Cyclic peroxyacetal lactone, lactol and ether compounds

Abstract

A process for preparing a compound containing (a) peroxyacetal lactone, (b) peroxyacetal lactol or (c) peroxycacetal ether functionality comprising oxygenating in the presence of one or more oxidizing metal catalysts a compound containing (i) hydroperoxy alkene carboxylic acid, (ii) hydroperoxy alkene aldehyde, (iii) hydroperoxy alkene keto, (iv) hydroperoxy alkene alcohol functionality or (v) dialkyl acetals of compounds in (ii) and (iii) above. For example (I).fwdarw.(II) wherein n=1,2 or 3; m=0, 1, 2,; p=0, 1, 2 or 3; R.sup.5 =--COOH, --C(O)R, --CROH, (.alpha.), where R is H, alkyl, aryl or arylalkyl; R.sup.1 are independently alkyl, arylalkyl or each R.sup.1 together with the group --O--C--O-- to which they are attached form a cyclic acetal; X=CR.sup.2 R .sup.3, O, S, SO, SO.sub.2 where R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are independently selected from H, optionally substituted alkyl, optionally substituted aryl, and wherein when n>1, X is independently selected and can be branched or straight chain and X together with a substituent Y can also form a ring; Y is a substituent selected from H; optionally substituted alkyl or aryl; Y can be on the same C atom as the hydroperoxy group and an y C atom may be disubstituted by Y and includes replacement of H atom(s) in "(CH.sub.2).sub.m " by Y; R.sup.6 or R .sup.7 is as defined for R above, H, OH, OR.sup.1 or together with the carbon atom to which they are attached form a keto group. The present invention is particularly important in its application to the preparation of biologically active compounds comprising the cyclic peroxyacetal lactone or lactol functionalities. One such biologically active compound is qinghaosu (Artemisinin).

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.