-α-ionone) (cis/trans ratio ~6), shown in
Figure 2.
Figure 2. Oxidation products of α-ionone 3.
O
O
7
7
6
5
6
5
8
8
4
4
O
O
14b (4S, 5R, 6R)
14a (4R, 5S, 6S)
O
O
7
7
8
6
8
4
O
O
15b (4S, 5R, 6S)
15a (4R, 5S, 6R)
The reaction is regioselective because the double bond C7-C8 is not involved in the reaction due to
its lower nucleophilicity due to the presence of the carbonyl group. Similar results have already been
observed using m-chloroperbenzoic acid as oxidant (cis/trans ratio = 5) [39]. The high face selectivity

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(Table 1) is probably controlled by the larger crowding in the transition state leading to the trans
epoxide which increases the activation energy and makes unfavourable the formation of the corresponding
isomer. In fact, as Scheme 3 shows, during the oxygen transfer, the C-5 (as well as the C-4) undergoes a
rehybridation from sp2 to sp3 and the methyl group linked to C-5, which in the transition state forming
the trans epoxide is going to occupy an opposite position with respect to that of the incoming oxidant,
assumes an axial direction parallel to that of one of the methyl groups linked to C-1, developing
therefore repulsive interactions (1,3-diaxial interactions).
Scheme 3. Suggested pathway for the formation of monoepoxides 14 and 15.
On the other hand, the oxidation of β-ionone (4) is highly regioselective because the double bond
C5-C6 is quite more nucleophilic than the C7-C8 double bond (which bears an electron withdrawing
carbonyl functionality in the α-position) and therefore the epoxide 16 [40] is obtained as the solae
product (see Table 1).
2.4. Methyl Linolelaidate (5)
Oxidation of methyl linolelaidate (5) afforded the two monoepoxides 17 (9-undecenoic acid,
11-(3-pentyloxiranyl) methyl ester) and 18 [41,42] (oxiraneoctanoic acid, 3-(2-octenyl)-methyl ester),
and, as main product, a mixture of two diastereoisomer diepoxides 19 [41,42] (methyl 9,10-12,13-
diepoxyoctadecenoate) obtained by a further oxidation of both 17 and 18 epoxides.
2.5. Methyl Linolenate (6)
Oxidation of methyl linolenate leads to the nearly equal formation of three monoepoxides:
9-undecenoic acid,11-[3-(2-pentenyl)oxiranyl]-methyl ester 20 [43,44], 9,12-tetradecadienoic
acid,14-(3-ethyloxiranyl)- methyl ester (9Z,12Z) 21 [43,44], and oxiraneoctanoic acid,
3-(2,5-octadienyl)methyl ester [2S[2α,3α(2Z,5Z)]] 22 [43,44] according to the similar nucleophilicity of
the corresponding double bonds.

Molecules 2013, 18
2.6. Bergamottin (7)
13760
The bergamottin is a member of the furanocoumarin family and is most commonly found in grapefruit
juice. Along with the chemically related compound 17,18-dihydroxybergamottin (24, Figure 3), it is
believed to be responsible for the inhibitory effects of grapefruit juice on cytochrome P450 enzyme
activity interfering therefore on the metabolism of a variety of pharmaceutical drugs [45,46].
Figure 3. Chemical structures of bergamottin derivatives 23 and 24.
Hence the need to provide easy and very selective synthetic routes for 24. Since the configuration of
the C-17 of 24, isolated from both grapefruit juice and its peel oil [47], is R, we have developed
a synthetic strategy to obtain 24 (yield 5%) by the highly regioselective oxidation of the C17-C18
double bond of bergamottin (7) with MTO/H2O2/pyridine to yield the racemic epoxide 23 and
subsequent hydrolytic kinetic resolution (HKR) catalyzed by chiral (S,S)(salen)Co(III) complex [48–50].
The oxidation of bergamottin (7) is regioselective because, of the two double bonds, C17-C18 and
C12-C13, present in the molecule, only the first one is involved in the oxidative process, probably
because the C12-C13 double bond is nearby an electronegative oxygen atom and, being located in a
position sterically hindered by the coumarin ring, undergoes unfavourable steric effects which
contribute to make it scarcely reactive.
