| abstract |
PURPOSE: 3,4-Epoxycycloalkanone is treated with alumina and isomerized to title compound useful as intermediates for drugs, as prostaglandin and maytansine, having carcinostatic activity, or agricultural chemicals, in one step in high yield. n CONSTITUTION: The isomerization of 3,4-epoxycycloalkanone of formula I (Z is 1W4C ring-forming alkylene, wherein at least one of carbon atoms forming 5W8 membered ring may be substituted with a monofunctional 1W10C organic radical), as 3,4-epoxycyclopentanone, is effected by treating it with an alumina, preferably basic alumina to produce the objective compound of formula II, as 4-hydroxy-3-cyclopentenone. The compound of formula I is preferably an unsubstituted 3-cyclo-alkenone of formula III(Z' is Z), especially 3,4-epoxycyclopentanone of formula IV (R is organic radical). n COPYRIGHT: (C)1979,JPO&Japio |