Oxidation of 2-Substituted Cycloalkanones with Cerium(IV) Sulfate Tetrahydrate in Alcohols and Acetic Acid

The reaction of 2-substituted cycloalkanones with cerium(IV) sulfate tetrahydrate (CS) in alcohols and acetic acid gave the corresponding alkyl esters of oxo acids (80—96%) and oxo acids (78—96%), respectively, by oxidative cleavage of the C(R)–C=O bond. In the case of 2-iodocycloalkanones in methanol, the dimethyl ester was obtained in good yield. A treatment of 5α-cholestan-3-one with CS in methanol produced 2-acetal 3-ester of 2,3-seco derivative in good yield. The effects of cerium(IV) and copper(II) salts are also discussed.