OXIDATIVE CLEAVAGE OF MONOSUBSTITUTED, DISUBSTITUTED, AND TRISUBSTITUTED OLEFINS TO METHYL-ESTERS THROUGH OZONOLYSIS IN METHANOLIC NAOH

The ozonolysis of alkenes in methanolic NaOH or NaOMe with CH2Cl2 as cosolvent leads directly to methyl esters. The procedure has been used to prepare various alpha-, beta, and omega-alkoxy esters, acyloxy esters, and alpha- and beta-N-acyl and N-sulfonyl esters from the appropriate unsaturated ethers, esters, and amides. Other examples include the formation of dimethyl octanedioate from cyclooctene (75% yield), dimethyl nonanedioate and methyl nonanoate from methyl oleate (77 and 78%, respectively), and tetradecanoic acid gamma-lactone from 2-methyl-2-hexadecen-6-ol (80% yield).