11-22-02 15:01
No 382226
synthesis 1992 12: 1229-1231
"a convenient synthesis of 1-aryl-2-propanone precursors of a-methyldopa"
zhong-wei an, rino d'aloisio, carlo venturello
abstract: a simple two-step approach to 1-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)- and 1-[3,4-(methylenedioxy)phenyl]-2-propano
(4a and 4b), useful intermediates for a-methyldopa, is described. it is based on the epoxidation of the widely available
methyleugenol (1-allyl-3,4-dimethoxybenzene, 1a) and safrole [1-allyI-3,4-(methylenedioxy)benzene, 1b] with
hydrogen peroxide catalyzed by tungsten peroxo complex 2a under two-phase conditions, followed by isomerization
of the intermediate epoxides 3a and 3b by lithium iodide.
(Chief Bee)
11-22-02 16:15
No 382248
That one is this one: ../rhodium /peroxot
And it seems like Post 379552 (Rhodium: "Safrole Epoxidation: H2O2/PTC/Pertungstate", Novel Discourse) is the above reaction improved even further - it doesn't seem impossible to use that reaction to oxidize safrole to MDP2P in 90% yield, at a cost of $3.30 per mole (according to footnote 13 in the main article).