Dimerisation of 2-phenyl-1,3-dioxan-5-one: X-ray crystal structure of 2,10-diphenyl-1,3,6,9,11,13-hexaoxadispiro[4.1.5.2]tetradecane

Abstract

A cis–trans mixture of 2-phenyl-1,3-dioxan-5-ol has been oxidised with ruthenium tetraoxide to 2-phenyl-1,3-dioxan-5-one which dimerises in carbon tetrachloride solution at room temperature. The dimer is shown by X-ray crystallographic analysis to be racemic 2,10-diphenyl-1,3,6,9,11,13-hexaoxadispiro[4.1.5.2]tetradecane. A mechanism for its formation is proposed.