Stereospecific Epoxidation of cis-2-Butene-1, 4-diones to cis-2, 3-Epoxybutane-1, 4-diones with Oxodiperoxomolybdenum (VI), MoO₅·H₂O·HMPA

Abstract

The epoxidation of cis-2-butene-1, 4-diones 4 with (aqua) (hexamethylphosphoramide) oxodiperoxomolybdenum (VI), MoO₅·H₂O·HMPA, occurred stereospecifically to give the cisepoxides 5, whose stereochemistry was assigned on the basis of chemical evidence and a comparison of their spectral data with those of the coresponding trans-epoxides 6, which were prepared by the epoxidation of the trans-olefins 3 with alkaline hydrogen peroxide.