3. Experimental
3.1. General Methods
Dichloromethane was dried by distillation over P2O5. Fourier transform IR (FTIR) spectra were
1
13
obtained with a Perkin-Elmer Paragon 500 FT-IR spectrophotometer. H- and C-NMR spectra were
recorded in CDCl3 on a Varian Unity Inova spectrometer at 500 and 125.7 MHz, respectively. The
chemical shifts are given in ppm and referenced to residual CHCl3 (δ = 7.26) signal for 1H experiments
1
and to the solvent signal (CDCl3, δ = 77.0) for 13C ones. H- and 13C-NMR assignments were
supported by 2D (gCOSY, NOESY, HSQC, TOCSY) experiments. Electron impact mass spectra
EIMS were recorded on a Kratos-MS 50 mass spectrometer with data system DS-90. High-performance
liquid chromatography (HPLC) was performed on a Varian ProStar Solvent Delivery Module 230
apparatus equipped with a Varian ProStar 350 dual cell refractometer, using a semi-preparative Zorbax Sil
(250 × 9.4 mm) column. The reactions were monitored by TLC and the components of the plates were
visualized after spraying with 5% ammonium molybdate and 0.2% cerium sulfate in 10% sulfuric acid
followed by heating. The reagents farnesyl acetate (2), α-ionone (3), β-ionone (4), methyl linolelaidate (5),
methyl linolenate (6) and bergamottin (7) (commercial substances) were used as received. The methyl
abietate (1) was obtained by esterification of abietic acid (commercial product Fluka, Milan, Italy)

Molecules 2013, 18
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according to literature method [51]. Hydrogen peroxide (35%), pyridine and methyltrioxorhenium are
commercial products (Aldrich, Milan, Italy).
3.2. General Oxidation Procedure
Pyridine (0.02 mmol, 12%) and 35% hydrogen peroxide (22 µL, 0.25 mmol, 1.5 equiv) were added
to a solution of the MTO (0.008 mmol, 5%) in CH2Cl2 (2.5 mL) at 25 °C and this yellow mixture was
stirred for 1 min. A solution of substrate (0.16 mmol, 1 equiv) in CH2Cl2 (1 mL) was added to this
mixture and the stirring was continued for a suitable reaction time. The reaction mixture was dried
over MgSO4 and the solvent was evaporated under reduced pressure. HPLC separation of the reaction
mixture afforded desired products.
3.2.1. Oxidation of Methyl Abietate (1)
The reaction mixture was kept under stirring for 30 min. Separation of the mixture was performed
by HPLC, utilizing n-hexane/EtOAc 75:25 (v/v), (ɸ = 3.5 mL/min), to afford the three main
compounds 8 (tR = 8.1), 9 (tR = 10.1), 10 (tR = 11.6).
1-Phenanthrenecarboxylic acid, 1,2,3,4,4a,4b,5,6,8a,9,10,10a-dodecahydro-1,4a-dimethyl-7-(1-
methylethyl)-9-oxo-, methyl ester, [1R,(1α,4αβ,4βα,8αβ,10αα)] (8). This compound has been identified
1
13
on the basis of the comparison of its H- and C-NMR, EIMS, and IR data with those reported in the
literature [30], gCOSY and NOESY confirm the proposed configuration (see ESI, S5-6).
