Autoxidative decarbonylation of a stable enol from Diels–Alder addition of 2-methoxy-5-methylbenzoquinone to sorbic acid esters
Abstract
The reaction of 2-methoxy-5-methylbenzoquinone (1) methyl sorbate (2a) gives mainly the enol, the Diels–Alder adduct (5a), which undergoes oxidative ring-cleavage via the hydroperoxide (7a) to give the β-ketoester (8a) in a good yield.