Synthesis of Cyclic Peroxides by Chemo- and Regioselective Peroxidation of Dienes with Co(II)/O₂/Et₃SiH

In the competitive peroxidation of mixtures of two alkenes with Co(II)/O2/Et3SiH, it was found that the relative reactivities of the alkene substrates are influenced by three major factors:. (1) relative stability of the intermediate carbon-centered radical formed by the reaction of the alkene with HCo(III) complex, (2) steric effects around the CC double bond, and (3) electronic factors associated with the CC double bond. Consistent with results from simple alkenes, the chemo- and regioselective peroxidation of dienes was also realized. Depending on the diene structure, the product included not only the expected acyclic unsaturated triethylsilyl peroxides but also 1,2-dioxolane and 1,2-dioxane derivatives via intramolecular cyclization of the unsaturated peroxy radical intermediates.