Epoxidation with pyridine–trifluoroacetic anhydride–molecular oxygen and its mechanistic aspects
Abstract
Epoxidation of cholesteryl acetate (3) with pyridine–trifluoroacetic anhydride–molecular oxygen afforded bis(trifluoroacetate)(4), β-epoxide (5], α-epoxide (6), hydroxy trifluoroacetates A (7) and B (9), and enone (8). An oxidation mechanism proceeding via the hydroperoxide intermediate (A) is presented.