Decomposition Reaction of Limonene 1, 2-Oxide, 2-Pinene Oxide and 2(10)-Pinene Oxide with Formic Acid in the Presence of Synthetic Zeolitest

Abstract

The decomposition of limonene 1, 2-oxide [1], 2-pinene oxide [2] and 2(10)-pinense oxide [3] with formic acid in the presence of synthetic zeolites (3A, 4A, 13X and TSZ-645-PSH1 zeolite) was investigated. The results obtained are as follows: With formic acid in each synthetic zeolites, the decomposition of [1] gave dihydrocarvone [4] with high selectivity (87% at optimum). The decomposition of [2] with formic acid in the presence of 13 X zeolite afforded predominantly α-campholenaldehyde [9]. Perillyl alcohol [12] was obtained from [3] with 84% selectivity by the reaction with formic acid in the presence of 13X zeolite. Their structures were determined by IR, ¹H-NMR and MS spectra.