Phenanthro[1,2-b]oxirene-4-carboxylic acid, tetradecahydro-4,7a-dimethyl-9a-(1-methylethyl)-2-oxo-,
methyl ester, [1aR-(1aα,1bα,3aβ,4β,7aα,7b β,9aα)] (9). The structure of this compound was
1
1
determined by H-NMR, APT, gCOSY, NOESY, TOCSY, HSQC, IR, EIMS (18eV), data. H-NMR:
δ = 0.98 (d, J = 7 Hz, 3H, 16-H or 17-H), 0.94 (d, J = 7 Hz, 3H, 16-H or 17-H), 1.04 (s, 3H, 20-H),
1.07 (m, 1H, 1-Hax), 1.22 (s, 3H, 19-H), 1.56 (m, 1H, 11-Hax), 1,09 (m, 1H, 9-H), 1.58–1.67 (m, 3H,
2-Hax, 2-Heq, 3-Heq), 1.68–1.81 (m, 1H, 3-Hax), 1.80 (m, 1H, 1-Heq), 2.02 (m, 1H, 11-Heq), 2.02
(dd, J = 14.0, 1H, 3.0 Hz, 6-Heq), 1.08 (m, 1H, 12-Hax), 1.12 (m, 1H, 12-Heq), 2.16 (dd, J = 14.0,
3.0 Hz, 1H, 5-H), 1.53 (m, 1H, 15-H), 2.44 (t, J = 14.0 Hz, 1H, 6-Hax), 2.58 (d, J = 12.5 Hz, 1H, 8-H),
13
3.68 (s, 3H, 21-H), 3.67 (s, 1H, 14-H) ppm; C-NMR: δ = 14.1 (C-20), 16.1 (C-19), 18.0 (C-2), 17.9
(C-16 or C-17), 18.6 (C-17 or C-26), 24.3 (C-11), 18.5 (C-12), 34.5 (C-15), 36.6 (C-10), 37.0 (C-3),
37.4 (C-1), 41.5 (C-6), 47.5 (C-4), 49.1 (C-8), 49.8 (C-5), 52.5 (OCH3), 53.5 (C-9), 56.5 (C-14), 64.4
(C-13), 177.8 (C-18), 208.1 (C-7) ppm; IR (neat, cm−1): ν = 2952, 2857, 1725, 1715, 1455, 1437,
1385, 1243, 1097; EIMS (18 eV): m/z (%) = 348 (9) [M]+, 330 (100) [M−H2O]+, 305 (53) [M–C3H7]+,
270 (63) [330-CH3COOH].
1-Phenanthrenecarboxylic acid, 1,2,3,4,4a,4b,5,6,7,9,10,10a-dodecahydro-7-hydroxy-1,4a-dimethyl-7-
(1-methylethyl)-9-oxo-, methyl ester, [1R-([1R-(1α4αβ4βα7β10αα] (10). The structure of this
1
compound was determined by H-NMR, APT, gCOSY, NOESY, TOCSY, HSQC, IR, EIMS (18eV)
data. 1H-NMR: δ = 1.01 (d, J = 7 Hz, 6H, 16-H e 17-H), 1.10 (s, 3H, 20-H), 1.13 (m, 1H, 1-Hax), 1.22
(s, 3H, 19-H), 1.58–1.67 (m, 4H, 2-Hax, 2-Heq, 3-Heq, 11-H), 1.71–1.73 (m, 2H, 3-Hax, 9-H), 1.95–1.98
(m, 3H, 1-Heq, 11-H, 12-H), 2.05–2.13 (m, 2H, 6-Heq, 12-H), 2.16–2.22 (m, 2H, 5-H, 15-H), 2.52

Molecules 2013, 18
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(t, J = 14 Hz, 1H, 6-Hax), 3.67 (s, 3H, 21-H), 5.26 (s, 1H, 14-H) ppm; 13C-NMR: δ = 15.4 (C-20), 17.0
(C-19), 17.7(C-2), 17.6 C-11), 21.2 (C-16 or C-17), 21.5 (C-17 or C-16), 24.4 (C-12), 35.5 (C-15), 36.8
(C-10), 38.6 (C-3), 38.7(C-6), 40.0 (C-1), 47.4 (C-4), 47.9 (C-5), 52.5 (c-21), 55.3 (C-9), 75.2 (C-13),
119.1 (C-14), 151.5 (C-8), 178.1 (C-18), 213.2 (C-7) ppm; IR (neat, cm−1): ν = 2926, 2859, 1734, 1718,
1538, 1253; EIMS (18 eV): m/z (%) = 348 (5) [M]+, 330 (81) [M+−H2O], 270 (45) [330–CH3COOH],
255(100) [270–CH3].
3.2.2. Oxidation of Farnesyl Acetate (2)
The reaction mixture was kept under stirring for 30 min. HPLC separation with hexane/AcOEt
(60:40 v/v, ɸ = 3.5 mL/min) afforded pure sample of the diepoxide 13 (tR = 8.14 min) and a mixture of
two compounds. HPLC separation of this mixture with n-hexane/EtOAc (90:10 v/v, ɸ = 3.5 mL/min)
resulted in the isolation of the monoepoxide 11 (tR = 13.26) and the monoepoxide 12 (tR = 14.31).
2-Penten-1-ol,3-methyl-5-[3-methyl-3-(4-methyl-3-penten-1-yl)-2-oxiranyl]-,1-acetate (11). The structure
of this compound was determined by 1H-NMR [35,36], and gCOSY and NOESY data.
1H-NMR: δ = 1.25 (s, 3H, 14-H), 1.43 (m, 1H, 8-H) 1.55 (s, 3H, 12-H or 13-H), 1.68 (s, 3H, 12-H or
13-H), 1.63–1.72 (m, 3H, 5,5',8'-H), 1.72 (s, 3H, 15-H), 2.05–2.21 (m, 4H, 4,4', 9,9'-H), 2.05
(s, 3H, CH3CO), 2.69 (t, J = 6.0 Hz, 1H, 6-H), 4.60 (d, J = 6.0 Hz, 2H, 1,1'-H), 5.07 (m, 1H, 10-H), 5.39
(m, 1H, 2-H) ppm.
2,6-Nonadien-1-ol, 9-(3,3-dimethyloxiranyl)-3,7-dimethyl-acetate (2E,6E) (12). The structure of this
1
compound was determined by H-NMR, as reported in the literature [35–37] and supported by gCOSY
and NOESY experiments.
2-Dodecen-1-ol, 6,7,:10,11-diepoxy-3,7,11-trimethyl-acetate (mixture of diasteroisomers) (13). The
1
identification of this diepoxides mixture was determined by H-NMR, gCOSY and NOESY data.
1
In the literature [35,36] the H-NMR spectrum of one of the possible diastereoisomers is reported.
1H-NMR: δ = 1.26 (s, 3H, CH3), 1.27 (s, 3H, CH3), 1.28 (s, 3H, CH3), 1.31 (s, 3H, CH3), 1.60 (m, 2H,
9,9'-H), 1.67 (m, 1H, 8-H), 1.69 (m, 2H, 5,5'-H), 1.72 (s, 3H, 15-H), 1.79 (m, 1H, 8'-H), 2.05 (s, 3H,
CH3CO), 2.22 (m, 2H, 4,4'-H), 2,69 (m, 1H, 10-H), 2.75 (m, 1H, 6-H), 4.59 (d, J = 7.5 Hz, 2H, 1,1'-H),
5.38 (m, 1H, 2-H) ppm.
3.2.3. Oxidation of α-Ionone (3)
The reaction mixture was kept under stirring for 18 h. Separation of the reaction mixture by HPLC,
eluting with n-hexane/EtOAc (80:20 v/v, ɸ = 3.5 mL/min) leads to the formation of a racemic mixture
of cis-4,5-epoxy-α-ionone (14, tR = 12.0 min) and of a racemic mixture of trans-4,5-epoxy-α-ionone
(15, tR = 13.30 min). The two epoxides were identified on the basis of their spectroscopic data
(1H-NMR and IR) as reported in the literature [39] and supported by gCOSY and NOESY experiments.

Molecules 2013, 18
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3.2.4. Oxidation of β-Ionone (4)
The reaction mixture was kept under stirring for 20 h. Separation of the reaction mixture by
HPLC, eluting with n-hexane/EtOAc (80:20 v/v, ɸ = 3.5 mL/min) afforded pure sample of the
(±)-5,6-epoxy-β-ionone (16, tR = 7.3 min). The (±)-5,6-epoxy-β-ionone has been identified on the basis
of its spectroscopic data (1H-NMR and IR) which are identical to those reported in the literature [40]
and supported by gCOSY and NOESY experiments.
3.2.5. Oxidation of Methyl Linolelaidate (5)
The reaction mixture was kept under stirring for 8 h. HPLC separation with n-hexane/EtOAc (75:25 v/v,
ɸ = 3.5 mL/min) afforded a mixture of two compounds (tR = 4.36 min) and an inseparable mixture of
diastereomeric bisepoxides 19 (tR = 6.53 min). The mixture of two compounds was separate by HPLC
(n-hexane/EtOAc 90:10 v/v, ɸ = 3.5 mL/min) to yield the monoepoxide 17 (tR = 7.03 min) and the
monoepoxide 18 (tR = 7.84 min).
9-Undecenoic acid, 11-(3-pentyloxiranyl) methyl ester (17). This compound has been identified on the
1
basis of its H- and 13C-NMR data, supported by gCOSY and NOESY experiments and EIMS.
1H-NMR: δ = 0.89 (3H, m, CH3), 1.31 (12H, m, 4,5,6,7,16,17-H ), 1.41 (2H, m, 15-H), 1.52 (2H, m,
14-H), 1.62 (2H, m, 3-H), 1.99 (2H, q, J = 7.0 Hz, 8-H), 2.19 (1H, m, 11-H), 2.25 (1H, m, 11-CH),
2.30 (2H, t, J = 7.5 Hz, 2-H), 2.69 (2H, m, 12 and 13-H), 3.67 (3H, s, OCH3), 5.40 (1H, m, 10-H), 5.52
13
(1H, m, 9-H); C-NMR: δ 14.0, 22.6, 24.9, 25.7, 28.9, 29.1, 29.3, 31.6, 31.9, 32.6, 34.1, 35.2, 51.4,
58.2, 58.5, 124.4, 133.5, 174.3; EIMS (20 eV): m/z (%) = 310 (2) [M]+, 292 (5) [M−18]+, 279 (4)
[M−31]+, 207 (17) [O≡CCH2CH=CH(CH2)7COOCH3-18]+, 164 (51) [M–CH3(CH2)4CH(O)CHCH3–18]+,
147 (42) [M–CH3(CH2)4CH(O)CH2–31–18]+.
Oxiraneoctanoic acid, 3-(2-octenyl)-methyl ester (18). This compound has been identified on the basis
1
13
1
of its H- and C-NMR data, supported by gCOSY and NOESY experiments and EIMS. H-NMR:
δ = 0.88 (3H, t, J = 7.5 Hz, CH3), 1.31 (12H, m, 4,5,6,7,16,17-H), 1.42 (2H, m, 15-H), 2.0 (2H, m,
14-H), 1.62 (2H, m, 3-H), 1.51 (2H, m, 8-H), 2.19 (1H, m, 11-H), 2.25 (1H, m, 11'-H), 2.30 (2H, t,
J = 8 Hz, 2-H), 2.69 (2H, m, 9 and 10-H), 3.67 (3H, s, OCH3), 5.40 (1H, m, 12-H), 5.53 (1H, m,
13-H); 13C-NMR: δ 14.0, 22.5, 24.9, 25.9, 29.02, 29.04, 29.1, 29.2, 31.4, 31.9, 32.6, 34.1, 35.2,
51.4, 58.2, 58.4, 124.3, 133.7, 174.3; EIMS (20 eV): m/z (%) = 292 (1) [M−18]+, 279 (2) [M−31]+,
200 (3) [CH2(O)CH(CH2)7COOCH3]+, 125 (11) [M CH3(CH2)4CH=CHCH2(O)CH2–31]+, 109 (19)
[CH3(CH2)6COOCH3-49]+.
Methyl 9,10-12,13-diepoxyoctadecenoate (19). The mixture of diastereomeric bisepoxides has been
identified by 1H data supported by gCOSY and NOESY experiments and EIMS. 1H-NMR: δ = 0.88 (3H, t,
J = 7 Hz, CH3), 1.24–1.38 (14H, m, 4,5,6,7,15,16,17-H), 1.52 (4H, m, 8 and 14-H), 1.61 (2H, m, 3-H),
1.72–1.78 (2H, m, 11-H), 1.90–1.96 (2H, m, 11-H), 2.28 (2H, t, J = 7.5 Hz, 2-H), 2.68–2.76 (2H, m, 9
and 13-H), 2.75–2.82 (2H, m, 10 and 12-H), 3.65 (3H, s, OCH3); EIMS (20 eV): m/z = 308 [M-18]+,
295[M−31]+, 277[M−49]+, 251 [CH2CH(O)CHCH2CH(O)CH(CH2)7COOCH3–18]+, 237 [CH2CH(O)CH
CH2CH(O)CH(CH2)7COOCH3–32]+, 223 [O≡CCHCH2CH(O)CH(CH2)7COOCH3–31]+, 211 [O=CHCH2

Molecules 2013, 18
13764
CH(O)CH(CH2)7COOCH3–31]+, 165 [CH3CH(O)CH(CH2)7COOCH3–31–18]+, 137 [O=CH(CH2)7COO
CH3-31-18]+, 109 [CH3(CH2)6COOCH3–49]+.
3.2.6. Oxidation of Methyl Linolenate (6)
The reaction mixture was kept under stirring for 8 h. HPLC separation by n-hexane/EtOAc 75:25
(v/v, ɸ = 3.5 mL/min) afforded two mixtures of products. The first mixture was separated by
n-hexane/EtOAc 95:5 (v/v, ɸ = 3.5 mL/min) to yield the monoepoxides 20 (methyl cis-12,13-epoxy-
9Z,15Z-octadecadienoate) (tR = 17.86 min), 21 (methyl cis-15,16-epoxy-9Z,12Z-octadecadienoate)
(tR = 23.08 min) and 22 (methyl cis-9,10-epoxy-12Z,15Z-octadecadienoate) (tR = 25.38 min). The three
13
epoxides were identified on the basis of their spectroscopic data (1H-, and C-NMR, EIMS) [43,44] and
supported by gCOSY and NOESY experiments. The second mixture was separated with hexane/AcOEt
(80: 20 v/v, ɸ = 3.5 ml/min) affording two fractions (A and B) which are both inseparable mixtures of
two bisepoxides (A: tR = 10.59 and tR = 10.84; B: tR = 11.86 and tR = 12.14 min).
3.2.7. Oxidation of Bergamottin (7)
The reaction mixture was kept under stirring at room temperature for 4 h. Then was dried over
molecular sieves (3 Å) for three hours and the solvent was evaporated under reduced pressure. The
residue was purified by silica gel chromatography (n-hexane/EtOAc 85:15) to afford the racemic
mixture 23 (17-epoxybergamottin) (tR = 17.54 min and tR = 20.77 min as determined by HPLC
analysis on a chiral stationary phase column, Chiralcel OD-H n-hexane/EtOAc 9:1). The racemic
mixture of epoxides has been identified on the basis of their spectroscopic data (1H- and 13C-NMR) [47].
3.2.8. Representative Procedures for the HKR of Terminal Epoxides
The (S,S)salen Co(II) (see ESI, S2) (4.6 × 10−4 mmol in 20 µL of THF) was treated with racemic
17,18-epoxy bergamottin (9.9 × 10−2 mmol) in 200 µL of THF and 2.1 × 10−3 mmol of AcOH. To this
solution, cooled to 0 °C, 5.5 × 10−2 mmol of H2O were added. The solution was allowed to warm to
room temperature and stirred for 28 h. The reaction mixture was dried over molecular sieves (3 Å) and
the solvent was evaporated under reduced pressure. PLC separation with n-hexane/EtOAc 1:1 afforded
1
a pure sample of 17(R)-18 DHB (yield 5%) identified on the basis of its H-NMR data [47]. The
presence of a doublet at δ = 3.31 ppm is attributed to the H-17 of the (R)-enantiomer, while the same
proton for the (S)-enantiomer is at 3.22 ppm.
4. Conclusions
We have oxidized some natural compounds, containing conjugate double bonds with the versatile
oxidant system MTO/H2O2/pyridine. Some reactions have shown very good regio- and stereoselectivity.
Stereoelectronic and steric effects and nucleophilicity of double bonds control the selectivity. Under the
experimental conditions adopted in this work, the oxidation of methyl abietate leads to the oxidation of
the double bond of the ring B with formation of the ketone 8, while the remaining oxidation products 9
and 10 are secondary oxidation products derived from the further oxidation of 8. α- and β-ionones are
very selectively converted into the corresponding epoxides, whereas oxidation of methyl linolelaidate

Molecules 2013, 18
13765
and methyl linolenate yields mixtures of mono- and diepoxides. Furthermore, we have developed a
synthetic strategy leading to the 17(R),18-dihydroxybergamottin by HKR of the racemic epoxide
obtained by a very regioselective epoxidation of bergamottin with MTO/H2O2/pyridine. Some of the
oxidation products obtained are relevant as synthons in the biomimetic synthesis of cyclic terpenoids
(farnesyl derivatives), in perfumery and fragrance industry (α- and β-ionone epoxides) or in medical
implications (17(R),18-dihydroxybergamottin).
Supplementary Materials
Supplementary materials can be accessed at: http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/18/11/13754/s1.
Acknowledgments
The authors thank the MIUR (PRIN-2008AZT7RKproject) and University of Catania for
financial support.
Conflicts of Interest
The authors declare no conflict of interest.
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